Review XP Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

By now, you probably know I am a sworn fan of Brandon Sanderson (which simply means I will swear at you if you say a single bad word about him). I just finished his debut novel Elantris, which I picked up at a used bookstore. It's much shorter that his other works, which is why there wasn't quite as much building toward something awesome, but it was still awesome. I imagine it would be quite daunting for a debut author and/or his publisher to put out a 1,000-page book like those in the Stormlight Archives series.

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed Elantris, the plot and story line intriguing and original. I always thought that predictability in a novel was a bad thing, but Sanderson makes it work. As a reader, you have your own ideas about what you want or what you think should happen. As the story progresses, the expectation and intensity builds. You can't wait for (fill in the blank) to happen, and when it does, it's glorious.I just realized that sounded rather sexual. Well, I suppose it is a bit of a mind fuck. All good stories are.

SPOILER: For instance, in Elantris, you know Raoden is going to eventually become a full Elantrian, you just know it, and that's what keeps you reading.

I can see a parallel to Lovecraft's stories in that they build in a different direction, toward something horrible, but again, you can guess at.

Manga, on the other hand, is written as a tease (enter fanfic, basically literary masturbation). Whatever you really really want to happen, that absolutely will not happen. It may come close to happening, but it won't. And if by some miracle, it does happen, it will be immediately reneged on. And I understand. This is what keeps us reading. If not, you might as well write a novel instead. But it still sucks. I'm talking to you Yoshiki Nakamura.

J. L. Dodd

“I'm Galladon, from the sovereign realm of Duladel. I'm most recently from Elantris, land of sludge, insanity, and eternal perdition. Nice to meet you.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Elantris

“One cannot seperate truth from actions... Physically inevitable or not, truth stands above all things. It is independent of who has the best army, who can deliver the longest sermons, or even who has the most priests. It can be pushed down, but it will always surface. Truth is the one thing you can never intimidate.”
― Brandon Sanderson, Elantris

RANDOM AF! Starbucks and the impending zombie apocalypse ...

Today when I should have been working, I was thinking about Starbucks. In some cities, like Las Vegas, there are Starbucks locations literally around corners, usually just out of the line of sight of the last one. In fact, Las Vegas is tenth on the list of most Starbucks stores, with 136 stores total, behind Seoul, New York, and of course, Seattle, to name a few. If you think I'm exaggerating, check this out: http://www.starbucks.com/store-locator/search/location/Las%20Vegas%2C%20NV%2C%20USA

Literally, on top of each other.

I was trying to understand why a large corporation would pack them so close together, when it would obviously be more profitable to spread them out so they aren't competing with each other. Is this some kind of really expensive, ridiculous marketing ploy? Are they fucking with our heads, that green and white logo haunting our collective subconscious until we are addicts by association? Or, as my dark half asked, could there be a different reason?

Think about it: if you were an evil genius and you wanted to start a zombie apocalypse (admit it, we've all thought about it at one time or another), what would be the perfect, socially acceptable vehicle to infect millions in one fell swoop of morning addiction? Cafe lattes, mochas, cappuccino ... followed by brains brains brains. Not surprisingly, after a quick Google search, I realized I'm not the first to associate the two, though perhaps the first to assign them a causal relationship. So if you are reading this in the future and intend to go back in time and stop this shit, (James Cole) listen up! Start with Starbucks. Howard Schulz is probably just a pawn in someone else's game of world domination. It might be that suspicious IT guy who fixed my computer's internet last week. And if he happens to be from Seattle, you are definitely in trouble. People, if you don't hear from me again, it's because they are on to me.

You may not know this, but I'm an optimist by nature. What? Optimists aren't necessarily goody two-shoes who can't enjoy dropping the f-bomb. Let's look at the bright side of a Starbucks-fueled zombie apocalypse. Virus-laced lattes would make possible a new round of natural selection. Seriously people, it wouldn't hurt to have a few less humans on the planet. And if you did get infected, maybe being a zombie wouldn't be that bad. Who's to say? Have you ever been a zombie? Don't knock it till you try it.Then again, if you refuse to start your day without a venti vanilla latte, you may already be one.

