Curtis on :
Great write-up Pete. I can safely say that I very much disagree with you! I don't know if being married or getting older or just the fact that I'm re-reading these with a knowledge of what's coming down the road, but for some reason, I'm finding it much easier to get into these character's heads this time around.
I loved chapter 37. I thought it was fascinating. Seeing all the possible outcomes of choices that Rand could make and how it always inevitably led to the Dark One winning (at least in the possibilities that we were able to glimpse.)
This book was written before Harry Potter, but the scenes of the girls in the White Tower definitely have a very Hogwarts feel to them. Of course, these are girls chatting about boys, instead of Ron and Harry talking about snogging...
And yeah, the whole going along with Liandrin is sort of a testament to how overly self-confident Nynaeve and Egwene are. She was very suspicious and you can read between the lines of what she says, if you assume she is Black Ajah. I do kind of like the way she never says anything that isn't true, but because of context, it sounds like she's not saying what she actually is.
The Black Wind. I'm not sure if we'll ever get a more full explanation other than the Ways were created using the male half of the One Power and that because of this, it is tainted - yet not under the control of the Dark One since it clearly attacks Trollocs. It's not clear to me why Liandrin thought she could handle it, other than pure bravado.
The Seanchan. Not my favorite villains/faction. I do find the damane, sul'dam and a'dam interesting. Egwene's time as a "Leashed One" will create interestig repercussions later in the series. Knowing what I do about some future events, I definitely see what the author is doing here. If he were just a little better at writing female characters, this would be a fascinating story arc, instead of what it is.
I found the dream about Rand and Ba'alzamon very interesting. Almost like he was pleading with Rand to let him teach our young protagonist how to use the One Power without going insane or burning himself out. I strongly felt his need to have this nemesis at full power. It reminded me of this song http://www.jonathancoulton.com/wiki/Nemeses/Lyrics
I loved chapter 37. I thought it was fascinating. Seeing all the possible outcomes of choices that Rand could make and how it always inevitably led to the Dark One winning (at least in the possibilities that we were able to glimpse.)
This book was written before Harry Potter, but the scenes of the girls in the White Tower definitely have a very Hogwarts feel to them. Of course, these are girls chatting about boys, instead of Ron and Harry talking about snogging...
And yeah, the whole going along with Liandrin is sort of a testament to how overly self-confident Nynaeve and Egwene are. She was very suspicious and you can read between the lines of what she says, if you assume she is Black Ajah. I do kind of like the way she never says anything that isn't true, but because of context, it sounds like she's not saying what she actually is.
The Black Wind. I'm not sure if we'll ever get a more full explanation other than the Ways were created using the male half of the One Power and that because of this, it is tainted - yet not under the control of the Dark One since it clearly attacks Trollocs. It's not clear to me why Liandrin thought she could handle it, other than pure bravado.
The Seanchan. Not my favorite villains/faction. I do find the damane, sul'dam and a'dam interesting. Egwene's time as a "Leashed One" will create interestig repercussions later in the series. Knowing what I do about some future events, I definitely see what the author is doing here. If he were just a little better at writing female characters, this would be a fascinating story arc, instead of what it is.
I found the dream about Rand and Ba'alzamon very interesting. Almost like he was pleading with Rand to let him teach our young protagonist how to use the One Power without going insane or burning himself out. I strongly felt his need to have this nemesis at full power. It reminded me of this song http://www.jonathancoulton.com/wiki/Nemeses/Lyrics