Jason’s Comments (group member since Jan 31, 2019)

Jason’s comments from the A Wheel Of Time Read Along group.

I totally agree about Lan and Nyneave. There must have been something going on behind the scenes there, but I don’t know what. Lol. It looks like a bad case of insta love.

Welcome to you both, Debra and Chick!!

We are moving along really well! What are your thoughts on these chapters?

Welcome, Lily! I’m happy that you’re joining us! Feel free to comment in each discussion until you’re caught up. I’m looking forward to your thoughts.

There’s some nasty things that happen in these chapters. What happens to the guards in Padan Fain’s escape from imprisonment is pretty gross.

It’s also interesting that someone took a shot at assassinating Siuan or Rand before they leave for Fal Dara for Tomon Head.

The entire journey is almost like traveling through or into The Heart Of Darkness. It becomes a little surreal and they find some awful things, like the Myrdraal nailed to a door. “Who or what could do that to a half man,” Mat asks. Indeed!

I’ve heard that they do develop into different, perhaps more mature versions of of themselves as the books progress. I find Nyneave a little annoying, though not as much as I used to. And she hasn’t even started yanking on her braids yet. Mat is so much like some of the idiots I grew up with, so I he doesn’t annoy me too much. He seems familiar.

Tbh, I have no idea myself. It was rather confusing. I think of Ba’alzamon as a Forsaken. Perhaps the head Forsaken. Right hand to dark one. I might be wrong.

Nice to meet you, too, Ryan. So far no steam has been lost even though we’re only on book two, so I’m hoping that this group is what it takes for all of us to make it through!

Me too, tbh. I also really enjoyed Tar Valon and lessons with Egwene, Nyneave, and Elayne.

Welcome to book two, guys!! After a bit of a slow start, The Great Hunt becomes even more action packed than the first!

1. This is the third time reading EotW. While I did enjoy the series before, for some reason I enjoyed it the most this time around. I think it’s partly due to having organized all this and setting myself up to do this challenge well.

2. I really enjoyed all the characters, except The Children Of Light. I hate those bastards! I’d have to go with Loial if I were to choose just one, though.

3. Shadar Logoth is definitely at the top. That whole part reminds me of some H.P. Lovecraft stories in the idea of a long dead cursed city. Creepy!

4. I like predestination better than the chosen one trope because it seems like all characters have a role to play and none of them have any real choice in the matter. Sometimes this feels like the way it is in real life. I wonder what Robert Jordan though of predestination, or if he had any beliefs in it all?

5. I’m going to say that ultimately, good will overcome evil by the end of WoT, though I have no idea who will survive and what they’ll look like at the end.

My wife reads in the bath all the time. I can’t, though. It makes me too nervous. I do follow along the book while listening on occasion though. I find it remarkable how much slower the reading pace is when I do that.

Welcome, Lyndi! I’m looking forward to talking WoT with you as my history with the series is somewhat similar.

Indeed. Rand doesn’t want to hurt his friends.

Some questions for discussion:

1. Overall, what kind of impact did Eye Of The World have on you?
2. Who are your favourite characters?
3. What were your favourite scenes?
4. “The wheel weaves as the wheel wills.” Do you think that predestination is a theme in this book, and if so, what are your thoughts on that?
5. For those who haven’t read The series, what do you think awaits in our heroes future?

LAN is a fascinating character! Especially because of this back story.

As for the final conflict: (view spoiler)[I agree, the battle was won entirely too easily. On the one hand, it speaks to just how powerful Rand could be, the power that’s just waiting to be tapped into. Yet, he’s never really used the one power and to beat three forsaken as young and untrained as he is a little unrealistic. (hide spoiler)]

My favourite part in here was the trip through the Blight. The landscape working against everything was just creepy, which is something I love about this series. Jordan was very good, I think, at adding elements of the macabre into the world building.

We’ve made it to the final section!

*Spoilers* From our heroes reunion to the Blight and the final showdown against Ba’alzamon, this is some of the exciting stuff!

Welcome, Kane! I’m so happy that you joined us!

Welcome to the read along, Dan! I look forward to discussing these books with you.