Ammanas

The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell. It actually has a blurb by Brandon Sanderson on the cover praising it. It just came out today but it’s good so far. Evidently in this world a faction in it partially destroyed the moon so chunks are falling down randomly and causes major problems. I’m liking it.

In the past depression had been something that I struggled with. But that changed when I decided to make the decision to believe fully in God, and Jesus Christ and devote myself to walking the path of discipleship to the Savior. And living and immersing myself in religion as a tool to help me on my journey. It has probably saved my life as well as I no longer have such dark thoughts. I remember pleading with God to give me a new heart and He has answered. I’m still climbing up that mountain every day of my journey and there’s lots of things I want to improve on (and change) but I’ve found happiness now these last several years.

I read this article a little while back it talked a little bit about Kyber Crystals, light saber color differences and it explains Reys choice of hers being yellow at the end of the latest film. It was all really interesting a new for a casual fan like me https://www.tor.com/2019/12/22/whats-the-deal-with-reys-lightsaber/

It’s for all wards. Here is the official notice that was sent out https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/multimedia/file/trek-pageant-camp-notice.pdf Or if you don’t want the pdf you can just read it here: https://www.ldsliving.com/Youth-Campgrounds-Closed-Treks-and-Pageants-Canceled-Postponing-the-Final-Hill-Cumorah-Performance/s/92780

@old aggie Yes! The Silmarillion has some of Tolkien’s best language and so much of it rings true. I will include two examples in the images. The first starts with “Mighty are the Ainor...” and is about even when bad things happen good comes of it (as you also pointed out). The second image was a example of this when Melkor destroys Ulmos domain and he is saddened by it, but Eru explains how snow and frost is even more beautiful than water and the water will now go into the air with the extreme climates and allow him to be closer to his best friend Manwe

It was the bathtub/shower cartridge. All the YouTube videos said the you had to turn off the water to the entire house.

Got in over my head with a Do it yourself project. Tried to fix a leaky faucet and things were well until a the last piece instead of coming out smoothly ended up shattering and getting jammed ridiculously tight in the copper pipe. Of course the water was turned off to the house and couldn’t turn it on without it gushing water because of the piece. Ended up having to call a plummer which charges a arm and a leg for “house calls.” A very frustrating and costly day spent without water. Hopefully tomorrow is better!

Are you a Hobbit and LOTR only Tolkien fan or have you read the rest of the Legendarium? I’m more of a middle of the road fan. It took a few tries to finish the Silmarillion but found it to be fantastic once I got a handle on it. I plan on reading Unfinished Tales in the future. I read the Children of Hurin but I think I prefer the shorter version of the story found in the Silmarillion. Probably isn’t a popular opinion though. For what I’m reading it’s Heirs of the Blade by Tchaikovsky. It’s the slowest of the series, but the best written. The author continues to impress and entertain me.

In my opinion it’s perfectly fathomable because I have serious doubts if the third book of the trilogy will ever be released. These books are not stand alones either. I’m all about supporting authors that are not done with the series; so the publishers will want to continue the series and not cut it short. But the time lapse between books and his attitude are indefensible. Its hard to have tone come across in print, but would just like to offer my comments as a humble opinion and not meant to come across as combative.

Just read this today. Sounds a lot like a plot element from Mistborn. Jacob 4:1-2 1 Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain; 2 But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away...

Order of the Phoenix is my favorite book because it includes the most descriptions (and time) with the day to day life at Hogwarts which is my favorite aspect of the series. My favorite movie was Prisoner of Azkaban which in many ways was the most artistic of all the movies and I was really impressed with how the director handled it all. However the part I disliked most about the movie was the depiction of the werewolf which was absolutely bazaar.

It’s a series that’s really fun to read and easy to lose yourself in. Sure it doesn’t have sublime prose or other aspects that people can admire and study even hundreds of years from now. I enjoy all types of stories. War and Peace to young adult. Sure there are series I enjoy more as a adult but HP really has a way to kindle a love of reading and books like nothing else I have encountered.

I love the fantasy genre! The only place it makes perfect sense for a person to wield a sword that’s twice as tall as they are. Seriously though great cover. I actually prefer the UK style of Sanderson works but live in the US and obtain those copies.

edit: I had a comment, but it didn’t seem to contribute much and I decided to stay out of this thread which is becoming slightly contentious

I recommend reading the best kept secret in the fantasy genre: The Shadows of the Apt series by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Epic in scope but very easy to follow. 10 books and four short story collections so it should keep you busy for awhile.

You are not even at the most difficult section of the series. In my opinion the series takes a steep dive from here and rock bottom at Crossroads of the Twilight a slight upturn at Knife of Dreams but still well below Lord of Chaos. Brandon Sanderson does a great job finishing the series and in my opinion is worth enduring. If it ever gets to be too much you can easily find plot summaries and just continue with The Gathering Storm. Honestly you could even just start with the Gathering Storm after Lord of Chaos and eventually pick everything up. Has any series had so much potential squandered as Wheel of Time? So many great ideas and a fascinating world but it has just so many problems. Opinions vary however but just my two cents on the series.

Leman. And no I do not mean lemon. A leman is a a lover or sweetheart. “Likewise” is also a very useful word that I like use.

