Why The Wheel of Time Means So Much To Me
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ย. 2024
- Just my rambling thoughts on why the wheel of time has impacted my life so greatly. Probably the most personal I have ever gotten.
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Start The Wheel of Time here: amzn.to/2IQsnys
What series means the most to you??
Daniel Greene I haven’t read nearly enough epic fantasy or series fantasy (yet) so everything is up to change. But what little I’ve read: Kingkiller Chronicle and Ken Liu’s Dandelion Dynasty have had the most impact. Both currently unfinished trilogies, I know. Of course I realize how you feel about the Rothfuss books mate, but definitely check out Ken Liu’s Grace of Kings and then get your mind blown by Wall of Storms! Great stuff. Love the channel Daniel!
Honestly The Wheel of Time will always be top on my list. These days I'm into Brandon Sanderson though. I don't think I have a particular favorite series of his (though Stormlight Archive tips the scales a bit). I'm mostly into his cosmere works as a whole. I LOOOOOVE finding all the tidbits where his cosmere stories cross over. There's always another secret! You should really do a video on the cosmere...
Dune, LOTR, Chaos (sp) balance, WOT, and Sanderson just keeps on giving with his multiple series :)
Daniel Greene For me book-wise, Brandon Sanderson's works are massively inspiring. I love the Mistborn trilogy and the subsequent books. His ability to write characters who are intelligent while having a lot of heart and humanity are great. Also, I love his hard magic systems. Outside books, FullMetal Alchemist to me means a lot. Hiromu Arakawa is a genius; a term I do not use lightly. From her characters to her magic system, there is so much care and dedication she packed into the story. It always puts a smile on my face every time I read the manga or check out Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.
I also love Edward Elric. He's the perfect protagonist/ example of how to do a hero character with a moral compass but not having it be cheesy or one note. And FMA's female characters are some of the absolute best.
WoT. They were real friends when I didn’t have any. Trustworthy when no one else was. It was a world that no one else knew or cared about (despite my efforts) so it was all mine.
Even now, I’m still amazed that there are so many people who love it. I’ve only met a tiny handful of people IRL who’ve read it and none that put it on the same pedestal I do.
That’s why this community means so much to me.
One of the reasons why I relish the upcoming tv show is because I know that you and other great content creators will get mighty big because of it and that makes me incredibly happy. Algorithm is a fickle mistress, but when it shines on you, life gets so much better. :-)
Heh when Al Gore gets Rhythm life will find meaning once again? :P.
Kings and Generals do a video on the battle of Dumai Wells!
Yo man, you don't understand how many hsie assignments you have helped me on
@@daars8925 ;-)
Moral of the story:
Judge a book by it's cover
Nicholas Cage agrees.
Book 1 cover is iconic! In the show they need to mirror this cover somehow
I dunno as iconic as the first book cover is, some of the original cover art for I'd say at least half the series is kinda....er bad. Certainly not indicative of the amazing story it actually is
I did the same thing with this series, I was walking through the fiction section at the library, and it was the fantasy art covers that pulled me in to grabbing this.
DirtyBird Person God that reminds me the cover for the Lord of Chaos with the open shirt b-tier historical setting romance novel cover Rand
WoT got me through 7 years of depression. It was my retreat as I tried to pull myself out of the ‘numb’ as I call it. It was where I could escape the distortions my mind produced and was one of the only places I could *feel* anything as I suffered in silence (I never sought help, which I regret and I encourage others to not do the same). The first time I read the series I avoided the interwebz, because spoilers, and I shit you not [Australian for “I kid you not”], I finished KoD the day after RJ passed. I jumped online to find out when the next book was due and was devastated to learn the news. My dad had introduced me to tEotW and so I had to break it to him too and that actually opened up an avenue of bonding that we hadn’t had for years, which still prevails to this day as we await the show. This is a very special series and I’m glad it has helped others as it has helped me.
I know what it means to use a story as a means to escape, when my Father-Inlaw passed away, The Name of the Wind & The Wise Mans Fear helped me get through that time immensely. I know your not the greatest fan of that series but for me it brought a comfort & peace that I needed at the time.
Bought The eye of the world today. I'm 22 years old and very happy with my decision. I'm hooked.
