The Curse of Chalion

I finished reading The Curse of Chalion the other day, and I love it. Here are some of my favorite passages. I know some of you said it's hard to get into, but if you push through the beginning I promise you’ll be glad you read it. The hero's name is Cazaril.

“Men’s will is free. The gods may not invade it, any more than I may pour wine into this cup through its bottom.”

“You cannot outguess the gods. Hold to virtue—if you can identify it—and trust that the duty set before you is the duty desired of you. And that the talents given to you are the talents you should place in the gods’ service. Believe that the gods ask for nothing back that they have not first lent to you. Not even your life.”

“What, everyone knows of Royesse Iselle’s clever secretary, the man who keeps his own counsel—and hers—the bastion of Gotorget—utterly indifferent to wealth—“
“No, I’m not,” Cazaril assured him earnestly. “I just dress badly. I quite like wealth.”

This is how I felt when my husband told me “we need to be done.” Upon hearing of her son’s death:
“You understand my words, Royina?” Cazaril said hesitantly.
“Oh, yes,” she breathed. One corner of her mouth turned up; Cazaril could not call it a smile. It was nothing like a smile, this black irony. “When it is too-long-anticipated, a blow falls as a relief, you see. The waiting is over. I can stop fearing, now. Can you understand that?”

Bergon shook his head. “Any man can be kind when he is comfortable. I’d always thought kindness a trivial virtue, therefore. But when we were hungry, thirsty, sick, frightened, with our deaths shouting at us, in the heart of horror, you were still as unfailingly courteous as a gentleman at his ease before his own hearth.”
“Events may be horrible or inescapable. Men have always a choice—if not whether, then how, they may endure.”
“Yes, but…I hadn’t known that before I saw it. That was when I began to believe it was possible to survive. And I don’t mean just my body.”

So, in choosing to share one’s will with the gods, was it enough to choose once, like signing up to a military company with an oath? Or did one have to choose and choose and choose again, every day?

“I’d storm heaven for you, if I knew where it was.” …
Betriz had it exactly backward. It wasn’t a case of storming heaven. It was a case of letting heaven storm you.

Anna Karenina- Tolstoy

My ward bookclub is having a break this summer, so we are reading Anna Karenina. Apparently this is one of the greatest books ever written but also one of the most vigorous to read. I have only read about 65 pages so far, out of around 700. It is difficult but I find it easier to understand than I thought. It is very captivating and beautifully written. This isn't "candy" reading, but it is wonderful so far. So while I'm at the pool I will read the fun books and save this for some deep reading at night. If you gals are interested in tackling something hard this summer, try this one!

Stephenie Meyer's The Host

Have any of you started reading this yet? At first I was like, "What the heck is going on?" The first two chapters were very confusing and I wasn't into it at all. It took me about 1/4 of the way through it to really start liking it. But once I got into it, I really started enjoying it. If you enjoy Stephanie's writing, you will love the style of this book. I think it is very Twilight oriented. About a girl who has to decide between to guys. Sound familiar? But there is a twist. You will love it but give it time at first.

The Alchemist -Paulo Coelho

I just started going to my ward's bookclub. Don't get jealous girls, I love you too! We read the alchemist. It is a fable, so it tells a story with a lesson. It is one of the most sold copies in the world. Apparently a movie is coming out as well. So read it, it's a two hour read, very short, very sweet. I'm not going to say what it's about in order to keep you curious!

Chocolate Chip Murder Mystery by Joanne Fluke

Laurel was talking to me about these food mystery books so I decided to test one out. It was fun and I found myself really getting into since I haven't read a mystery in awhile. The main character is Hannah Swenson and it's told from her point of view. She owns a bakery and there is a murder just outside of it, so she is asked to help investigate what happened. The book is filled with yummy recipes as well so that makes it all the funner right?

I found myself reading this late at night and just enjoyed it thoroughly, it's what you called a "candy" book. Very easy to read and just yummy.