Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

    I enjoyed this novel immensely. Not only did it have a compelling story, but had a colorful array of characters. The inclusion of "Breath" and the religion attached to it creates a dynamic concept. I had never seen or read about souls being treated in that manner. It felt like Sanderson was writing this novel for artists, with all the emphasis that he placed on color. Even some of the characters, depending on how much Breath they have, can determine the particular shades of each hue in the world around them. Aside from the intricately woven tapestry of the world, the characters intrigued me even more. The story revolves around the perspectives of three main characters, limiting our knowledge on the other characters around them. Each of these characters Siri, Vivenna, and Lightsong are pretty much ignorant whether by choice or circumstance. A young princess with a lackadaisical attitude who gets sent to wed the God King, another princess who was prepared for that task is left questioning her worth, and a god who doesn't even believe in himself. Even after the author fooled me about the intentions of one character, I still continued to get surprised every time a "good guy" was revealed to be the "bad guy." 

    I enjoyed the complex system of how to properly use the Breath. Only certain commands could be used and only organic materials could be controlled. The entire religion around the god was interesting, since they are only worshiped so they could one day sacrifice the entirety of their Breaths and then pass on. Other than that, they don't really contribute the welfare of the people of Hallendran. Lightsong seems to be the only one questioning his state of godhood, while others readily accepted the life. His attitude goes against the grain, and really questions the whole existence of the gods. At times his cynical view frustrated me, while other times he fulfilled his roles as the comic relief character. The two sisters, Vivenna and Siri, have their roles reversed. Neither one prepared what they had to eventually face and both handled their new life in unexpected ways. While Siri matured and came to accept the fact that she should be more involved in securing the safety of her homeland, Vivenna completely deteriorated. I was not very fond of the character, Vivenna from the beginning. She never intended to save her sister, she may have tried to convince herself of that in the beginning, but once she was in the city it was all about her. For someone who was educated to take on a queenly role, she was very inexperienced with dealing with others and her gullibility cost her and others suffering.

     I was a tad disappointed by the end, mainly because it was abruptly over but also the story wrapped up a little too cleanly. We are supposed to gladly assume that the army of the stone Lifeless reach and stop the other Lifeless army in time to save the city of Idris. Also, I felt like the explanations of the Five Scholars and finally the revelation of their true identities was just pinned on in the end. Overall this book held my attention The conflict of religious ideals, and how closely it reflects reality with monotheism vs. polytheism, gives this fictional world a link to our own. The treatment of souls is viewed differently in each city; in one city the soul is coveted, while the other sees it as a form of commerce.

           

The Color of Magic Ep. 1 & 2

     The only literature I have read by Terry Pratchett was Good Omens, which he co-wrote with Neil Gaiman. So I knew it would delve somewhat in the realm of comedy, if not entirely. Bits of the storytelling reminded me of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. There is an ultimate, universal question that just needs to be answered. In this case the question is as silly as "What is the gender of the turtle?"  It shares the same random twists and turns and most unexpected occurrences. The main characters are pushed into an adventure, and ultimately wind up saving the world after completing their quest.
    The two travelers, TwoFlower and Rince Wind are quite polar opposites. Two Flower is the optimist tourist, stepping into the face of danger with a care or worry. He is only curious about where he is and the functions of the surrounding. Rince Wind on the other hand, is the unfortunate guide who has plenty of near-death experiences thanks to Two Flower.

     It is definitely full of common fantasy references, but distorts them into something else. There was a bit with the enchanted sword that has a strong desire to slay dragons. The sacrificial maiden who was angry when she was rescued from the hands of death. The "Cohen" the Barbarian character is a toothless, man who is as old as dirt. And yet he still wins favor with a woman who is decades younger than he.  I  also enjoyed the sprinkling of modern influences, especially the stereotype of the tourist. His bright Hawaiian shirt, huge suitcase, and his constant need to take photographs. I would love to have luggage that was loyal and could defend itself.

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

     There is something very enticing about the genre of urban fantasy. The possibility that the world of Faerie coexists with modern society does not seem so far-fetched when reading one of these novels. Works such as Tithe, by Holly Black, and Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman, are able to hold my complete attention. I become so enraptured by the story that I forget that I'm reading. War for the Oaks had the same effect, with its interesting characters and engaging plot. This story focuses mainly on finding one's own path.
Eddi is presented vulnerable, left her boyfriend, quit the band and is left in a financial mess. Although she is a victim of a circumstance, she soon transforms into a heroine of sorts. This novel was delved fully into female empowerment. The two courts of Faerie are led by intimidating queens. While the characters of Willy and the phouka seem to be in charge, Eddi reverses that with her own domineering qualities as the story moves along.
  