I envy you! Wish I could read it for the first time all over again. Don’t let the rough patch of books burn you out, it’s more than worth trudging through in the end!
You have a historic series ahead of you.
Thank you for sharing and being so open. Since you're so known for your love of WoT, it's nice hear why you love it. Books are such comforts. Something we can all share even if we read different things.
You just broke the 40k subscriber mark. Congrats!
Holy shit, I came in at 5k. It's crazy how much this channel has grown this year!
Shadow Rising...
Almost 70k
1 year later: 291k
One thing that I love seeing/ hearing is people talk about things they’re passionate about. Brings me so much warmth, and sharing things like these make me feel like it’s very personal and sacred to them ❤️
Thank you for this personal content :) I was very moved by this video.
I went into my first reread in 2007, already knowing and mentally preparing for the series to end. I had a relative who had been into the series since around 2002, I actually remember him being visibly upset the day Robert Jordan passed away, and him saying he shouldn't be this upset, but his favorite author had died. I was surprised, because he is a pretty upbeat, silly, never-gets-upset kind of person. I didn't think it feelings were weird, but it was surprising.
He gave me his physical copy of the series as a gift, which I now realize is super personal gift and truly such sentimental books to own. He's dyslexic too, and also adores the audiobooks, said he wanted to buy a new set anyway. It was a trap!! Jk... kinda 😆
I became obsessed. It took me approx 6 months to read through to KoD. But I was so lucky, so perfectly positioned, because it had been announced shortly after my first read that Brandon Sanderson would be finishing the series. It was one of the rare times in life that I felt that the stars had aligned (or my thread in the pattern) and brought me on this journey with perfect timing.
Finishing AMoL was life changing. This series is my absolute favorite, I burned through other fantasy authors to fill the void while waiting for TGS and AMoL. Many were excellent, but they simply weren't WOT.
I use the books as escapism too. I have serious diagnosed mental health issues, and these books have saved me. I would literally be dead in all likelihood. My mother was very upset about me naming my daughter after a major character, she found it trashy and strange. I told her if people can choose to follow the Bible and name their children after different apostles and such, then I had every right to choose names from characters I love from the books that saved me. She actually has come to love the name and the idea of the kind of fictional person my child has as a namesake.
I'm a buddhist, so the reincarnation and many other eastern religious tenets in the books really helped me along my spiritual journey as a human, being, as well. The way Robert Jordan wrote about people being reborn, and the Wheel, it is very much the mirrored idea in comparison to the Buddhist Samsara. It was just so refreshing to have a fictional work that reflected and represented many of my spiritual beliefs.
Listening to The Eye of the World while reading it really helped me stay engaged during the beginning of the book where I was having a bit of trouble latching on to the characters. Now, 18 chapters into it, I gotta say I agree with your assessment on Michael Kramer’s narration. I’m really enjoying it.
I agree so much. I feel the same way with Terry Brooks Shannara series, and also David Eddings Belgariad and successive series.
I remember the intensity with which I begged my dad to bring me to Barnes and Noble to get The Great Hunt. It never stopped.
Got an image in my head of you starting a about 10 and still at the age of 30 something, was still begging your dad, to bring you to the store :D
Worse. I was 19. I didn’t get my drivers license until I was 21. I’d been a passenger in a bad car accident and was scared to drive. Just turned 40.
Katie Marsh well im 32 and i still get my mother to drive me at times ☺️ i suffer from anxiety, so i never thought it was a good idea to get a drivers licence. So i get it. Was just a fun image to run in my head as a little cartoon strip ☺️
Hi fives. I have horrible anxiety and am out on medical leave for it. Reading is my solace.
Katie Marsh reading has been a life saver for me. I suffer from Asbergers with a side doze of OCD, which gives anxiety. So reading can really help to distract the mind and make it go to other places for a rest ☺️
I loved this, It was incredibly heartfelt and beautifully worded. Thank you Daniel for sharing this story and your time with us
Definitely the Belgariad. This was the first time I remember feeling truly invested in the characters and their arcs. I also found the way David Eddings wrote character relationships and interactions to be masterful. In a nutshell, this is the story that took me from liking fantasy to loving it, so it will always mean the most to me.
