Fritz
Not having read a whole bunch of fantasy (save for Harry Potter and Narnia) I am not sure I can say this but I will: I thought the book original. The story as well as the cast of fantasy characters.
There were creatures I had never thought or heard of: Wolfbrothers and Ogier are my favourite.
It was fun to read through it and I didn't feel that the descriptions of the landscape or the characters was tedious or extremely lengthy (as I've heard Tolkien can be). But I did feel that the story wasn't intended to be this long. It felt like the first Harry Potter in the first 200 pages. A story that started to take on its own life as the author was writing it.
Around page 400 the characters caravan was split up around the river the Arinelle and the story started to fork from the one narrative into 3. Following Nynaeve, Perrin and Rand together with the other cast with which surrounded them at the time.
In terms of character development, I'd say there is hardly any. However it is not really a problem in this story. The story just meanders on through the world Robert Jordan created and is interesting enough to follow. It might not really be high literature or anything. But it sure is an entertaining story and a good read.
Some words that caught my attention (lot's of equestrian terms):
lather (noun): sweat on a horse's neck
discomfit :to make uneasy or perplexed
rictus: the expanse of an open mouth / gaping grimace
ostler: a person employed at an inn
tart: having a sharp or pungent taste
acerbic: sour or bitter tasting
rote: memorizing process using routine
hackamore: a rope or rawhide that can be lowered over a horse's eyes
slipshod: marked by carelesness
gelding: castrated horse
murk: total or partial darkness
mastiff: an ancient breed of dogs
resplendent: splendid or dazzling in appearance
querulous: given to complaining
inchmeal: little by little, gradually
temerity: foolhardy disregard of danger
unctuous: characterized by insincere or exaggerated earnestness
torrid: parched with the sun's heat
fetor: offensive odor or stench (a fetid smell: fetor).
Not having read a whole bunch of fantasy (save for Harry Potter and Narnia) I am not sure I can say this but I will: I thought the book original. The story as well as the cast of fantasy characters.
There were creatures I had never thought or heard of: Wolfbrothers and Ogier are my favourite.
It was fun to read through it and I didn't feel that the descriptions of the landscape or the characters was tedious or extremely lengthy (as I've heard Tolkien can be). But I did feel that the story wasn't intended to be this long. It felt like the first Harry Potter in the first 200 pages. A story that started to take on its own life as the author was writing it.
Around page 400 the characters caravan was split up around the river the Arinelle and the story started to fork from the one narrative into 3. Following Nynaeve, Perrin and Rand together with the other cast with which surrounded them at the time.
In terms of character development, I'd say there is hardly any. However it is not really a problem in this story. The story just meanders on through the world Robert Jordan created and is interesting enough to follow. It might not really be high literature or anything. But it sure is an entertaining story and a good read.
Some words that caught my attention (lot's of equestrian terms):
lather (noun): sweat on a horse's neck
discomfit :to make uneasy or perplexed
rictus: the expanse of an open mouth / gaping grimace
ostler: a person employed at an inn
tart: having a sharp or pungent taste
acerbic: sour or bitter tasting
rote: memorizing process using routine
hackamore: a rope or rawhide that can be lowered over a horse's eyes
slipshod: marked by carelesness
gelding: castrated horse
murk: total or partial darkness
mastiff: an ancient breed of dogs
resplendent: splendid or dazzling in appearance
querulous: given to complaining
inchmeal: little by little, gradually
temerity: foolhardy disregard of danger
unctuous: characterized by insincere or exaggerated earnestness
torrid: parched with the sun's heat
fetor: offensive odor or stench (a fetid smell: fetor).
Not sure what to think. It wasn't particularly enjoyable to read. It felt like a Dostoyevski, but without character that had a certain charm or I could feel sympathy for.
I made it though and then read up about it. Apparently it was very influential and stood out because it was so different from other novels, being so isolated.
Not sure what to think. It wasn't particularly enjoyable to read. It felt like a Dostoyevski, but without character that had a certain charm or I could feel sympathy for.
I made it though and then read up about it. Apparently it was very influential and stood out because it was so different from other novels, being so isolated.
This was wonderful.
It’s similar to American Gods as it visits and explores the multifaceted world of gods and fables in a very profound way. But it is more like an epic fantasy story, but just set in a completely different world that most Tolkienesque fantasy explores.
It’s fun and edgy, violent, graphic, sensual. It’s all these things.
But! I found “A brief history of seven killings” by Marlon James a much more compelling read. And this story didn’t really engage me emotionally to the protagonist or any other of the characters. So. For all of the world building, African folklore and love for it’s breadth of stories, the complexity of story and language being used I give it 5 stars. But I subtract one star for not engaging me more and having me emotionally invested.
Can’t wait to read the next instalment.
This was wonderful.
It’s similar to American Gods as it visits and explores the multifaceted world of gods and fables in a very profound way. But it is more like an epic fantasy story, but just set in a completely different world that most Tolkienesque fantasy explores.
It’s fun and edgy, violent, graphic, sensual. It’s all these things.
But! I found “A brief history of seven killings” by Marlon James a much more compelling read. And this story didn’t really engage me emotionally to the protagonist or any other of the characters. So. For all of the world building, African folklore and love for it’s breadth of stories, the complexity of story and language being used I give it 5 stars. But I subtract one star for not engaging me more and having me emotionally invested.
Can’t wait to read the next instalment.
Very interesting book, loved most of it very much.
The only thing that kind of bothered me is that then author comes across as both incredibly nihilistic and deterministic of how the world works. Kind of confusing. For all the nuance he brings in certain areas he is very adamant about his perception on what the myths are we build our lives around.
Anyways.. A good read.
Very interesting book, loved most of it very much.
The only thing that kind of bothered me is that then author comes across as both incredibly nihilistic and deterministic of how the world works. Kind of confusing. For all the nuance he brings in certain areas he is very adamant about his perception on what the myths are we build our lives around.
Anyways.. A good read.
Updated a reading goal:
Read 20 books by December 31, 2022
Progress so far: 33 / 20 165%