VERY first impressions of WoT

Aran Cherubim

Resident Citizen
Joined
Aug 15, 2006
Messages
10,717
Age
34
Location
Norway
Pronouns
  1. He - Him
Robert Jordan seems to have a unique way of writing, in the sense that the semi important details were over described, but the points of transitions (like when Rand would begin to dream) and points of conflict (such as all the encounters Matt and Rand had with all the dark friends) were very quickly written with little detail (it seemed to me).

That's hardly unique. It's a common idea to lessen the description during action sequences, to quicken the pace of reading and getting through a sense of urgency.
 
Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
175
Location
Eastern coast of the US
When I first started reading it, I was all geared up for Bel Tine, I totally wanted to see the celebrations and the casks of brandy and honeycakes made me hungry. Then stuff happened and I was like "But...what about BEL TINE?! :(" I was so disappointed because I really wanted to see the festival :laugh:

But of course it didn't keep me from reading it and what happened after that was all very amazing :)

HAHA! This exactly. I find that I get really absorbed in small details or background events in the stories (I've only read through book 2, starting on book 3.) Of course, the over-arching plot is great, but the details really make the story for me.
 
Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
175
Location
Eastern coast of the US
I will also note, though, that it took me a while to get into the first one. I thought the characters were annoying (especially Nynaeve and Egwene), and thought that parts seemed rather ...goofy?... and it was hard for me to suspend disbelief for long enough to be drawn in. Eventually, I became totally hooked (even though I still find Nynaeve and Egwene annoying at times). I'm excited to keep going with the series because the characters are starting to develop and become super interesting.
 
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Messages
6
Age
72
Location
Northwest Washington State
I love the varieties of characters, cultures, myths, stories. Jordan is a master of creating the 'page turner'! I just finished the chapter in Eye of the World where Egwene and Perrin meet Elyas. That Elyas is so interesting!
 

A'rohn Baile

Citizen
Joined
May 20, 2013
Messages
29
I will also note, though, that it took me a while to get into the first one. I thought the characters were annoying (especially Nynaeve and Egwene), and thought that parts seemed rather ...goofy?... and it was hard for me to suspend disbelief for long enough to be drawn in. Eventually, I became totally hooked (even though I still find Nynaeve and Egwene annoying at times). I'm excited to keep going with the series because the characters are starting to develop and become super interesting.

Yes. It's funny you mention the, as you put it, goofy moments. That reminded me of something I've always found quite odd with regards to Jordan's writing style. I find there are countless times throughout the series where characters will express shock or surprise or anger or what have you, and they are often described in a cartoonish, looney tunes fashion. Jaws dropping on the floor, eyes nearly popping out of their skulls, fainting spells and I know there are many more examples but I can't quite remember them at the moment. I can't help but imagine these characters as being transformed into looney tune versions of themselves. I don't have a problem with it but I always found it amusing when you contrast it with his battle and fight scenes, which are really quite graphic and gruesome.
 
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Messages
6
Age
72
Location
Northwest Washington State
My first impression..
Well, I had just finished reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time and saw my buddy reading a book that was just as big as the series I had just finished. He let me borrow the book and it blew my mind. I honestly thought the trollocs were the size of Trolls, Myrddral were analogous to the Nazgul and that Ogier were analogous to the Elves...
Yeah.. I was a little wrong, but I have never regretted picking up that book.

I read Lord of the Rings for the first time in 1968. It remains my favorite fantasy series. Jordan is quickly attaining equal status in ranking. I like the comparisons you make. I see nazgul and myrddral equally intensely-equally evil.
 

Leira Galene

Aes Sedai
Moderator
Joined
Nov 28, 2013
Messages
13,456
Location
Kiruna, Sweden
Pronouns
  1. They - Them
  2. She - Her
The very first time I read EotW I had recently finished LotR (one of my favorite books of all time) and my reaction was along the lines of "this author is just copying Tolkien... I mean Mat and Perrin? Sounds just like Merry and Pippin."