All the talks are blending together at the moment and I plan to start reading them tomorrow because the text is now available but the ones that stood out to me was President Nelson’s Sunday morning talk and this part of Elder Stevenson’s talk on Saturday about the girl that was ill: she wrote that someone had asked her, “How do you still have faith with all the heartache that surrounds you?” She replied firmly with these words: “Because faith is what gets me through these dark times. Having faith doesn’t mean nothing bad is going to happen. Having faith allows me to believe that there will be light again. And that light will be even brighter because I have walked through the dark. As much darkness as I have witnessed over the years, I have witnessed far more light. I have seen miracles. I have felt angels. I have known that my Heavenly Father was carrying me. None of that would have been experienced if life was easy. The future of this life may be unknown, but my faith is not. If I choose to not have faith then I choose to only walk in darkness. Because without faith, darkness is all that is left.”

So much goodness! A new proclamation, the Hosanna shout, youth speakers, a new church symbol, and a temple in China! This is also the first conference I made it through all ten hours. I usually watch one each day and go back to read the others. The trick for me is to walk outside in my neighborhood (one of my favorite pastimes) for a hour and listen via the ksl app. I then return and watch the rest. Ive already printed out the proclamation and look forward to studying the talks as well. I hope I remember to participate in the fast. I’m losing track of days in this quarantine haha

I liked it slightly less then Skyward. I did what it needed to do by expanding the world and introducing several concepts and characters the will more fully payoff later. Middle books are always hard to pull off and Pierce Brown seems to be one of the few authors that really mastered writing middle books (I absolutely loved Golden Son and Dark Age). I’m not really bothered by the “cliff hanger”. I perhaps have a more forgiving attitude towards what constitutes a “cliff hanger” but as long as it resolves the main plot lines in the book (which it did) then I don’t think it qualifies. I’m excited for the next one!

I’m sure Tor would love that. People always think if they have certain possessions they can achieve joy and happiness. We all have to make the decision to be happy and to be “Grateful in any circumstances”. People that are truly happy are not the way because of what they possess but that attitude they carry with them.

I’ve tried the Traitor Son books a few different times and couldn’t get into it. A lot of people that enjoy the same type of books I do love that series though. I know@officiumdefunctorum is a fan of the series and recommends it. Definitely give it a try. Worst case scenario you can ask for a return and audible has never given me problems with that. There are a few similarities it shows with Malazan that there is a good chance you will like it. I might give it another shot one of these days. I’ve read quite a few Lovecraft stories, but am more of a fan of his contemporary Clark Ashton Smith. I’m not currently a audible member and usually sign up again if they have a special deal like they occasionally throughout the year. So I’ll keep that in mind.

Haha just a bit! The narrator for Fall of Light was the weakest Malazan narrator in my opinion. He wasn’t horrible, but nowhere close to my favorite: John Banks. Banks also does a fantastic job of The Books of Babel series by Bancroft with the first one being Senlin Ascends. It is a very different series from Malazan but unique in a lot of ways and really fun. A lot of people really like Ralph Lister and again he is alright, but his voice comes across as too much of snarl in every sentence he utters. It’s just a personal preference thing and Gardens of the Moon is the only audiobook of own of the original ten. I’ve heard Michael Page in the Lynch books and does a good job but noticed he struggles when he gets outside of small casts. I still would like to hear him narrate a full Malazan book some day. I thought the Forge narrator did a decent job and would of liked for him to continue with Fall of Light.

Insightful and in-depth as always @hoiditthroughthegrapevine! The question you asked about Fall of Light I don’t know the answer to. I am more of a visual learner and have only listened to the Kharkanus books and haven’t actually read it like I have with Eriksons other books. I can get away with simpler stories and even ICE with audiobooks and catch just about everything but not with more complex novels and series. I don’t have anything to add except I enjoyed all you had to say.

I think Erikson knows he went a little overboard with the Karkanus books. It was also a huge blow for him when he realized the Kharkanus books were not selling well. It looks like a took a long look at himself and realized things needed to change. He immediately opened up a Facebook page and tries to sell himself a bit more. His writing style is much more similar to his earlier writings (a conscious decision on his part and seems to have made good on it judging from the prologue he released). Steven Erikson has too much talent to not keep giving him chances. I think most readers that make it through The Crippled God will agree. It will always be a niche audience though. Much of his original ten books only makes sense on rereads and the casual reader doesn’t have the patience and time for it. I think the audience that finished the Crippled God will keep on trying his new Malazan entry points though. I chuckle to myself though because no matter how much Erikson wants to “go commercial”. He just can’t do it completely; evidently the first Karsa book will not even have Karsa in it! He will be referenced and talked about but not present. Oh well...he is kind of like a authors equivalent to a mad genius and I think most fans are willing to cut him a little slack. I am also excited to see how the Malazan empire is doing under Mallick Rel. I know it’s a unpopular opinion but I think Mallick is the perfect ruler for the way the empire is currently. They do not need the charismatic leader of a founder such as Kellenved; I think it would create to much instability. Surly was too brittle and unyielding to rule. It’s become (or at least becoming) a Empire of paper pushers and bureaucracy (as depicted in the Esslemont books). What it needs is a political animal that can pull strings, compromise, and keep the boat steady. This is Mallick Rel as ICE depicts him.