I wish this wasn't the case, but...

[water_seeker]

...I can't seem to reread the series again.  I have been a fan of tWoT since I found a few of the books at the store over a decade ago.  To date, it is still my favorite series.  I have read it between 15-20 times, but now I get to the part between White Bridge and Caemlyn in tEotW and I just stop reading.

 

Anyone else out there having trouble reading it?  Maybe I should invest in the cd's.

[mb]

So far, only Lord of Chaos I read twice; all over books in the series I read just once (of the ones I read).

I plan to re-read the entire series after getting the prequels.

 

Maybe you have stopped because you have became bored with the series.

Taking a break from the series might help.

 

[water_seeker]

it's been over a year since my last attempt at a reread, but I still struggle...I wouldn't say I'm bored...I just already know what's going to happen.  :-\

[Goramier]

  Maybe I should invest in the cd's.

 

I pronounce things the way that sound right to me not necessarily the way RJ intended (for bad or good). I would dislike hearing the cd's and actually having to learn all the proper pronunciations, lol. If they make movies then I will see them but still... Taim is Ta-eem? Not in my book.

 

My ways...

 

Taim = Tame

Aes Sedai = Ace Sed-die

Ajah = A-ja

Aiel = Ale

Tear = Tare

Seanchan = Sea-an-shen (RJ said its like Shawn-Chan...WTF?)

Siuan = Su-ann (Swann, WTF?)

 

*Use to think of it as Mat Cathoon for some reason. The second time I read it I looked it up and found that I was pronouncing it wrong and now actually use the right name for him.

 

Anyways those are just a few. I would hate to hear it on the cd's but like I said, if ever there was a movie then I will be forced to. As far as reading...I think you have read it so many times it would be expected. I am about to read it for the fourth time and its just to get it fresh for the new book this fall and because its been so long since I have read the last. I would never be able to read it more then 4 times but thats just me.

 

[water_seeker]

LOL...I agree with your pronunciations until the last two where I've always pronounced them like RJ intended...

 

IDK...I saw in a post somewhere that Luckers I think read the books 25 times + and it doesn't sound like he's having any trouble picking them back up...

 

And I don't mean to make it sound like a competition, cause it's not, I just can't seem to read them through anymore.

[mb]

I do not put a limit on how many times I re-read; some books/series I read so many times I lost count on how many times I read them.

 

water_seeker, did you read other books/series before you read Wheel of Time?  If so, what genre would they be and what are their names?

 

[Serenla]

I've read them so many times I lost count.  Sometimes reading tEotW is weird because of how much we know after reading them all.  When it does and I want to reread anyway, I skip and skim a lot of it.  Sometimes I will read them just for certain POV's and skip all the rest, or read looking for certain details that interest me.  I think that if you change up the way you read the story, you will find even more enjoyment, than if you just reread the story cover to cover to cover...

Hope that helps...

[42Bonzo88]

    I agree with Serenla. I have also reread many times. I also have six books on CD. Either way I have enjoyed. The cd's have helped me understand the way people are saying things. For instance in the third book (Dragon Reborn) when the Wondergirls are discussing Siuan's order to hunt the black Ajah. Elayne says something about hunting bears that might look like lambs. Or something like that. When I read it, I thought she was being serious and when I listened she was being sarcastic. So, in that way, I have picked up quite a bit more listening than reading.

 

    Also, maybe try reading one book and then read one from a different author then go back to the Wheel. Easy for me to say because I normally read three different books at the same time (one at work, one at home and one in between) but I'm nuts. Hope this helps.

[Charlz Guybon]

I sometimes get stuck at places I know something bad will happen and I don't want to read. Usually it's not a physical thing, i.e. someone gets killed or injured, but they get humiliated.

 

[Roxinos]

RJ said its like Shawn-Chan...WTF?

 

Yes...

 

Sean is a regular name. It's an alternative spelling of Shaun or Shawn.

[Jethro]

I've read them so many times I lost count.  Sometimes reading tEotW is weird because of how much we know after reading them all.  When it does and I want to reread anyway, I skip and skim a lot of it.  Sometimes I will read them just for certain POV's and skip all the rest, or read looking for certain details that interest me.  I think that if you change up the way you read the story, you will find even more enjoyment, than if you just reread the story cover to cover to cover...

Hope that helps...

 

I agree also. What annoys me though is book 1 is at my mums and I cant find book 3 and 4. Ive started rereading book 5 and Im already struggling getting past Elaidas PoV! I should just skip, but it seems pointless, and thats when the book gets put down.

 

I know I'll be okay once Rands amnesty comes about since I think the series really takes off onto an epic scale when the Ashaman are about, so I know I only really have to make it through one book to be good again, but its hard!

