VERY first impressions of WoT

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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?
 
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My first impression from reading EoTW was, "This is going to be the greatest fantasy series of ALL TIME!"

There were about 10 books out at that point, and I knew I was in for a long haul. And the books just kept getting better and better by each one. I was hooked early on with the first book, but by the time I got into the 4th book, it became an obsession. I'm re-reading it right now- I started the series over now that the final book is published. I got halfway through book 11 when it first came out, but it had been a while since i had read book 10 and there are so many plot arcs and characters that it was hard to keep it all organized in my mind, so I decided to wait and re-read them all straight through when the saga was complete.

I'll tell you this: you're in for a long, awesome adventure! Enjoy!
 

Dars al'Kaskade

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Hmmm. My first impression probably had to do with getting a sense of there being a huge world with lots of mystique and lots of exploring to do. I also found some of the Lord of the Rings (and later, other literary sources) similarities rather distracting. Like, why in the world would Jordan give so many of these characters/places such overtly similar names to Tolkein. But as I went along, I gradually stopped noticing or caring because of how immersive the WoT world is and how good the character writing is, how rich the mythology is, etc, and that it deliberately draws on pretty much every cultural source possible to create its complexity.

I was just trying out EotW to begin with. It was a few months before I decided to pick up The Great Hunt, and probably only in The Dragon Reborn that I committed to going the distance. :)

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 think that you will find it very interesting how this aspect evolves over the series.
 
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When I read the EoTW I thought it was fantastic and very different from anything I had previously read. :P It just Felt like it was going to be epic yet very well done. :P
 

Eluial Aldaran

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Hey Dorian,

I don't really remember my first impressions cause it was so long ago and I was pretty young at the time, so I don't have anything to contribute in that regard. But if you don't mind, I'd love to see a running commentary of your impressions as you continue reading the series. It's almost like reading them for the first time again to see it through the eyes of someone totally new to it.

And like Dars said, I think you'll find aspects of the relationship Aes Sedai have with the rest of society really interesting as the story progresses.
 
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My first impression was that it was going to be an epic series! Boy, was I right! I like the perspectives of the males and females in this series. It seems to be the exact opposite of what we have in our world. Don't worry. The power will eventually balance out. You're in for a real treat!
 
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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 !"
 
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Haha, this is why I shouldn't start a thread and just leave it. xP people to respond to!

...if you don't mind, I'd love to see a running commentary of your impressions as you continue reading the series. It's almost like reading them for the first time again to see it through the eyes of someone totally new to it.

And like Dars said, I think you'll find aspects of the relationship Aes Sedai have with the rest of society really interesting as the story progresses.

I think I just might keep posted on my impressions as I go along. I think it would be fun and interesting to catalogue my thought processes and how the story grows for/with me. :)
 
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When I read the EoTW I thought it was fantastic and very different from anything I had previously read. :P It just Felt like it was going to be epic yet very well done. :P

Out of curiosity, what had you read before? what was your background like pre-WoT, that set you up as you were just beginning your WoT quest?
 
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It was hard for me to get to the first five or six chapters, but I kept on because my brother was pushing me to read it, so I kept on. When everyone leaves for Baerlon, I thought this is going to be good. By the end of book 4 I knew I was hooked for life :laugh:
 

Alora Sionn

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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 :)
 
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I keep getting the impression that the start of the first book isn't gonna go so well, but after a while it'll pick up. then about 4 books in, I'll be completely and utterly hopelessly sucked in. haha, so this is my expectation! :P
 

Morrighan Daghdera

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When everyone leaves for Baerlon, I thought this is going to be good. By the end of book 4 I knew I was hooked for life :laugh:

This. I so hated them throwing rocks at the crows that I almost didn't keep reading.
 
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First impressions of WoT?

Been a few months for me.
I can't really remember how I came into contact with the series. But eventually I got the books on my reader (works like a charm in public transportation :)) and couldn't stop reading. I have been devouring the books ever since :laugh:.
The Aes Sedai, especially Moraine, have a shroud of mystery around them which intrigues me. Their position in the world is definitely different from our world, but that is not surprising with them having access to the saidar.


Dorian, how far are you currently?
 

Sorcha Al'Verdan

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I feel bad, but I don't remember throwing rocks at crows... when is that part? or maybe I haven't got there yet?

In the very first chapters (by chapter five, I'm positive) of EoTW, there was a raven looking at Mat and Rand. They threw rocks, the crow dodged and looked at them, and only flew away when Moiraine made her entrance.
 

Dreia Raieese

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I just finished the first book and it's a lot better than I thought! My sister has actually finished all the books in the series and has been not-too-subtly suggesting this series for me. There actually seems to be a lot of depth to the stories that he's telling, and with Wheel and the Pattern, I'm sort of interested to see where it all goes. Of course, I have also looked up some of where the story goes because I just can't wait to read it (though I will....eventually!). :X
 

Tomeina Raieese

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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 :)
This, so much this. And then I had hopes that they would go back for another Bel Tine festival. :look:

I have also looked up some of where the story goes because I just can't wait to read it (though I will....eventually!). :X
Ruining the surprise for yourself. :laugh:
 
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