Many years later the things that I remembered the most was the ending amd how, well, trippy it is but I couldn't remember the details of the rest of the story so I decided to reread it. Then I realized how excellent it is in its own right and that it diverges from Tolkien's style a lot more than I thought.

Oh, and I also was fascinated with Aes Sedai, so much so that I wrote a story with women who were more or less copies of them ;-)
 
Joined
Jan 23, 2006
Messages
7,457
Age
39
Location
Taunus region, Germany
My first impression..
Well, I had just finished reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time and saw my buddy reading a book that was just as big as the series I had just finished. He let me borrow the book and it blew my mind. I honestly thought the trollocs were the size of Trolls, Myrddral were analogous to the Nazgul and that Ogier were analogous to the Elves...
Yeah.. I was a little wrong, but I have never regretted picking up that book.

I also thought that it was somewhat similar to the Lord of the rings.
 

Carika Ambray

Novice
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Messages
1,712
Age
36
Location
Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa
So I have read the books up to number 10 but since joining this site again in Nov 2013, I have started from book 1 again. I am only on book 2 right now but I loved the book/s from the very start, I love how everything just flows so well and grips you! I first started reading these books in 2004, I was 17 and the size of the books freaked me out, I didn't know if I wanted to read them or not but my sister (Kymo Ambray) kept going on about them and this site, so I started to read and I joined this site in 2005 but I never came on and when things changed I got left off the member list. I am glad to be back on here and am enjoying myself! I think if you are going to read these books, you are taking on a big challenge because 14 books in one series is no picnic for some people but once you start, how can you not try your best to get to the end!? I know I will not read them all at once and will read 1 or 2 books between some and then get back into it and then read another 1 or 2 just so I don't get, if I can say 'bored' along the way. I am looking forward to re-reading these books as I have forgotten a lot of things.
 
Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
10
I don't really remember. I got bored and stopped reading it.

That was the first first impression. The second first impression was something along the likes of "Awesome !"
 

Sailea Nerid

Aes Sedai
Joined
Jan 17, 2014
Messages
13,173
Age
35
Location
Belgium
Ascastlat, how much time passed between those two 'first impressions'? :P
 
Joined
Apr 23, 2003
Messages
930
Location
Virginia
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
The very first time I read Eye of the World, I was on a prop plane flying through a storm. I'm terrified to fly as it is, but that was bad. Anyway, I got to the part when Rand first faces a Trolloc.... wham! I was hooked and the rest of the flight was spent in Rand Land. :)
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2016
Messages
142
I'm sure you're much further in now but my first impressions were quite Lord of the ringsy. However, making my way through, I was amazed at the scope of the wold and was completely awed. Also the prologue made a great hook and I couldn't wait to find out about it!
 
Joined
Sep 8, 2012
Messages
82
Location
Singapore
Pronouns
  1. None - Use Name
I love it when I first read it.
I go all out and buy the other copies, until Lord of heavens, I think.
 

Aduiavas Ida

Aes Sedai
Head of the White Ajah
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
20,134
Age
34
Location
Drøbak, Norway
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
My first impression was when a good friend of mine almost pushed the first book in my hands and said "You HAVE to read this" I read the Prologue while waiting for her at the library, and pretty much kept on going from there :look: I have to say, that I missed a LOT in my first read, because I ran through them so fast :look: But since I have reread them pretty much ever since, I think I have made up for it :p The books have traveled halfway around the world with me, and been my companion in several hospital stays and long plane rides...
 
Joined
Sep 15, 2018
Messages
20
Location
San antonio, tx
I was, I believe, 11 years old when I read the first book. And I just remember that every spare waking moment of every day, (and some NOT spare moments ;) I was face deep in that book. I feel like I lived the most traumatizing part of my childhood inside of this series. It was an escape for me and it was more real than the world actually lived in. This series may very well have literally saved my life. The characters are amazing and I feel like they are my best friends and it has taken me years to read this series and I'm not even done because I know once it's over, it's over. Although I have reread books 1 through 7 like ten times. =) but your question was what my very very first impression was. My very first impression was that I had never read anything like this before and I felt like it was about to change my life.
 