I picked up Wheel of Time for the very same reasons: the color blue, and the title. Plus Lan looked like a badass.
I was reading them around the time of my Father's death, and I found comfort and strength in them. They've got me through some bad times, even after that, and I'll forever be grateful to Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson for writing them. Thank you for making this video, and Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there!
Hey, thanks for introducing me to the wheel of time. I’m a casual D&D player and TH-cam recommended your channel while watching a D&D channel. The only fantasy I have previously read is GOT, and the blade itself trilogy.
I picked up the eye of the world and fell right in to it. I’m now finishing the dragon reborn, and although I’m enjoying the series, I am really excited to finish so I can watch a lot more of your videos without worry of spoilers.
Keep up the good work, I just signed up for your patreon at $1 per month, it’s not much but hopefully with others support it can help you produce more videos for the channel. Keep up the good work, thank you!
11x bigger platforrm, the shows out, you're now a published author. Crazy how much can change in such a short period of time.
I've been loving your channel more with every upload. Keep it up, you're doing some fantastic things.
I love how books can really be a place we can go when everything around us isn’t how we want it to be! Thanks for sharing your story and why you have such a passion for the series. I too have several books I’ll re-read or think about when I need them.
Thank you for your love and enthusiasm for this series. I’m just reading it for the first time and your energy has helped to keep me inspired to continue this journey.
When I finish a good book series, it is so emotional.
My dad picked up the Wheel of Time series back when there were only 3 books out as a nice trilogy to read while on a business trip. Famous last words..... So my introduction to WoT is that it was that crazy series that was so long that the author died before he could finish it. As an adult and lover of epic fantasy, I've finally started reading this series because I love Brandon Sanderson and if he thought it was worth picking up the mantle and finishing the series, then it must be worth a read. (Plus the series is actually finished so I know I won't be left hanging!) WoT is the series my dad read throughout much of his adult life and I'm hoping Stormlight Archive becomes that sort of series for me.
I’ve just started reading the first book in the Wheel Of Time series (because of the TV adaption coming and because of your passion and enthusiasm for the series) and I’m really enjoying it so far (the beginning is extremely similar to the first book of the Lord of The Rings).
Two month ago, I got into wheel of time series after watching ur recommendation video and it is perhaps the best thing ever happened to me. Now, I just can not stop until I finish reading the whole series.
I just finished the book 5 of wheel of time yesterday and have already started the next book today morning.
Thank you.
i love this channel because WoT is also my favorite series
I'm over here crying. Our stories are so similar. I won't share mine here, but I don't know how you made this video without breaking down. Thanks so much for sharing your love of this series to a fellow WoT fan. Love ya Daniel.
This was emotional, I used to hate Wheel of time because he used to mention it so often, and its so huge to read, but now I think I should try it
I had read a lot of fantasy, a lot, and I still have a lot more to read. I've been reading The Wheel of Time on and off since high school and it's one of the few, maybe only, series that hits all the everything for me. I am never unsatisfied when reading WoT.
I grew up hating reading and hating writing, majorly that was because I had dyslexia and didn’t really know it and my parents that it wouldn’t help my situation to tell me I did have it. Since then reading has become a very important thing to me and an incredible source of therapy and anxiety destroyer. Reading especially meant a lot to me when last year one of my best friends died. I was reading through and Urban Fantasy series called “Kingdom Keepers” (Disney series by Ridley Pearson). And while it may have not been as wheel of time it really cemented what reading is for me and specifically reading Sci-fi/fantasy is for me, an escape. I recently discovered your channel over the past month and it has changed my life and it makes me feel good to be able to relate to someone who has found peace in reading. Especially someone who grew up with the same difficulty of reading that I did. Thank you for being a beacon for fantasy in this community. We couldn’t ask for a better person to represent the fantasy fandom. Also funny thing is I also picked up the eye of the world when I was younger because it looked cool. Maybe not because it was blue but I definitely was like “awesome the world has an eye and what a cool helmet”.
