Wheel of Time Reread - New Spring

Aduiavas Ida

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Yeah, the dressmaker is a fun bit of flavour, but a bit long... I would have thought that Moiraine would have explained how to behave with a seamstress before they went in, but for her, maybe it was so natural, since she has "always" done it that way?
 

Bruce al'Kay

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I thought this too! Plus she's so conscious elsewhere of the background differences between her and Siuan that you would think she would offer some advice.
 

Estelyn Blackfyre

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Why does Moiraine talk about being cold? That comes up in the pond and later while she is looking for Siuan. I had thought this was a trick of concentration and that all Sisters could do it. Any thoughts on why, Moiraine can't?
 

Bruce al'Kay

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She does talk about it as a trick of concentration, but she also comments that Siuan learns that immediately whereas she can't master it immediately. It seems that some Aes Sedai have a more natural aptitude? But I do think she masters it eventually.
 

Toral Delvar

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Chapter 15
Pretty uneventful. Basically Lan rides a horse and Bukama glares at people
Character Development
Lan
*Lan does not trust Aes Sedai and cannot understand why someone would agree to be a Warder
Hopefully we'll be able to detect his attitude change - in the same way that his relationship with Nynaeve was not as obvious as Rand and Elayne, but the way they were reacting to each other and thinking abut each other was shown,so if someone was paying enough attention, they would 't have been surprised
(Egwene going for Gawyn instead of Galad however, I'm not sure about. We seemed to go from her lusting after Galad, to thinking "well, I suppose Gawyn isn't bad either to "I love you and not him" with nothing at all in between)
 

Toral Delvar

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Chapter 16
An uneventful chapter, but we learn a bit more about Malkieri culture
Miscellaneous
*Malkieri men do not start conversations with women who don’t speak to them first
*Women had called Lan beautiful when he was 15
*Did Edeyn really hire men to kill Lan?
Chapter 17
I didn't like this chapter, but that's mostly because I can't stand Cadsuane
Character Development
Moiraine
*Cadsuane intimidates her, but she manages to avoid telling her why she is in the north by not actually answering a direct question
*Moiraine was thought to be too free with her opinions and temper
*She has still not fully mastered keeping her tongue
Miscellaneous
*Cadsuane says there are five in the next level of strength after Kerene, these are Moiraine, Siuan, Elaida, Lelaine and Romanda, though Romanda is not actually as old as Cadsuane, she is 20 years younger according to the Companion. She is the closest in Age that we know of though
*Larelle struggles to even say out loud the idea of attracting girls with a greater potential, but 20 years later, the Reds are very pleased with themselves about Elayne’s potential and Moiraine has no qualms over talking about Egwene and Nynaeve’s
*Merean says she does not believe Moiraine would lie about her age. This is of course true because of the oaths
Common Themes
Overestimating knowledge
*Cadsuane just assumes Moiraine has no real important business and so will obey her. We see a similar attitude with her alter and Rand.
*Merean says she does not believe Moiraine would lie about her age. This is of course true because of the oaths
Chapter 18
The Black Ajah! Things seem to be getting going here.
Miscellaneous
*Moiraine thinks she would like Siuan and her ability to solve puzzles, but this – what are Cadsuane, Merean and Larelle up to, is the sort of interpersonal relationship puzzle that we know she is much better at than Siuan.
*It will take three or four years before Siuan is strong enough to tell Cetalia she is leaving the job
Just how long does it take to gain full strength if a person is not forced
*Siuan names 5 seekers, Aisha, Kerene. Valera, Ludice and Meilyn
*When did Siuan leave Meilyn's room? How did they get her body back - or did they?
*When they wonder how many Black Ajah there could be, they think 15 or 20
 

Toral Delvar

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Chapter 19
This was kind of a fun chapter, but Moiraine was incredibly annoying. I know she doesn't get better for a while :/
Character Development
Moiraine
*Moiraine for some reason thinks Lan should apologise for defending himself
*Her whole response is very petulant and childish
*She does not mind a man wanting to see her unclothed, but doesn’t like the idea of him telling others about it
*She decides Lan has a suitable face for a brigand
*She doesn’t even think it odd when Lan basically sits and meditates at the pond
Moiraine is very shallow throughout the whole chapter
Miscellaneous
Why does Moiraine decide the three are likely brigands?
Chapter 20
Uneventful, more of Moiraine and Lan getting to know each other
Miscellaneous
Lan doubts Moiraine is Aes Sedai, primarily because she has too much of a temper
Lan doesn’t trust her because she is Cairhienin
There is a tradition that leaping fires can burn away bad luck
Lan thinks visiting the privy is something not to talk about
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Yes, I really don't understand Moiraines reasoning here. SHE sneaks up on HIM, and she wants an apology? :rolleyes
 

Toral Delvar

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I don't have any other notes yet, but Moiraine is so annoying in these chapters - it does play with one of the big themes of the series, which is people acting on insufficient knowledge, or believing they know things they don't, in this case, she knows nothing of Malkieri culture so is perplexed when Lan responds as a Malkieri is supposed to (he has a similar issue, in that he thinks he has done everything right and she should understand and accept), but at the moment, I'm thinking "why would he ever agree to bond this child?
 

Bruce al'Kay

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I finished New Spring this weekend! If we're doing Eye of the World I will read along a bit as well :)
 

Aintza Bisera

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I'm re-reading now. I'm only to chapter 11, so I would definitely join in a discussion! :D
 

Ilverin Matriam

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I finished chapter 3 The Peddler last night,I am making it a goal of at least one chapter per evening, so I can finish it soon :P

There is a quote of Moiraine in chapter 2 -Strangers, which was interesting, after Rand asked her what is she doing in the Two Rivers, she replies:
'“I am a student of history,” she said at last, “a collector of old stories. This place you call the Two Rivers has always interested me. Sometimes I study the stories of what happened here long ago, here and at other places.”'

Obviously, she cannot lie, but... a student of history, that seems like a stretch if she wants to say Aes Sedai, doesn't it? :P
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Verin also says something similar in Shadow Rising. Maybe it is a go-to story that Aes Sedai sort of agree that is correct, so they can say it? I mean, they do study history in the White Tower...
 

Estelyn Blackfyre

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I Obviously, she cannot lie, but... a student of history, that seems like a stretch if she wants to say Aes Sedai, doesn't it? :p

Ilverin Sedai, a student of history is effectively a turn of phrase. If you are interested history, at all, and make some effort to learn you could easily make that claim. Although it does come off as being somewhat bombastic if you haven't done much in the way of homework.To me it is in the same realm as saying someone is a "gentleman and a scholar". The subject doesn't have to be either for the statement to read as true.
 

Bruce al'Kay

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Ilverin Sedai, a student of history is effectively a turn of phrase. If you are interested history, at all, and make some effort to learn you could easily make that claim. Although it does come off as being somewhat bombastic if you haven't done much in the way of homework.To me it is in the same realm as saying someone is a "gentleman and a scholar". The subject doesn't have to be either for the statement to read as true.
This, I agree, essentially. "History Buff" is a similar phrase - at least in connotation. There's an amateur context. She doesn't say she's an historian, which would almost certainly be a lie.
 

Ilverin Matriam

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I mean.. I guess? It could be an English thing. I guess we have something similar in Bulgarian, but it's more like a "man of science" and not history, but I will take it :p


Chapter 4 The Gleeman
Always love the first time Thom sees Moiraine (I don't know why, but I enjoy their... whatever they have between them).
At first you might think it's because he's smitten with her or something, but then we find out that he doesn't like Aes Sedai...
...but then we see he likes at least one Aes Sedai :laugh: :waggle
 
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