Mistborn, By Brandon Sanderson

I just finished Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. My copy was one I received as a giveaway from http://www.bookloveaffair.com/ .

Mistborn is a fantastic book! The characters were dynamic and fantastic, the world was described in wonderful detail, and the magic was unlike anything I've ever read in fantasy. Brandon Sanderson is a wonderful author. His systems of Allomancy and Feruchemy were so fascinating. He kept you on your toes too, adding little twists and turns in. And the themes of trust, love, and friendship are so well done. I had so much trouble putting this book down that I got barely anything done yesterday! I highly recommend this book and I'm off to find out information on the rest of the series!

More Books in 2010

I've read 4 more books since I last updated about them:

-The Other Queen, By Philippa Gregory- I have read 5 or 6 other books by Gergory and this is the only one I didn't absolutely love. I'm not sure if that is due to the changing first person perspective every couple of pages or due to the fact that I had very little prior knowledge of Mary, Queen of Scots. I usually like multiple perspectives, but this book fell a little flat for me. The White Queen, The Queen's Lover, and The Other Boleyn Girl are books I heartily recommend.

-The Guardian, by Nicholas Sparks- This definitely was not what I am used to with Sparks. He combines romance with thriller- but it totally works! My only wish was that I'd like to know more about what happens after the climax. This kept my heart racing, but also had the tender teary moments one is used to when reading sparks. I liked it.

-Chinese Cinderella, by Adeline Yen Mah- A Heartbreaking story, but I'm not sure I'd equate it to Cinderella. I'm a huge fan of Cinderella variations and even did a paper on them in college (That Folktales and Fairy Tales class was awesome), but while Yen Mah was an unwanted child, she always had her aunt, and there were also siblings from the same mother that shared her plight, albeit not to the same extent. Still a great read (and a quick read- I read this in less than a day). I've added Yen Mah's "Falling Leaves" to my books to read list.

-Survival in Auschwitz, by Primo Levi- This was not what I'm used to for concentration camp survival stories. While Levi goes through what the camp is like and what happened, that takes the back seat to his analysis of how they survived, what they thought as prisoners, and essentially, how humans can treat each other as the Germans treated the prisoners, but even more so, how the prisoners treated each other. I'd love to see a female perspective written in the same way. Very well written!

That brings me to a total of 8 books so far. I haven't yet picked what I'll be reading yet, but I've crafts to do!

Books I've read in 2010

I've always been intrigued by the 50 book a year challenge that I see as resolutions during the beginning of the year. Technically, I have read 50 books in one year, if you include the children's books I had to read for my Children's Lit class at Houghton- some of them were picture books, and some chapter books, but you had to read a total of 45 over the semester. But at the time I didn't even know about these types of reading challenges. I may have read 50 books last year, but I didn't keep track.

I'm not really going to be doing a 50 Book Challenge, as I'm already quite behind and it is more pressure than I need right now. With trying to make and sell crafts, watching our friends' one year old during the afternoons, and trying to find a "real" job for steady income (I could probably get one if I wasn't so picky, but I want one I like. I'd hate to go back to retail. ), I don't want the pressure of reading a certain number of books as well.

But this year, I'm going to keep track of the books I've read.

So far this year, I have read:

-Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen- this was a reread for me. The others in my book club (we total only 3 people, but we have fun!) wanted to read all of the Jane Austen books and this was our second one- we read Pride and Prejudice in October or November.

-The Once and Future King, by T.H. White- I liked this- it was my first serious trip into Arthurian legend. I found the first part dragged for me because I knew the story of the Sword in the Stone, but after the first part it picked up. Not my favorite read, but not bad either. If you like knights and quests, it's pretty good.

- Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte- again, a reread for me. We're doing every other book a Jane Austen and then something else between for the book club. We have yet to discuss this one but I'm sure I have much to say. I love Bronte's descriptions and I think this has become one of my favorite books on this second reading (and for me, that's saying something. I don't usually pick favorites when it comes to books- that's like picking a favorite child.

- Daughters of Fortune, By Tara Hyland- This was a first novel for Hyland and Simon and Schuster UK was kind enough to send it to me to review. My review is already on this blog, so if you would like particulars, visit that entry. Overall, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more from Hyland.

I'm on another book currently (Though, when am I not on another book? I guess I mean I'm close to finishing my next book), so maybe I'll be able to add to my list soon!

I'm in the middle of a big handful of projects right now for my Etsy and Artfire stores- my mind is filled with crocheted berets, Settlers of Catan lapghans, hooded baby blankets, a baby quilt, coasters and more. Perhaps I should schedule one day as a "finishing project day" and just hunker down and get some things done!