Thank you for getting me back into reading. I just started to Witcher series and I had forgotten how much I loved it :)
Honestly, your videos on Wheel of Time have been instrumental to my reassessment of the series. I had given up on them around Winter's Heart because (at the time) I felt things were getting turgid and spinning too many plates. However, the initial books (particularly Dragon Reborn), the tabletop rpg book, and the imaginative space of Wheel of Time have always stayed with me. It's a real, substantive affection for a story with alot of heart. I believe I will give them another shot and finish them. At any rate, keep up the great work!
Man, as somebody who is listening to the series now because of you it is WILD to come to your channel and see how these characters' names are spelled in your titles. Definitely like ASOIAF, this is a series I will need to go back and actually try and read after I finish listening to it.
I've been through the audiobooks 4 times now and working on the 5th. The narrators are my gold standard for audiobooks. I got caught up and stuck waiting on paper copies at Winter's Heart release. Painfully waited until the series was totally complete. Sanderson did great. Collected and gave the entire set to my son when he turned 13 and now I can find a copy of any volume laying around the house, flip to a random page and get stuck for an hour.
My neighbor got me interested in reading, based on this book. He was my friend's dad, but had a great viewpoint in talking to kids maturely. He spoke of adventures, and how this was a series with 3 released and more on the way. I picked up the paperback, and immediately fell in love. I started to buy the hardbacks, but even in the 90s the first 2 books were so rare and expensive on the secondary market.
Anyway, nostalgia reigns for me and this book. Simpler times.
First ever Daniel Greene video that got randomly recommended to me, one that set me off on a path of becoming a massive fantasy fan and currently going through my own read through of Wheel of Time.
The wheel of time was what I grew up with. Love your channel
I discovered TWOT as a 23yo backpacker in 2008. I was in Australia just before a 3 months trip, and the covers of the paperback got my eyes, all black with just the same logo in different colors. I bought the first 3 books, and after the trip I came back and bought 2 more. It became my favorite serie right away. On my 3rd run right now, in the middle of TLOC. I love it!
New sub here. Haven't finished Wheel yet but I'm loving the unique and analytical content you bring to booktube. Cheers!
what book are you on? i just finished memory of light for the first time and it does not disappoint
Thanks for sharing. I'm 26 and reading Crown of Swords right now. This is my first read through of the Wheel of Time. I started reading WoT because my dad starting reading them when they first came out, and he recommended them to me. I definitely agree that WoT seems to be the most infinitely re-readable series ever made. In my opinion. Your summaries were super helpful to me when after a year I picked up Fires of Heaven to finish it. I had forgotten some of the lesser details of the adventure so far. Anyway, thanks again.
I know this video is two years old, but I have to say this so please read it. I love hearing stories of how authors have potentially saved peoples lives from letting them escape this sometimes depressing world. 🤍 & Daniel, I’m so sorry for the things you’ve gone through-I never knew exactly what it was until today and I’ve been watching you forever. I am just now starting The Wheel of Time.
I just want you to know that your videos have gotten me through so much & I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me & are still doing to this day for others struggling & finding a passion in reading to escape their own world. I am sure Robert Jordan is so thankful that you’ve shared his story to so many people & the younger generations. I’m grateful you got through it & it’s truly inspiring. I’m glad you’re here… 🥺😩🙏🏼☺️
Got a video in my feed 4 weeks ago on why you should read WOT. Week 4, book 4. Thanks for the introduction man. It grew really close to me from the very first pages.
When WoT sticks to someone, it stays. Over the years I think I have read the first 11 books 6+times with the last 3, 3 times each.
I just started "The Eye of the World" because of channels like this one. I haven't quite fallen in love with it just yet, but it's an interesting look at how fantasy has evolved, and I can see where a lot of current authors have gotten their inspiration.
I always feel sad when I know somebody either hates or is not interested in reading. They are missing so much enjoyment. When you find those books that really speak to you it is a great joy of life. For me, Tolkien has always been my go to. I do really like WOT too - but its size makes it harder to re-read. It took me forever to get through it all and life is short. Will have to look for the audio books.
Books can definitely be life-changing. When I was younger books were my escape. In the past few years, I've had a hard time reading. I've been trying to reread the WOT and while I still love it have been having a hard time getting immersed into it like I used to. Love your videos. :)
I just started the series and it’s also starting to become an important piece of media in my life.
