Shift (Silo book 2)

1.  Let me guess..Troy and Donald are the same guy in shift (AI says I'm right)
2. First third of the book is kind of boring..I dislike American centric books 
3. References to Wool are of course interesting
4. Shift is a play on Troy's shifts and a shift in perspective 
5. Helen of Troy
6. Use of memory as a theme is quite good
7. The reason people stop taking pills is because they begin to remember, not the other way around
8. Skipped Mission chapters
9. Donald ignored what looked to be an invitation. He ignored the throbbing, the yearning, the v hormonal rush of being near an ex-lover after centuries of need, and searched instead for his wife. 
10. 100 years too late, Athena and Karma Brewer. Anna's non reaction is a bit weird
11. It's a burden to do what is correct, sound and logical.. how much better for us all, if we had people brave enough to do what was right instead. 
12. Interesting maths problem for Solo who's stuck in a saferoom (desperate people trying to get in and kill him / the room keeps him safe): There is a 4 digit code to enter the room. 1218. There are 10,000 possibilities if you include 0000. Every day, the desperate people will try 3 attempts at the code and then get locked out for 24 hours. The boy calculated that if they start at 0000 eventually after 400 odd days they will enter. But he doesn't know if they started at 0000 going in ascending order or 9999 and going downwards, and what system they are using. So he is having a debate about whether to change the code to a number they have already guessed because otherwise he feels like he's just waiting to die and be found... but he can't be sure what to do because it's possible they are guessing random numbers. I'm sure there is an algorithm or optimal formula for which number to change the code to each day to maximise prospects of survival??
13. The devastation of Helen and Mick long passing, and him being deceived and manipulated by Anna who wanted him all to herself
14. It's time for the truth. You're the reason I'm here, aren't you? 
15. A shadow slid across Anna's face
16. The poop corner
17. Interesting but lots of boring chapters (Solo, Mission) - maybe a 3-3.5.5 - I know that's vague.

Wool (Silo series book 1)

 

1. Or do you just hate that the blur has had so much time to build?
2. I enforced those rules for most of my life, even after I realised they were bullshit
3. No Mayor has sent more people to cleaning than I have
4. Nervous that he won't do the cleaning because most say they won't then they will
5. Uprising took place regularly, once every generation
6. Good guys wiping the servers and evidence of uprisings every 2 decades
7. No uprising since the last one
8. Forgotten history like Rodda
9. What if some part of our known history..or knowledge of whatever it was that made people move in here long  long ago... what if that built up some kind of pressure
10. He could feel the pressure as sheriff to fit someone (to clean)
11. Wool pads
12. A spark of calm clarity registered there..of cool calculation 
13. None of it is real
14. IT make the pictures on screen look real
15. I'll come right back. 
16. Expressing any desire to leave. The great offence. All the uprisings started that
17. Damn them if they are staying here. I'm only coming back for you
18. Green Hills Green carpet
19. What would they see, anyone who had chosen to watch
20. Down-deeper
21. Why does Marnes not want to be promoted
22. Planning holiday trips to see the view for an hour
23. Anyone with wrinkles in their eyes knew better. 
24. Keep us going, don't let it unravel not just yet
25. Wool refers to cleaning the cameras but also wool over one's eyes
26. Bernard from IT appearing to pick candidates 
27. I gave you my list in confidence. You betrayed that. 
28. Their time was almost up. The most important thing they could do for the silo was to make sure their legacy endured. No uprisings. 
29. Existence of other silos?
30. 3x48 levels
31. Juliette
32. The point is it's going to happen.
33. IT has 3 floors of 144
34. He radiated confidence. His smile threw shadows
35. I figure you don't need me to talk you into something you've already walked this far to get. 
36. Cause she'll damn well do it
37. The shared meal was breakfast for one and supper for the other 
38. They make the best ones. The ones who have no interest in it 
39. He'll be getting more guidance from the thirties or from the Pact.
40. Heat tape for IT
41. I think I'll have a lot to learn before you go calling me that
42. The juice of her efforts and sacrificed years had dripped down through a silo that.. hardly knew and barely cared
43. A whispered word of tenderness and appreciation 
44. Testing the memory of old attractions
45. The Pact is clear
46. Billings as judge
47. You think you'll outlive another sheriff?
48. (Bernard kept his eyes on this curious exchange - set up the murder)
49. Two people who interviewed Juliette died
50. It almost felt like an affront, to bring her here and then leave her so suddenly. 
51. Or good depending on who you were. She noticed childless couples biting vigorously into their fruit, their hands intertwined, silently doing the maths.
52. Peter billings shadowed a silo judge but he seemed more the IT type.. maybe IT plant spies everywhere
53. It never occurred to her that the view could be fabricated
54. She was after all following the breadcrumbs of someone else following more breadcrumbs, a much easier and more obvious trail 
55. Making wiring and conversing with each other more difficult
56. Limned in grease
57. Scottie killed
58. He loved you. Damn, how that boy looked up to you. 
59. This roughly 8 inch by 2 inch sheet of glass
60. I knew it.. there are 18+ other silos it seems that don't want each other to know of their existence 
61. 4.95/5?
62. Walker called all the favours in. Best of the best
63. Think we have more hope among the toppers. Say again?
64. Shook his head at those who spent hard earned chits on food that would never repay the favour
65. People feared him and wanted to feel safe. But they respected McLain and wanted to feel loved
66. Killing a man should be harder than waving a length of pipe in their direction. It should take long enough for one's conscience to get in the way
67. We are the seeds, this is a silo. They put us here for the bad times. 
68. I'm coming for you. I'm coming home and I'm coming to clean.
69. characters a bit too easily killed
70. It's because we knew
71. Peter had taken the risk, had listened.
72. Probably justified 4.9-4.95/5

