2 New books.

I love books more than the average person. Well, actually, I think that I love the things that I love more than most people love the things that they love.

But anyway, I just love it when new books come out that I want to read, and I can get them at midnight, or sometime soon afterward. This excitement for new books, I should say, originated with Harry Potter. I mean, really, who ever heard of going to a midnight party for a book until JK Rowling surprised with the most defining literature of our generation? No one. But now we do it all the time for whatever Stephenie Meyer comes up with, Percy Jackson, and let's not forget the lastest and greatest:

Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay.

I read The Hunger Games at the end of last December, actually finishing on New Years' Day. On January 2-3 I read the second installment in this breathtaking series: Catching Fire. And then I told all my friends about it and made them read it too. (I should add that Moe tipped me off on these masterpiece books).  These books are addicting and compelling and fast moving and absolutely enthralling. When you are reading The Hunger Games you forget you have another life. You dream about and you think about it all the time. For like a week after finishing the book. At least I did.

So, the third book came out on September 24. While I was in St. George. Despite the sickness I had been feeling for a couple of days and the repeated warnings from my father about going to bed early, I dragged myself to Wal-Mart at midnight on the appointed day to purchase the long-awaited book. I was second in line and got one of the coveted 20 copies ordered by Wal-Mart. This was a Monday night/Tuesday morning. I finished on Wednesday evening (I know, it took a while, but I was a busy girl keeping my family happy with my presence). And you know what? I enjoyed it. I liked reading it. And I cried, um, twice. And definitely yelped and screamed and gasped audibly multiple times. But I didn't love it. Suzanne Collins, I expected more. I wanted more conflict. I wanted things to be harder for the characters that had been developed so nicely in the previous books. I wanted the plot to follow different paths than it did. I think that the book, as a whole, had a lot more potential, and I was disappointed. Questioned were left unanswered and characters made un-character-like decisions and actions. I liked it, and I'm happy to own it. But I didn't love it.

New book #2:

I have always and forever been a Tennis Shoes Adventure Series fan (A series of 11 books (unfinished) written by Chris Heimerdinger beginning in 1989). My family owned the first books on tape and we listened to them on road trips probably since I was like 5 years old. It's been a life-long endeavor. When I was 14, though, I listened to books 1-5 on tape very seriously. And then I read the hard copies 1-8. I've read and heard all of them multiple times. They are actually really cool. It's like lds modern historical fantasy, if one can imagine such a genre. I know it's hard.

Books 9, 10, and 11 I have had to wait for. Book 9, Tower of Thunder, came out in 2003 (the same summer as HP5), book 10, Kingdoms and Conquerors, in 2005 (the same summer as HP 6), and FINALLY book 11, Sorcerers and Seers, on September 6, 2010 (obviously not the same summer as HP 7). I know, it was a very painful 5 year gap between books. I've had to contemplate the most horrific and suspenseful of cliff-hangers for FIVE YEARS. And now I get to read it. And then wait. again. for book 12.

It will never end.

So anyway, I had the opportunity, nay, the privilege, to go to the BYU bookstore on September 7, 2010, to buy book 11. And guess who was there to give it to me? Mr. Heimerdinger himself. I stood in line, and when I got to the front and handed him my book, I told him: "Thank you so much! I have been waiting for this for so long, and I love your books. I have read them my whole life." ya da ya da ya da. I expected him to reply enthusiastically with: "Well thanks for being such a loyal fan!! Sorry about the long wait, BUT THANKS FOR BUYING MY BOOK!" In reality, all I got was a "mmhm." as he wrote a small note in my book and handed it back to me.

Is any commentary required for that story? Don't think so. You can imagine my drooping heart as I walked away with this item that I was about to pay $17.99 for.

And now for my diagnosis on the book: Was it worth the wait?

Yes and no. It wasn't super great. But you know, I am 95% certain that I would have enjoyed it at least 3x more if I would have been able to get my grubby little 17 year old hands on it-- yep, 5 years ago, when I wanted it the most. And when I enjoyed the other books the most. But no, it was good. I really enjoyed reading it. But you know what? I am left to wait. Again. The cliffhangers in the last book take the gold medal for being the most torturous, but these ones are pretty close behind. I just hope that Chris Heimerdinger man spits that new book out pretty soon. Like, I don't want to wait for another 5 years. But what am I saying? I'll read it no matter how long it takes to come out. I'm way too committed to this stuff. But what is going to happen to Meagan and Apollus? Will Meagan get her sight back? Is Pagag going to come back? Why is Hamira in two places at once? And why did she run away? Will Josh ever be able to get rid of that stupid sword? How are they going to get safely away from the Hill Cumorah before the battle commences? AND HOW WILL THEY GET THE GOLD PLATES BACK? And where the heck are Sabrina and Gid? You see what I am tortured with? These books are crazy. 

Oh my goodness. I just love reading new books so much.