Awesome words man. Thanks for the vulnerability. My Wheel of Time story is different but the result is the same. There is a reason this series is always what I come back to. It's easy to get lost in the world. Think about the characters awake, dream of the world while you sleep; I had times during re-reads I would compare people I met in my life to characters from the books. I think many of us have the same experiences. I remember specifically the day A Memory of Light came out I woke up at 4am, got the book at a Barnes and Noble, and read it all day until finishing the book around 2am. Thanks for sharing your story!
YES!! I fell in love with the Wheel of Time as a boy like nothing else. Lord of the Rings and the Belgariad sparked an interest in fantasy, but the Wheel of Time stoked that spark to a flame. Just like you it has been a tremendous source of comfort and joy through the years, and has seen me through many hard times, never failing to make me smile. I think a big big part of that is just how human the characters are; a re-read feels like connecting again with old friends. No matter what happens in life I know the Wheel will continue to turn, and Rand and all the rest will always be there.
Well I'm glad you picked up that first book and then proceeded to share your enthusiasm and love of the story with us. I personally found your site only since the TV series was released. For which I give thanks. Not only has your analysis of each episode helped me to understand it better, but also piqued my interest to read the books for myself. Which I began a few months ago and am currently on #9. Thank you again
That's a nice story Daniel. Thanks for sharing. I can't remember exactly how I started but basically it was the early/mid 90s and my Mum had bought it as school holiday reading. I also remember burning through the first 3 books and then asking Mum to buy the next 3? I think. I had to wait on the 7th and then each subsequent one was also a wait. I was all over the web forums discussing theories and then the tragedy of Jordan's passing was huge. So incredibly happy Sanderson was able to finish it for us. It was so cathartic. I can't wait now for the adaptation, which I feel is coming at a good time after the end of the books were finished - i.e. Not too close that people are still reading it, and also not too far away that people have moved on to other book series and forgotten them.
It was you and Jay (Captured in Words) who make want to read The Wheel Of Time series. I was not a fan of the fantasy genre but since I read the first book I am now looking forward to read more fantasy books (also I started reading The way of Kings because of you two and I am loving this series and enjoying it so much). Your love for this series is so real I just want to buy all the books and go on the top of a mountain and stay there to read all the series before returning among the humankind. Thank you so much for this adventure you put me in. And man I won't say this enough but you deserve more than 40k subscribers. You and Jay have the most original and unique contentes on the entire booktube community. Keep doing the good work, more will come.
Lots of love :)
I watched a video of yours before deciding on the series. About 3 1/2 weeks ago I used 6 audio credits on the first six books, and six physical.
I clean vacation rentals, so I’m burning through it. Audiobook at work, then 1.25x speed while reading along at home. At the tail end of The Shadow Rising. THANK YOU D!! So damn epic.
You've single handedly gotten me into reading. Busy life with work exams and two young children but I've been inspired to read more and specifically fantasy. After the red mars trilogy is finished (yes i know thats sci-fi) i have the witcher series lined up on my kindle. My wishlist also includes most of your top recommendations. The next 5 years is gonna be busy. Great content... you deserve every success that comes from it.
I know that this video was uploaded so long ago, but I just started reading the series and my curiosity about the series brought me to your channel. I love how real you seem and I feel like I just want to give you a hug. I very much so look up to you and appreciate you.
Thank you for that. And I know exactly what you mean by retreating to the books. I'm much older than you. My son as a young teenager got me started in the fantasy genre by urging me to read The Sword of Shannara. I didn't think I would like it. I blew through all the Shannara books available at the time. Next, he gave me Eye of the World and I was really and truly hooked. I've been through them at least six times because, as you say, they are a place of comfort! No other series will ever measure up in my opinion, even though I've read lots of great fantasy since, including all the ones you mentioned. I just recently discovered your channel, enjoying your commentary! Keep up the good work!
Watched many of your videos, randomly. Finally it recommended the one where you bear your soul and your past. If you ever see this, keep up the passion and the good work
The audio narration was so helpful for me, they bring the world to life!!
