Hello Everyone!
I hope everyone has had a good day so far. I have had a lovely afternoon reading.
Blog Posts
Currently Reading
I’m really enjoying both of these books so far which is good because The Fires of Heaven almost finished me with The Wheel of Time series.
Happy Reading
Happy Friday!
I hope everyone has some fab plans for the weekend. I am very close to finishing one book so I am hoping to get that finished and start a new one.
My chosen poem this week is by the English poet, polemicist, and civil servant John Milton (1608-1674).
May Morning
Now the bright morning Star, Dayes harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The Flowry May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow Cowslip, and the pale Primrose.
Hail bounteous May that dost inspire
Mirth and youth, and warm desire,
Woods and Groves, are of thy blessing.
Hill and Dale, doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early Song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.
John Milton
Happy Reading
The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan
Blurb
In The Fires of Heaven, the fifth novel in Robert Jordan’s #1 New York Times bestselling epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, four of the most powerful Forsaken band together against the Champion of Light, Rand al’Thor.
Prophesised to defeat the Dark One, Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, has upset the balance of power across the land. Shaido Aiel are on the march, ravaging everything in their path. The White Tower’s Amyrlin has been deposed, turning the Aes Sedai against one another. The forbidden city of Rhuidean is overrun by Shadowspawn.
Despite the chaos swirling around him, Rand continues to learn how to harness his abilities, determined to wield the One Power–and ignoring the counsel of Moiraine Damodred at great cost.
Review
This is the second time I have read this book and I will be honest the first time I read this book it put me off continuing with the series. However, I decided last year that I would complete the series and started reading it again from book one.
Even though I had forgotten a lot of what happens in this book my opinion of it hadn’t changed. The main thing I remembered was the waffle and the waffle was still there and there was loads. I can’t help but wonder how short this book would have been if there wasn’t quite so much waffle. For one thing if you took all the obsessing over clothing and how much breast is showing or not showing in all the female characters’ dresses, Jordan would have probably saved 50 pages. I won’t even go into all the mentions of braid pulling! It was only when I got to the last 300 odd pages that I really started to get into the book and start enjoying it.
The thing I really missed in this book was my favourite which is Perrin. I missed his level head and how calm he is. You can always depend on Perrin for common sense which in all honesty you don’t get from most of the characters in this book. Perrin also generally gets to the point and doesn’t skirt the subject like Rand does.
The ongoing arguing between Nynaeve and Elayne was just exhausting and I was so glad when Egwene gave Nynaeve a talking to because quite frankly Elayne and Nynaeve need to grow up. Egwene has taken quite a turn in this book and grown into a mature woman it’s just a shame Nynaeve and Elayne haven’t had the same growth yet.
I really liked learning more about the Aiel in this book and I actually started to like Mat’s character more. Mat has really started to grow up in this book and I loved seeing him lead men into battle. Yes, he is still resisting his fate and can still be annoying but I think he is starting to grow on me.
For such a huge book (nearly 1000 pages) not a lot happens in this book and to be honest it is a big disappointment after reading the previous books. I’m really hoping the next book proves to be a better read. I give this book 3 out of 5 Dragons.
🐲🐲🐲
Purchase Links
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About the author
James Oliver Rigney Jr. (1948-2007) was an American author of epic fantasy who wrote under the pen name Robert Jordan. Jordan also wrote historical fiction under the name of Reagan O’Neal, a western as Jackson O’Reilly, and dance criticism as Chang Lung.
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far.
My chosen quote today is by the American cartoonist William Aloysius “Bil” Keane (1922-2011).
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”
Bil Keane
Happy Reading
Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.
Hello!
I hope everyone has had a good start to the week. I’ve been back to work today which has been nice.
My chosen book today is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke which has been on my Goodreads TBR for many years and I think it is about time that I read it.
The year is 1806. England is beleaguered by the long war with Napoleon, and centuries have passed since practical magicians faded into the nation’s past. But scholars of this glorious history discover that one remains: the reclusive Mr Norrell, whose displays of magic send a thrill through the country.
Proceeding to London, he raises a beautiful woman from the dead and summons an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French. Yet the cautious, fussy Norrell is challenged by the emergence of another magician: the brilliant novice Jonathan Strange.
Young, handsome and daring, Strange is the very antithesis of Norrell. So begins a dangerous battle between these two great men which overwhelms that between England and France. And their own obsessions and secret dabblings with the dark arts are going to cause more trouble than they can imagine.
Happy Reading
Hello!
I hope everyone has had a nice weekend so far. I haven’t done much reading sadly but I have caught up on some gardening jobs.
Blog Posts
Currently Reading
I’m thoroughly enjoying all of these books so far.
Happy Reading
Happy Friday!
I hope everyone has some exciting plans for the weekend.
My chosen poem for this week is by the American poet Billy Collins (1941).
Today
If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze
that it made you want to throw
open all the windows in the house
and unlatch the door to the canary's cage,
indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,
a day when the cool brick paths
and the garden bursting with peonies
seemed so etched in sunlight
that you felt like taking
a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,
releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage
so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting
into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.
Billy Collins
Happy Reading
Hello!
So what has everyone been up to outside of reading good books?
I will be honest and say work has been taking up a lot of my time but I have managed to do some other things as well.
Duolingo
My husband and myself have started learning Greek again. It has been so long since I last attempted it that I have forgotten everything so I have started from scratch. We are using Duolingo at the moment but I would like some other resources to help so any suggestions would be gratefully received.
Walking
We are really making an effort with our walking again. We have been doing the Lord of the Rings virtual challenges on the Conqueror Challenges and we have now completed 4 medals and are on the last one. However, the last medal is 282 miles which is going to take us a while but we will keep plodding along. If anybody would like to try the Conqueror challenges this code will give you 10% off. The walking has also meant some lovely views as well.
Etsy
I have been really busy with my Etsy recently which is wonderful but it has meant I have needed to upgrade my Cricut from a Joy to a Maker 3. This has meant spending some time getting used to a new machine and adapting my designs for the new machine. It has been so nice to make several things at once instead of one thing at a time. If you want to visit my Etsy shop here is the link.
Happy Reading
WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.
The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I’ve been doing quite well with my reading so far this week which is good.
What I am Currently Reading
I am absolutely loving these three books so far. In fact I’m struggling to choose which one to read at a time.
What I have Recently Finished Reading
This seemed to take forever to finish and I now remember why this book put me off continuing with the series when I last read it. I’m not giving up this time though so I will continue onwards with the series.
What I Think I will Read Next
I’m trying for shorter reads this month but to be honest I can never be sure what I will choose to read next.
Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.
Happy Reading
Hello!
I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I am still poorly and off work but at least I am managing a little bit more reading.
My chosen quote this week is by the American novelist, screenwriter, and film producer Nicholas Sparks (1965).
“If conversation was the lyrics, laughter was the music, making time spent together a melody that could be replayed over and over without getting stale.”
Nicholas Sparks
Happy Reading
Lady Book Dragon 