Wheel of Time book series - Who's read it?

Started by Moraline, January 01, 2013, 07:59:23 AM

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Chris Brady

At least, I'm glad that those of you who stuck it out for the entire series are enjoying it, that's always nice to hear.
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Tharic

So I personally have not read the WoT books, but i'm curious as to what your opinion would be regarding having my 12 y/o son read them. He reads alot, but we tend to be a bit more restrictive with regards to what he can read. Yes, I know, controlling parental units ahead.. He's read Hunger Games and Percy Jackson and the whole Lord of the Rings series, but I won't let him read other series simply because of their more mature content, be it violence or sex or just general maturity. I've got series that I've read that I know he would enjoy, but based on the content I won't let him read it. I won't get into those here to keep us on track though.

So what about the WoT series? Any deep thoughts on if that's one that I should avoid for him based on your experiences or let him read?

Thanks,
Tharic

Lilias

Better let him wait another couple of years. You can get him into David Eddings in the meantime; by the time he's done with the Belgariad and the Malloreon, he'll probably be ready for WoT. ;)
To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
~Wendell Berry

Double Os <> Double As (updated Feb 20) <> The Hoard <> 50 Tales 2024 <> The Lab <> ELLUIKI

Tharic

Quote from: Lilias on January 22, 2013, 02:44:54 PM
Better let him wait another couple of years. You can get him into David Eddings in the meantime; by the time he's done with the Belgariad and the Malloreon, he'll probably be ready for WoT. ;)

Okay.. So mature content then?


Lilias

Not much mature content, but it can be overwhelming for a 12-year-old. It goes on for 14 hefty books. I was a voracious reader way beyond my level at 12, but that couldn't have held even my attention. >_>
To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
~Wendell Berry

Double Os <> Double As (updated Feb 20) <> The Hoard <> 50 Tales 2024 <> The Lab <> ELLUIKI

Saidi

Quote from: Tharic on January 22, 2013, 02:47:31 PM
Okay.. So mature content then?

erm... well there is nothing explicit but... and there is a big but... there are sertain alluded situations that I don't really think are quite right for a 12 year old.  The story is epic, and he would enjoy it if he started at around 15/16ish.  Personally, that's the age I'm planning on introducing my kidos to the books.   I could explain more through PM so I don't spoil anything for anyone that hasn't read it yet but the battle scenes can get pretty intense.  It can also be a bit of an emotional roller coaster for the kind of reader that gets really involved in the characters and what.  It was for me.  I picked up the series in High School.  If I had tried before that it would have been too much for me, I think, just on the sheer level of detail.
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Chris Brady

Quote from: Tharic on January 22, 2013, 02:16:27 PM
So I personally have not read the WoT books, but i'm curious as to what your opinion would be regarding having my 12 y/o son read them. He reads alot, but we tend to be a bit more restrictive with regards to what he can read. Yes, I know, controlling parental units ahead.. He's read Hunger Games and Percy Jackson and the whole Lord of the Rings series, but I won't let him read other series simply because of their more mature content, be it violence or sex or just general maturity. I've got series that I've read that I know he would enjoy, but based on the content I won't let him read it. I won't get into those here to keep us on track though.

So what about the WoT series? Any deep thoughts on if that's one that I should avoid for him based on your experiences or let him read?

Thanks,
Tharic

...You let him read The Hunger Games?  And you're worried about Wheel of Time?

I...  Words fail me.  Give a few...  Just...  Wow.
My O&Os Peruse at your doom.

So I make a A&A thread but do I put it here?  No.  Of course not.

Also, I now come with Kung-Fu Blog action.  Here:  Where I talk about comics and all sorts of gaming

Moraline

Quote from: Tharic on January 22, 2013, 02:16:27 PM
So I personally have not read the WoT books, but i'm curious as to what your opinion would be regarding having my 12 y/o son read them. He reads alot, but we tend to be a bit more restrictive with regards to what he can read. Yes, I know, controlling parental units ahead.. He's read Hunger Games and Percy Jackson and the whole Lord of the Rings series, but I won't let him read other series simply because of their more mature content, be it violence or sex or just general maturity. I've got series that I've read that I know he would enjoy, but based on the content I won't let him read it. I won't get into those here to keep us on track though.

So what about the WoT series? Any deep thoughts on if that's one that I should avoid for him based on your experiences or let him read?

Thanks,
Tharic

The Wheel of Time is on par for Adult content as LotR is.

However, it's full of extremely complex politics and philosophies that might be well beyond a 12 year old. Where one can appreciate a story like LotR it's just not on the same level of complexity as the 14 + books of the Wheel of Time series. Even many adults completely miss out on the finer details and points that the Wheel of Time has to offer.

So, I say let them read it if they want to. You have nothing to worry about but they may not enjoy it. It's up to them, I'd say. Who knows though.. the story is amazingly epic!

Chris Brady

The premise behind The Hunger Games is deceptively mature and more disturbing compared to The Lord of The Rings, in fact if you allow him to read Hunger Games, anything short of outright porn is 'safe'.

So, let him read Wheel of Time, there's nothing in it that a bright 12 year old will not have encountered in LoTR or Hunger Games.  And unlike Mora, I think he can handle anything that Wheel of Time can throw at him plot wise.  Especially if he's as voracious a reader as I was (which is to say, I was pretty average as an introvert.)
My O&Os Peruse at your doom.

So I make a A&A thread but do I put it here?  No.  Of course not.

Also, I now come with Kung-Fu Blog action.  Here:  Where I talk about comics and all sorts of gaming

NotoriusBEN

adult content? you guys dont remember the whole deal with the
Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide
redheads in winter wonderland?
book 4~5ish?
it's not explicit, but jordan does go through that session. it most decidedly does not fade to black.

Depending on your kid's maturity level, I'd say 14 or 15 would be a good age to start Wheel of Time, if only because of the sheer detail of this world.
If they got through Hunger Games and LotR, they are good to go with the violence aspect of it.

Tharic

Quote from: Chris Brady on January 22, 2013, 09:11:26 PM
...You let him read The Hunger Games?  And you're worried about Wheel of Time?

I...  Words fail me.  Give a few...  Just...  Wow.

The difference being I read The Hunger Games first.. I have never picked up the first (or any) book of Wheel of Time. Hence, my question here.

Chris Brady

Quote from: Tharic on January 23, 2013, 12:31:47 PM
The difference being I read The Hunger Games first.. I have never picked up the first (or any) book of Wheel of Time. Hence, my question here.
It's more that the premise of The Hunger Games (governmental agencies training teens to be killers and kill other kids for glory and valor) is a LOT more mature than most Fantasy novels (there are exceptions of course.)  That's what baffled me.  Sorry.  It's just a bit of a leap to go from LoTR and then let a kid read The Hunger Games.

But then, I'm Canadian, so sexual content is a lot less an issue over here, although we do balk at the levels of violence that America seems to be comfortable with.  Sorry.
My O&Os Peruse at your doom.

So I make a A&A thread but do I put it here?  No.  Of course not.

Also, I now come with Kung-Fu Blog action.  Here:  Where I talk about comics and all sorts of gaming

Sasquatch421

Quote from: Lilias on January 22, 2013, 02:44:54 PM
Better let him wait another couple of years. You can get him into David Eddings in the meantime; by the time he's done with the Belgariad and the Malloreon, he'll probably be ready for WoT. ;)

Or he'll want to go even further and read Belgarath and Polagra that David Eddings did with his wife I believe? They also wrote The Redemption of Althalus and I love that book... It's quite long, but I laughed a lot reading it....