Thank you Daniel, I subbed you cuz of your WoT content. My dad passed away a couple years ago (at the age of 54), and I kept a box of his fav books, including this series. I remembered him reading and re-reading these books growing up. A year after he passed, my son brought home the Eye of the World graphic novel from school and asked if he could read it (he was 6) - I got hooked. I got the books on audible to listen to at work and fell in love. I feel I have something with my dad (whom I didn't have a great relationship with growing up) in our love of this series - I really wish I didn't wait so long to find it, but I feel truly blessed to have it now.
WoT means a lot to me, and I really appreciate your passion about it.
Genuinely, thank you Daniel.
I have a very similar love for Wheel of Time,, picked it up during tough times and it helped me get through. Loved this video, thanks Daniel!
Thanks for acknowledging the narrators! I'm listening to those audiobooks now, and this is my second favourite audiobook narration to date (after Dune, the first one in Audible). They really make the world alive and I don't think I'll ever forget (Great Hunt spoiler) Mr. Kramer's narration of Rand's alternate lives. I don't think I would feel the same way if I read it with my eyes as opposed to his fast-paced reading of flashes of memories.
I'm glad to hear how much the series means to you Daniel. I just made it to book 10, woo hoo, and this series as well as A Song of Ice and Fire mean a lot to me too. Since reading the first books I probably don't go a day without thinking about them lol. They are a part of my life now for sure. ASOIAF can get quite dark at times but Wheel of Time can be very therapeutic to read. It's a lot like meditation when I read it aloud. It's such a good distraction from the world and all your problems. I try to read a chapter or so a day and it's always a fun and interesting read.
I thank you for making this channel because I don't really have anyone to talk to about these series so this is good for me lol. I will keep watching for as long as you keep putting videos out. The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills!
This channel is giving me a new love and appreciation for epic fantasy and series based fantasy. I epically thank you for that! Can’t wait to dive into First Law (and hopefully not be too too frustrated by Marlon James as well lol)
Enjoy it! Abercrombie is amazing
Dude your at 40k! In a few years I could see you being in the millions!
I've bought so many books because I liked the cover. Doesn't always work out. Great video
Bringing it up in everyday conversation to people who have not read it is exactly the kind of person I am
Thanks for sharing your personal engagements with this book series. Means a lot to share your vulnerabilities.
I can't think of a series I got as much raw enjoyment out of as this one. Took me months to get thru the final few books because I kept wanting to stop and do various rereads while not wanting the story to end. (On a side not discovering the Cosmere thru your channel has proven to be a great "nicotine patch" to the melancholy emotions of finishing the wheel of time)
A very appropriate video for 40k subs. It was very moving to hear your personal story of why WOT means so much to you. I feel I understand and respect you better than before. Thank you for being so open and genuine. Peace.
This is so genuine, great video.
Hey Daniel, I love your videos! I just started reading Eye of the World today because of your "Why you should read The Wheel of Time" video and I'm really enjoying it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Its really cool to see someone being so takin into a book franchise. I had the same with Lotr. I read them in 9 days. Another one for me was Raymond Feist. I kept rereading those....those felt home and safe for me.
I started reading in 1990 as a 9th grader in high school. Around the time Dragon Reborn came out my mom actually let me miss school and took me a book signing with Robert Jordan. Over the next twenty or so years, the series became like a good friend who would come to visit every two to three years and we'd hang out and have a lot of for a short time.
You're the one who push me to began the wheel of time, and i want to thank you for how much this serie is great with fantastic characters and HUGE universe!
But my wallet really hate you
Thank you for sharing that with us. I recently finished book 1 after buying it based on info from your channel, but personally found it quite hard going - and I've been a fan of fantasy for 40 years now. I was a die-hard Tolkien guy from my teens onwards, and neglected authors like Jordan in my youth as I'd been burned too many times by the Tolkien-lite authors who seemed to be everywhere during the D&D boom of the 1980's (here in the UK anyway). For me, The Eye of the World has suffered in comparison to Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, which I've ripped through during the same time period - again, as a result of your recommendation, so thanks for that too. But on the basis of what you've said in this video (I too love a good re-read), I'll be getting The Great Hunt just as soon as I'm finished typing here.
