In which a whole heap of us re-read Wheel of Time

[Dianna Melear]

It's (almost) a new year, so what better time for another Wheel of Time re-read! And with friends this time!!

I finished my last re-read June of 2020 (nothing like a pandemic to help one read Wheel of Time, amiright?) and have been craving another read through. But as a major fan of the show, I didn't want to read too close to when the show was coming out, just in case the changes between the show and the books annoyed me. But now that we likely have a pretty sizable break between seasons 2 and 3, I figured now was the ideal time to start.

This thread is a little late, but better late than never. So! Here we go.

Spoiler: Adventure time

In order to speed up my re-read, I'm alternating between the Rosamund Pike versions of the audiobooks and actually reading. I'm almost exactly halfway through Eye of the World so far (chapter 23). My biggest take-away so far is that, man, Egwene is really getting on my nerves! Usually she's my best and most favorite baby angel, but now that I'm significantly older than her, I'm starting to see why she bugs people so much. Meanwhile, Rand is precious and adorable and can do no wrong, even though he usually either bores me or drives me insane. I'm only three years older than when I last read these books, but somehow my perspective on characters has changed so much!

In order to keep this first post from becoming a novel, I'm going to keep my thoughts vague for now and post more detailed thoughts on specific chapters or scenes later. Veri, Fenya, and I recorded a podcast episode about Ravens - Chapter 5, so if you want to listen to that you can check that out here (or wherever you get your podcasts).

Can't wait to hear what @Fenya al'Caem and @Alexr al'Petros have to say about where they're at!

Also, if you'd like to show off your re-read pride with a cool addition to your signature pick your poison here.

EDIT: Our group of re-readers keeps getting bigger and bigger! Current re-readers:

• @Dianna Melear
• @Fenya al'Caem
• @Alexr al'Petros
• @Nadezhda al'Lanahrin
• @Kassidy Rose ni DaiShan t' al'Kalin
• @Seryse ni Cousland
• @Toral Delvar (flexing on us all by reading in German)
• @Phenixys al'Rohan
• @Megana Vallentin (starting when we get to book 2)
• @Ananke Ruadh
• @Viktara Fen
• @Raina Tsornin
• @Sláine al'Eir
• @Falone Charpontier
• @Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum
• @Lealenya Terim (starting when we get to book 5)

If you'd like to join us, just post in the thread and I'll add you to this list! The more the merrier!

 

[Fenya al'Caem]

I guess this means I should pick up EotW again, now that we're forum official I read up through chapter 15, but haven't read any further in the past couple of weeks.

This is my first reread, and it's fun seeing how much foreshadowing I missed the first time through--even just in these first 15 chapters.

 

[Alexr al'Petros]

Hey boss! Glad to see this thread and always excited to do another re-read. With my mosquito like memory, each re-read is almost like a first time thru for me. I’m also coaxing two of my dearest friends to join me…but they are first time readers and non Tar Valons; so I may not tell them about this thread (but share their impressions from time to time).

Like @Fenya al'Caem , I’m picking up new stuff. Here’s the first one that struck me. In the pre-prologue, Ravens, chapter that details when Egwene was a water carrier (I believe about 9 y/o); there is the first encounter between her and nyaneve. Two things struck me from this encounter. First the wisdom redid the bandaging like if she was checking to see that a healing occurred (this was after the break one fever had swept the village and possible the first time the source was touched. Second, was that it seemed that Egwene was sensed. In the way that a woman who channels can sense another woman who channels, I wasn’t sure whether that was actually happening or whether these were just foreshadowings.

 

[Dianna Melear]

Hey boss! Glad to see this thread and always excited to do another re-read. With my mosquito like memory, each re-read is almost like a first time thru for me. I’m also coaxing two of my dearest friends to join me…but they are first time readers and non Tar Valons; so I may not tell them about this thread (but share their impressions from time to time).

Like @Fenya al'Caem , I’m picking up new stuff. Here’s the first one that struck me. In the pre-prologue, Ravens, chapter that details when Egwene was a water carrier (I believe about 9 y/o); there is the first encounter between her and nyaneve. Two things struck me from this encounter. First the wisdom redid the bandaging like if she was checking to see that a healing occurred (this was after the break one fever had swept the village and possible the first time the source was touched. Second, was that it seemed that Egwene was sensed. In the way that a woman who channels can sense another woman who channels, I wasn’t sure whether that was actually happening or whether these were just foreshadowings.

