Knife of Dreams.. rambly rambly

[same_sky]

Given my unnatural love of potatoes, it might be strange to say that I've never liked potato salad. I don't like mayo and I don't like mustard, which kind of limits the matter. So I don't know what put it in my head that I should make potato salad for the potluck dinner I'm going to tonight. (Work-related, held by one of the managers.) And further, I don't know what possessed me to not really follow a recipe and just throw something together. It turned out really, really well, though. Hope it's still good cold. If not, I may cry.

And now.. the big news! I have finished Knife of Dreams! And I really enjoyed it! It was so much better than the previous one few. And now I am officially through with my Wheel of Time reading. (Note: next time, start earlier with the re-read!) And because I don't want to ruin anything for those of you who haven't read it--do NOT click--I'll put this behind a cut.

I am embarrassed to admit this, but the scene with Nynaeve just after she sent Lan on.. kind of made me cry, which made me feel like an idiot. I am a real sucker for the Lan/Nynaeve story, though. I cried before they all agreed to ride to meet him, even. It was just so sweet when she said, "Will he ride alone?" I don't know why. And then I told M about my dumb weepy later, and came very close to crying again.

Excuse me, what's with a prologue of 100 pages? That's not a prologue, that's a novella.

Really liked the Egwene-in-the-tower scenes.. though I would have enjoyed seeing her reaction in TelWhateverDreamyWorld when she found out about Halima. (And speaking of which, way to go, someone figured out about Halima!) For once, I wasn't bored with the Perrin scenes (he is no longer an interesting person without Faile and how long had she been gone?) and not annoyed with Mat much at all. He gets on my nerves sometimes because he can be an ass, but he's been nicer lately. And that scene where Precious collars the Aes Sedai and says, "They annoy me, Toy." and he says, "They annoy me, too." Because.. it's usually the Aes Sedai stuff that annoys me with him, but I really don't blame him for being annoyed with the three he's got right now. Or really, I suppose, just Joline. And I did like the second part of his wedding to Tuon, where she said "Bloody Matrim Cauthon is my husband." I can only halfway like her, though, because she is just so weird. It was good to see the Seanchan become real people in this book. It's been pretty clear for a while that no matter what happens with them, they'll never get rid of the people that have arrived. As for Elayne.. I'm just relieved that she finally won the crown--not that I was afraid she wouldn't, but it was stretching on for so long that I was beginning to think that it would take forever to resolve, and I couldn't imagine how he was going to wrap everything, including her throne, in one last book.

Semirhage! I've been waiting to see her in the real world and I thought that was great.. that line about her having been a prisoner in the AoL but she scared her captors so much that they smuggled her to freedom. Now that is frickin' awesome. She's one scary lady. And it was pretty nice to see Suroth taken care of, at long long last. In general, that scene with Suroth at the end was the Rug--if you've seen The Big Lebowski--it tied the whole thing together. I was really really pleased that this book contained something that the previous two books have lacked in a big way. IT HAS A PLOT. It was linear in that there were climactic scenes for the big story arcs. Before I read this book I couldn't believe that there was just going to be one more, but enough took place in this book that it at least seems feasible now.

But still.. they know how to freaking Travel. Why do they never meet up for a short visit to catch up on what's going on? And when is Rand going to find out that he's going to be a daddy? The misinformation and assumptions kind of get old, considering how easy it would be for the major characters to meet occasionally. Which reminds me, I did not care for the part of where Rolan died, that was sad. But I was glad when Therava took everyone back to the Waste because seriously, I am SO OVER the Shaido. Bitches. But why didn't the water taste like mint?

Okay, this was rambly, but that's what I'm thinking of KoD. I might reread New Spring pretty soon.. I didn't count it as part of the reread but I might as well, while I'm still in the mode. But I'm really enjoying reading something other than WoT now...

Comments

[courtesy.livejournal.com]

I so have no idea what you're talking about when you mention these books, I've never heard of them, but it's still cute to read :)

But how dare you dislike mustard ... sinful ...

