Fantasy Reading

I have this fantasy where I get to just curl up with a blanket in front of a fire-- or on a soft lounge chair on a deserted, white-sandy beach somewhere-- or in my own private library and just read read read.  No responsibilities, no disturbances, no problems.  Just me and my books.

But that's not what I'm talking about.  Nor am I talking about naughty fantasy reading, you dirty birds.  I'm talking about fantasy fiction, and I'm wondering why after reading a handful of fantasy series, every time I start a new fantasy genre book, it sounds like a parody of itself...

I've read the following fantasy series and liked them enough to return to them:

1. The Wheel of Time- one day I'll write an entry extolling the incredible talents of Mr. Robert Jordan and the amazing, fantastic, stupendous, genre-defining series he wrote, which, since his death, is being finished by Brandon Sanderson (a really great writer in his own right).
2. Harry Potter-  These books take me away from my reality, to a magical place that is so real, I feel like I could step forward and BE there.  
3. Twilight-  Now, before you condemn me or refuse to read my blog anymore, hear me out.  I really enjoyed these books a lot, but the entire time I was reading them (the first time) I kept thinking, "Why do I even like these?  They are amateurish, simplistic and Bella is annoying", but I kept reading.  I think the reason I like them so much is that I see a lot of my young self in Bella (sad, I know) and because the idea was so fresh and new to me (girl loves vampire-- now it's been done, oh, let's just guesstimate, about 40 gazillion times... ugh... the library shelves are dripping with vampiric romantic sap...), but at the time, I hadn't ever read anything like it, and I love slightly scary stories. :)
4. J.R.R. Tolkein's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.  I read them long before the movies were even made.  I liked them enough to buy them.  "The Hobbit" is really the only one I will return to re-read, though.  Probably. :)
5. Mistborn, by the aforementioned Brandon Sanderson.  Well, to be totally honest, I've only read the first one, but I do own the trilogy, and I do plan on reading the others.  Eventually.  They're there, waiting patiently.
6. Sanderson's new book "The Way of Kings" is an improvement on his previous writing by a good-sized leap.  I think working to finish "The Wheel of Time" has made him a better writer.  Where he was good before, he is great now.  I look forward to buying this series when it becomes a series.  

That's it.  I read the first 3 books of George R. R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire", and found them too sexual for me.  Incestual, as well.  I don't remember details, though.  This morning, I watched a sneak preview of a clip from the new HBO miniseries based on the first book "Game of Thrones", and it was gory and scary and probably will be really, really good, but will be much too sexual for my tastes, so I won't be looking to watch it.  The story was good, the characters were interesting, but I just can't get over graphic sexuality-- it isn't something I want to read or see...

I have tried to read books by other authors, but I haven't found many fantasy books that really hook me.  I won a book on goodreads.com, called "The Unremembered", which I have tried to start reading, but I am struck by the laughably obvious parallels to "The Wheel of Time" and it really feels like a joke-- like a parody.  Like this author thought to himself, "Hey, I can do that!" after reading other fantasy books.  I will try to get past these prejudices and give the book an honest chance, but it will be difficult.  I am only about 30 pages into it, so I really do need to try not to pre-judge.  It really seems like so many of these books are all the same thing, though.  Flipping through them at the library or reading synopses online, I feel like it's just all been done, and so much better!  Maybe I'm done with fantasy for a while.  Maybe I need a break... or maybe I just need my fantasy to come true, for just a few hours...

Deja Vu, anyone?

In our "everything's disposable" American society, we have many, many items in our lives that are not made, or built, to last very long, really.  There are houses standing in this country that have been there for over 100 years, but modern houses?  Most of them are slapped up wood, a little concrete, and plastic.  Cars?  You drive it until it can't drive anymore and pile it up at a wrecking yard.  Clothes?  Wear it, tear it, and replace it.  Technology?  My ipod has been working for quite a few years now, I have a second gen. ipod nano.  But in the last year I've noticed it's starting to do a few buggy things.  It has many good years left, but when it dies?  I'll replace it with a new one.  No big deal. 

This mentality has even seeped into our entertainment world.  Lady Gaga mixes Madonna's melodies into her songs and although a few people comment on it, basically it's considered "new" and "fresh" and the radio won't stop playing the bloody thing.  On TV, for decades now, cop shows have been recycling the same basic premises over and over, as have lawyer shows, medical shows and sitcoms.  And once upon a time the whole "reality" TV thing was relatively new, as was the "talk show" (I remember Donahue...), but now, it's ALL been done.  And they keep doing it.  Again and again.  Often when a new idea comes along on TV, it's soundly rejected by the majority of the viewing audience and slashed from the lineup after just a few seasons (as evidenced here). 

And movies?  Movies are the worst offenders!  There seem to be more sequels and remakes every year than original films! I understand a "franchise" of films, such as "Star Wars" or "Indiana Jones" or "Harry Potter", telling a story or keeping a character going for multiple films, but what baffles my mind are movies such as "Yogi Bear" or "The Smurfs".  Whaaa?  It's jaw-dropping.  Or even worse, when Hollywood takes a classic film, like "Psycho" and decides it can do better.  Nah, just stupider.  I was looking at movie trailers here today and saw a new "Planet of the Apes" film is on its way.  My first reaction was to ask why the heck do they need another one.  Then I watched the trailer and understood.  It actually looks good, and it's a new angle, not just a "reimagining" of the old story.  But... it's still not really an original idea.  There have been a few times that a new film is a definite improvement on an original.  Take "Batman Begins" for example.  Other superhero or comic book movies fall into this category.  I understand taking a terrible movie and wanting to use the characters to make a better movie. 

It sounds like I'm taking both sides of a debate, which I guess I am, but what I would really like to see from Hollywood and entertainment in general are more original ideas. Maybe that will become the new trend in a year or two.  We can only hope. :)

Best comedy routines...

 I love stand up comedians.  I have a hard time with those who "work blue" or whatever it's called, using foul language and sexual themes for their jokes.  I prefer those whose routines are more observational, like these guys:

Henry Cho
Henry is a full-blooded Korean man who grew up in Nashville, Tennessee.  He even has a southern accent.  He is hilarious and almost completely little-kid-friendly clean.

The dang blogger-youtube connection won't post my favorite bit about his really stupid friend, JB Stewart, but it's the one I really wanted to share, so you'll have to forgive me and click the link.

Brian Regan
If you haven't ever heard Brian's stuff, you are absolutely missing out. He recently released a new album available for download here.  His routines are amazing.  And clean.  He has so many great bits that I had a hard time choosing one to insert here.  This scene is among my favorites:

When my family takes road trips, we like to take comedy CDs with us to listen to.  We enjoy Bill Cosby, especially his older stuff.  You can't go wrong with some great, classic Cosby, right?  Funny, relatable, real, and family-friendly.

Another comic that I like a lot is Steven Wright.  Good stuff.  He's the one who is completely deadpan, dry and looks like he may be half asleep...

We also love a lot of Weird Al Yankovic's music.  Some of his parodies are amazing, but I prefer his original stuff, myself.  Like this: (I actually prefer my own imagination to the animated video... it's much funnier just to listen...)