J. L. Dodd

"Starbucks is spreading like a cancer."- Rupert Everett

"Starbucks represents something beyond a cup of coffee." - Howard Schultz
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/starbucks.html

"Humanity is mind-controlled and only slightly more conscious than your average zombie." - David Icke

“In my world there would be as many public libraries as there are Starbucks.”
― Henry Rollins

RANDOM AF! Summer reading and dicking around

I'm finding this summer that I have less and less time for reading (and writing, especially blogging). I'm not exactly sure why. Some of it is my kids are home and hogging MY computer. Who lets them? Well me, but you don't understand. I have guilt when I kick them off. And screw you anyway, voice in my head.

I did manage to finally (after at least 3 months) finish the 3rd book in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, The Wastelands. It was wonderful and horrifying, as expected. Roland is just a bad ass, and so is Jake, come to think of it. I haven't started the 4th book, although I've been toting it around for at least a week now. A few days ago I found a used copy of Elantris, by one of my favorite authors Brandon Sanderson, (see http://jldodd78.blogspot.com/2013/10/mistborn-trilogy.html) which I started reading right away. This is his debut work, and within the first few pages I was so intrigued that I've been reading whenever I can, which isn't nearly enough.

I got dragged to the movie "The Conjuring 2" over the weekend, and was pleasantly terrified. I screamed and jumped and laughed (a little). I haven't seen the first movie, and truthfully I hate watching scary movies, but either I'm getting older or number because it didn't bother me too much, and I did manage to enjoy it in spite of the subject matter. I have a love/hate relationship with all things Lorraine Warren. I find her work fascinating, but it scares the shit out of me. Back when I still had cable TV, I used to watch a show called "Paranormal State." Think "Ghost Hunters," but real shit. These kids were in the business of helping people, not fame-mongering. Mrs. Warren appeared on the show from time to time, assisting the team of with their investigations. If I've learned anything from my hours of TV watching, its this: seriously people, do not play with Ouija boards. Something bad WILL happen.


I'll be back to business in August, I hope. I can't keep pretending I'm on summer vacation as well. Have a great summer!

J. L. Dodd

My new approach to blogging

I was trying to decide what to write about when I realized I have a new approach to blogging. When I started this several years ago, I would choose a topic (usually something I was already researching for my book) that I thought was interesting. I was doing quite a bit of research at that time. Japanese myths, monsters, everything about the moon, Taoism, Shintoism and Buddhism, etc ... There was lots to choose from, but my blogs were like mini-reports that I would have turned in at school in high school (okay, not really but kinda). In other words, fucking boring, unless you are in the mood to learn. I spent hours reviewing and perfecting the language and choosing the perfect quote to complement my writing.

I'd like to think I've relaxed a bit. Maybe that's partially a cop-out for being lazy, but lately my blogs are little more than randomness spewing from my brain to my keyboard. I don't think that's a bad thing. Let's face it: nobody reads this shit, so I might as well give myself free rein. In a way, it's an improvement, because there are fewer filters, as you may notice my profanity seems to be steadily increasing the more I write.

I am actually getting very excited about my writing. I have more or less finished book one. It only took 5 years, people! I am waiting for my beta readers and copy editors to finish their reviews as I look for inconsistencies on my own. But I also took the time yesterday to review everything I had written on book two, and I actually have a lot of good ideas. More than I thought. I have a lot of work to do, but I'm excited, and I haven't been excited in a long time.

I'm saving money to get the LLC paperwork etc filed for my little publishing company. Things are really starting to move, and I'm hoping to keep it going. Not that any of you care. But I'm sure you writers out there can attest that staying motivated for long periods of time is not easy. Screw you resistance!

J. L. Dodd

P.S. Sorry this is just a bunch rambling bullshit... Sorry not sorry ...