    The relationship of Eddi and the phouka mimicked the tale of Beauty and the Beast. The phouka, besides having the ability to transform into creatures, has a very agressive personality. He is constantly making a nuisance of himself, and purposely annoys everyone. It is interesting that he is never given a name. By calling him "the phouka" the author reminds us that he is supernatural. While, Eddi is not described a gorgeous woman, she has attractive qualities and is able to command the attention of others. And just like the tale, she is unhappy with the phouka's constant presence at first but unknowingly develops feeling for him by the end.

     After I finished reading, I found that I was a bit disappointed by some of the story's elements. While each character was very unique, there was little to no background information presented on any of them. The ending was quite abrupt, and the "battle" of the bands seemed a little strange after all that had occurred. While music played a major role as the base of the story, it was employed as an unconventional tool in deciding the fates of Faerie. The dramatic atmosphere came and went in the span of a couple of pages, and felt rushed. I felt that the mood was disrupted by some unnecessary, sporadic silly comments by the minor characters.

     Aside from that, I found this to be a great urban fantasy novel. I had never heard of the title or the author prior to seeing it on the recommended reading list. Using music as a source of power fits so well into the realm of fantasy. Melodies can manipulate a person's mood, and thus can control people. I have read other fantasy tales that utilize music as their primary theme, but this book really dove into the heart of it and presented it very well.

Being John Malkovich dir. Spike Jonze

I liked the concept of the movie, but the way the story was conveyed was... bizarre, to say the least. I think there was an attempt to jam pack too many side stories into the span of a few hours. It was interesting to see the purpose of the portal though, with the elderly man being able to become in a way immortal. It is the very oddity of this film that made it interesting to watch, but at one turning point it became a bit overwhelming.

There was a clear parody of John Malkovich career, when even some of the characters didn't know him by name. I had seen him other movies, but he was always in minor role and would only appear briefly. But in this movie he soon becomes a god-like figure in the eyes of the characters that discover the portal. For Lotte, it is her opportunity to discover herself, and what she really desires. For Craig he was able to fully use his skills as a puppeteer on a living being. To see the puppet master take over John Malkovich was surreal, and involved a lot of superb acting on Malkovich's part. Maxine, the antagonist, brings out the worst all of the characters.  Maxine gets the great idea to sell the "John Malkovich experience" and soon becomes a drug of sorts. Their thoughts influence his actions, and thus he appears as a figure struggling with multiple personalities. Although Craig is the puppeteer, the real one pulling the strings is Maxine. She is manipulative and overall cruel, until the end where her personality changes completely. 

     It had an appealing concept, but overall it was too twisted. This movie became too surreal for me, and about halfway through the movie, I tried to stop making sense of it. It remained creepy right up until the credits began to roll.

The Magicians-Lev Grossman

     For a fantasy tale, this novel was very grounded in concepts of reality. Magic is not as simple as the flick of the wrist, but rather something to be pain-painstakingly studied.  As I read on I couldn't help but compare Brakebills to Hogwarts, but I soon discovered that the latter was much different. The idealized world of Hogwarts sends you a pretty invitation and magic is something that all the students can do no matter what their level of knowledge is. At Brakebills, a test must be taken in order to prove your worth before you can even hope to dabble in magic. So instead of being a part of the elite, a preselected group that is allowed to do magic, Brakebills only lets in those who pass individualized standardized tests. This hits all too close to home, having taken tests, creating portfolios, and accomplishing all the work that came with college applications.

     The scene where the Beast suddenly appears, after Quentin made someone falter in his incantation, was pretty frightening. To go from a dull, class lecture to a kid being gobbled up by this creature was quite an engaging shift of pace in the book. It was scenes such as this, although quite horrid, that were even more out of the ordinary than a school of magic.

     There is a clear influence of The Chronicles of Narnia throughout the book. Instead of the god-figure being a lion, Fillory had two rams, which feel less intimidating. Kids travel to this otherwordly land that is assumed to be a paradise, only to discover they don't truly belong there. One of them, Martin Chatwin, refuses to believe this and remains as an intrusion in the land. Because really who wouldn't want to stay in a magical land such as that? Later in the story, Ember, one of the rams, brings up a great point, that the human kids don't belong in Fillory and only see the place as a source of entertainment. The repercussions of greed are clearly shown in Martin, who has distorted himself into a monstrous being. The Watcherwoman revealing herself as Jane, one of the Chatwin children who had arrived to Fillory long ago, was a good twist. Her rewinding time and going through multiple, and different scenarios to end her corrupt brother, Martin.

