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A Memory of Light (The Wheel of Time, #14)

Robert Jordan,

Brandon Sanderson

Start date: January 7, 2013

Finish date: January 31, 2013

Discussion: Book Discussions

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What Members Thought

Jan 08, 2013 Daran rated it it was amazing

I'll start off by saying that I feel as if I've said goodbye to a great many dear friends. I started reading this series in the late 90's, and I've followed it through to the end now. There's a lot to be said about this series, both good and bad, but that's not what this review is about. It's about this last book.

My largest problem with the book was that several of the characters seemed more wooden than they had in previous books, particularly Rand and Egwene. Tuon as well, but she's never been I'll start off by saying that I feel as if I've said goodbye to a great many dear friends. I started reading this series in the late 90's, and I've followed it through to the end now. There's a lot to be said about this series, both good and bad, but that's not what this review is about. It's about this last book.

My largest problem with the book was that several of the characters seemed more wooden than they had in previous books, particularly Rand and Egwene. Tuon as well, but she's never been a relaxed character anyway. I think that it was, in part, Sanderson's reverence for the work that sometimes hampered his ability to breathe life into the characters. Though I think he did a great job with many of the others. Talmanes has become one of my favorite characters while he's been writing these last three books.

What I liked about this book most was the different character points of view. This book shows a mastery of point of view, especially Chapter 37; which changes point of view numerous times over the course of 190 pages, and uses it to keep the action up and provide commentary about the battle from the highest generals to the lowliest foot soldier. Also, it's the little details between characters that made it so masterful. For example, when Tuon renames someone, that person's name changes forever after from her point of view. When she does it from Mat's point of view, then name changes once, then goes back to the way it was. That is their relationship in a nutshell.

Something that I thought was interesting is that several of the subplots aren't resolved. There are more than a few open ended questions at the end of this book. But then I realized, that's the point, isn't it?

"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave birth to it comes again...There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning."

life never gets wrapped up with a nice and neat "And they lived happily ever after." There's always loose threads.

While I did have some problems with this book, I can't give only four stars to something that had me shouting "YES!" at one point, and fighting back tears at another. If only because I've spent so long with these characters, I was tremendously emotionally invested in their lives and struggles. Even if some of them spent most of the book acting like wool-headed idiots.

Thank you Robert Jordan
Thank you Brandon Sanderson ...more

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Aug 23, 2014 Deborah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-fantasy

Hmm. A thousand-word climax. Although I enjoyed parts of this, the ping pong of repetitive scenes became tiresome after a while. It was nice to see it end, finally, after so many years, but it would have been better if I didn't feel relieved when it ended. Ah well, back to Game of Thrones. ...more

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