I just finished “Words of Radiance” for the first time a couple months ago, and I felt exactly how you felt on your reread on my first read. I really wish I could have enjoyed it more, but at its best, I thought it was just ok. I really feel like I’m missing out on this series somehow LOL
I think that longevity is a semi-objective factor with many many things. (The quality of buildings or precious metals, etc.) so literature being able to hold its quality for a long time I feel is a good standard as well. Not to harp on this but if you reread Gene Wolfe you find that his books get better and more interesting on a reread and I think that indicates a certain quality to them. I’m not sure the same is true for Sanderson.
I can say that I have re-read by now every book in the cosmere, some of them several times, and I keep finding more value in them. From finding hidden instances of foreshadowing for things I now know, or just being reminded of epic moments. Knowing how a character's arc will end (or at least progress) and getting to revisit their early moments where they stumbled and learned valuable lessons they put to good use later on.
This video was great! I enjoyed the book the first time, but not as much as Way of Kings. You nailed every point and shared an interesting reread discussion at the end!
I really enjoyed Way of Kings. Words of Radiance was something else entirely though. Certain things did feel lacking, but that was me, not that they weren’t executed well. I just personally didn’t enjoy them, like eshonai’s interludes. Overall I think it tops Way of Kings. But I’m curious how I’ll feel on a reread.
Stormlight is not my favorite of Sanderson's works, but I have to say, I disagree with most of the criticism I hear about interludes. I think ironically people give reasons to avoid saying "I just didn't like them" which oddly enough I actually consider to be a fair criticism. But you provided two of the most common complaints I've heard. 1. It breaks the pace. They always come when an entire segment is supposed to end, like the end of an episode. It cannot possible be breaking the pace when the pace is intended to come to a total stop, and then restart afterwards. They can only possibly serve to reinforce the stop for that 'part'. What I think people mean when they say this is, I'm ready for the next part, I want to see what happens next. Which is the tension built up by the good ending, to make you want to see what comes up. The interludes exist to ramp up that tension. I think if they weren't there, people would have more complaints about the books, they just might not be able to say why. 2. The cosmere touches. Those are deliberately vague. You're not supposed to feel like you're missing out if you didn't read the other books being referenced. Just don't worry about "wait is this so and so" and just enjoy the story like it's a random person. If he was like "here's this character from this book" then the other book is suddenly required reading, and it's not and it shouldn't be. Knowing the backstory is a garnish. When people point out how much knowledge you must have to squeeze every last drop of meaning, they're making the assumption that it's somehow required to squeeze out every last drop of meaning. It's not, it can just be a cameo. If people don't like the interludes, say that. They're almost never more than a handful of pages for each entire set, but if you don't wanna read that much tangential material and it doesn't grab you as a little vignette, say so. That's valid criticism.
I understand what you’re saying, but I still think both of those “complaints” are still valid criticism and reason to not like the interludes regardless of what they were intended to accomplish.
@@toastytowns I mean... no? The pacing I can give you some wiggle room on, though I think it just shows a misunderstanding of the concept of anticipation. But your complaint is that the interludes are impossible to read unless you do homework and... no, that just isn't the case. You can easily read, for example, the Purelake interlude, without knowing those three people are from other books. You might not get 100% of what it means, but you don't have to get every reference. You assuming that every reference must be understood or the book is unreadable is just on you. You can say you didn't like it because you have a personal need to get every reference. But you can't say that objectively makes the interlude bad. That would be like if I said, my favorite vowel is the letter O, so this interlude is difficult for anyone to read because it doesn't contain enough instances of the letter O.
I like SA well enough but 1000 pages of dull sub par prose is pretty tough to trudge through when you already know what's going to happen. Malazan on the other hand... even on a re read, I know what's going to happen and maybe the part of the book I'm currently reading isn't the most interesting but the writing itself always keeps me interested and intrigued. No subtly to Sandersons prose and I think that's incredibly detrimental for a re read.
In my humble opinion, Sanderson's works don't do well on rereads simply because they are plot-driven, not character-driven, nor theme-driven. The plot is always the focus. So, once you know the plot, what's left for you to focus on on a reread other than the negatives that you ignored in your haste to know what happens next? Personally, I won't reread any of Sanderson's works. It's not really worth it. And I watched a very comprehensive recap in preparation for Winds and Truth. And I'm also watching your videos.
yeah that’s not exactly right. Technically an Era 1 Mistborn character and his faction which was introduced in Stormlight. Also they didn’t really “save the day”….
@toastytowns it's big lol id recommend mostly post ep 6 Stuff. But ya if you've been at all disappointed with the new stuff I'd recommend it. And even if your enjoying the new stuff still a fun alternative.
I just finished “Words of Radiance” for the first time a couple months ago, and I felt exactly how you felt on your reread on my first read. I really wish I could have enjoyed it more, but at its best, I thought it was just ok. I really feel like I’m missing out on this series somehow LOL
Shallan is a queen!
Just finished this book and am on to oathbringer. looking forward to her story the most!