What is the point

Ecclesiastes 1:8

The eye never sees enough;

the ears never hear enough;

Life - free time, precious moments - never seems long enough.

How do I grapple with my existence, if life itself, does not suffice?

God help us all, if life in of itself cannot satiate...

...help us all, God, and satiate us.

When the going gets neutral, the neutrals tough it out

Is it common human experience to feel somewhat neutral about life; it's not great, it's not bad either; I know how privileged I am relative to the world as a ~middle income earner, yet I'm not that happy about it either or particularly excited; I love my family and what I have; I'm reasonably content; finances are not an issue; but life and the cycle of work feels mundane, especially with young kids; it's not that I'm not thankful, but I often feel tired and sometimes I don't know what I want. Things are going relatively well but life can feel more like a chore than anything else. Part of it is that both work and family don't seem to appreciate anything I do, and it's hard to be standout excellent at both spheres of life,  as distinct from feeling average and not advancing as far as I'd like in either 

:)/:( (sad / happy at the same time). 

Perhaps this is a very normal feeling that will simply pass, or will this hang around no matter what? I suppose that's up to me. I hope that this phase too shall pass.

A strange starting 11

Not sure why you wouldn't start those who scored against Turkey..anyway it is what it is. 

USA definitely deserved to win that but they had some luck and refereeing on their side.

Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, Inheritance (Paolini - Inheritance series)

