trudy_joan's reviews
64 reviews

I was so excited with this book at first. I had to take it very slowly because there was just so much. My favourite part by far was the chapter on Separating Tasks. I agree with much of what the philosopher says.
You’re defined by your goals, not your past.
I like how he explained children.
And respect.
He believes in the power of choice.
And responsibility.
I laughed when Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot. Yay Alex.
This is where most people get hung up, and me too. Denying trauma. I don’t know enough about it to know what I think. Do we have words for things that are not? What if there is trauma? Trauma doesn’t need to define a whole life. This is where I think this book fails—
A soul. Grace. God.  He apparently doesn’t really get that and that is why I am not finishing the book. At this point, it doesn’t have much to teach anymore. 

The only time I actually finished this book I was about 12, and it was the first time I read it. I remember how terribly disappointed I was with it, but I don’t remember why. Now I read the first half of the book about once a year and never finish it. I’ll probably try it again next year. If I’m going to read a book on this topic I much prefer To Kill a Mockingbird. 

First. I am not a big fan of fantasy. I only know a few that I love. Admittedly I have not read many. I seem to have had bad luck time and again with choosing them to read.
I wonder, was this a good choice for my first Brandon Sanderson book?
To be honest, I am a bit sorry that these characters had to be in a fantasy book. I want them in a realistic fiction book now. In particular Tress, of course. She seems too real, too human, to live in a place like this.
I got bored about halfway through the book. Bored enough to skim, not bored enough to lay the book down. Actually I could not lay it down. So much it rather interfered with my work. (Captivated, but not in love. There is a difference.) The book got better before very long.
I feel like I didn’t get much out of this book, overall. A quick read, yes it was amazing, and maybe someday I will be back for Sanderson.
After I get over this weird haunt of spores.
It just doesn’t make sense.
I know, I know, that’s not the point. But—HOW?

(Oh, and by the way, my brothers had never thought of naming their nail clippings.)

(Okay fine, neither had I.)

I really, really want a baby mammoth. 

I didn’t like it as much as some of David Williams other books. Grandpa’s Great Escape and Gangsta Granny.

I would give this book one hundred stars. Elinore is my hero. I want to live like her, be like her, when I grow up. Again and again, yes. I do recommend. This book made me cry a bit. Sadness and joy. I loved to pause and remember, hey, these people are real. They truly were once upon a time. This book would have never taken me as long as it did to read it, except I had my life to live in between. 

It could have been so much better.

Read this book. 

This book was read to me. It was amazingly fun to listen to.