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A Memory of Light
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Who started reading the new Wheel of Time book?
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Matthew
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Jan 08, 2013 04:35PM
I just stated the book today and was interested in who else has. I am actually kind of surprised that there has been so little mentioned about it.
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I started the book last night, and I'm already 300 pages into it.
I'm likely going to finish this after work. About 100 pages or so left. Tried holding off so I could prolong it but couldn't help myself. And by this point...Yeah, I want it to end.
There's a discussing in the fantasy series group about it, though I think that may be a smaller group.
I'm planning on rereading the entire series this year. I figure if I do one a month by the time I get to the last book, it will be at the reduced Kindle price since the paperback will be out. :)
I stopped reading after Jordan's death and promised myself not to touch the series until its last book is out. Time to reread first 11 books and read the last 3; looks like I will be busy for a while :)
I gave up on the series at about book 9 or 10, but I've heard that the Sanderson books make finishing it worthwhile. But I'm unimpressed that the ebook version won't be out until April- while I understand the desire for all sales to be counted for the NYT bestseller list, it seems a bit silly at at this point in time.
Yeah the series definitely peaked around book five and books 9, 10 and 11 were a little painful to get through at times but I think Sanderson has done a really great job with the last two books. Even with the weak points in the series, I still think this is one of the great epic fantasies.
Jen wrote: "I gave up on the series at about book 9 or 10, but I've heard that the Sanderson books make finishing it worthwhile. But I'm unimpressed that the ebook version won't be out until April- while I u..."
I hate that the book won't be out as an e-book until April. Still, it's not as bad as what happened to "Shadows in Flight" by Orson Scott Card, which has taken a year after its initial release to get out as an e-book.
Jen, you should read some of Sanderson's other books. He's a great fantasy writer and the "Wheel of Time" books helped a lot of readers discover this.
I'm about 250 pages into it (damned real life getting in the way of my reading!) and so far I like it a lot more than I did Towers of Midnight, even if I think Sanderson has some issues with handling the time line still.
Jen, you should read some of Sanderson's other books.He's on my to-read list :-) Most people seem to suggest starting with Mistborn or Elantris...does that sound right to you?
I've never been very impressed with Sanderson's writing. I think he has done a capable job with continuing the series - I just find it really odd when people attribute liking the last few books more, to his involvement. Every story, especially one this long, has its highs and lows, and every one of them was planned and plotted by Robert Jordan. So yes, the middle section of the series is more of a slog, an uphill march but it's because of that work, that effort, that the last few books have been so satisfying. I've found the last book - and it's important to remember the last three books were planned as the one final work - to be satisfying because it is the free fall. We marched up the mountain, up to books 9 and 10, and from there really, the pace picked up in a major way. We were at the tipping point, and all that was left was the dizzying free fall. Naturally, in terms of just the plot points, it was more exciting and events occurred in quicker and quicker succession.
That said, I found the characterisation much less adroit, much less interesting under Sanderson's care. In many respects, it's unfair to even have expected him to manage it, and he does a passable job in most cases, but it just wasn't the same, by and large. He admits to having the most difficulty with this, actually, especially in the case of Mat, and it really showed there. Both in that over the last few books, comparatively little time was spent with him until this one (and even then, he makes his first appearance around pg 270), and in Mat's dialogue.
He retained a lot of his flash, but little of his substance.
I take my hat off to Sanderson for connecting the dots left in place by Jordan, and filling the blanks, but I don't for a second have any doubt about who was responsible for the overall masterpiece, and who was better. Hint: his name starts with Robert and ends with Jordan.
Hmm, I got to the first of the Mat POVs in AMOL and he still comes across as a complete ass in Sanderson's version. :/ Jordan!Mat started out a bit whingy and immature, and grew into a trickster character, where a lot of him was comic relief, but he still had substance, honour, and, maybe despite himself, a heart of gold, whereas Sanderson!Mat comes across as a moronic asshat most of the time. This saddens me, because Mat was pretty much my favourite male character until TGS.Other than that, I'm still thoroughly enjoying AMOL, the only shame is that I have so little time to read right now.
I didn't know it was out already... I thought it wasn't going to be available until May... (obviously I was wrong) :) I must go get a copy! I've really enjoyed what Sanderson has done to finish the series. I think Jordan is a great author and this series is one of my favorites, but I felt very much like he floundered around from books 5-9 (Winter's Heart being the greatest disappointment I have ever read).
