"Fermat's Enigma" by Simon Singh

I love mathematics. There is something so truly exhilerating in the study of mathematics that I find completely impossible to deny. I can think of no other discipline that deals in such concrete absolutes as math. Every other field deals with approximations and theories, whereas mathematics deals in the realm of irrefutable logic. As a result, a proof becomes a thing of beauty in it's elegance and completeness. I can think of many times in my study of mathematics where I have been left speechless and left to wonder, "How could that possibly be? How could the universe possibly be so ordered?"

This book touched that chord with me. It was exciting to watch the book slowly progress towards the conclusion and conquering of something so old as Fermat's Last Theorem. The thing that has always struck me about this theorem is that it is not very useful. It's a theorem which really leads to no practical application, yet the number of man hours that have been spent trying to solve it are incalculable. Why have people sought to conquer such a useless theorem? It's the same reason people climb Mt. Everest.

"The Silent Blade" by R.A. Salvatore

Why do I keep reading books by R.A. Salvatore? Over six years ago I picked up a copy of Homeland, the first in his Dark Elf Trilogy. It was quite good. I read the whole trilogy in one week. Then I began reading the rest of his books in the series. "The Silent Blade" is book eleven. Sadly, the truth is that R.A. Salvatore is not a good author.

His characters are generally stereotypical. His attempts at humor are humorous in their lack of any comedic content. Whenever he has a character that is not acting completely one-dimensionally, he hammers it into your head so hard that you cry for his usual paper doll like characters. The fight scenes are dragged out in excruciating detail. I could go on and on about the problems with his writing. Unfortunately, the biggest problem with his writing is that for some reason I continue to read his books. Even worse, I enjoy reading his drivel. That is weird, just plain weird.

I've discussed this phenomenon with a few friends who have also read R.A. Salvatore. I have been surprised to discover that others experience the same thing. I know a number of people who hate R.A. Salvatore, but can't stop reading his books. By now, I have simply resigned myself to the fact that I will continue to read his books and continue to wonder why in the world I'm doing it. Basically R.A. Salvatore is the "Twizzler Pull'n'Peel" of fantasy literature. You know that what you're eating tastes like poo, but you just can't stop yourself.