Don't stop doing what you're doing Daniel - you're killing it in a niche that really needed to be filled online, and I appreciate the way you've diversified without becoming scattergun and chasing subs. As a (former) scientist, I enjoy your SF content too. Keep up the good work and I'm looking forward to seeing how your book turns out.
Harry Potter brought me through some hard times as a kid. That series meant so much much to me. I started reading them when I was 8. HP was my introduction to fantasy and led me to series like WoT.
I love the open honesty in this video.
I was walking through the Walmart book aisle looking for a new book back in 1996 and I saw a book that had something about a Dragon Reborn on it. I thought; I like dragons, so I picked it up. Ended up it was the third book in a series, so I decided to get that one and the first two also and see how I would like it. 23 years later it's my favorite series of books that I have ever read and I've reread them over 20 times throughout the years. Love your channel...keep up the great content!
I once met a young man, about the same age you were when you started reading the series. We were in a used book store, and I saw him picking up a copy of Wheel of Time over and over. I started talking to him about the series, and he got even more interested. I gifted copies of the first 3 books to him...I hope he loved them as much as we do.
Wheel of Time changed my life and was a huge help during difficult times. (and good times!)
LOTR is the series I picked up as a youngster... It will always be a part of me. Boromir's fall was the first time I cried with a book and Gandalf is one of my favorite characters of all time. I read a lot since then but nothing even scratched the surface of LotR, I read many good things but not as good. Nothing gave me the same feels of LotR. That said, The Wheel of Time did. I started this year, and I am loving it. I just had a big change in my life and it feels appropiate to have found it right now... It felt so familiar when reading the boys of two rivers learn about this New World while I am going through this new path in my life. Cheers
Thank you for your vulnerability. I do the same thing with To Kill A Mockingbird.
Your WOT love definitely is the reason I gave it a shot. Eye of the World has me sold on the series
As a fellow dyslexic person, I can confirm that the audio books help understanding the book so much
Hey Daniel, nice video! At least you have a less embarrassing reason than I do for getting myself and a few friends into WoT.
"How did you start?"
I really really like Power Metal and Blind Guardian made a 10 minute power ballad about the series and I decided to check it out on a whim. Now I am 100% obsessed and have been since I finished it around two and a half years ago.
I picked up the Eye of the World some time in 2014, at my uncle's COSTANT PERSISTANCE. It is his absolute favorite and he considers it a must read for all who love fantasy, which I had recently started to really enjoy reading. He became so desperate for me to experience the series that he offered me a drunken evening out in Seattle in exchange for having finished the first book. That was all he asked, that I just try the first one. I think he knew I'd be hooked eventually. I stalled a little the first attempt, right around the scenes where Mat and Rand are escaping the Four Kings. I put it down for about six months and read some other things, but eventually I was ready to try again and picked it back up. Finished it, totally loved it, and got my night out I was promised. He also had a copy of the Great Hunt to give me, just in case I wanted to continue. As one that does not like to leave things unfinished, I accepted the challenge. While I totally loved the series, I was also looking at this thing I had to conquer. I remember every time I'd finish a book, I would think 'ok, only 9 to go, only 8 to go', etc. After getting about half way through that frame of mind just fell away and I was left ravenous for all of the story that was to come. Instead of it feeling like this staggering wall I had to climb, I suddenly felt so lucky to have this complete BOUNTY of fully realised story. After that I just buuurrrrrrned through the rest and have not really been able to put it, or the audiobooks down since. When I was first reading it, I had just started a new job AND was planning my wedding, both of which I was really struggling with. During my lunch breaks was the only time I had to dedicate to my reading, as I was doing wedding planning nonsense after work. So it became my escape. My only time to just let go of the terrible anxiety that was present at almost all other moments during this time of my life. At my job, both of my managers left at the same time- and so I was made the manager of my department. Even though everyone was very encouraging and I did fine, I had this feeling of 'what are they doing giving this kid, this much responsibility??' It was during this phase of my job that I was reading along with Egwene having been raised to the Amyrlin Seat, and I just identified with her SO MUCH. Starting as this scared, uncertain person who really comes to own their position was really has become a state of mind I aspire to achieve, even if some of it is just outward Aes Sedai calm ;) These books, and the characters in them have become my constant companions, ever since helping me through that most stressful time my life, and other times that have followed. It's so cool to hear that it means as much to someone else. Thank you for all you do Daniel, your channel is one I am very grateful to have stumbled upon. Your dedication is unreal, and I find it truly inspiring.