Jarl Lewin

Aes Sedai
Joined
May 12, 2010
Messages
14,393
Location
North Texas
The very first time I read EotW I had recently finished LotR (one of my favorite books of all time) and my reaction was along the lines of "this author is just copying Tolkien... I mean Mat and Perrin? Sounds just like Merry and Pippin."

Many years later the things that I remembered the most was the ending amd how, well, trippy it is but I couldn't remember the details of the rest of the story so I decided to reread it. Then I realized how excellent it is in its own right and that it diverges from Tolkien's style a lot more than I thought.

That was my initial impression as well, but then--as I recall--I read an interview with Jordan where he said it was more or less an intentional tribute to Tolkien, even though tLotR was not his favourite (despite admitting he had read it at least eleven times, but I get it :laugh:).

I feel like I lived the most traumatizing part of my childhood inside of this series. It was an escape for me and it was more real than the world actually lived in. This series may very well have literally saved my life.

Thank you for resurrecting this thread and sharing! I can relate to this, as not long after my one-and-twentieth birthday, I was injured and developed a rare nerve disorder. I had always been a reader, but have never considered myself much of a fantasy fan. I was looking for new books to read when a friend of the family recommended tWoT. It drew me in immediately, to the point that I could distance myself from the extreme pain I was experiencing, and I will forever be grateful to RJ for that.
 
Joined
Sep 15, 2018
Messages
20
Location
San antonio, tx
That was my initial impression as well, but then--as I recall--I read an interview with Jordan where he said it was more or less an intentional tribute to Tolkien, even though tLotR was not his favourite (despite admitting he had read it at least eleven times, but I get it :laugh:).



Thank you for resurrecting this thread and sharing! I can relate to this, as not long after my one-and-twentieth birthday, I was injured and developed a rare nerve disorder. I had always been a reader, but have never considered myself much of a fantasy fan. I was looking for new books to read when a friend of the family recommended tWoT. It drew me in immediately, to the point that I could distance myself from the extreme pain I was experiencing, and I will forever be grateful to RJ for that.
It's amazing how often I've been able to lose myself inside of books. It truly is unbelievable. I wish that I could meet Jordan in person and thank him for everything he's done for me through these books.
 
Joined
Dec 4, 2018
Messages
5
Hey all! I'm really new to the site, and to WoT. So forgive me if this thread has been done before!

I'm also so new that I just started EotW for the first time ever today (don't judge!!!). I'm not far in - only a couple chapters, but I wanted to share my first impression, and maybe start some discussion with others to see what THEIR/YOUR first impressions were/are. You know, so I can share, and others can NOSTALGIAAAAAAA!!!!
:p

So far, I'm really anxious and curious what lies ahead. I've heard SOOOOO much about the series that... I don't even know what to compare it to - how to describe my anticipation.

Some things I like:
The world seems very large and filled with a lot of history. I am a HUGE Tolkein fan/buff/nerd... ringer... and I like history and culture. I can see that there's going to be quite a bit in that simply by the references of the wheel of time and a comment made alluding to what I'm going to call a "repetitive history with different clothes". I would dig out the quote but I'm kinda lazy at the moment.
I also like how there are a variety of character types. the characters have distinct personalities. It makes them realistic and relatable.

Some things I'm not sure about:
I've never been a fan of "this type of people is better than that type" mentalities, and I kinda am afraid that that might be happening with glorifying Aes Sedai and Warders. It's like everyone is worshiping a master race or something. IDK, everyone around here seems to like them, so maybe I'll prove to be wrong.
I'm also realizing what a sexist I am because immediately all of the people with power and authority and control seem to be women - not the ordinary in a high fantasy setting! However, I've read a lot that really refers to some of the main male characters I'm just now meeting, so maybe it won't be so bad.


Overall, I'm enjoying the story, and I'm excited and curious to see where it goes!

What about you? What were/are your VERY first impressions of WoT?


I found that this series has the ability to create a vivid image in my mind about how the world looks. It's as if I already watched a movie and lived in parts of the world. The detail is amazing.
 
Top