New Re-read After 7 Years

Ephrem Elpidius

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Just started Crossroads of Twilight at the weekend. This is my first reread of the series.

The first time i read it, I wasn't part of any pages etc, so I hadn't heard this section referred to as the slog. I've been watching out for it but so far so good. I joined the Reddit group this summer so been seeing a lot of theories / opinions from others that may also be colouring my more mature reading of it.

My first read through I was a teenager for the early books, young adult for the later books. I sympathize more now with the older characters trying to lead the main young protagonists along. On the first read I think I found Rand whiney, but now I just feel deep sympathy for him. I agree with many others here about the change in perception of Nynaeve.

On first read I don't remember noticing the mad amount of bosom descriptions. I do also appreciate a well turned calf.
I dont recall noticing the terrible communication between characters - and now see what a good real world comparison he was drawing!

Super difficult detective challenge: at what book did I catch up with the publishing?
uZDV8JG

I never understood why Crossroads of Twilight got low scores/ratings. I thought it was fantastic. I only read the series once, not sure when I will get around to a re-read, I know I want to read it one more time before I die though.

@Satara al'Caelahn Hi fellow Hoosier! I'm afraid to do a re-read, like what if I don't love it as much as I used to when I was a teen? The series is so special to me, I genuinely am afraid of that happening. I played some PlayStation 1 and 2 games recently my favorites growing up and it was just nostalgia, they did not age well... really made me sad... I had certain memories of it, but the experience was just to different this time. I should have left it be, the fondness I guess is still there... but it's not the same now that I know how clunky those games actually were. The later books 10 and on I still remember enjoying, but everything before then is really hazy, actually it's all vanished from memory for some odd reason.
 

Satara al'Caelahn

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@Ephrem Elpidius You had me humming the Indiana Beach theme song there for a second. :laugh:

And okay, I get the reservations, especially if you have past history with not loving something as much the second time around. For me, at least, it's almost better now than it was then because I have more perspective and because it's been long enough that a lot of it is like new to me.

I haven't reached Crossroads of Twilight yet, though. I'm wondering if it's going to feel boring to me just because I've heard other people say it's boring, or if I'm going to continue to find interesting things about it. It's weird how other people's opinions can influence what we enjoy. So far, though, I'm loving it. There are parts that I've forgotten and reading it again makes me go "OH! I REMEMBER THIS!" which is super exciting. And the bigger parts that I remember that I want to read again are things that I keep looking forward to and keeps me reading.
 

Aduiavas Ida

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My (and many others) problem with Crossroads of Twilight is that there is very little plot movement. It is basically a whole lot of standing still, and reacting to the major event that happens at the end of Winters Heart...
 

Ephrem Elpidius

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My (and many others) problem with Crossroads of Twilight is that there is very little plot movement. It is basically a whole lot of standing still, and reacting to the major event that happens at the end of Winters Heart...

as I said I am easy to please, even the game of thrones ending didn't bother me really all that much. /shrug
 

Satara al'Caelahn

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I'm the same way. I was just as entranced with CoT as I was with the rest of the books in the series. It wasn't until I joined here and heard everyone talking about the slow pace that I even realized that there wasn't a ton of plot movement.

Maybe I'm just one of those people who think that not all interesting information has to be huge and world-altering. :cheeseeni:
 

Aduiavas Ida

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I think the problem is mainly when you reread it. You know all the good things to come, and just want to get on with it :P
 
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I think the problem is mainly when you reread it. You know all the good things to come, and just want to get on with it :p

This, so much this. Loving re-discovering it but i want to see the big bits i remember too.
 
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