officiumdefunctorum

Well I started Dust of Dreams today, so I'll be getting around to TUC around the end of the month I'd think. And I definitely wasn't kidding about reading being my second job. I've watched TV shows for the first time since August just this last week. Trying to unconsciously avoid the end of Malazan, maybe.

Because vocal fachs are ridiculous.

Only reason I'm as good as I am is because my sight singing teacher was a Hungarian woman who took the Kodaly method real seriously, and at any given time I was singing with three different ensembles, plus voice and piano, plus musicianship. My life was literally sight singing. Also I hated the Acapella ensembles at my uni so I took to chamber music out of spite. *shrug* Couldn't make a sound on an oboe or anything else that wasn't tortuous death, though.

@TheOrlionThatComesBefore I haven't read that short story, so I couldn't judge it, but The First Law is solid. He takes a rather sardonic approach to grimdark, something that relies on twists of fate more often than the machinations of things, though there is plenty of that to be sure. Mainly, I found his writing to be amusing, and he does a good job of making you think twice and again about the measure of the characters. The cast of characters he creates is outstanding, and there was never a time when POV changed where I was like "not this again". As for second apocalypse, I'll wait until I've finished Malazan to read The Unholy Consult, and then I'll decide if my soul really wants more of Bakker. There is a lot to appreciate about what and how he writes, and I get it, I do, but--like with George R.R. Martin,(I'm still not sure I actually liked ASoIaF)--the incessant horror and complexities became more tedious than anything else. I suppose that's just my sensibility. *shrug*

Doubtless. Though I've realized that every author and large fantasy series has something to offer, and I'm usually more critical in hindsight than anything else. Excluding bad writing, I'm pretty magnanimous as a reader. I'll embrace flaws while loving a thing anyway, The Wheel of Time being the crown of that tendency. For example, I could write a treatise on everything that infuriates and irritates me about Bakker, but within the grasp of the story, I couldn't stop. I'm ever seeking the plausible and realistic in what I read, which in some ways excludes the incessantly nihilistic extremes of pragmatism that exist in the second apocalypse 'verse. Then again, that's the point of it all. The shortest path in that universe is the most bloody, the most fraught, the most treacherous. My true favorites thus far, though, are realistic in a way that embraces the capacity for hope, rather than immanent amorality, whatever the risk and challenge. Frankly I prefer Abercrombie's brand of grimdark. It's much less conceited.

This thread seems a little instrumentalist heavy. I welcome your scorn, wielders of bow, mallet, reed and horn, for I am a classically trained singer, and I can take you down like Adolin in a duel of sight reading. Unless you're an accompanist, in which case I bow to your superior skill. One of my college choral conductors was an extremely intelligent, crazy old man. His name is Fred Stolzfus, and I literally had to write down some of the things he said because they were so ridiculous. There are copies of the St. Matthew Passion and Beethoven's Ninth in the choral library at the U of I that must have a dozen or so random, bizarre quotes in the margins. I always remember this blunt treasure: "You must sing it in tune, or else it will sound like s**t."

Update: I tackled Bakker's Second Apocalypse, with the exception of the final book, for which the audiobook comes out this weekend. I have to say... It's my first experience with grimdark on such an epic and well, thorough, scale. I both loved it and was horrified by it. Gave me weird dreams and had me yelling: NO. WHAT. WHY WOULD YOU--NO. I might be a bit traumatized, but in a productive way? Now on the third book of Malazan, and I am HOOKED. Yes. All the yes. Thank you to those that recommended it.

I could definitely get behind it, then. I very much enjoyed Crime and Punishment. In fact, Raskolnikov came to mind when reading the inner dialogue of Sand dan Glokta in The First Law. I guess it comes down to a good story, in the end, and I can always give it up. I've tried getting through the Vampire chronicles three times, and each time I just got bored to death.

@Ravi There are some familiar names on that list! What are your top three? @DSC01Thanks for the insight. I've seen Bakker's name a handful of times now so it might be next. I might steer clear of Covenant. I can deal with unlikable characters, but I couldn't deal with a constant Holden Caulfield POV. I'm too am not a fan of pretention; I enjoy the language of Tolkien because it's damnation majestic and has gravitas. In other authors it annoys me.

This is something that has been on my radar, so it definitely goes on the list. As for narrators, I feel the same way about Roy Dotrice (narrated ASoIaF). He's the main reason I haven't toured those books a second time. I hate the voices he does. Thank you all for the suggestions so far! I'll do some sniffing around titles mentioned.

