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The Sunday Post is a chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, tell you what I’m reading, and share news. It’s hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Readerbuzz, and Book Date.
The Sunday Post
On The Blog Recently
- The End Of The Year Book Tag
- I'm Not Dead. I Just Feel Like I Am.
- Best Books Of 2024
- Best January - June 2025 Book Releases
- 2024 Reading Statistics
In My Reading Life
I read The Eye Of The World by Robert Jordan. Friends, I suspect I don't like high fantasy. This book is a modern classic, and I don't understand! It's just long and repetitive. Why is this novel considered better than all the other high fantasy books out there? It feels like The Lord Of The Rings fanfiction to me.
It starts in a world that's very similar to the setting of The Lord Of The Rings. Monsters attack a town, and a group of teenagers (I think?) run for their lives. One of the teenagers is The Chosen One who is prophesized to fight The Dark One and save the world. Monsters chase the teenagers for 800 pages. The end.
For an 800-page book, it's very readable. There are many fight scenes. I just couldn't get into it. It's like a stereotype of high fantasy books. If you like tropes, you'll find every single one of them in here.
You probably shouldn't listen to me. This book is a beloved modern classic. It's not my kind of fiction because it doesn't feel fresh.
In The Rest Of My Life
Five things that made me happy last week:
- I got conformation that I will be starting search and rescue training in August. No more textbooks until August! I can read whatever I want! I'm so excited (about the training and the no-textbooks. Mostly the no-textbooks.)
- I went to boxing lessons three times last week. It's bizarre to have free time. I love not being a college student.
- I took many, many books to the used bookstore. How do I keep getting rid of books and still have no shelf space? This is witchcraft. I am cursed.
- Thank you to everybody who looked at my 2024 reading stats post! That one is very time-consuming to make.
- I forgot to share this Skunkumentary. It's from autumn. These are all the animals that have visited my yard recently. Regretfully, the BBC has not contacted me to purchase my excellent skunk footage for their nature documentaries.
Does Anyone Use Social Media Anymore?
I don’t like high fantasy much either. I don’t care for kingdoms and battles and the problems of royals. I like my fantasy reads to be more in the urban fantasy realm. You know, I like my werewolves more realistic. lol. I’ve never even heard of that book.
ReplyDeleteYay for more reading time that doesn't involve textbooks!!
ReplyDeleteThe skunk is so cute! I love the little gallop happy trot it has. And the cat is adorable. It looks like one that hangs out around our house that I have named Angus-Fergus.
It's so great to hear you excited about EMT and search and rescue. And, great that you will have a break from being a student for a bit.
ReplyDeleteSorry The Eye Of The World wasn't better. Yay for no more textbooks! They were onto something with that balloon supported lake walking! It looks like a great way to socialize.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading this week.
After years and years of either being a student or a teacher (or married to one) I have found that it is nice to have a break, especially from knowing what September will bring in every year. So I can see how you feel liberated…. mae at maefood.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI am not a high fantasy reader either. So I get that! I always love your videos! They make me want to put a camera in my backyard because I know I've seen bunnies, groundhogs, and maybe even deer! Enjoy some "you" reading time! The training sounds interesting too! I borrowed your meme at the start of the post to share with a meme message group I'm in on Facebook too. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteLisa Lives Literature
This book, the Jordan one, was on the PBS list of the best books, and I've always thought it is a book I should read. Maybe not!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time off. Textbooks---ugh!
I think it's witchcraft here too. I keep unhauling books and yet my shelves are stuffed!
ReplyDeleteSearch and rescue training sounds like it will be fun. Glad you get a break from the textbooks until then. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteNo textbooks for 7 months is very good news. I am glad to hear you are enjoying your free time.
ReplyDeleteOK I must ask, for search and rescue will there be dogs? I love that. Anyway enjoy your break to read and do other activities until August.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
I love high fantasy and liked Eye of the World, but I agree that it has many faults. I don't recommend continuing with the series since that first book didn't work out. First, the series is too damn long (14 or so books) and becomes even more repetitive as it goes on — and the characters even more annoying, at least to me. I'm on the sixth book, I think, and am struggling to move past it.
ReplyDeleteA high fantasy book I'd recommend is Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's a better written, better told story.
Search and rescue will be so exciting and interesting I'm sure!!! Enjoy your reading break in the meantime!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed The Wheel of Time series when I read it many years ago, but understand that it's not for everyone. I hope you enjoy whatever you read this week more.
ReplyDeleteYay for no textbooks - sadly I’m currently drowning in policy and procedure manuals.
ReplyDeleteI generally prefer urban fantasy to high fantasy but some of the newer high fantasy is more appealing.
Wishing you a great reading week
I loved your skunkumentary! Looks like your garden is the place for critters to be. That little skunk was so busy!
ReplyDeleteAwesome for no school! Good luck with training. Like you, I purge and still have no space. What witchery is that? Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/01/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-jan-20.html
The Eye of the World sat on my TBR pile for years. Ultimately, I donated it unread. It looks like I shouldn't regret that decision. Congrats on being accepted into the Search and Rescue program. Also, yay for no textbooks until August. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI don't think i would like high fantasy even though I want to read low? fantasy more this year! Great you have got into Search and Rescue and have now some months of rest and freedom from study, enjoy that chosen reading.
ReplyDeleteI read the Eye of The World and I decided I didn't want to commit to the super long series, I didn't like it nearly enough to want to struggle through that so I can see where you're coming from. Although I don't particularly even mind other fantasy that feels like LOTR. And Skunkumentary is an excellent word! haha
ReplyDeleteMy #IMWAYR post:
https://darkshelfofwonders.com/imwayr-music-monday-11/
That's great about the training and about no textbooks. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteLOL That comic about balloon walking made me laugh. When I think back to Back to the Future 2 and their depiction of the future, I can't help but laugh too. I shared your comment about Jordan's book being like Lord of the Rings fanfiction and he said, "That sounds reasonable." He's read a few of Jordan's books and gave up on them after awhile. I've never tried his books. No studying for the next few months--yay! I hope you enjoy the downtime, AJ, although I know you will be busy with other stuff in the meantime. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThat's great news about no more textbooks till August! Real books only, Yes! Your search & rescue course sounds great.
ReplyDeleteThere were fans of the Robert Jordan books. I'd say if you struggled with the first book, don't read the other 18(?) books in the series. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome about your training! Enoy your free time until then!
ReplyDeleteI never read Eye of the World because I was kind of prejudiced against it when I was young — not a genre reader! Now I think I’m too old for it. Maybe it’s the kind of book you fall in love with when you’re young and keep that nostalgic feeling for when you’re older!
ReplyDeleteLove the Skunkumentary. :) Glad you have some free time. Continue to enjoy it! :)
ReplyDelete