Launch

I've debated for a long time whether I wanted to join the world of blogging. There are millions of aimless voices out there with frankly, not too much to say. My ego hasn't sufficiently swelled enough to think you may care that I had a bagel and cereal for breakfast or that my favorite color is blue. Even on the topics I do choose to write about it may not be long before the Back button on your browser starts calling your name. Once in a while someone does ask for my opinion though. Don't laugh! The opinions are not about saving the world (I don't know any cheerleaders) or dispensing advice of the Dear Abby variety. Usually the questions are about movies, books, or the latest water cooler talk. Basically all the topics everyone is an expert on already. I will be posting my reviews of movies I have watched, books I have read, and commentary on anything that strikes me as interesting. If I really feel like scaring you away I may even speak a little geek. Honestly, that is the joy of having my own blog. I get to dictate the terms, you just get to come along for the ride (though you can mercilessly comment on each post). Whether I have 1 reader or 5 (quite a lofty goal) I will continue to post new entries until it is no longer fun anymore and I take my ball and go home. If you've made it this far, thank you. If you would like to continue on, I admire your bravery, or depravity as it may be. Just to get you quickly versed on the ins and outs of Planet H, I'll give you the 5-cent tour. The front page for PlanetH will always contain the latest entries. Use the menu on the lower right to navigate directly to areas of interest. Thats about it. Let me know what you think.

There and Back Again

Somewhere between adolescence and adulthood I managed to skirt reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Of the many books and Cliff notes I have read over the years this classic flew under the radar. I usually read a number of crime/mystery novels each year, but I recently decided to branch out a little. I would like to say this was due to some noble desire to transform my literary world, but in reality it was probably due to the extra time caused by the TV writers strike earlier this year (yes, I watch too many shows, curse you DVR!). No, Oprah's book of the month didn't start sounding fascinating. Instead, murder, mystery, and forensics were replaced (in part) with dwarfs, wizards, and elves. I tore through the Harry Potter series. In case you live in a hole or have yet to tire of hearing the series praised, these were some of the best books I have ever read. I then moved onto the Chronicles of Narnia series (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is particularly good). That brings us to The Hobbit. Now don't write this book off as a "children's book." If I had that attitude my only impression of Harry Potter would be what I've seen on DVD. Pretty unforgivable. Also keep in mind that I have never been a huge fan of books whose category is often labeled "Fantasy." I don't play Warcraft and I have never been known as Elf_Lord215. With that said, I highly recommend giving this book a try if you haven't already, especially before the new movie is released. I paid a grand total of $8 for The Hobbit and the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in trade paperback. Seems like an easy choice when most of us are willing to drop 10 bucks to see the often substandard "movie version."