AT LEAST. I feel like there’s a reading crisis out there, and I want to help it! People are choosing Facebook over a page of a nice book and it makes me sad. There’s nothing wrong with social media, we obviously use it all the time. However, we will never stop preaching moderation. Balance! Weigh one hand with a phone and another with a book! I’m not telling you what to read whether it be nonfiction, fantasy, romance, or another type of fiction! I’m just telling you to stop, drop, and read!
We’ve had a lot of fun the past few weeks–but a lot of our pictures are from the annual Field Day camping trip! Enjoy!
Cool new lamps
As you may or may not know, Hungry and I studied the International Studies field at college. We are very concerned, aware, and conscious of what happens in our world. We look beyond America’s borders into every other place in the world. Sure, we have our specialties, but it all matters to us. Why am I talking about this? Because I want to share with you an easy way to “be in the know” with what’s going on in the world every day.
In comes theSkimm. A quirky, smart newsletter (I’m not sure what else to call it) that finds its way in your inbox every weekday morning. This newsletter contains very short briefs of the most immediate issues occurring worldwide. Almost as if you were skimming the newspaper (get it?). It’s usually around two to three main “articles” while the rest are little tidbits of information. It’s fun, it makes you laugh, and it’s easy to understand even if you were not previously aware of the story beforehand.
We are not sponsored by theSkimm at all, but when I find things I really like, I want to share it. Even though I am on BBC and NPR every day, I still like to get my fill of theSkimm in the morning while I’m making my tea. It’s that fast. It’s a combination of the younger generation’s lack of time and their way of packaging things up into succinct, clear ideas that makes this newsletter great.
Here’s an example of yesterday mornings theSkimm:
Yesterday, the UN Security Council said it wants an independent international investigationinto last week’s plane crash over eastern Ukraine. Russian President Putin said ‘fine.’
The US says pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine shot down the plane with a missile they got from Russia. This has the international community taking a harder look at just how close Russia is to its separatist friends. European leaders have already hit Russia with some sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. But now, they’re thinking of turning up the pressure with new measures that could do damage to Russia’s economy.
It wasn’t until yesterday that the separatists agreed to release the victims’ bodies, and handed over the black box flight recorders. President Obama had some harsh words, saying it “begsthe question: What exactly are they trying to hide?”
After months of frustration over just how helpful Russia has been in dealing with the ongoing Ukrainian mess, you’re seeing a global spasm of anger against Russia. Although it’s unclear exactly what the consequences of that will be.”
See? Easy to understand while getting the important points across. It’s great for all ages. I have been spreading this around to friends and family so I thought it only fair to spread it to Hungry and Fit fans as well. Although we are all about eating and working out (nerdiness too), I believe it to be incredibly important that we stay socially aware and conscious of what happens every day of this inter-connected world that we are a part of. Sign up! As always, stay hungry and fit!
Part of being fit is having a healthy mind. I believe that’s done well by reading. They say the best way to learn how to write better is to read. This book could be one of the best cases for that. The Way of Kings, written by Brian Sanderson, is a wonderful, inspiring read. It’s a book in the fantasy genre, set in its own made-up world. The plot and setting are complex and gets more and more so as the story continues. Sanderson is impressive in the way he completely constructs this world, as if it truly did exist at one point in time. My favorite thing is when a fantasy book seems real. I hate spoilers so this won’t really give much at all.
It is slow-going at first. I must mention that I am listening to the audiobook, not reading the print. This helps me on my runs and is thoroughly enjoyable to listen to on my way to work. Once you continue reading, however, the pace certainly picks up. There are times where I simply couldn’t stop listening. Sanderson is obviously very smart. This is not something he’s written on a whim. Everything slowly starts become interwoven and people who seemed unconnected find themselves on the same path. This makes the story so very exciting.
The fantasy world is set in the age of sword and shield, in the world of Roshar. Knights, wars, and magic, too. There are a few unique parts to this world which I especially enjoy that I will mention. One part are the spren. Characters and history in the book have trouble defining what they exactly are (though it continues to be researched). Spren are little beings or spirits that represent emotions and nature. If someone is in pain, pain spren will wiggle up from the ground. Flame spren will dance as little red figures upon a fire. Creation spren will spark up if someone is deep in creating something (like art). And so on and so forth. This concept is so fascinating because each and every spren (and there are tons–think of every emotion and element) is shaped, colored, and behaves differently. Absolutely love it.
The story doesn’t just follow the path of one main character. You get to see all parts of this very complex world from many different perspectives. One from an inspiring slave, one from an honorable High Prince, and one from a girl trying to save her family’s fortune. Eventually, everything comes together. And even though the viewpoint is spread out, you actually care about each and every main character who gets the spotlight. Characters are far from perfect and like to meddle in gray areas, but they generate great loyalty from you and also from other characters in the book.
When you are reading this book, it feels like you are straying into a world in a constant war with very little passion left. The drawn-out feeling from the war gives you the sense everyone is tired of it, and that something big must be coming up to break the boredom. A tide starts to rise and bursts at the end. All the connections are revealed and you find the time you invest in this story is worth it. It is certainly a long book but, once again, it is worth the read.
If you want to get lost in a different world full of intricacies carefully planned out by the author, give The Way of Kings a try. It’s a fantastic read that promises to suck you in and hold you there. In fact, I’m reading the sequel right now! Can’t get enough of it. I love books that play out in a way that makes you respect the heck out of the author. The things that are planned out that you never expected. How it makes you appreciate the time and dedication to his craft to weave such a captivating story. I give this book a big thumbs up! And as always…stay hungry and fit!
Bryan Singer’s (director of Many recent X-Men adaptations and Superman Returns) Jack the Giant Slayer was our most recent trip to the movies. A trip was long due since we think we’ve only been to one or maybe two other movies this year. (We’ll have to double check that for our end of the year wrap-up.)
With some makeup it was difficult to tell who it featured, but we knew that Ewan Obi-Wan was the personal guard for the princess and Bill Nighy (Do you feaaaaar deathuuuu!) was the leader of the giants. It seems that Stanley Tucci (my ever so evasive uncle) was the fiancee of the princess. Ian McShane (why didn’t they use every captain from Pirates?) was the king and Jack was played by the guy who Alana recognized from About a Boy (also Beast from X-Men First Class… convenient casting). So it’s got a good cast and the princess did a great job… whoever she was.