1. Ask your uncle [why the butcher] isn't friendly with him
2. Katrina got Horst
3. Traders looked jaded
4. Galbatorix the evil rider who lost his Dragon
5. Thirteen forsworn 
6. But I don't believe that s magician with though power to transport the Stone wouldn't be able to find it again
7. Elf called Eragon found a Dragon egg..
8. The companionship between eragon and Saphira is pretty cool
9. Can't help but imagine the Dalish Elves encampment theme from Dragon age as I read this
10. "First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered. One may be a free man and yet be bound tighter than a slave. Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don’t follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not. Consider none your superior, whatever their rank or station in life. Treat all fairly or they will seek revenge. Be careful with your money. Hold fast to your beliefs and others will listen.” He continued at a slower pace, “Of the affairs of love . . . my only advice is to be honest. That’s your most powerful tool to unlock a heart or gain forgiveness. That is all I have to say." - Garrow
11. The Strangers mentally locked upon Eragon when they crouched down.. why did they flee from Brom?
12. He must be a rider?
13. Brom looked at Eragorn's mark.. and started humming merrily
14. Would you ignore that debt?
15. Mental battles and conversations are interesting
16. Katrina diffidently left after putting an arm around him
17. Nothing mattered anymore except the act itself. The doing is the thing. 
18. Because of the slaughter at Doru Areaba
19. Yes. So you reached an agreement?
20. So...it starts again. But how and where will it end? My sight is veiled; 
21. How did Brom magically appear
22. It's a mistake I deeply regret, and one that has cost you dearly 
23. At this point you don't need to hear my history, nor have you yet earned that right
24. There isn't any reason for me to trouble you with such things until you have the time and power to deal with them. 
25. Peace. All will be told in time. 
26. Objects had a unique sense of mass
27. Are you hurt? Where are the ones who did this? I will tear them apart
28. Don't feel bad. We all made mistakes today. Mine was not staying close enough to you
29. It is the name for fire
30. The language describes the true nature of things
31. Mental exercises for training 
32. Eragorn discovered it himself
33. No rider at his age has killed urgals with that kind of Magic
34. Everyone has a hidden name 
35. Gets a bit boring..saphira conversation becomes a bit teenage angsty..
36. People have an annoying habit of remembering things they shouldn't
37. If anything happens I'm going to pin you to my back and never let you off. I love you too.
38. Houses by the outer wall, in the front are lower to allow archers to shoot invaders without hitting comrades
39. Keep in mind that many people have died for their beliefs; it's actually quite common. The real courage is living and suffering for what you believe. - eragon should pretend to serve Galbatorix?
40. Chicaneries
41. Your fate will be to leave this land forever
42. An epic romance strong enough to outlast empires 
43. Look under the roots of the Menoa tree to find a weapon
44. If your power is insufficient to go rock of the Kuthian
45. ..of all the people in Alagaesia, he believed you were the best suited to inherit the Riders legacy 
46. Brom died, and Murtagh got introduced, a bit too suddenly..I didn't like the suddenness... although I get that it's designed so that Eragon's training wheel come off
47. Don't insult me. The only reason I'm free is because of you. I'm not going to abandon you to the Empire....
48. Your words hearten me
49. Eragon a bit naive about leaving enemies alive
50. Sleep or no sleep I'm seeing you to the Varden
51. Interesting concept of ferrying the egg between Elves and Varden/dwarves until it hatched 
52. Complicated politics between Elves, dwarves and varden
53. Bit too sudden and pacing isn't great - information dump at Tronjheim 
54. I preferred the beginning better
55. Air tactics
56. Interesting idea if mana - can't cast magic without it risking killing you
57. Saphira's flights over the combatants gave Eragon a unique understanding of how the battle was progressing. Urgals disadvantaged by dispersal of forces
58. Urgals' apparent lack of a leader- what if it's the twins??
59. 4.15/5? Good start and end I guess but some middle bits could have been better. Pacing issues and Eragon always seems to black out. Feels about the same as mid Ranger's Apprentice standard 

Eldest

1. Ajihad dies too suddenly 
2. Politics of electing the next varden leader is interesting 
3. Jormundur wants the position but he can't openly declare unless people back him
4. The Elder council want a puppet in Nasuada
5. The council want to appear powerful as they do all the appointing
6. You just altered the balance of power. No one will underestimate you again because if it. Beware the rotten stone. You have earned and powerful enemies today
7. Trianna flirts with Eragon and Saphira protects him from being sucked in and seduced - she can read Trianna's ill intentions 
8. Orik and Arya dwarf and elf accompanying Eragon.. standard trope
9. A helm from the dwarves and full rights
10. Of all the races Elves change the least
11. All three races have a hold on you
12. Milk wool and meat clan sacrifice themselves in open air to give dwarves sustenance at great risk to their lives exposed to the enemy 
13. Arya touched his cheek with soft fingers 
14. Short of killing yourself, however, you can do little to change your destiny since you don't know what choices will lead you to the particular point of time that you day saw
15. Surge of pure emotion
16. No one had affected him in that manner before. 
17. Far better to be thought of as rude and capable than rude and incapable. What you see or hear if an elf one day may only be a slight move in a strategy that reaches back millennia, and may have no bearing on how that elf will behave tomorrow.
18. Together they clung to each other as people crowded against them offering condolences, advice, congratulations and disapproval 
19. The hard glint in the women's eyes
20. A woman without her inheritance 
21. If you love Katrina swallow your pride and do what's right for her
22. Sloan is an idiot
23. The Roran chapters are more tense and desperate 
24. Yet who watched the Watchers?
25. You would do well to guard your heart
26. Now is not the time to lose it
27. Guard your tongue. They mean well
28. A rousing speech
29. Was I good enough? Good enough! You could have convinced an Urgal to become a farmer tonight
30. Interesting concept of what drives the villagers to leave and concept of revenge 
31. The chapters where the villagers leave and pack up - or stay-are interesting
32. Bring honor to your clan 
33. I wish that we had had a chance to talk about all of this at least once
34. You cannot miss what you have never had
35. Was Arya testing Eragon with her story of the Menoa tree and the younger man who cheated on the older woman
36. Eragorn screwed up the life of someone else
37. Meditation as a mind scan of everyone's intentions
38. Magic as legalistic word choice.. the words must be precise
39. Nasuada chapter and training in ellesmera is a bit boring
40. Just remember that at a certain point, your enemies may have to become your allies
41. Do you think so little of my judgment Eragon? Saphira picked him
42. That was a fool thing to do, making up something as ridiculous as that
43. Must the price of my indiscretion be our friendship?
44. I cannot help how I feel toward you but I would rather suffer another wound from Durza than allow my foolishness to destroy the companionship that existed between us. I value it too highly. 
45. Our friendship shall endure..we shall have to wait and see what the future brings
46. I have ..betrayed what it means to be a Dragon, and tarnished the honor of he Riders.
47. This cannot nor ever shall be
48. Pretty cool how Roran meets Jeod again
49. What's done is done
50. Weeding out who is secretly for the Black Hand
51. End part is more exciting
52. Galbatorix made an illusion that he wasn't leaving the capital
53. The debate became far more acrimonious
54. Eragon learns to draw energy from the environment 
55. bivouac
56. Allies with urgals
57. Roran kills the twins...inconceivable.. battle scenes are good. Murtagh a rider? What the. Should have guessed but I got the twins right.  Murtagh the "Eldest"
58. You have made mistakes but they are no greater than by own
59. Good twist.. thought it would be Roran who betrayed him
60. Eldest - title set us up well. Good use of it
61. Better than Eragon only because of the twist. Maybe 4.25/5

