Book Round-Up

So let's see, where was I?

I finished The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, and I do heartily look forward to the last two books in the series. There were good reveals and some fun action. I could pretty easily tell what parts had been written by Jordan, and what parts were wholly Sanderson. It can make a person wish that Sanderson wrote the entire thing. His style is so much more free and flowing. Jordan's by comparison brings to mind the tone and meter of a Norse epic.

Then I moved on the Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry. Now this book is Niffenegger's second novel, and I could easily add her first, The Time-Traveler's Wife, to my annual rotation. And the first three quarters of this book, I felt the same way about. And then stuff happened. It's about the only way I can say it. Things happen and the train goes hurtling off he tracks and over the hills to have a picnic. Sure its unpredictable, but it just made me say, "Whah?"

And for now, I'm filling my time with fluff. I wait patiently (kind of) for John to get and read, and then lend me Jim Butcher's conclusion to his Codex Alera series First Lord's Fury. I have joyous hope.

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As another diversion, I've been watching the video's of Yahtzee's Zero Punctuation. I don't play a lot of video games, mostly because I don't have a game console, but for those I do play or even know about, his videos have been hilarious. And then I've watched some others and they've been funny too. Quite worth the time.

The Healing Continues

Thursday was another day for photography. I put on my Goorin Brothers hat, and Jennifer and I went wandering for pictures. We did some at the loft, and then moved on to a couple parks. It was another wonderful experience between the two of us. We really had fun.

Afterwards we drove to Livermore for three weeks' worth of comics. Bob is so great to me. DC Comics is having their big crossover with Blackest Night, and they're giving out replica rings for all of the various Corps. For the Black Lanterns that should probably be Corpses. But Bob had all of them ready for me. All of the ones that are out at least (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Yellow, and Orange). I asked him when the Black ring was coming out, and he said they already had. then he pulled out the bag, and handed me one. Next week Red and Green come out.

Of course I already have to of the Green replicas from the 90s. they're a little higher quality plastic and have a glow in the dark center.

After comics, Jennifer and I went to On the Border in Dublin for margaritas and spicy tacos.

Friday I did nothing.

I read my comics, and Jennifer read the new Audrey Niffenegger. She finished that this morning when she got up, so now I can read it.

Then for fun and dinner, we went to Wendy's. And we took Pom with us. We did the drive-thru, and Pom was funny the whole way. she stayed close to Jennifer trembling a little unless Jennifer was holding her close. Then as we were in the line she prairie-dogged to look out the windows. Finally when we got home, she recognized everything, and felt safer wandering around the car.

We'll have to do that more often.

Time Travel and Ghosts

There are three parts of Audrey Niffennegger's The Time Traveler's Wife that are the most painful to read. Okay, most of the end is pretty upsetting, but these three are the hardest.

1. When Henry travels to the future and meets his daughter for the first time at the museum. When he is trying to remain long enough to see Clare and you can practically see their fingers almost touch before he fades out.

2. The time with Clare at the party when Henry knows he's going to be going away for the last time, and that when he returns he will be dying.

3. The final visit introduced from first Henry's and then Clare's perspective.

The entire book is powerful and engaging. I had an entire night to myself, and I took that time to read most of the book. And I finished it for the fourth time this morning.

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And looking at her site, she has a new book coming out next month called Her Fearful Symmetry.

Ahhhhhhhhhh.

The Time Traveler's Wife

Jennifer surprised and corrupted me this evening. We were supposed to go to the gym when I got home. And then come home for a Mythbusters marathon to finish the shows we have recorded. Possibly with brownies and ice cream.

Instead she says, "'The Time Traveler's Wife' opened last week. Do you wanna go see it?"

Now just this morning (or perhaps yesterday morning), I read the review linked from YesButNoButYes, and they didn't like it.

I asked Jennifer if she wanted to read the review first. She said no, and I told her I would go with her.

We got there, and I was probably 1/3 of the male population in the theater. And about 3-5% of the total theater population.

The movie is not the book. We missed many things from the book, but the movie is still good.

It has a lot of the good points and very few changes.

Eric Bana is great as Henry. Rachel MacAdams does a good Claire. Alba is wonderful.

Again, it's not the book, but it would be great for anyone who has not read the book. And hopefully some of those people will buy the book and read it.

Yes, it is sappy, but it's also sweet.

I'd do another matinee priced viewing, and I'm sure we'll get the DVD.

Movie Future

And so, the movie adaptation of Audrey Niffennegger's The Time Traveler's Wife is scheduled for release on Friday, August 14.

I just watched the trailer.

I can only hope that it is a good and faithful adaptation.