Review: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Book: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: A

For: THIB 20 Min. Book Club Challenge, and my own personal challenge to read this series this year (and most likely into the next!)

Finally! I can start to see what all the fuss and talk is about regarding this series. Yes, this is the first book of The Wheel of Time series, which is like 11 books long... and soon to be 14 or 15? I don't even know the number, and am too lazy to look it up at the moment, so let' s just say... it's NOT a trilogy!

I'd never heard of it until I started following the stuff Brandon Sanderson was doing. When it made big news that he would be finishing up the series following the death of Robert Jordan, I thought, that sounds really cool. But I can't read his "ending" books until I read Robert Jordan's "beginning" ones.

And thus begins my quest to read them all!

The story starts out with us getting to know Rand, a sheepherder/farmer boy, and his friends, and his quaint village called Two Rivers. There's a spring festival about to start and the atmosphere is so festive and fun. That doesn't last long because during the night the bad guys (Trollocs) appear and ransack the place. Who are they looking for? Rand and his friends of course!

So off they go, heading for the safe haven of a far off city, with several special friends along to help them. They don't even understand why they are being pursued, but my guess is, they'll learn soon. And so begins their big adventure.

Yes, it does remind me a lot of The Lord of the Rings. Much of the same scenario, much of the same very descriptive scenes, much of the same intensely detailed back history. However, it's different too. There's less creatures and different types of people involved, at least at this point. And even though Rand is the main dude, it seems like the core group all have their specialness, and the spotlight is not just on one of them. (That may change too though, I'm thinking.)

I do have a bit of a head spin trying to take in all the back stories and history, but I'm trying not to let that bog me down because I figure all that will make more sense as I read more of the books. It's just something you get a feel for as you get more familiar with the whole setting, right?

I did totally fall in love with all the characters though. Rand, of course, is wonderful. And then there's his buddies Perrin, and Mat... both very cool and fun and both with major issues of their own. And Lan.... I think he's sort of the Strider/Aragon of this book, so of course, you gotta love him too. And all the girls seem quite complicated, and I'm not sure which girl will end up with which guy at this point, but we'll see.

Bottom line reaction: I loved it!

Next week, on Tuesday evening, I hope to log in and listen to Heather J. from Age 30+.. A Lifetime of Reading as she is interviewed for That's How I Blog, and then talks about this book. For more details on what's up with that, check out her blog post for today, and also the host of the show, Nicole's blog here.

Other Reviews:

Kay's Bookshelf

Adventures in Reading

Story Time with Tonya and Friends

That's How I Blog! Challenge

Awhile back I discovered a very fun Blog Talk radio show hosted by Nicole from Linus's Blanket. Every Tuesday, she interviews book bloggers, and calls it That's How I Blog. Most of the bloggers I'm a little bit familiar with, and so it's very fun to hear their voices and personalities. At the end of the show each week, she discusses a book (the interviewee's choice) for twenty minutes, and calls it the Twenty Minute Book Club.

And from there the That's How I Blog Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge! was born. Because, if you plan on listening and reading and talking about any of the those books this year, then why not have a challenge? Exactly.

Since I hope to participate, I decided to officially join. I'm picking the lowest level of participation at this point, which is the Aluminum Level and includes reading at least four books from this year's list.

My first book for this challenge will be The Eye of the Storm by Robert Jordan to be discussed with Heather from Age30+... A Lifetime of Books on February 9th. I haven't figured out what other books from the list I'm reading yet, but there's plenty of time.

You want to join us right? You know you do.