Yes, please do share their impressions!! I love nothing more than hearing thoughts and impressions from people reading the series for the first time.

I think Nyneave can "sense" Egwene in that scene because Nyneave has healed Egwene of Breakbone Fever at that point, so she's gained an affinity for being able to sense Egwene. She and Moiraine talk about it in Chapter 21. You pointing that out gave me chills, though!! I'd totally forgotten that she "senses" Egwene in Ravens.

Gods, the foreshadowing in these books is so effing good!!

 

[Alexr al'Petros]

I think Nyneave can "sense" Egwene in that scene because Nyneave has healed Egwene of Breakbone Fever at that point, so she's gained an affinity for being able to sense Egwene.

Aaaah, yes! You are right. I hadn't recalled that.

Do you think the Wisdom's re-doing of Nyneave's bandaging (re-examining the wound and then looking disappointed), suggested that she knew that Nyneave had healing power?

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

Count me in!! I’ll listen to the audiobook on my flight back home.

 

[Dianna Melear]

Do you think the Wisdom's re-doing of Nyneave's bandaging (re-examining the wound and then looking disappointed), suggested that she knew that Nyneave had healing power?

I think so! Especially since she looks disappointed after re-examining the wound. I think she was hoping Nyneave would Heal it instead of just bandaging it.

Count me in!! I’ll listen to the audiobook on my flight back home.

Yay!!! Which version of the audiobook? Have a safe flight!!

Spoiler: Join us!!

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

Yay!!! Which version of the audiobook? Have a safe flight!!

I am listening to the Rosamund Pike version!!

 

[Dianna Melear]

I am listening to the Rosamund Pike version!!

Nice!! What's your favorite voice she does? My current favorite is Thom.

 

[Nadezhda al'Lanahrin]

Nice!! What's your favorite voice she does? My current favorite is Thom.

Daise Congar, so far!

 

[Alexr al'Petros]

Interesting personal insight. A fellow Vet friend and I were discussing Lan and Rand's encounter in Tavern when Moraine is healing Tam. Rand is focused on Moraine's healing, while Lan is asking Rand questions about the Heron marked blade. (Chapter 6).

Like many times in the books, there are two conversations going on at once. Rand thinking he's just asking questions. Lan learning and reflecting on experiences. We both remarked how familiar this scene has felt to us, lost in our own experiences and seeing the chance that they might be reflected in others.

 

[Kassidy Rose ni DaiShan t' al'Kalin]

I was planning on re-readin starting tomorrow. On my kindle.

 

[Alexr al'Petros]

I was planning on re-readin starting tomorrow. On my kindle.

Hooray, please join us! I would really appreciate your insights!!

 

[Kassidy Rose ni DaiShan t' al'Kalin]

Hooray, please join us! I would really appreciate your insights!!

I have some.

 

[Alexr al'Petros]

Another curious insight for me. Chapter 9, Rand dreams about visiting the white tower (after he has gone to visit Shayol Gul). At the end of his journey to the white tower, he meets an eyeless one. I wonder if this dream helped nurture the seed for his reluctance to visit the white tower.

 

[Seryse ni Cousland]

Dropping in to say that I'm DROPPING IN.

I'll (find and then) start the Eye of the World this week!

 

[Dianna Melear]

Another curious insight for me. Chapter 9, Rand dreams about visiting the white tower (after he has gone to visit Shayol Gul). At the end of his journey to the white tower, he meets an eyeless one. I wonder if this dream helped nurture the seed for his reluctance to visit the white tower.

That's always been my assumption. This plus the Two Rivers ingrained distrust of Aes Sedai. I've felt that this was the DO (and his servants) playing on that cultural distrust of Aes Sedai to motivate Rand to not want to visit the White Tower or listen to Moiraine.

 

[Dianna Melear]

I was planning on re-readin starting tomorrow. On my kindle.

Dropping in to say that I'm DROPPING IN.

I'll (find and then) start the Eye of the World this week!

Hooray new re-reading buddies! Join us join us.

(Sorry for the double-post. I meant to include these in my previous post but forgot)

 

[Toral Delvar]

Not sure I'll do a re-read, though to be honest, I know the book so well, I think I could read it in a couple of hours, but will certainly follow along

 

[Phen al'Rohan]

Joining the re-read! What better way to start the year? 🥰