I think that longevity is a semi-objective factor with many many things. (The quality of buildings or precious metals, etc.) so literature being able to hold its quality for a long time I feel is a good standard as well.
Not to harp on this but if you reread Gene Wolfe you find that his books get better and more interesting on a reread and I think that indicates a certain quality to them. I’m not sure the same is true for Sanderson.
Same goes for Steven Erikson, as Owen is noticing on his reread of Malazan.
I can say that I have re-read by now every book in the cosmere, some of them several times, and I keep finding more value in them. From finding hidden instances of foreshadowing for things I now know, or just being reminded of epic moments. Knowing how a character's arc will end (or at least progress) and getting to revisit their early moments where they stumbled and learned valuable lessons they put to good use later on.
Oh I’m definitely rereading Gene Wolfe at some point…. Because Severian told me to!!!!
This video was great! I enjoyed the book the first time, but not as much as Way of Kings. You nailed every point and shared an interesting reread discussion at the end!
Thank you!!
I really enjoyed Way of Kings. Words of Radiance was something else entirely though. Certain things did feel lacking, but that was me, not that they weren’t executed well. I just personally didn’t enjoy them, like eshonai’s interludes. Overall I think it tops Way of Kings. But I’m curious how I’ll feel on a reread.
Stormlight is not my favorite of Sanderson's works, but I have to say, I disagree with most of the criticism I hear about interludes. I think ironically people give reasons to avoid saying "I just didn't like them" which oddly enough I actually consider to be a fair criticism. But you provided two of the most common complaints I've heard.
1. It breaks the pace. They always come when an entire segment is supposed to end, like the end of an episode. It cannot possible be breaking the pace when the pace is intended to come to a total stop, and then restart afterwards. They can only possibly serve to reinforce the stop for that 'part'. What I think people mean when they say this is, I'm ready for the next part, I want to see what happens next. Which is the tension built up by the good ending, to make you want to see what comes up. The interludes exist to ramp up that tension. I think if they weren't there, people would have more complaints about the books, they just might not be able to say why.
2. The cosmere touches. Those are deliberately vague. You're not supposed to feel like you're missing out if you didn't read the other books being referenced. Just don't worry about "wait is this so and so" and just enjoy the story like it's a random person. If he was like "here's this character from this book" then the other book is suddenly required reading, and it's not and it shouldn't be. Knowing the backstory is a garnish. When people point out how much knowledge you must have to squeeze every last drop of meaning, they're making the assumption that it's somehow required to squeeze out every last drop of meaning. It's not, it can just be a cameo.
If people don't like the interludes, say that. They're almost never more than a handful of pages for each entire set, but if you don't wanna read that much tangential material and it doesn't grab you as a little vignette, say so. That's valid criticism.
I understand what you’re saying, but I still think both of those “complaints” are still valid criticism and reason to not like the interludes regardless of what they were intended to accomplish.
@@toastytowns I mean... no? The pacing I can give you some wiggle room on, though I think it just shows a misunderstanding of the concept of anticipation.
But your complaint is that the interludes are impossible to read unless you do homework and... no, that just isn't the case. You can easily read, for example, the Purelake interlude, without knowing those three people are from other books. You might not get 100% of what it means, but you don't have to get every reference.
You assuming that every reference must be understood or the book is unreadable is just on you. You can say you didn't like it because you have a personal need to get every reference. But you can't say that objectively makes the interlude bad. That would be like if I said, my favorite vowel is the letter O, so this interlude is difficult for anyone to read because it doesn't contain enough instances of the letter O.
I like SA well enough but 1000 pages of dull sub par prose is pretty tough to trudge through when you already know what's going to happen.
Malazan on the other hand... even on a re read, I know what's going to happen and maybe the part of the book I'm currently reading isn't the most interesting but the writing itself always keeps me interested and intrigued. No subtly to Sandersons prose and I think that's incredibly detrimental for a re read.
In my humble opinion, Sanderson's works don't do well on rereads simply because they are plot-driven, not character-driven, nor theme-driven. The plot is always the focus. So, once you know the plot, what's left for you to focus on on a reread other than the negatives that you ignored in your haste to know what happens next?
Personally, I won't reread any of Sanderson's works. It's not really worth it. And I watched a very comprehensive recap in preparation for Winds and Truth. And I'm also watching your videos.
...when in Era 2 did "the guy from stormlight" show up to save the day?
yeah that’s not exactly right. Technically an Era 1 Mistborn character and his faction which was introduced in Stormlight. Also they didn’t really “save the day”….
@@toastytowns Okay I wondered if you meant him. I was very thrown to hear him referred to as a "guy from Stormlight".
Have you read the Old Star Wars Expanded Universe? I see a bunch of Star Wars in the background
I have not!! Heard a lot of great things about it so I might one day….
@toastytowns it's big lol id recommend mostly post ep 6 Stuff. But ya if you've been at all disappointed with the new stuff I'd recommend it. And even if your enjoying the new stuff still a fun alternative.
That's why I never feel the need to rewatch Marvel films.
Especially the duel scene could have been shorter. Have the cool moment then keep it moving instead of wasting time on a pretty boring fight scene