Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - Hobbun

Pages: 1 ... 4 5 [6] 7 8
76
Brandon Sanderson / Re: Which book should I read first?
« on: July 01, 2010, 01:29:41 PM »
That's what I would recommend with regards to WoT anyway. The series picks up a bit in 10 and 11, so you kinda stopped at a down anyway, so re-reading should be very enjoyable given that you can skim-read some of the slower bits.

Yes, I heard at least from 9-11 are not quite up to par to the earlier books in the series. Which isn't why I stopped, btw. What I did was basically read up to Path of Daggers (which was the current book at the time) and when Winter's Heart came out, I had forgotten a lot of the little nuances and the series was far from fresh in my mind, so that is when I made the rule for myself that I am just going to wait until the series is done (or close to it as when I finish TGS, AMoL should be out or it will soon be).

77
Brandon Sanderson / Re: Freakout about the signing
« on: July 01, 2010, 01:09:45 PM »
HUZZAH!!!! I'm saved! Go to the signing and then a 12 hour flight to read the book! YES!

12 hour flight to see Brandon? Good to see that dedication!  :)  I would have asked if there was a closer signing for you, but as you are flying 12 hours, I think not as I don't believe Brandon is signing out of the U.S. for Wok. At least for now.

78
Any specific reasoning why it's best to read at that time?

Yes, but it's a spoiler. Suffice to say, a certain event happens that would give New Spring more impact, and reading New Spring right after the event (book 5) would, I daresay, give the strongest impact :)

In regards to readers finding Mat's portrayal in TGS as "off", you're not alone. A lot of others do too. However, many others (including myself) thought his portrayal spot on. I think it made a lot of sense for him to act that way-"forcing" humor reminiscent of the first few books-considering the recent changes he has gone through, in particular the change he never thought he would go through ;)

Ahh yes, I know what you are referring to now. And as yourself, will refrain from mentioning it as it is a pretty big spoiler.

And again, with Mat, it wasn't something I had observed myself, but what I have read in many reviews of others. By the time I get to the point of reading TGS, it's probably something I will forget about and won't even notice any difference, anyways.

ARGH!! You comments make me itch to continue reading, but I'm over two thirds done the Name of the Wind, and I'm enjoying it so much I just have to finish.  There's also the small matter of the chapter I promised myself I'd have finished for tomorrow.  It is now two chapters, and still two viewpoints to go.

Heh, I know how you feel. I am in the process of finishing up the Drizzt novels before I head off to GenCon (only 8 1/2 more books) and once I do that, then I will be going to some of Brandon's solitary works and finally then to my re-read of the WoT. But like yourself, it's something I want to go to 'now'. 

Just think of it this way, you only have to finish up one  book.   :)

79
Hobbun, I'm not sure you read the last part of the interview where he specifically addresses Mat. As specifically as he's going to, at least.

Yes, I obviously did not read the very end of the article (due to my complete blindness) as when I got to the Way of Kings portion, I stopped. Silly me, as the last portion dealt with directly what I was referring to.

*face palm*

Sorry!

As  I said though, I was not too terribly concerned even if I noticed some difference in Mat (doesn't sound like he got a lot of people who did, or at least a lot that emailed him on it). And if I do notice it, and that is the biggest problem of the book, that is very small.

But it is at least nice to see Brandon comment on it, and even without the interviewer bringing it up. From the other interviews I have read with Brandon and the time I have seen him in person, he has always struck me as very open and honest.

80
Thanks Peter.

I read the article, and even though there is a part of it he addresses fans reactions to the characters, it was done more in a general sense than specifically with Mat and the issues I have read that others have had with him.

Again, I am not speaking from experience as I have not read TGS yet, but it was something that came up over and over in user reviews on how Mat ‘changed’ or his humor came along more forced than early books. Just in general, many felt the way he acted was off in how his characterization was established earlier in the series, as if Brandon had difficulty writing him.

And as I said before, if this is the only major issue with the book, it is small indeed, especially considering how positive the reviews (user reviews included) were overall.

81
Any way you could point me in the direction of the interview? Or could anyone else who knows about the interview? I would be very interested to hear Brandon’s answer on that. (Unless it is a spoiler).

82
The endings of the first 3 books are by far better than the other endings. The ending of Lord of Chaos is pretty good. The ending in book 9 is good, but seems rushed. The endings of 7,8,10, and 11 are not that good.

book 12s ending is good, but it is  a Brandon Sanderson ending and not a Robert Jordan ending. Their writing styles are polar opposites. You should be able to see the difference between the two with the first part of the prologue in book 12.
I will always like The Eye of the World best since it was the first one. There is something about a book that starts with

"Lord of the Morning I have come for you" and ends with "The prophecies will be fullfilled. The Dragon is reborn". Alot of people really like the first line of the Gunslinger by Stephen King (the man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed). That is a great opening line. However, the prologue to the Eye of the World is the best prologue I have ever read by far. Nothing else is even close. Once I read that I could not put the book down.

