CROSSROADS of TWILIGHT - Chapters 8 through 15 **SPOILERS**

[Jon]

I got a surprise in the mail when I got home from work yesterday. Yep, you guessed it: A Memory of Light (which I stayed up until eleven o'clock reading). I did not, however, neglect the tenth book in the Wheel of Time series completely. I started listening to Crossroads of Twilight during my commutes yesterday.

Spoilers are allowed for all previous novels and up through the end of Chapter 15. Please mark spoilers that may refer to events in future books of the Wheel of Time series.

[Jon]

I should probably dig out my hardcover edition. I couldn't believe that it took 2.5 CDs to get through the Prologue! This is the first time I've listened (instead of just reading to myself) a Wheel of Time book. I like the female voice reader, but the guy occasionally rushes and doesn't have the best diction.

Nothing exciting yet after the Prologue. The first couple of chapters have been from Mat's point of view, so I'm biding my time until it circles back to a character I prefer.

[Claudia]

I'm finding Crossroads of Twilight a much easier read than Winter's Heart. I was struggling through Winter's Heart at a snail's pace and nearly didn't finish it after a month of reading. I can't point to what it is that's recapturing my interest in Crossroads, because the pace seems pretty similar and still there's more reaction than action. I'm at about 62% through according to my Kindle, and getting impatient to find out what happens with Rand next.

[Alex]

We're at the half way point of the book and then some page wise and most of it has been during a single afternoon. I wouldn't be too surprised if there's a chapter of Elayne clipping her toenails at some point. It needs to get back to Perrin since he's right outside the Aiel camp.

[Kathi, There’s no such thing as too many books!]

Slow, slow, slow... Do we really need to check in with every major character (except Rand and Nynaeve, of course) and several minor characters, just to find out what they are wearing, eating and drinking?

Seriously, other than Perrin finding the Shaido camp, what action there has been has been small stage and seemingly minor. Now, I've not read these books before, so maybe these are key developments, but it doesn't seem that way and I'm over half-way through the book.

[Amelia]

Kathi wrote: "Slow, slow, slow... Do we really need to check in with every major character (except Rand and Nynaeve, of course) and several minor characters, just to find out what they are wearing, eating and dr..."

I think most readers would agree that Crossroads of Twilight is the worst book of the whole series just because of this very point. Nothing happens! You are lucky at least that you can pick up the next book and keep the story going. For me, I started the series when books 1-9 were out. Then I had to wait for this one to come out and was very frustrated when almost nothing happenend and then had to wait a few more years for the next book. At least when you can read the books right after another, it isn't as bad. At least it wasn't for me.

[Kathi, There’s no such thing as too many books!]

Amelia wrote: "At least when you can read the books right after another, it isn't as bad. At least it wasn't for me. "

I can see that, Amelia. I am breaking up my reading of the series with other books, so it's not quite one right after the other for me. I find I need a break between each book. The downside is that I have trouble keeping the second and third tier characters straight--they may be important to the plot but there are so many of them! So many Windfinders and Wavemistresses, so many Seanchan, so many Wise Women, so many members of the Black Tower, and so many Aes Sedai... even my online list of characters for each book doesn't help sometimes.

[Amelia]

Kathi wrote: "Amelia wrote: "At least when you can read the books right after another, it isn't as bad. At least it wasn't for me. "

I can see that, Amelia. I am breaking up my reading of the series with other ..."

There are many characters indeed. Some of the side characters offer really fascinating insights into this world. I've found I recognize and remember much better now that I've reread the series a couple of times. I don't know if you'll ever reread the series. I reread them when the last books came out so I could remember the story better. Now that the series is complete, you don't need to do a refresher reread. You just reread it if you want to.

[Rob]

I'm remembering why I quit the series the first time around with this one. Wow, truly a horrible book. Trying to force my way through this, although I'm not sure why since I know that absolutely nothing happens. Whoever gave Jordan the idea that he needs to name, give a physical description (of which they're all relatively similar) and describe every outfit of every character needs to be shot. So many characters that I just do not care about...

And really Elayne, if you don't want to drink watered down tea and would like something else stand up for yourself and tell someone that. Stop being such a victim!

[Helen]

It's started. Rand and Nynaeve clean the source so we leave them. Perrin arrives at the camp so we leave them...