I actually just found the Wheel of Time for myself (thank you, Blind Guardian!), and am currently at book 3, but have them bought up to book five, as I read exclusively in English, and books in that language are hard to come by where I live, requiring weeks of waiting to have them at hand. Anyway, it is the perfect moment, though I kinda wish it wasn't. My best friend walked out of my life two months ago, and...well, she was a hell of a lot more, than a friend. It hit me hard, bouts of depression walking over me. The fun bit is, as it was always a long-distance thing, communication is cut off from one day to the next. So I've been burrowing myself into Wheel of Time, trying to forget my troubles, and learn more about fantasy, and writing, though this epic series.
And this is yet another reason why I love your channel! Investors learned so much about you! Dyslexic like me, using books to escape/cope with tragedies, etc. Love your honesty! You’ve got a subscriber for life in me, bro! Keep doing what you’re doing!
Absolutely feel the same way about the series! It's our safe place! So grateful to RJ and Team Jordan for giving it to us.
Whenever I hear the voices of Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, I feel like I'm catching up with old friends even though I'll likely never meet them. They are sooo good!
I was born in England 90', but lived most of my life in Aus and America. My family made a trip to England again when I was 13, and going back to my birthplace was a weird culture shock. I remember being in London, jet-lagged, and surrounded by noise and people, confused out of my mind. We stopped in a small bookstore, and I randomly grabbed what would end up being the first book in my all-time favourite series, EOTW. I spent the next two weeks in England devouring that book, and have gone on to read it again every year, to the point I have the Great Serpent tattooed on my arm. I agree 100% with your thoughts on Michael and Kate's reading of the books, they made me fall in love with audio books(I love Kramer's reading of all of Sanderson's books, his voice and tone of characters really bring me into the story). Loving your channel man, its so obvious how much you love the series, and it's wonderful to have a channel to go to that I can watch and share in the same feelings I've felt since I was a kid. On the side, have you gotten into David Gemmel's works? Would love to see some videos on that if you are, if not, check them out!
I just started this a few days ago! I kept putting it off because of the size but your motivating me to stick with it:) thank you!
Thank you for so eloquently describing how the fantasy genre can mean so much to readers, on so many levels. Tolkien is my safe place, I have a diagnosis of severe post traumatic stress disorder. When I feel frightened I go to Middle Earth. However I love most fantasy including WOT, and modern writers. Thank you authors and thanks Daniel for your dedication to your channel. I think I am older than your average (52) viewer, in my day I did not have platforms like this to share my love of fantasy, so thank the stars for you tube!
I too, picked up TEOTW because of the horses on the cover. I trained horses for a living, so it was a natural thing. Since then I have read the whole thing 3 times and am now listening to the audio version.
Daniel, I stand by your words. You are right. I'm right now for the first time in the Knife of Dreams and I know that this series changed me already. It is magical and I see myself wanting it re-read it right after I'll finish the last book. Everyone goes through something and I'm sorry to hear that you went through these hard times but knowing that WoT helped you so much make me more happy not just for you but for the whole series. Love your content, thank you for your work and have a nice day!
To the chagrin of my older sister, re-reading treasured books became a necessity for me while growing up, too. There's definitely a therapeutic element to it that not everyone realises; I appreciate your candor regarding this. Congrats on the 40k!
Aww I never get tired of you talking about wheel of time, loved you sharing how it’s helped you cope with personal stuff. I have a few shows that are like that for me
Hey Daniel, you are one of the realest dudes ever. I am a few years older than you but look up to you in so many ways! Proud of you for finding something to turn hard times into something that makes you grow stronger. Waking up grateful has been a huge thing for me and changed my life. Thanks for sparking a love of books for me like I’ve never had before! Keep doing what you do!
Congrats and thank you for being so open and sharing. /brohug. Keep up the good good!
Your channel has motivated me to try the WoT series again. I gave up on two previous attempts but I’m trying to be more patient and hope that EotW convinces me to keep going.