This is probably the third time I've "read" this book. I read it twice before and I listened to it this time. Why would I read this book so many times? Well, there are a few reasons. The first of which is that I read a good chunk of this series (Wheel of Time), 5 or 6 books (ranging from 600-1000 pages)at a time. It is at this point that I get burnt out on it. The second reason is that, despite my complaints about Jordan's unnecessarily detailed descriptions of what people are wearing, it's a very good series. The third reason why I keep going back to rereading it is that I just want to finish the darned thing.
Well, this time I listened to it, and do you know what? I think I enjoyed it more. If it weren't for the fact that it took around 30 hours to listen to one book, I would probably continue doing so. Maybe when I get stuck later on, I will go back to audiobooks. We'll see.
Why did I choose to reread it now? Well, I had an interesting conversation with my brother. Most conversations I have with my brother are interesting, I'll be fair. He and I have similar taste in books. I guarantee I've read some books that he would roll his eyes at, and I'm sure he's read some books that I tune out when he talks about them. For the most part, however, we have similar enough interests where we can talk about books, movies, shows, music, etc for extended periods of time.
Back to this conversation: he suggested that in the different Ages of the Wheel of Time, there are different times that could be written as our same "universe" but during a different age. I used the example of Planet of the Apes when Charlton Heston discovers that he's been on Earth all along, he has just been in the distant future. So, perhaps Jordan wrote this story as either an Age in our past or an Age in our future? Who knows? The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.
On to the book:
The story is about a sheepherder named Rand. He and his friends survive a trolloc (large Troll like critters) attack and, in order to save their families and their village, they leave with an Aes Sedai (a woman who can wield the One Power, like the Force) and her Warder (like a body guard but different). Rand is accompanied by his two best friends, Mat and Perrin. The three of them are wanted by the Dark One. Two women from their village also accompany them and eventually discover that they are both able to wield the One Power. A Gleeman (Mr Bojangles who can juggle) named Thom also joins them. Along the way, they are hunted by the minions of the Dark One who chases them by day and fills their dreams by night. They get separated and their paths in the pattern diverge. Perrin discovers something ancient about himself. Mat tangles with some dark stuff that changes him for life. Rand meets a princess and sees a false Dragon (a man who can wield the One Power, which can only end in madness, who also believes he is the answer to prophecy). This is the first book in a 14 book series. There is a lot of information to cover. I tried my best to summarize without giving anything away.
My review of this book:
It was excellent to listen to. I love the characters, I love the language, I love the writing. There are paragraphs I find myself skimming, so maybe it is better for me to listen to these books. My favorite thing about this book (this time around) is finding all the little things that could potentially be from a different "age". Maybe something from our past is in these stories (just wait until the next few books and I can go further into depth on this one). So far, the one I am most excited to mention is the Green Man and Mount Dhoom. The Green Man is a tree like creature/man. Perhaps Middle Earth is a different age of this world... of our world! Where do the Ogier come from? Trollocs? I want to know. I got some insight into Mat that is also exciting, but it is too early in the series to bring it up.
Would I recommend this book to someone? Only if I thought they were willing to hang in there for 14 long books. You know what, I would recommend this book to anyone who is capable of reading a 700+ page book. So, reader, can you read? (see what I did there? Of course you can read, you're reading this blog!) Read the book. If you don't like it, you can yell at me or whatever, but I would rather you tell me why you didn't like it and maybe start a discussion. I like talking about books. I'd happily have a conversation about it with you.
What didn't I like about the book? I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hate it when independent, spunky, rebellious female characters are portrayed as being solid as a diamond on the outside, but are super fragile when it comes to emotions. Haughty is a word I often use to describe characters like this. All the women that I can think of in the story are like this. Unnecessary. Also, the descriptions can get a little tedious at times.
Anyway, this book left me really excited to read more of this series. Just trying to puzzle out the different Ages is going to be super fun! It's like Myst, but not interactive.
Well, this time I listened to it, and do you know what? I think I enjoyed it more. If it weren't for the fact that it took around 30 hours to listen to one book, I would probably continue doing so. Maybe when I get stuck later on, I will go back to audiobooks. We'll see.
Why did I choose to reread it now? Well, I had an interesting conversation with my brother. Most conversations I have with my brother are interesting, I'll be fair. He and I have similar taste in books. I guarantee I've read some books that he would roll his eyes at, and I'm sure he's read some books that I tune out when he talks about them. For the most part, however, we have similar enough interests where we can talk about books, movies, shows, music, etc for extended periods of time.
Back to this conversation: he suggested that in the different Ages of the Wheel of Time, there are different times that could be written as our same "universe" but during a different age. I used the example of Planet of the Apes when Charlton Heston discovers that he's been on Earth all along, he has just been in the distant future. So, perhaps Jordan wrote this story as either an Age in our past or an Age in our future? Who knows? The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills.
On to the book:
The story is about a sheepherder named Rand. He and his friends survive a trolloc (large Troll like critters) attack and, in order to save their families and their village, they leave with an Aes Sedai (a woman who can wield the One Power, like the Force) and her Warder (like a body guard but different). Rand is accompanied by his two best friends, Mat and Perrin. The three of them are wanted by the Dark One. Two women from their village also accompany them and eventually discover that they are both able to wield the One Power. A Gleeman (Mr Bojangles who can juggle) named Thom also joins them. Along the way, they are hunted by the minions of the Dark One who chases them by day and fills their dreams by night. They get separated and their paths in the pattern diverge. Perrin discovers something ancient about himself. Mat tangles with some dark stuff that changes him for life. Rand meets a princess and sees a false Dragon (a man who can wield the One Power, which can only end in madness, who also believes he is the answer to prophecy). This is the first book in a 14 book series. There is a lot of information to cover. I tried my best to summarize without giving anything away.
My review of this book:
It was excellent to listen to. I love the characters, I love the language, I love the writing. There are paragraphs I find myself skimming, so maybe it is better for me to listen to these books. My favorite thing about this book (this time around) is finding all the little things that could potentially be from a different "age". Maybe something from our past is in these stories (just wait until the next few books and I can go further into depth on this one). So far, the one I am most excited to mention is the Green Man and Mount Dhoom. The Green Man is a tree like creature/man. Perhaps Middle Earth is a different age of this world... of our world! Where do the Ogier come from? Trollocs? I want to know. I got some insight into Mat that is also exciting, but it is too early in the series to bring it up.
Would I recommend this book to someone? Only if I thought they were willing to hang in there for 14 long books. You know what, I would recommend this book to anyone who is capable of reading a 700+ page book. So, reader, can you read? (see what I did there? Of course you can read, you're reading this blog!) Read the book. If you don't like it, you can yell at me or whatever, but I would rather you tell me why you didn't like it and maybe start a discussion. I like talking about books. I'd happily have a conversation about it with you.
What didn't I like about the book? I've said it before and I'll say it again. I hate it when independent, spunky, rebellious female characters are portrayed as being solid as a diamond on the outside, but are super fragile when it comes to emotions. Haughty is a word I often use to describe characters like this. All the women that I can think of in the story are like this. Unnecessary. Also, the descriptions can get a little tedious at times.
Anyway, this book left me really excited to read more of this series. Just trying to puzzle out the different Ages is going to be super fun! It's like Myst, but not interactive.
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