[Eleint]

I tend to skip over sections starting at about The Shadow Rising.  Up to there, I read everything.  However, I tend to skim or skip the following sections:

• Anything to do with Nynaeve/Elayne alone in their Tanchico et al adventures and Valan Luca's menagerie.
  
• Anything to do with Perrin and Faile once Faile is kidnapped /except/ his deal-making with the Seanchan.
  
• Egwene in Salidar up to the point she's kidnapped.
  

 

My last re-read, I forced myself to read them.  Absence made some more interesting, but Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve still annoyed the hell out of me; they act like juveniles.  But there were a few gems intermingled.

[Bela]

I doubt I could ever find Wheel of Time boring but after 20 re-reads it might be possible. There are chapters and multiple chapters that sometimes make me put the book down, but rarely for long. For example, I am just finishing off my latest re-read with Knife of Dreams and I have entered a tower sequence, and just finished with Egwene to see an Elaida chapter which made me set the book down and go watch Lost. Now I have never liked Elaida and reading of her makes me angry, but it is still interesting, and I will probably hit the book again later tonight. Usually to push through the rough chapters I think of the moments I LOVE in the books and that propels me forward. For example, my favourite parts in each book (I have no included the first two books because they are brilliant and way less complex, like the beginning of lightning, before it forks 50 times):

 

3 Perrin rescuing Gaul, Mat with fireworks, Rand with Callandor

4 THE DOORWAYS!!, Rand vs. Asmodean

5 Avi + Rand sitting in a tree :D, Darkhound incident, Mat talking about battles with Lan, Mat's beginning with the band, Rand at the end of battle falling off horse, Moiraine's letter.

6 Nyn healing Logain, Suian and Leane, Dumai's wells.

7 Mat and Tylin, Fight for Illian, Moridin/Rand connection

8 Mat and Tylin, Rand

9 Cleansing of Saidin, Mat and Tylin and Tuon

10 Mat and Tuon, Rand, Egwene

11 Mat and Tuon, Manor battle, Perrin rescuing Faile, Egwene

 

As you see, I love Mat. I always have trouble with the exact chronology of minor events in 8 9 10 so I just didn't include them so as not to embarass myself. It is embarassing as I read all those books in the last month. But yeah, those moments alone keep me reading. And Tuon marrying Mat chapter keeps me reading from book one. I will re-read the entire series just so I can read that chapter again.

[Shard]

I've always know it was Shawn-chan, and I have a question why would you see the word Tear and think Tare?? Though I do admit the whole Swann-Siuan through me off.

 

I'm actually going to start my own re-read soon but I do know the feeling of just knowing what is happening next. Usually that's why it's good to have a year or two gap between reading them and even reading something else before starting it up.

[Bela]

I've always know it was Shawn-chan, and I have a question why would you see the word Tear and think Tare?? Though I do admit the whole Swann-Siuan through me off.

 

I'm actually going to start my own re-read soon but I do know the feeling of just knowing what is happening next. Usually that's why it's good to have a year or two gap between reading them and even reading something else before starting it up.

 

Possibly because citizens of Tear are called Tairens which I assume is pronounced T-air-ins. Tear-ins just sounds stupid.

[Roxinos]

I would dislike hearing the cd's and actually having to learn all the proper pronunciations, lol.

 

Oh yes, forgot to address this as well. The audio books do not actually refer to the correct pronunciations. They just pronounced things the way they wanted to as they went along.

 

Possibly because citizens of Tear are called Tairens which I assume is pronounced T-air-ins. Tear-ins just sounds stupid.

 

Agreed, but the demonym does not always fall in line with the name of the country.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonym

 

Florida > Floridian

 

Spain > Spaniard

 

Indiana > Hoosier

 

Mars > Martian

 

Jupiter > Jovian

 

I'm not quite sure what my point was...

 

Oh ya! Just because the demonym of Tear is Tairen doesn't mean you should pronounce Tear "tare."

 

Use to think of it as Mat Cathoon for some reason. The second time I read it I looked it up and found that I was pronouncing it wrong and now actually use the right name for him.

 

If you can look up the pronunciation, realize you're wrong, and start pronouncing it correctly, then why don't you do so for all of them?

[Bela]

I would dislike hearing the cd's and actually having to learn all the proper pronunciations, lol.

 

Oh yes, forgot to address this as well. The audio books do not actually refer to the correct pronunciations. They just pronounced things the way they wanted to as they went along.

 

Possibly because citizens of Tear are called Tairens which I assume is pronounced T-air-ins. Tear-ins just sounds stupid.

 

Agreed, but the demonym does not always fall in line with the name of the country.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonym

 

Florida > Floridian

 

Spain > Spaniard

 

Indiana > Hoosier

 

Mars > Martian

 

Jupiter > Jovian

 

I'm not quite sure what my point was...

 

Oh ya! Just because the demonym of Tear is Tairen doesn't mean you should pronounce Tear "tare."

