(no subject)
I'm rereading Eye of the World, for my outside reading book for English. God, I forgot how much I loved that book. The whole series, really. I forgot how much I loved Robert Jordan.
I can still remember the first time I read it, it was what, four, five years ago? I was eleven, I guess, almost tweleve. Sixth Grade. Anyway, it was Superbowl Sunday and I really didn't feel like going to this party for the Saints, where there would be tons of little kids and grown-ups. Not my cup of tea. So, I was moping around the house when my wonderful father threw at me (and hit me on the back of the head with) a well loved, tattered copy of EotW.
"Read it."
"I don't like fantasy much."
"You liked Peirs Anthony's Xanth, didn't you?"
"That's different. Those are funny. This is ... long."
"It's one of my favorites. Plus, it'll give you something to do at that party."
"Daaad"
"Oh, and if you get stuck on any words, check the back."
"There's a glossary?! No way am I reading this."
It went on like that for a while, until I -albiet grudgingly- gave in to my Dad. So I went to the party, found myself a corner in the living room with a blanket and a bean bag chair, and started reading. I was hooked by the end of the prologue, when Lews Therin (or Kinslayer) wakes up from his madness. Five years later, I'm still hooked, even though the series has only become two books longer (and New Spring).
I blame Robert Jordan for getting me addicted to fantasy. It's mostly a mixture of Robert Jordan and my father. He has his fair share of the blame, too. My mom doesn't understand it, and I guess she never will. But it's something that my dad and I will always be able to share, our long talks in the car or sitting on the couch about if someone is really dead, or what will happen to Rand, when he'll finally face the final battle, why everyone hates Faile, and so on. We argue over which side is better, the Light or the Dark, who killed *mumble*, or what country we'd like to be from.
I don't know if it was a good idea for me to read Robert Jordan as my first step into the fantasy genre. I must have read a hundred other books by other authors, and only a handful measure up to the richness and detail of his works. It's also hard when I'm reading a series and I go, "What the hell? These people sound just like the Aiel, feirce warriors/nomads/live in a huge barren desert. This book is crap." That's actually happened once, and I got so frustrated I threw the book across the room and haven't touched it since. I've actually only come across four series that I love as much as WoT: The Symphony of Ages by Elizabeth Haydon, Riftwar Saga by Raymond Fiest, Green Rider by Kristen Britain, and the Firekeeper novels by Jane Lindskold. I guess you can call me a bit of a snob when it comes to my books. ;) Jordan spoiled me rotten, and it's tough to find any fantasy series, that, at least in my opinoin, is better than his.
Anyway, I'd just like to say thanks, Daddy, for hitting me in the head with that eight hundred page book. It really made me open up my eyes to whole new worlds, worlds that I sometimes wish I was a part of. Thank you for teaching me that I can be a part of those worlds by just picking up a book and reading, finding old familar places and feeling like those characters are just old friends. Thank you for daring me to dream, and pushing me into things that I never thought that I would like. You really are the best father a girl could ask for. :)
♥
Jenny
I can still remember the first time I read it, it was what, four, five years ago? I was eleven, I guess, almost tweleve. Sixth Grade. Anyway, it was Superbowl Sunday and I really didn't feel like going to this party for the Saints, where there would be tons of little kids and grown-ups. Not my cup of tea. So, I was moping around the house when my wonderful father threw at me (and hit me on the back of the head with) a well loved, tattered copy of EotW.
"Read it."
"I don't like fantasy much."
"You liked Peirs Anthony's Xanth, didn't you?"
"That's different. Those are funny. This is ... long."
"It's one of my favorites. Plus, it'll give you something to do at that party."
"Daaad"
"Oh, and if you get stuck on any words, check the back."
"There's a glossary?! No way am I reading this."
It went on like that for a while, until I -albiet grudgingly- gave in to my Dad. So I went to the party, found myself a corner in the living room with a blanket and a bean bag chair, and started reading. I was hooked by the end of the prologue, when Lews Therin (or Kinslayer) wakes up from his madness. Five years later, I'm still hooked, even though the series has only become two books longer (and New Spring).
I blame Robert Jordan for getting me addicted to fantasy. It's mostly a mixture of Robert Jordan and my father. He has his fair share of the blame, too. My mom doesn't understand it, and I guess she never will. But it's something that my dad and I will always be able to share, our long talks in the car or sitting on the couch about if someone is really dead, or what will happen to Rand, when he'll finally face the final battle, why everyone hates Faile, and so on. We argue over which side is better, the Light or the Dark, who killed *mumble*, or what country we'd like to be from.
I don't know if it was a good idea for me to read Robert Jordan as my first step into the fantasy genre. I must have read a hundred other books by other authors, and only a handful measure up to the richness and detail of his works. It's also hard when I'm reading a series and I go, "What the hell? These people sound just like the Aiel, feirce warriors/nomads/live in a huge barren desert. This book is crap." That's actually happened once, and I got so frustrated I threw the book across the room and haven't touched it since. I've actually only come across four series that I love as much as WoT: The Symphony of Ages by Elizabeth Haydon, Riftwar Saga by Raymond Fiest, Green Rider by Kristen Britain, and the Firekeeper novels by Jane Lindskold. I guess you can call me a bit of a snob when it comes to my books. ;) Jordan spoiled me rotten, and it's tough to find any fantasy series, that, at least in my opinoin, is better than his.
Anyway, I'd just like to say thanks, Daddy, for hitting me in the head with that eight hundred page book. It really made me open up my eyes to whole new worlds, worlds that I sometimes wish I was a part of. Thank you for teaching me that I can be a part of those worlds by just picking up a book and reading, finding old familar places and feeling like those characters are just old friends. Thank you for daring me to dream, and pushing me into things that I never thought that I would like. You really are the best father a girl could ask for. :)
♥
Jenny