First Law universe, possibly not epic but certainly surprising and momentous:

I read so much it is more or less my second job. I prefer audiobooks because I teach and trying to read the traditional way leads to unintentional naps and then sadness when I'm up too late and then up early again. I'll put it this way. The collective wheel of time series stands about 460 hours in audiobook form. Round about 19 days. I binged it in less than two months, and then did it again this summer. I need a queue from reliable sources. Notable things I've read and enjoyed (which is most things, really): Gentleman Bastards, Scott Lynch The First Law, Joe Abercrombie Obviously Sanderson, though I didn't care so much for Mistborn. Wheel of Time, Robert Jordan/Sanderson (current and crowned favorite) Farseer books (all three trilogies), Robin Hobb A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R. Martin Harry Potter, Rowling (proud Slytherin) Tolkien's books, including the oddments, though I've yet to tackle Beren and Luthien. Explicit sex and violence/gore don't bother me, and I rather enjoy a slew of foul language but still like stuff that doesn't have it. More into fantasy than sci-fi, and I'm not looking for your stereotypical dystopia, so don't you dare recommend A Handmaid's Tale. I need character driven fiction. I want flawed people to love and hate. Batman, not Superman. Magic is cool but not necessary. Honestly, if you approve of the series above and have something unlisted you couldn't put down or stop reading/listening to, it'll probably end up on my list anyway. Like I said: I always need something to read. I have also been known to enjoy things others don't like, for stupid reasons, so just throw stuff out there. I'm thinking about Outlander but a reliable source is iffy on it. SEND ME YOUR BOOKS, THE LONGER THE BETTER.

I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I wish shame and fear were reserved for their like alone, and not their targets.

A friend of mine is struggling in so many ways, and I live too far away to do anything more than support his GoFundMe. He was the victim of a horrific rape and battery a year ago and still hasn't fully recovered. I want to do more and don't know how.

I will cheerfully take this as an excuse to make my vacation one day longer. My sister and I will totally be there.

Perrin's drudgery is worth it for Gaul. As for Elayne? Don't like her... Really at all. Jordan didn't put much effort into explaining why she and Rand fall in love and she's just so... Entitled. I want to punch her constantly when she's with Mat in Ebou Dar. Much like Mat himself, I imagine.

YES. The whole situation with Tylin was this classic case of sexual abuse where they blame it on Mat and he's trying to retain his dignity by playing it cool, but she's also the queen and can do what she wants. The power dynamics in his relationships were not good (with Tuon as well). I was so satisfied when he shouted at Elayne and she finally realized what was going on and felt ashamed. But then of course nothing happened, ugh. As for Perrin, I respect him as a character who grew into his roles more gracefully than some of the others, but in a believable way. Jordan was really good at making those transitions. Granted, he had a planned series of thirteen books to do it, but still. In the end I just think Perrin was too... Level headed and sane for him to be my favorite. My favorites are the functionally broken ones. Matt, Rand, Mazrim Taim, Ituralde...

I think sex and gender roles were like... The core of WoT, so I agree that the consent issues were rife in the series. A New Spring made it even more clear, with their bizarre coming of age traditions. I like that Jordan played around with gender roles and whatnot within his little universe, but it was flat out stated that Tylin was going to extremes with Mat and I can tell the intent was for it to seem humorous. Like "turnabout is fair play to the womanizer!" And I didn't think it was funny at all.

RIGHT? When I finally got my sister around to reading it and she got to that part we had a rousing discussion of how much the whole thing bothered us. Tylin basically turning Mat into a bedslave was just handled so casually by everyone involved, except Mat himself. I was pretty gratified when she died, tbh. I think memorializing her with the pink ribbon was an obnoxious reminder I really didn't need. Stockholm syndrome, man.

Shadows of Mordor for the first time. I really enjoy getting the chance to take revenge on orcs that manage to kill me.

I figured. I have the same overall qualm with 10, and I think maybe 9? I've only read the series twice and ploughed through it both times so where one book begins/ends in the story is still hard for me to to remember. I do know I skipped most of Perrin's manly suffering the second time through because there wasn't enough Gaul to offset it. The audiobook collection is in the ballpark of 455 hours ('bout 18 days) and I blew through it in less than two months. It was seriously like my second job.

When I'm not listening to my audiobook, I've finally gotten around to listening to the last two Slipknot albums. A few tracks in there I really enjoy. Been reminiscing with Linkin Park lately, too.

I will join you in its defense on behalf of my beloved Matrim. I will concede that more or less everything going on with Perrin is ANGST ANGST ANGST MANLY SUFFERING, and I find Elayne to be endlessly annoying, but Mat with the menagerie is too much fun.

It's now on my list. Thank you! I'm more or less always on the hunt for a good series, and nearly always read what comes highly recommended... Eventually. Took me half a year to give in to the wheel of time.

Like I said, for the sake of good characters I put up with a lot. It's one of the reasons I'm so faithful to Supernatural. I will wait for the audiobook, because Michael Page narration all the "motherf**kers" is too good to resist.