 

Use to think of it as Mat Cathoon for some reason. The second time I read it I looked it up and found that I was pronouncing it wrong and now actually use the right name for him.

 

If you can look up the pronunciation, realize you're wrong, and start pronouncing it correctly, then why don't you do so for all of them?

 

I must sound like Padan Fain when I talk about wheel of time. I say Aes Sedai and Aiel like four different ways even though I know the correct pronunciation. Some of the names I have changed with learning how to speak them, but others I have left with how I saw them originally, though still incorrect. I used to just skip over Nynaeve's name when I read it.... I would be reading like "Elayne lifted her chin ready to give nyyyyyn- a good talking to when....". Haha

[Roxinos]

...but others I have left with how I saw them originally, though still incorrect

 

But why? Why not just correct the pronunciation and move on with your life?

 

Back when I started the Harry Potter series when I was 11 (when it first started), I had no clue Hermione was a real name. So I pronounced it my own way. When I informed my dad of this, he corrected me. Duly embarrassed, I corrected myself (despite the fact that I'd been mispronouncing it in my head for nearly a year), and moved on with my life.

 

So why don't you do the same? Convenience? Is it really that inconvenient to just mentally correct yourself? *shrug* It just baffles me why people continue to mispronounce things even after they discover the correct pronunciation. I understand in reality mispronouncing things because there are many, many dialects and differing pronunciations of many, many words in English, but in a case like a fictional world wherein the author has dictated specific pronunciations, there is no wiggle room. You're either right or wrong.

 

I'm just curious, that's all.

[Bela]

...but others I have left with how I saw them originally, though still incorrect

 

But why? Why not just correct the pronunciation and move on with your life?

 

Back when I started the Harry Potter series when I was 11 (when it first started), I had no clue Hermione was a real name. So I pronounced it my own way. When I informed my dad of this, he corrected me. Duly embarrassed, I corrected myself (despite the fact that I'd been mispronouncing it in my head for nearly a year), and moved on with my life.

 

So why don't you do the same? Convenience? Is it really that inconvenient to just mentally correct yourself? *shrug* It just baffles me why people continue to mispronounce things even after they discover the correct pronunciation. I understand in reality mispronouncing things because there are many, many dialects and differing pronunciations of many, many words in English, but in a case like a fictional world wherein the author has dictated specific pronunciations, there is no wiggle room. You're either right or wrong.

 

I'm just curious, that's all.

 

Yeah when actually pronouncing the things with my mouth I don't really think about it, I just say it and it will come out in one of a few ways. Usually it is correct but sometimes not so much. As for the names in the story, I never really like.... say the names in my mind while I am reading, I just read them. It isn't lazyness or uncaring, it's just I don't put enough mind-emphasis on the names in the text when I am reading. If I am writing something like right now I believe that I am pronouncing everthing in my head correctly, but I have not looked at all the pronunciations either.

 

Fun fact: Ilyena is very similar to Elayne. Minus one E and add an I.

[Roxinos]

Fun fact: Ilyena is very similar to Elayne. Minus one E and add an I.

 

And switching the A and E in Ilyena, which makes it a very different word pronounced very differently.

 

Yeah when actually pronouncing the things with my mouth I don't really think about it, I just say it and it will come out in one of a few ways.

 

Then think before you speak. Isn't that a basic rule people teach their children? I know I was taught it.

 

As for the names in the story, I never really like.... say the names in my mind while I am reading, I just read them.

 

There are plenty of words that you have to pronounce in your head. Like read and read. One is present tense, one is past. They're spelled the same, but if you pronounce them the same way, then you're going to end up confusing yourself.

 

So if you're going to be reading along and pronouncing things in your mind with the correct tense, then why don't you do the same for proper nouns? Again, is it really that difficult?

 

It isn't lazyness or uncaring, it's just I don't put enough mind-emphasis on the names in the text when I am reading.

 

Not putting enough "mind-emphasis" is exactly that. Laziness and uncaring. It's not difficult, so to not do something which is not difficult is just laziness and uncaring. Not to say that's necessarily a negative thing, I'm pretty damned lazy, but is mental effort really that taxing?

 

If I am writing something like right now I believe that I am pronouncing everthing in my head correctly, but I have not looked at all the pronunciations either.

 

It's a bit different when you're typing something. Though, oftentimes the most coherent writing comes from when someone is able to accurately produce in words what they say in their mind. Pronunciations factor into that, as can be seen with my aforementioned tense example.

[Bela]

Fun fact: Ilyena is very similar to Elayne. Minus one E and add an I.

 

And switching the A and E in Ilyena, which makes it a very different word pronounced very differently.

 

Yeah when actually pronouncing the things with my mouth I don't really think about it, I just say it and it will come out in one of a few ways.

 

Then think before you speak. Isn't that a basic rule people teach their children? I know I was taught it.

