Comments on: Francesca recommends books

By: Claire

Claire — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:11:12 +0000

Gosh, I think I’d either have to be yellow or green. I started reading this series way back when in high school, and I was very, very sad when I found out that he passed away. I love the way these books are crafted, even though they do tend to move fairly slowly at times. Excellent recommendation! :D

By: Francesca

Francesca — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:18:56 +0000

French and Carol-

Indeed, as Francesca noted in her post, fans complained that as the series went on, it started moving too slowly. You are not the first to have this criticism. So after Book 7 or 8 or so, Jordan picked up the pace a bit. It is frustrating, but once you’ve gotten that far into a series, one simply MUST know how it ends!

Before he died, Jordan said that he would finish the series in one more book, even if the book had to be 1500 pages long. And the writer hired to take over for him has said that he too will stick to that commitment.

xoxo

By: KES

KES — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:33:46 +0000

Brown. I have always, always wanted to be brown since I started reading that series when I was 11 years old. It’s the whole sexy librarian thing.
And Francesca, you just made my day letting me know that Jordan actually wrote down the ending and left enough material to get there! I hadn’t read book 11, because I was waiting for the series to end, and it was indeed a dark day when Jordan died.

By: Idalin

Idalin — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:31:49 +0000

I did not know Jordan died. Sad. I think Brown would be my best fit, but wouldn’t Green be fun? I have read them all, more than once, and enjoy them immensely.

I just borrowed book 2 of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy, “The Amber Spyglass” from the library.

But as “Carol” recommended, Terry Pratchett is my newest love.

Those others sound intriguing as well.

By: AmazonAngelle

AmazonAngelle — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:10:07 +0000

Like Cassie I have recommend the BJT because I love love love it. I have reread it enough times that I have settled on which Jewel I would be an everything. I do agree there are some heavy scenes and themes in the series that one needs to be prepared for though.

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:16:13 +0000

I started this and got through the first six or so books - the last one I picked up was moving so sllllooooowwwwwlllly and bored me to tears. I gave them all away and hadn’t thought of them again until your post. I’d much rather spend my fantasy reading time with Terry Pratchett and the Discworld series. Funny, timely, good social commentary buried in a well written novel.

By: french

french — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:09:35 +0000

You know, I tried, I honestly tried to read this series, because Francesca, you are so not the first person to recommend this.

Now, I love fantasy, sci-fi, all sorts of good shit, and long books and series do not deter me in the least (if they did, I wouldn’t have finished all of the Outlander series to date in five days… yeah). But I slogged through book one, and slogged my way partway in to book 5, and I could not have told you anything that had happened besides braid-tugging and dress-smoothing. Seriously. And a couple of hallucinations.

I tossed it aside, and haven’t looked back since. I stopped reading it in about 2002. I have no plans to ever finish it.

I’m glad you enjoy it, but for serious, it made me want to shoot myself.

By: Belle

Belle — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:04:34 +0000

Guy Gavriel Kay’s trilogy the Fionavar Tapestry and Jaqueline Carey’s Kushiel series are also great reads. The latter, however, may not be suitable for all, as it deals with some adult themes.

By: JadedKitten

JadedKitten — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:04:02 +0000

Since others are recommending fantasy, I'd recommend the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman as well as Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Funny thing though: after spending a year and a half reading Wheel of Time and HDM, the straight-forward nature of Stardust and even New Spring seemed somewhat trite by comparison. This is not to say that either of those novels is trite. At all. It's just funny what a year reading sprawling stories can do to one's perspective.

By: Cassie

Cassie — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:43:36 +0000

I LOVE this series. I have book 11, actually, but I can’t get into it without sitting down and reading the rest beforehand, and I’ve misplaced “The Great Hunt.” *cries*

Also, may I recommend “New Spring,” which is the prequel to the Wheel of Time - All about Moiraine and Siuan getting their mission to look for the Dragon and Moiraine and Lan meeting. Good read.

And, as another recommendation (hehe, I LOVE fantasy), Anne Bishop’s “Black Jewels Triology.” There is a rather disturbing scene at the end of the first book, and it deals with some themes that are . . . unsavory, but deals with them in a positive way (if that makes sense) overall. I’ve read them many, many times.

Now, for an Ajah. I’d go for either Green or Brown. Green because I think they’ve got a good reason for existing. And as many men as you want? Yes, please. Brown because I like learning, and I think that it would be really cool to be able to go around and research stuff.