I'm looking forward to reading it. A friend got an advance copy and will be loaning it to us soon. Hubby gets 1st dibs.
Just bought the book and ohh how happy I was when I saw it is 900 pages long..yay - more reading..heheCan't wait to dive in..cya in a couple of days :)
Raivo wrote: "Just bought the book and ohh how happy I was when I saw it is 900 pages long..yay - more reading..heheCan't wait to dive in..cya in a couple of days :)"
I'm so going to wish we were getting it as an ebook instead of hard copy. My mind loves 900 pages but my arm, not so much. LOL
I just decided I *had* to re-read the entire series before starting it. >.>
I have started reading it - won’t give away any spoilers, however...like the previous book (that was very well written) it seems like there are many things missing, and we all know why. It's sad that Mr. Jordan passed away (R.I.P.)
Kathryn wrote: "I just decided I *had* to re-read the entire series before starting it. >.>"Ouch.
I re-read it last year in preparation for this but if you're just starting now...ouch.
I only just read the first WoT book last year for the first time. Have my work cut out for me since I have to read everything else until I get to the last book.
I just started reading the first WoT-book. The first chapter I found terribly cheesy, with the outrageous dialogue and Dragonbal-Z scenes. After that, it feels a bit like a Tolkien-pastiche, but it picks up speed around page 100 (that's where I am now) and I still find it interesting enough to continue.edit: I failed to see this discussion is about the last book of WoT, not the first one. Thanks anyway for not spoilering everything, people :-)
I started re-reading at Winter's Heart (9), because I think that's where I gave up. That was horrible, but #10 (Crossroads of Twilight) is making me remember why I liked them in the first place. I do want to see how it turns out.But I'm still very disappointed in the way that Jordan writes relationships. The women seem to assume that men have the intellectual capacity of a sea sponge, and do nothing but try to manipulate them. The men are alternately interested/discomfited/horrified by their women (and who can blame them), but eventually 'succumb', and then 'reward' the women with a few smiles/reminders when they think that they need to show affection.
It just seems like such a juvenile way to see relationships (they might as well be dipping pigtails in inkwells to say "I like you"), and doesn't speak well for the characters. There are all of these world-changing, interesting characters with tremendous intellectual/magical powers, and almost without exception they turn into idiots or manipulators when faced with someone of the opposite sex who they're interested in. If the fate of the world is turning on your actions, wouldn't you look for partners who aren't into game-playing? Who just say "I love you, you love me, we're both adults making huge decisions, so we're going to stop the manipulation and just support each other?"
I re-read The Belgariad for some reason last year and it's the same thing- maybe it's just a meme of a certain type of fantasy?
Maybe, once one accumulates enough power the possibility to see reason or rather, to trust someone with similar power or higher becomes hard for the sole reason that all have done despicable acts (well the bad guys anyway) to get that power, would you trust someone like that even if they are in love with you?For the good guys, suppose in a way the same thing applies, you cannot change the human heart. And when one is even a little bit weak in the head, then there's no choice but not to trust him/her as you can be sure you'll be betrayed at some point.
In the end everyone has their own agenda to go about things, whether or not at some point in time those agendas overlap with yours.
That's my thoughts anyway.
Jen wrote: "Who just say "I love you, you love me, we're both adults making huge decisions, so we're going to stop the manipulation and just support each other?" "I think that's great in real life, but in a story if it's just 2 nice people it might be a bit boring. Although, to back track a bit, even that's bit of boredom is fine as long as there are external problems. That kind of character sounds like the kind of thing Sanderson would write, not Jordan, lol. I love the WoT but man his characters are kids.
I started this series way back in the day but although the story was interesting it is very long winded in too many chapters throughout the series. Also the last "book" is practically a series unto itself, which I find to be overdrawn yet again. I understand he's not around to have finished it himself but he basically did. Overall, it is a good series but it should have been edited down in size.
Jen wrote: "I started re-reading at Winter's Heart (9), because I think that's where I gave up. That was horrible, but #10 (Crossroads of Twilight) is making me remember why I liked them in the first place. I..."Totally agree with you. I felt that the last three books sort of started to make up for this a bit - the relationships became a bit (a BIT) more mature.
