16/52: "Divided Allegiance" by Elizabeth Moon

Book 16/52: "Divided Allegiance" by Elizabeth Moon, 3/5 Stars
Book Two of the "Deeds of Paksenarrion" trilogy was slightly more of a struggle than the first book. Why? Paks transformed from self-denial of her dreams--disbelief so to speak--to being impatient, over-anxious and impulsive. And then, when given everything that she needed to be what she dreamed, she lost it all and fell flat on her face; nothing in her pockets, in her heart or in her soul (Well, check the heart and soul part, since I already started book three).

I suppose she's like the rest of us, human. Once we have accepted our destiny, then were in a damn rush to get there quickly. People want to help us along the way, but in order to truly be what we dream, we have to earn it every single step of the way or we attain something fragile instead of strong. The book that I'm writing about a man's journey to find true love is on point with the concept of earning:

"Anything good in the world must be earned; anything truly great must truly be earned. Unfortunately, the concept of earning has been lost."

Buh-leee dat.

GOAL: 52 books in 52 weeks!

Book #15 = "The Curious Incident of the Dog..." by Mark Haddon, 2/5 Stars
Book #14 = "The Sheepfarmer's Daughter" by Elizabeth Moon, 3.5/5 Stars
Book #13 = "Love Is The Killer App" by Tim Sanders, 4/5 Stars
Book #12 = "Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk, 4.5/5 Stars
Book #11 = "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger, 5/5 Stars
Book #10 = "The Finder" by Colin Harrison, 3.5/5 Stars
Book #9 = "Veronika Decides To Die" by Paulo Coelho, 1/5 Stars
Book #8 = "By The River Piedra I Sat Down & Wept" by Paulo Coelho, 3/5 Stars
Book #7 = "Stiff" by Mary Roach, 2/5 Stars
Book #6 = "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, 1/5 Stars
Book #5 = "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, 3/5 Stars
Book #4 = "Eleven Minutes" by Paulo Coelho, 2/5 Stars
Book #3 = "The Good Guy" by Dean Koontz, 3/5 Stars
Book #2 = "My Ishmael" by Dan Quinn, 2/5 Stars
Book #1 = "The Zahir" by Paulo Coelho, 3.5/5 Stars

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14/52: "Sheepfarmer's Daughter" by Elizabeth Moon

Book #14 = "Sheepfarmer's Daughter" by Elizabeth Moon, 3.5/5 Stars
Just finished book one of the "The Deeds of Paksenarrion" trilogy ("Sheepfarmer's Daughter"), and although many people praise the work for Moon's technical perfection in the mannerisms and tactics of mercenaries, I find all that detail to fly in one ear and out the other giving it a real repetitive nature. Fortunately, Paks' inner turmoil as she is passionately in self-denial about accomplishing her dreams has captivated me and I can't wait to start the second book.

I think we all struggle to invent/reinvent ourselves and often must deal with the loyalty versus ecstasy conundrum when we begin to realize that we really can accomplish our dreams... sometimes to the dismay of those that have helped us to do so because we have to leave them behind.

GOAL: 52 books in 52 weeks!

Book #13 = "Love Is The Killer App" by Tim Sanders, 4/5 Stars
Book #12 = "Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk, 4.5/5 Stars
Book #11 = "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger, 5/5 Stars
Book #10 = "The Finder" by Colin Harrison, 3.5/5 Stars
Book #9 = "Veronika Decides To Die" by Paulo Coelho, 1/5 Stars
Book #8 = "By The River Piedra I Sat Down & Wept" by Paulo Coelho, 3/5 Stars
Book #7 = "Stiff" by Mary Roach, 2/5 Stars
Book #6 = "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, 1/5 Stars
Book #5 = "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, 3/5 Stars
Book #4 = "Eleven Minutes" by Paulo Coelho, 2/5 Stars
Book #3 = "The Good Guy" by Dean Koontz, 3/5 Stars
Book #2 = "My Ishmael" by Dan Quinn, 2/5 Stars
Book #1 = "The Zahir" by Paulo Coelho, 3.5/5 Stars

READ MORE!