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

*grin* I can't believe you would even come close to reading all that if you haven't read the books! They're good, kind of obsessing (obviously) if you like that sort of thing but I don't think you would or I'd recommend it.

Mustard is gross, sorry. Except maybe in the tiniest of small doses in a food. You know.. it's really funny that I've lost the worst of my pickiness, but I still have the same aversions to condiments as I had before. I wonder what that's about..

[carrieb.livejournal.com]

Are you trying to steal my husband? I haven't seen such a big smile on his face since. . . well. . . you know.

[big-bubba.livejournal.com]

Since last time we did some Rand - Elayne role playing you mean?

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking that might fall under the *TMI* category... hehe. But Rand - Elayne?? I think Rand and Min are the ones who have it going on! ALL THE TIME.

[big-bubba.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I suppose you are right. But it's better than Mat and Tylin. I can't stand pink ribbons...

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

*rofl* No, I wasn't, I swear! Although I did assume that he would be the only one interested. :)

[big-bubba.livejournal.com]

Yep, the Lan/Nynaeve chapter was the highlight of the book. I never thought I'd like something Nynaeve did again, but I definitely did. Now if she'd just stop sniffing and tugging her braid.

Same about Egwene. I liked her chapters too, strangely enough. It was too bad he didn't continue that story at the end of the book.

Elayne - nice to see that finished, yes. That's the best part about those chapters - we won't have to read about that crap in the next book. And NO MORE SHAIDO!! Let's all bow our heads to the Creator and rejoice.

I also like that there was lots of Mat. I like Mat. Perrin is all "oh Faile, I worship the ground you walk on" and Rand is "oh, I can't take it if another woman dies". Bah, I say, BAH! Give me a man that can spank an Aes Sedai any day of the week!

Still, I find it difficult to believe that he can cram in the White Tower conflict, the Black Tower conflict, Moiraine's rescue, and Tarmon Gaidon in one book. But if he does, it's going to be goooooooooooood!

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Lan/Nynaeve - I have never really disliked any of the female characters but I can see where Nynaeve would get on someone's nerves. She seems to have mellowed out lately, though. It was a brilliant scene.

Aww, are you anti-Egwene? She's probably my favorite. Speaking of Egwene, though, I forgot to mention that Beonin really pissed me off. WTF is with teaching Elaida to Travel?? Bitch.

Speaking of things I forgot.. what was with Elayne coming up with the idea to go collect the two black sisters with insufficient backup? That was dumb. Then she said something about how she didn't feel guilty that Vandene and the others had died (nice line there about a gift from Adeleas, as well). Well, that's good for her, I guess, but I think I would, since she.. well, killed them through her own stupidity. She never listens to anyone even when it's obvious they're right.

Mat was my least favorite character up through the first half of the series or so. He has only become interesting now that he has a bunch of other people in his head. (Ha! Teasing.) I can't wait until he gets.. somewhere else, though. Preferably off to rescue Moiraine. That has been going on for way too long. Oh, and you know, he kind of has that woman-dying fetish now, too. Apparently RJ thinks this is hot.

I agree, it's going to be hard for him to wrap it all up in another book, but at least it's looking theoretically possible now. I had serious reservations before KoD! Now if only it was done already!

[big-bubba.livejournal.com]

Yeah, why doesn't RJ have Beonin spanked? Everyone else seems to get some good S&M, so why not someone who really deserves it.

As for Egwene, I've actually enjoyed her chapters for the most part, except in CoT. There she was rather annoying.

And yes, Elayne really can be pretty darn stupid. I'm so glad all that Andor crap is over now.

So looking forward to Moiraine's rescue. And when is Rand finally going to meet his blood uncle (Luc/Slayer)? That would be very cool to read about.

[ekatedid.livejournal.com]

Yum, potato salad....my favorite and not just any potato salad. Grandma makes the best! I'd definitely put yours to the taste test...oh if only I could! :)

[same-sky.livejournal.com]

Sure, come on over! Although I was assured by my mother this morning that what I made shouldn't qualify as potato salad for there was no mayo/miracle whip and no mustard and no pickle relish. She is opinionated about the potato salad.. :)