I read them just to say I finished. They weren't bad, but they reminded me why I haven't read much epic, high fantasy recently. The world building is awesome, but the characters aren't very deep and interpersonal relationships aren't very realistic.I was particularly annoyed that Rand rode off into the sunset, leaving his wives and soon to be children behind. There's hints he'll see them again, but they're such public figures, he'll be an absentee husband/dad for the most part(gets all of the rewards, does none of the work).
SPOILERS to come!!Sorry for not adding it before
I actually reckon he will see them much more than you think (to the above poster).
While it's true he rode off into the sunset at the end of the book, that was just so the general public would not know of his revival.
But he is the master of a new kind of Power now, he can come and go from anywhere as easily as snapping his fingers, without anyone finding out. The way his character was set up, I'd reckon he'd see them much more, unknown to the outside world, perhaps, but still a father to his son and a husband to his wives.
Though I suppose that's up to each and everyone's own interpertation of what might come next:)
Well I'm glad I've already read this book, because it doesn't indicate the thread will have spoilers..and you guys are discussing the end of the series without tags..
I was just noticing the lack of spoiler tags. The book has been sitting on my bedside for months before release as a friend has connections. I really want to read it but every time I look at the size of it my arm complains. I do most of my reading on my iPad but I don't buy many traditionally published books due to pricing and lack of ability to share with husband/friends. I should see if my library has it as part of the overdrive addition.
I've loved the series from day one. I'm also one of those strange creatures who is fine skipping hundreds of pages of a book of stuff that doesn't interest me and reading comments/reviews see those are favorite parts of others so I just shrug my shoulders and read on.
I'm about halfway thru it and had to put it down for awhile. It's intense.
Frankly, I read the series until around the fifth book, realized that he was just repeating himself and his plot lines, and stopped. Too many books, too little time to continue with this series.
Same here, Bill. I think book five would have made an excellent needing to series. Or maybe had one more book to wrap everything up. The final scene in book five was epic.
I'm on my first time through and just finished book 10. The last couple of books have been really tough to get through. I'm so sick of reading Aes Sedai (and most women in general) bitching about how superior they are and how stupid men are. The only thing that's kept me going is that Sanderson supposedly gets it back on track, and I'm close to that spot.
I actually completely skipped #9 because I was so tired of those very same themes. 10 almost made me give up the series for good but you are correct, Sanderson saved it and I am looking forward to the last one whenever I get ahold of a used copy.I still haven't read 9 and probably never will.
Personally I think Jordan was fixing it. I enjoyed Knife of Dreams a lot.Mr. Sanderson did do a great job finishing it though.
Enjoyed it. Agree with others that Mat's character was off. Think Sanderson did very well. Have moved on to his other work because of it.
been reading the WOT series since i was 11 and i'm now 28, so really glad i got to see this series to its end. felt a little underwhelmed though by the ending, i'm tempted to go back and start the series over from the beginning to see if the early books are as good as i remember.
These books started out great, but by the 5th book the group had only gone about 5 months into the year. It just kept going and going and going....... How much problems can one person stand in this little time and how much bored person can it make me? I started throwing the books at the walls and screaming. My husband finally said enough was enough and made me get rid of all the books. Good luck to anyone wanting to start these books. :(
So I finished the last book last night while rocking my son to sleep.(view spoiler)
I still liked the whole series and enjoyed the ending. Gave me a satisfied feel. Never got into the "how can it keep going" aspect that other people complain about, I loved the world and people too much. (There was some repetitive language that could have been trimmed, but not whole scenes or plots.) To me trying to portray a giant "once in an age" event into a few volumes would feel false. With this many characters introduced to us, it really did feel like the entire world was fighting and dying, not just nameless hordes of extras. I've frequently compared it to trying to cram all of World War II into a couple hundred pages, you end up skipping whole battles and oversimplifying the whole thing.
I thought people complained that it ended too abruptly, not that it should keep going on forever?
Corey wrote: "been reading the WOT series since i was 11 and i'm now 28, so really glad i got to see this series to its end. felt a little underwhelmed though by the ending, i'm tempted to go back and start the ..."That's what I'm doing. I haven't read the Sanderson books and it's been way too long in between readings. I just finished book 2 and so far, I am liking them as I remember I did. We'll see if that continues as I progress.