     I had competing emotions while I read this novel. On one hand, I appreciated the fact that it touched upon the grim aspects of reality, unlike previous fantasy stories I have read. I knew from the beginning that this book would delve into the dark side of fantasy, but even still there were just too many scandals for my liking. This book had a grave tone, from the grueling labor of studying magic to the explicit drug use. I think too many Disney movies have engraved into my mind the desire for a happy ending, so I was a bit disappointed by this novel's ending. But overall it was an engaging work of fantasy, and very memorable.

Labyrinth dir. Jim Henson (Dance Magic, Dance!)

    Wishing your baby brother would turn into a goblin seems pretty harsh. The movie established from the beginning that Sarah has quite an imagination. Her room is riddled with fantasy novels (with goblin bookends), toys, and even a miniature scale of a labyrinth. It encapsulates everything a fantasy movie should be, fairies included. It has all of the necessary obstacles. The age old riddle of two doors (or pathways) where one guard lies and the other tells only the truth.  There was the age old lesson that one should never cross decrepit-looking bridges, especially ones over a lake of stench. There were various characters that either helped or distracted her from main goal. David Bowie's character as the goblin king is obsessed with crystal balls, singling with goblins, and tight pants. He shares an odd relationship  with Sarah, even at one point dances with her in Sarah's drug induced dream.

     I quite enjoyed this movie with its art direction. All of the puppets were pretty impressive and all the sets were very diverse. Although it is a labyrinth, the environment shifts constantly so it isn't just a continuing stone wall. Although if I were a kid when I watched this, I'm pretty sure I'd be freaked out by some of those puppet faces, especially the ones that sang around the campfire in the forest scene.

     I found it funny how Sarah's attitude changed once baby Toby was abducted and was then after desperate to find him. Sarah's entire journey was to come to terms that she needs to mature, and accept responsibilities. One part that  the scene with the hoarder puppet, where Sarah desperately grasps at all her toys and most prized material possessions. She comes to an epiphany  and realizes what she actually holds dear. But even though Sarah accepts that she has to grow up, she still holds onto her imagination.

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

     This was my first time reading any of Tolkien's works and I've only watched bits and pieces of Peter Jackson's film adaptations of the series. I am a big fan of fantasy, mainly reading urban fantasy tales such as those by Neil Gaiman, but I was really fascinated by "The Hobbit."
The part where the journey really began for me was when Bilbo was separated from the group in the mountains. We get some time to be alone with Bilbo and see what he is truly capable of without anybody's assistance. Bilbo's encounter with Gollum displayed his swift thinking and was a clear indication that he would demonstrate his wit more throughout the story. At first, Bilbo came off as an annoying character, always complaining about not having any food, but he soon proves to be the most essential member of the traveling group.

     I enjoy the fact that Bilbo does not fit the stereotypical idea of a hero. He is not brave,  not clad in shining armor, and is not searching  for a damsel. Although there is a dragon involved, Bilbo is not the one destined to slay it. Instead Bilbo is small in stature, employs wit instead of brawn, and most of the time is in a dreadful mood about his situation. Bilbo, at the age of fifty, was already set in his ways in his comfortable little hobbit hole until he was forcefully urged to go on this quest. In one respect, this reflects the fact that even though adventure seems like a wondrous idea, we are sometimes unwilling to make that first step outside of our comfort zone. The character, Gandalf, felt like a guardian angel for the for the dwarfs and Bilbo. The wizard conveniently appeared in times of need and was their constant source of guidance on the quest.  I loved how practical their journey was, with the group consistently running low on food. Such a small detail is overlooked in other fantasy stories I've read. In other tales it is assumed that they can travel without the troubles of hunger, but this addition made Tolkien's story feel believable. I'd always get hungry while reading these passages.

     I can see why there is such a strong attraction to the atmosphere of Tolkein's Middle Earth. Even with all the perils that the protagonist encounters, he is always able to escape in the end. That aspect, combined with the presence of magic and creatures makes this world so appealing. I guess I was  adamant to read this series because of its popularity and huge following.  I am kicking myself now for not reading this series. I rarely read "traditional" fantasy, since I assumed that I knew exactly what plot format to expect; a hero goes off to save a princess in some castle. I have never been so grateful to be wrong.