Brisingr

1. the hardest part is trying to anticipate every possible spell. I spend most of my time asking how I can protect myself if I'm attacked like this and would another magician expect me to do that
2. A week: that is his long I shall wait. Then I shall return to for you Eragon even if I must fight my way pay Thorn, Shruikan, and a thousand magicians
3. You have proved yourself to be Brom's heir. You seem compelled to find the deepest patch of quicksand and then dive into it
4. A person's true name often changes as they age
5. Nighthawk- selected from each mortal race
6. Bear witness now
7. Elva - interesting concept of a blessing turned wrong because of some mispronunciation 
8. I wish I had what they had
9. eragon mouths I'm sorry and he knows Saphira bore him no ill will
10. I am glad you were by my side today Eragon. And you by mine
11. I am ashamed to be instructed in morality by one so less experience
12. Welcome and may the wind rise from under your wings - used the same affection with Arya as Eragon
13. And may the stars guard your forward path
14. Interesting concept of filling items with magic and storing them
15. Eragon does not trust Islanzadi and he thinks Nasuada only reports truths that best supported her position.. what if Galbatorix isnt the only bad guy or is actually protecting himself from the others who are also evil
16. May the wind rise under your wings, may the sun always be at your backs, and may you catch your prey napping
17. Let it escape.  I only concern myself with things that exist - verbal trickery 
18. You have earned no favour with me today.  Count me not as friend or foe. The way Elva says this sounds like she's a foe.
19. Most people haggle downward..I have chosen to haggle upward. 
20. Helen had the detached look of a person performing an unpleasant task
21. It seems to me that Brom must have discovered something in Gil'ead when he was fighting Morzan and his Dragon, something so momentous it moved Brom to abandon everything that was his life up until then
22. Reading the record of the past has often provided me with courage and insight to choose the correct path
23. Eragon paid his debts to Helen and Gedric. Cool part. Who can blame you if you were protecting your own necks at the same time? And for your sacrifice, I will always be grateful. 
24. I cannot imagine a higher honour
25. Helen rushed at him and embraced him
26. Eragon's heart was so full of love and Saphira did some reckless flying and Eragon reckons she can rest tomorrow but I bet something crazy happens in he next chapter that will make them regret exerting so much energy recklessly 
27. Galbatorix must have placed spells on those men...of this I am certain: the soldiers are more than they appear
28. Elves and Arya joining their minds with Eragon
29. Battlefield and political strategy
30. I bet those purple veiled dwarves are going to give Eragon a hard time
31. The prowess of Dragon and rider is measured by how well they work together and how well they can function when apart 
32. Move swiftly then, so I may soon join you in Farthen Dur
33. Bottling the energy of animals being slaughtered 
34. Very well,  Nar Garzhvog, let us run together, you and I, as has not happened in the whole of recorded history 
35. I like this more because there are more tactics and unexpected events
36. May your enemies cower before you
37. There must be a flaw in your cousin's wards - a misplaced word or a poorly reasoned statement
38. I kill for my love.. for my love of Katrina, Eragon, everyone from Carvahall, the Varden, this land of ours
39. Whatever you have seen or done, you will always have me
40. Her smiles never reached her eyes
41. I have never met anyone like you before 
42. Because I have thought of something you have not.. banish them
43. Edric is an idiot leader..Roran saved a useless commander..classic example of defying authority / chain of command to do the right thing
44. Nasuada is an idiot for letting Edric be higher up than Roran
45. When the chronicles of this age are written, shall they say we fought alongside the humans and the Elves, as the heroes of old...
46. The trick is finding a spell your enemy has overlooked and using it against him. No one is omniscient.. he cannot anticipate every possibility.
47. Then refrain from pestering me with such questions 
48. 4.25/5?

