Eragon by Christopher Paolini- Review

Title: Eragon
Author: Christopher Paolini
Pages: 503
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Owned book
Links: goodreads, 
The Inheritance Cycle

One boy . . . One dragon . . . A world of adventure. When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

I finally finished a book! Yes!! I have read this book twice before. One of those times was when I was having anxiety really bad and I remember being happy that I read the book. It was an easy comfortable read. I am currently dealing with anxiety again so I thought why not read this book??? I have been meaning to re-read it anyways since I never read the last two books in the series. So I now plan to finish the series. It did take me a while to get through it.  I would read it... get side tracked with anxiety and then pick it back up.

Eragon is such a fun book.  The movie is awful... don't bother watching it.  This book though has just a lot of great fantasy.  The descriptions of the world is amazing.  The book was my first YA book as an adult really.  At the time I was so used to reading books like Stephen King so this really introduced me into a whole new world.  Now I love YA books.  I also enjoyed that this book is written from a boy's point of view.  Thought that was a great new take other then the books that are usually from a girl's point of view.

What the book is about really is Eragon finding his way in the world.  Though.. if I were in his situation I would just panic. He finds a dragon egg... which hatches.  Then people come looking for him and destroy his home including his caretaker.  Really he has no one now.  Then he must go through several adventures trying to figure out what is next in life for him.  Isn't this something we all must do???

I am excited to get started on the next book in the series.  I did read that one once before... but I don't really remember it.  I probably will once I get started reading it. Hopefully it doesn't take me as long to read that book as it did this one.  I do have a road trip coming up and will probably be able to get a lot of reading done on that trip.

Sun is shinning!!!  Great day to go outside and read this book.

Other reviews for books in the series:
Eldest by Christopher Paolini
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

Sunday Post

Let's chat about what's going on this week... on my blog.. on other blogs... on the internet... and just everywhere!    I link up my post to Sunday Post hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Reader.
Happy Weekend!  I got a few posts up this week.  Been feeling a little better with anxiety/depression.  Just a battle everyday to get over the hump.   I am still not finished with Eragon.  I guess I am reading really slowly.  Maybe I am just not into the book???  But I am almost done so I am going to finish.  I have to force myself to read sometimes when I am anxious and once I get going it does calm me down some.  Since I am going through this I thought I would add it to the blog so every now and then you'll read about my journey of getting over anxiety/depression.  I have gone through major episodes twice before. No fun but maybe it will help someone else out there get over theirs.  I'll probably talk about it on the Sunday Posts.  Clearly by the name of the blog you probably already figured out I deal with anxiety.

I am excited about Sci-Fi November.  I did sign up for it but realized I wasn't really blogging so I backed out.  I can't wait though to read everyone's posts this month though.  I still can't believe it's November. October was also a great month on blogs... everyone talking about scary books and movies.  A blogger I loved has been talking about his favorite scary movies ... be sure to check it out!  Here is a quiz about what is your fate with monsters by Oh the Books.  There is a Secret Santa bookish event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

I think it's crazy how far out the superhero movies are planned out by both DC and Marvel.  It really is crazy to me. Though something to look forward to.  Next weekend I am going to see Big Hero 6.  it looks cute to me.  There really haven't been any movies in the theaters lately.  I think the last one I went to is Guardians of the Galaxy.  That was a while ago.   As far as video games go Halo the Master Chief collection comes out soon. I love Halo so I am really looking forward to this.  I can't believe that football season is half way over.  I wish football was all year long.  For me it's something to look forward to every Sunday.  

 

Well that's all from here this week.  Next week hopefully I will finally have up the Eragon review. Then it's on to finish the series. 

Destiny- Video Game Review

I was so excited when I had first heard about Bungie's new game.  Finally it came out.  I love this game.  What I find most fun about it is playing with my friends. The game is a first person shooter game which is my favorite.  I will say the story mode is quite short.  I finished that in no time. Then you continue to level up your character by find different items to upgrade your gear. 

There are a few things missing that Bungie had with it's Halo games.  You can't just talk to anyone on the mic.. you actually have to be grouped up to do this.  Which makes it hard to find friends.  The multiplayer is pretty fun too though I don't play it as much as the weekly/daily challenges.  It was hard to make a choice on which system to buy the game on, Xbox One or PS4.  This is because I have friends playing on both systems.  I ended up going with PS4.

In December there will finally be an expansion pack at the price tag of $30.  That is a little pricey but I will for sure be buying it.  I wish it was sooner.  The game can be repetitive but like I said I enjoy visiting with friends while playing.  Takes my mind off things and we can just laugh and have some fun.  I am about to start a new character because really I have maxed out the level the character I am currently using.  I am hoping in the update we can level up higher then 30.   Such a great game.

Top Ten Tuesday- Movies for Halloween

It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the wonderful blog at The Broke and the Bookish!We are talking this week about movies and books to get you in the mood for Halloween.   I am not much of a horror movie person.  I just don't like gore or to be scared. There are a few fun movies/shows though that I enjoy that are spooky but not scary. 

What about you??  Do you have any fun Halloween movies that you watch each year???

Sunday Post

Let's chat about what's going on this week... on my blog.. on other blogs... on the internet... and just everywhere!    I link up my post to Sunday Post hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Reader.