 

As for the names in the story, I never really like.... say the names in my mind while I am reading, I just read them.

 

There are plenty of words that you have to pronounce in your head. Like read and read. One is present tense, one is past. They're spelled the same, but if you pronounce them the same way, then you're going to end up confusing yourself.

 

So if you're going to be reading along and pronouncing things in your mind with the correct tense, then why don't you do the same for proper nouns? Again, is it really that difficult?

 

It isn't lazyness or uncaring, it's just I don't put enough mind-emphasis on the names in the text when I am reading.

 

Not putting enough "mind-emphasis" is exactly that. Laziness and uncaring. It's not difficult, so to not do something which is not difficult is just laziness and uncaring. Not to say that's necessarily a negative thing, I'm pretty damned lazy, but is mental effort really that taxing?

 

If I am writing something like right now I believe that I am pronouncing everthing in my head correctly, but I have not looked at all the pronunciations either.

 

It's a bit different when you're typing something. Though, oftentimes the most coherent writing comes from when someone is able to accurately produce in words what they say in their mind. Pronunciations factor into that, as can be seen with my aforementioned tense example.

 

Haha, why does this bother you so much. It is quite amusing. Very few people I know read wheel of time. Thinking of what you are saying is important yes, but not to the extent of wasting time. Maybe my brain does not convert thoughts to speech as quickly as yours, I don't know, but with something as trivial as Wheel of Time pronunciation.... I know two people that have read wheel of time, one of them I haven't talked to in years, the other likes it but is not a WoT fanatic. The only time I do actually speak WoT is an off-hand innuendo specifically tailored to make the person laugh about how much of a geek I am. I do care about how I pronounce things, but it isn't important enough to care about that much. I am hardly an English teacher. And do not mock my "mind-emphasis", no need to flank it with quotations. I shouldn't have said uncaring. It is certainly not laziness, it is the fact that I do not care if some of the names are pronounced incorrectly in my noggin, all I care about is immersing myself completely in the WoT universe, which in my opinion matters a lot more than pronouncing Moiraine correctly in my mind.

[pxnsolid]

i couldnt even begin to count how many times i have read any and all of the books in the series. at this point, i tend to pick up anyone of the books, open it randomly, and within the first line i read i know where i am, and go from there. sometimes ill read the 8th book, then follow it with the 3rd. why not? its neat sometimes what you catch even on the 20th plus read, one line read in a different light can make a world of difference.

[Bela]

Yeah I actually noticed for the first time the Old man featured in Graendal's palace in this re-read. That was before I even saw it on here, and I almost made a topic about it until I saw it posted.

[Roxinos]

Haha, why does this bother you so much.

 

Because it speaks of laziness towards a monumentally simple mental task and uncaring.

 

It is quite amusing.

 

I agree. It's 5:12 in the morn' right now where I am. I'm enjoying passing the time.

 

Very few people I know read wheel of time.

 

Same here. At least, fewer than I'd like.

 

Maybe my brain does not convert thoughts to speech as quickly as yours...

 

Never said it had to. Again, simple rule, think before you speak. And in text, you're obviously thinking before you speak or else you wouldn't be as coherent as you are.

 

...but with something as trivial as Wheel of Time pronunciation...

 

But you already know the correct pronunciations. You don't have to think about the correct pronunciation. They're not things you must puzzle out.

 

And I agree, they are rather trivial (I won't bring up the argument about respecting RJ), but if they're so trivial, then it just makes the issue worse because trivialities are not things you should have to make a conscious effort to do. If the pronunciations are so trivial, then certainly correcting your pronunciation is equally trivial, and thus simple to do.

 

The only time I do actually speak WoT is an off-hand innuendo specifically tailored to make the person laugh about how much of a geek I am.

 

Eh, we're not necessarily talking about literal speech. Internal monologues are what I'm referring to. How you pronounce things in your head.

 

And do not mock my "mind-emphasis", no need to flank it with quotations.

 

I wasn't mocking it. And yes, there is need to flank it with quotations because it isn't a common phrase. It is your phrase, so in repeating it, I quote it to indicate that I am using it in the same vein as you.

 

It is certainly not laziness, it is the fact that I do not care if some of the names are pronounced incorrectly in my noggin, all I care about is immersing myself completely in the WoT universe, which in my opinion matters a lot more than pronouncing Moiraine correctly in my mind.

 

Which speaks of a lack of thought towards your reading. You fully immerse yourself, and don't bother thinking about anything while reading. Not respectable in the slightest.

 

Note: Do not take any of this personally. I'm just enjoying this conversation as much as you.

[Bela]

You must be laughing your ass off then. I feel like I am losing this debate so I am going to eat my sandwich. Feel free to post back though, I like something to read while I eat. And I never take things personally on online forums. This one is gentle compared to others.