"Most books about writing are filled with bullshit. Fiction writers, present company included, don't understand very much about what they do—not why it works when it's good, not why it doesn't when it's bad."-- Stephen King

Music I love ... AC/DC

I'm not sure what is going on with me. Usually I listen to the same shit in the Linkin' Park/AFI/30 Seconds to Mars genre. I do deviate, but lately I'm all over the place. A few weeks ago, I don't know why, I decided to make a "hair bands" station on my Pandora and it is fucking awesome. I've been listening to music I remember from middle school like Guns'n'Roses, Motley Crew and Skid Row, and it makes me really happy. But I also have gained a new found appreciation for two bands: AC/DC and Whitesnake.

So of course I recognize most of the AC/DC music, but I never really listened to them on purpose. My coworker told me that it's "devil music." I think she was kidding (she's a little hard to judge sometimes) but either way, I've decided that I really like it. But don't ask me to comment on the whole Axl Rose controversy. Sorry Axl, just ... no. BTW, I'm going to create a new Pandora station called "devil music." We'll see what they play.

I had a Whitesnake poster right next to my New Kids on the Block poster on my wall when I was in middle school. I remember it because my mom didn't like it 'cause those dudes were all chest hair. I had a poster but I did not have any of their tapes (yes, tapes). But they have awesome songs that until recently, I just didn't realize were theirs, like "Is This Love?" and "Here I Go Again." So I'm giving them credit now people. Check it. And don't judge, I'm old.

For real, Pandora is great. So let's all create a new station, be it based in nostalgia or curiosity or devil worship, whatevs (just kidding mom). Just do it. It will make you happy. And seriously, don't you get tired of the same shit all the time?

J. L. Dodd

Definitely devil music ...

"Highway To Hell"

Livin' easy
Livin' free
Season ticket on a one way ride
Askin' nothin'
Leave me be
Takin' everythin' in my stride
Don't need reason
Don't need rhyme
Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do
Goin' down
Party time
My friends are gonna be there too

I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell

No stop signs
Speed limit
Nobody's gonna slow me down
Like a wheel
Gonna spin it
Nobody's gonna mess me around
Hey, Satan
Payin' my dues
Playin' in a rockin' band
Hey, mamma
Look at me
I'm on the way to the promised land

I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell

Don't stop me

I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell

(highway to hell) I'm on the highway to hell
(highway to hell) highway to hell
(highway to hell) highway to hell
(highway to hell)

And I'm goin' down
All the way
I'm on the highway to hell

Source:

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/acdc/highwaytohell.html

The Love Triangle!! Dun dun dun!

I read a lot of reviews on Amazon. Of books I have read, want to read, want to write, etc. I think of it as research. What I see consistently is in the young adult genre, people say they hate love triangles. I have to disagree. I love me some love triangles. They not only advance the plot, but they allow for all kinds of juicy little moments that I love to write and read about. But they have to be well written. If not, it turns into something predictable and that really bothers me.

Since I'm admitting things at the moment, let's talk about the mother of all literary love triangles: Twilight. Let me start by saying I have not seen all the movies. I only watched part of the first one, and it was horrible. I did, however, read the books, and I loved them (I don't care what all you MFs think about it, I won't take it back!). I actually got in fights with my husband because I was spending all my time (and I mean all of it) reading. Throughout the series, you experience a lovely gut-wrenching feeling as Bella is pulled in different directions. In the back of your mind, you know she's going to end up with Edward, you just know it, even though he's a douche who abandons her for her own good. But when she unexpectedly kisses Jacob, you understand that she also loves him, albeit on a totally different level. So in the end, still predictable, but well-written, I thought.