Not to get too much into TGS (as I haven’t read it, yet), but however much I have heard Brandon did a great job with it, I will admit I am still concerned in how I hear he has handled Mat. I have heard Mat is ‘little off’ and seems ‘forced’ in his responses, that his character is very different than the previous books.

But, if that is the biggest issue people have had of the book, I can deal with that. Considering how much praise it’s received.

83
Honestly, I wasn’t even sure what Comatose was referring to in Name of the Wind. I had to look it up on Amazon. It seemed kind of interesting, but something I am not looking at jumping into at all.

I actually want to start WoT again and keep looking at my books at home.  :D  But I am going to wait until I read through some of Brandon’s original works, first.

84
I liked The Great Hunt's best. 

You only say that because you haven't finished Lord of Chaos yet  ;D

Oh, agreed. The Great Hunt has a very good ending.  But Lord of Chaos is just epic.

85
Brandon Sanderson / Re: Which book should I read first?
« on: June 29, 2010, 02:19:01 PM »
One other thing. The audio books for WoT of time are excellent. There is a male and female narrator. If you do them on audio and listen to them in your car or while you are doing other things, its not much of a slog. These are best sellers so most libraries should have them. So you should not buy them. 

I have read the books and listened to t hem on audio. I listen to about 30+ audiobooks a year. The WoT audio is great. To be fair some of the pronunciations are wrong in The Eye of the World, but they get corrected after that. For example, Taveren is pronounced like Tavern.

A friend of mine, when he used to be a truck driver, would listen to audio books on his trips. But I have all the books of WoT and prefer to read, anyways. But thanks for the suggestion.   :)

Besides, the books I was asking about was the one’s Brandon wrote on his own (Elantris, Warbreaker, Mistborn series, etc).  But, should have made that more clear in my post title, sorry.

86
I would say don't read New Spring until atleast finishing book 4. New Spring gives away alot so you lose the tesion and excitement of learning it as the series goes on. Plus, Jordan is a very subtle writer. You will miss alot of references. To be honest, I miss alot of them and I have read the series multiple times. I have to rely on the Whell of Time Encyclopedia to see them.

One other point. If you know that Rand is the dragon in the first book then that ruins the whole book for you. You think he is the guy, but you don't know until the end. Its what makes the first book so great.


Yes, I see your point. But like I said, I have read the beginning books already and know the ‘big’ story aspects…wait, Rand is the Dragon!?    ;)  It’s the smaller, subtle aspects I have forgotten. As you said, there is just so much information.

87
Well, if you are answering me (instead of the OP), I have already actually read Eye of the World and agree with your assessment of it being one of the best fantasy novels ever written.  (I've basically read up to book 8 ).

I read the short version of New Spring in the Legends anthology book but it was a long time ago and don’t remember much about it.

I was just curious from Samuel why he felt it was best to read New Spring after book 5 or 6.

I wonder how many notes Mr. Jordan left in regards to his prequel books (the two after New Spring). I am guessing not much or probably none at all as he was more concentrated on finishing the main series, which of course I agree with 100%. 

Still, I would like to see Brandon finish up the three prequel books before Eye of the World to see exactly how everything led up to beginning of the series. But from my impressions of when Brandon talked about it during the book signing I went to, it didn’t seem promising.


88

New Spring is best read after books five or six (I reccomend reading it right after five ;) ).

Any specific reasoning why it's best to read at that time?

89
Welcome to WoT!

I have not read New Spring yet, myself. And I am not sure if I should when I start my upcoming reread of the series. When it had first came out, I was going to wait for all three prequel books to be released (there were supposed to be two more after New Spring that lead up to right before EotW) and then start my reread. But now with Mr. Jordan passing away and Brandon leaning towards not writing more past finishing up the series, I might just start New Spring, anyways.

But I would still love to see the other two prequel books.

90
Brandon Sanderson / Re: Which book should I read first?
« on: June 28, 2010, 03:30:32 PM »
Alcatraz is fantastic, but short. Kid's books, you know? How bout an Alcatraz book after Elantris, One after Warbreaker, and one once you finish the Mistborn trilogy.

Yes, I do know they are shorter and are kid’s books.   :)  But also heard they are very good (like you said), so would like to give them a shot.

And yes, I suppose I could do that, throw one in between each book or series of books (Mistborn). 

Looking at the font now of these books, it’s pretty big (which is understandable considering the intended audience). And with the combined (shortened) length of the books overall, I am guessing I could whip through one of these a day. So I guess it doesn’t really matter when I read them compared to the other books.


Quote
Obviously going by this reasoning, I am not going to read the Mistborn series out of order, even if the earlier books in the series are viewed as “better” (which I hope isn’t the case).

While I personally like Mistborn 1 the best of all of Brandon's novels, that really has a great deal of nostalgia attached to it. The endings of books two and three are superior to it. You'll become even more satisfied after each book.

Awesome. That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks.   :)

Pages: 1 ... 4 5 [6] 7 8