It's been a while since I've posted but trying to get back into the swing of things.  I miss blogging but haven't been feeling well so keep putting it off.  I get anxiety really bad occasionally and then it throws everything out of wack.  Though I still visit a lot of blogs that I follow.  I have enjoyed reading what you guys are writing about.  Keeps my mind off things.  I haven't been reading much but did pick up Eragon off my personal book shelf. I have all four books from the series but have only read the first two.  So I thought why not go ahead and read the series.  Plus... I first read Eragon many years ago when I was also going through times of not feeling good so I thought it would be a perfect read.  Hoping to get a review of it up this week.

I have been playing a lot of video games lately.  I wrote a review for the game Destiny which will be posted this week.  I have also been watching a lot of TV.  I am loving all the superhero shows.  Gotham, Flash, SHIELD, Arrow.  Fun and entertaining. I have been wanting to watch American Horror Story since I liked all the other seasons but it just seems to scary for me right now. Sons of Anarchy is another show I haven't watched yet this season.  Just so much violence. Though of course I have it saved on my DVR for when I feel more up to it.  I have also been getting to know my bible more.  I have never really read it... but my in-laws do a bible study every week.  So I skyped in for my first time this week and really enjoyed it.  I wish I could physically be there but alas... everyone lives so far away for jobs.

Can we just talk for one minute about these CRAZY political ads on EVERYTHING.  I don't know if it's just because I am in a swing state but I am sick and tired of them.  We are literally swamped with them.  An entire commercial break is political ads. NO MORE.   Have you seen the new Avengers trailer???  No?  Well let me help you:



I hope this week to also get back into a few more comics.  I haven't read any for a while and I know you all miss my comic posts.  I have a Project Disney coming up too.  I only have like two of those left which is way sad!! 

What is going on with you this week???

Book Club October Picks

Looking for someone to discuss a book with? Some of you may know I run two book clubs on Goodreads.  One is the Young Adult Book Club and the other is the Stephen King Fans group.  Both groups are open to everyone.. so be sure to stop by and join us.  We have just started our September discussions so it is the perfect time for you to stop by.

This month for the Young Adult Book Club we are reading Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. This looks like a great series!

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Next up in the Stephen King Fans group we are reading Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. 

Will Graham stands in a silent, empty house communing with a killer. An FBI instructor with a gift for hunting madmen, Graham knows what his murderer looks like, how he thinks, and what he did to his victims after they died. Now Graham must try to catch him. But to do it, he must feel the heat of a killer's brain, draw on the macabre advice of a dangerous mental patient, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and follow a trail of microscopic clues to the place where another family has already been chosen to die--and where an innocent woman has found the Dragon first

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Title: Tarzan of the Apes
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Pages: 304 pages
Publication: 1912
Source: ebook from the library
Links: goodreads

In 1888 Lord and Lady Clayton sail from England to fill a military post in British West Africa and perish at the edge of a primeval forest. When their infant son is adopted by fanged “great anthropoid apes,” he becomes one of the most legendary figures in all of literature—Tarzan of the Apes. Within the society of speechless primates, Tarzan wields his natural influence and becomes king. Self-educated by virtue of his parents’ library, Tarzan discovers true civilization when he rescues aristocratic Jane Porter from the perils of his jungle. Their famous romance, which pits Tarzan’s lifetime of savagery against Jane’s genteel nature, has captivated audiences for nearly a century.

I recently read Tarzan of the Apes for my Project Disney that was based off the animation Tarzan. I did really enjoy this book.. until about the last part and then I kind of skimmed it.  I love reading classics and this one was good.  The story is basically about a couple who gets left on an island by some pirates.  While there they have a baby, but the parents die.  So there is a female ape who just lost her baby and so when the apes discover the hut of the humans she finds Tarzan and adopts him.  It is a beautiful love story between her and Tarzan and just goes to show that love is love.

Tarzan is raised by these apes and learns the ways of the forest.  The first half of the book is him in the jungle killing lions and fighting with the head apes.  These apes are not a real breed they are much smarter then real apes. Tarzan learns how to hunt and comes across some natives whom he plays tricks on.  Which I thought was great to read about because it showed that Tarzan has human nature despite being raised by the apes.  During this time Tarzan does find the hut of the people who died (his parents though he does not know this).  He teaches himself to read from the books and papers he finds in the hut.

The second half of the book is more about when the other white humans land on the island and are trying to find a rumored treasure.  This party of people include the famous Jane Porter.  She is swept away by Tarzan even though he can't speak to her (he can only write at this time.. cannot speak English). Tarzan actually saves the group of people several times. The third part of the book is Tarzan becoming more civilized and going to America to find Jane.  Whom by the way (spoiler).. does not en up with Tarzan and that really irks me.   I enjoy the first two parts of the book.. the last part not so much. When Tarzan becomes civilized it just happens so fast.

There is also a lot of issues in this book that is very dated.  There is racism and bigotry that is just not acceptable today. Turns out there are a few books in Tarzan's series.  I am not really interested in continuing in the series though I am curious what does happen to Tarzan in the US since the book really just ends with the rejection from Jane. Yes.. the book ends in Wisconsin at a train station.  Not the ending I was expecting.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a classic to read.

The Crystal Ball says:

Clouds are covering! A read that lets me down every now and then but peaks out of the clouds!