I love the manga love triangle, which can vary in specifics but usually goes like this: Girl meets boy, girl likes boy, boy remains aloof, enter childhood friend who publicly announces his undying love and generally makes things awkward. Then boy one gets jealous, realizes his feelings, and everyone is happy except for poor boy two who must accept his unrequited love. I wish I could write a manga where the childhood friend wins out. I mean, come on, he's always loved you! It's not his fault he doesn't know how to play hard to get. I think I'm thinking of Kaicho Wa Maid Sama as I write this. Although I love love Usui's character, I really thought the other dude deserved a chance. Hinata. So Usui wasn't exactly aloof, and Hinata wasn't a childhood friend, but you get the idea.

Obviously, Skip Beat takes the concept to a whole new level. If you include the "Beagle" you could make it a love square, although Kyoko actually hates him and Sho. The whole diagram makes for some hilariousness. Last year I splurged and bought every volume of the manga so far. That way I can go back and reread my favorite parts. Awesome.

I have a feeling I have a lot more to write on this topic, so be warned. This isn't over.

J. L. Dodd

'Twilight' passed like a fever through the sophisticated reader and the unsophisticated reader alike. People devoured those books in single sittings, over weekends, with a kind of raw intensity that is rare. Holly Black
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/twilight.html

It is what it is ...

Have you noticed lately that everybody and their dog likes to say, "It is what it is"? It's pretty annoying at times, especially when people use it to excess. Like, "We are out of cereal. It is what it is."

Surprisingly, it's a pretty old phrase. In Wikipedia, the earliest known use is in the Fihi Ma Fihi (Persian literally meaning "It is what it is"), a Persian prose work by the 13th century Sufi writer known as Rumi. It's a trendy way of saying, "Fuck it, I can't change it," which makes much more sense, and is way less annoying. This leads me to the concept of impermanence, which I believe I have discussed before and is one of the main themes in the book I am writing.

From Wikipedia: Impermanence is one of the essential doctrines or three marks of existence in Buddhism. The term expresses the Buddhist notion that all of conditioned existence, without exception, is transient, or in a constant state of flux. The mutability of life, that time passes on no matter what happens, is an important aspect of impermanence. According to the impermanence doctrine, human life embodies this flux in the aging process, the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara), and in any experience of loss.

In the first one or two years I was writing, I was spending about half of my time researching, and in studying Buddhism and Shintoism, I came across this truly unique concept. It has affected my life in many ways since. To understand and accept that time passes and things change has a very calming affect on me. I have even come to accept that my death is inevitable and that worrying about it is futile. Of course, I feel differently, at least to some degree, about those around me. But I can't tell you how good it feels to put off that anxiety and fear. There was a time a few years ago that I thought I might die. The situation was completely out of my control. But my brain reverted to: "If it's my time, I will die," and that's how I got through it. Since then, if I'm driving with my Dad in his truck (or his boat), I just tell myself the same thing, and I can get through it. Dad, I love you, but I don't want to drive with you anymore. You scare the crap out of me.

Then again, this thinking leads to complacency, which most agree is a bad word. In fiction, characters often have to decide if they will accept their fate or fight against it. For me, I think you'll be happier in life to learn acceptance. But that may be because I'm a type "B" personality.

Wow, this blog is some serious shit. I'm not sure why I am waxing so heavy, but I'm not gonna change it. Fihi ma fihi. Or better, fuck it, I won't change it.

J. L. Dodd

"I'm living with every step. I can't live with regret. The past is the past. I'm not worried about it. I can't change it. I can't fix it. It is what it is. I'm just living." – Ryan Sheckler

"Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don’t struggle against it, we are in harmony with reality." – Pema Chodron

"Come back to square one, just the minimum bare bones. Relaxing with the present moment, relaxing with hopelessness, relaxing with death, not resisting the fact that things end, that things pass, that things have no lasting substance, that everything is changing all the time—that is the basic message." – Pema Chodron

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
― Mark Twain

Links

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/it_is_what_it_is.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_What_It_Is

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impermanence

http://www.themindfulword.org/2013/buddhist-quotes-mindfulness-buddhism-meditation-impermanence-suffering/