Inheritance

1. A bit sudden and weird with the cats
2. Interesting how the prisoners of war and a huge burden given they swore oaths to Galbatorix 
3. Not even our most skilled enchanter could improve on your gramarye
4. Zhu ge liang's empty village stratagem 
5. I see you
6. You ought to know my name, tongueless one. If you had, you never would have dared oppose us - Angela. Who is she?!
7. Elva crying
8. I'm sorry she whispered 
9. Your apologies can't bring back Wyrden. Do better in the future and perhaps you can atone for your mistake. 
10. And so the Wheel turns
11. All of us have risked an enormous amount in this venture, and none of us would appreciate being dictated to. 
12. Careful, he'll leave the pack if you can't convince him otherwise
13. Galbatorix wants us to go to Urubaen
14. A message passed down to members of the same race
15. The spell would have to erase the memories of everyone who knew about the rock in the first place..
16. A spell strong enough to make everyone forget when a name was mentioned 
17. Arya was shocked
18. Glaedr v Solembum
19. Were cats all enchanted
20. Contacting Galbatorix is stupid..if you try ill kill whomever you send 
21. I won't let you endanger the rest of us just to satisfy your royal pride
22. Galbatorix has no idea what's coming with the aid Eragon has just received from the hidden dragons!
23. It may take some time to stagger our departures correctly 
24. Arya kissed him on the forehead 
25. Gets better from page 550 and onwards. Middle part a bit boring
26. Fear is good in small amounts but when it is a constant pounding companion it cuts away at who you are and makes it hard to do what you know is right
27. How did murtagh know the name of names? Also it's a bit of a cop out that he came to the rescue vs Galbatorix 
28. Arya, what is to become of us?
29. I don't know
30. My feelings won't change
31. If they don't, then perhaps in time
32. You cannot ask more of me now. I do not want to make a mistake with you
33. But we don't have time
34. Dragon's mating a bit random
35. A film of tears appeared on her eyes. Then we will part ways. 
36. Her hand touched his
37. The bitter-sweet romance of this novel saves it somewhat 
38. Quite a long time is spent on the epilogue.. not sure if I like that
39. Sloan's fate is interesting 
40. The last few chapters is kind of like what you would do if you had all the time in the world to say goodbye to your loved ones if you knew you were permanently leaving or dying..it's a sad ending and not one I really like
41. For they knew their time together was drawing to an end, and none wished to mar it with a thoughtless phrase. 
42. Star crossed lovers
43. A bit too easy- 4/5??

The Prophecy Loophole: Fans have long pointed out that Angela’s prophecy says Eragon will leave Alagaësia and never return. But it never says Arya can't leave Du Weldenvarden to visit him. As immortal beings who will live for thousands of years, the few centuries Arya spends rebuilding the elven kingdom is just a drop in the bucket. Once the land is stable, there is absolutely nothing stopping her from flying her green dragon across the sea to be with him.

​Think of this ending not as a final closed door, but as a long, mandatory intermission. They had to save the world first; now they have to rebuild it separately before they can ever explore what they could be together.

Socceroos-Turkey

 Completely unexpected. Wow. 

I had thought 1-1