When I started the wheel of time I wish I had...

[Amylia Lerato]

I'm somewhat through "lord of chaos" (book 6) and I wanted to make a thread of things I wish I had done whilst reading the first few books in the series.
I have ADHD and names go in and out of my brain like water and I just started doing this thing where whenever a new character is introduced I put a sticky note with their name on the page so when I forget who someone is I just skip back to their intro which usually jogs my memory. I wish I'd started doing this sooner.
I also wish I'd used the map more, it does wonders for telling you where stuff is (duh) actually happening and why tear isn't an actual desert.
Lovely experienced readers I'm sure have similair "I wish I had"s and I'd love to hear them.

 

[Satara al'Caelahn]

I wish I'd looked at the map more, too.

Since I didn't, I somehow got it in my head that the Two Rivers is to the East of Tar Valon (it really, really isn't), that Cairhein is further south (it really, really isn't, either), that Tarabon is further north (it's down there pretty far), and that Tar Valon is about where Caemlyn is (and then, dear brain, where is Caemlyn? no idea).

It doesn't affect reading too much but there are still a few jarring moments where I have to be like "wait..." then go look at the map again.

 

[Megana Vallentin]

The map is definitely the big one for me too! I always get caught up in stories and forget to references the maps. Even on re-reads I've struggled with it.

The other thing was not realizing until the end that there was a pronunciation guide. Not that it was the *best* pronunciation guide, but it would have been nice to not have some of these names cemented the wrong way early on.

 

[Ephrem Elpidius]

Brandon Sanderson talks about how his love for maps in fantasy books really helped him immerse himself in the world (possibly even influenced him becoming a writer/developing a love for writing, he has a big segment on maps in one of his podcasts, I forget which one), and that's why he always makes sure to have detailed maps in his books. I think this is a great thread!

Ever since a young age I have been fascinated by the maps in fantasy books similar to Brandon, I remember reading Wheel of Time as a teen and I would trace out the movements on the maps, and sometimes even draw my own maps and replay some of the battles in my mind.

 

[Alexr al'Petros]

My top two "wish I hads" are

1. The Tar Valon.net library - I love being able to look up the names and references (so huge thanks to our awesome @Toral Delvar for this resource).

2. The map. I finally got a poster one for my reading room that I can just look up at (b/c flipping back pages is sooooo hard!). 🤣 But there are also a couple great online maps. One of my favorites is one that is actually tied to the story itself (it tracks the major characters on the map consistent to where they are at in the story). Here's the link if you haven't seen it before.

Wheel of Timelines Map

And of course, just because I like maps...here's the updated World Map from Origins. It really helped me understand the world perspective and how it was possible for the Seanchan to project power across an ocean as well as understanding the size of the Aiel Waste and Shara. It also makes me a little sad...b/c it properly places the one place I wanted to learn more about.... The Mad Lands (seems like entire books could be written about that place!).

Origins WoT World Map

 

[Teavin Calayna]

I wish I had taken notes while reading and marked places I'd like to flip to and read certain passages that were my favorites or moments with characters I liked. I also wish I had kept a running commentary on Twitter from the very beginning instead of starting one up when I got to TSR. Most of all I wish I hadn't accidentally spoiled myself on a couple of things by reading through the companion before I had finished the series