Rating: 
Summary: A Must for Fantasy Novel Enthusiasts
Review: This book starts off a bit slow, as Jordan builds on the characters and settings, I went months reading the first half the book, then all of a sudden, a break in the dam. The book from there flew along, tons of excitement and a wonderfully deep storyline and rich world. The slow beginning more than make up for this entire series, which only continues to grow in depth and excitement.Even if you're not a huge fantasy fan, if you like rich story and deep plots, this is a must have series!
Rating: 
Summary: excellent!
Review: this book was great, although its not as good as the ones that follow it. i've read all the books up to the 9th one and am waiting for the 10th to come out now. the first one doesnt really get into what the others do, it really just builds the characters and stuff, which is great, but doesnt seem all that interesting when you read it... especially the first half, but i do highly recomend it, just dont stop after it, read the second too.
Rating: 
Summary: Fragmented
Review: This greatly abridged version left me very confused. I rewound and listened to parts repeatedly trying to follow the plot. Then I accidentally came across the unabridged audio book at my library and saw that it wasn't just two 1 1/2 hour tapes - it's several times longer. How could the author Robert Jordan allow such a massacre of his work? Now that I am halfway through the full unabridged version I understand and appreciate the storyline and the characters. This is rich! I'm really enjoying it. Don't cheat yourself, read the book or get the unabridged audio version.
Rating: 
Summary: Try and grab the unabridged version...
Review: Ok, ok, ok, before you bash this review saying to yourself, "How could he give ROBERT JORDAN only two stars...?" Well, the answer isn't in his story but the fact that the audio book itself is abridged and the reader is flat. Mark Rolston was GREAT in Aliens (the second one) but he wasn't really made for doing readings. Aside from that, listening to the abridged version of this story leaves so much detail out that Robert Jordan is known for. So, what I say is already listed in the title of this review... grab yourself a copy of the unabridged version. And if you're a true fan, you'll find it on CD!
Rating: 
Summary: Dissecting The Eye of The World
Review: The first time I read the Eye of The World, I stopped halfway and didn't pick it up again until a year later. By then, I literally forced myself to finish the book. It was surprisingly good: the plot is unique and the characters are well-developed. I liked the three male Emond's Fielders a lot but I can't say the same for the females. Jordan tries to level the playing field between the sexes in this book but he doesn't do a good job of this. He succeeds with the Aes Sedai (think of 'em as powerful female wizards) but some of his other female characters annoy me immensely. A lot of them seem to be afflicted with the dreaded Feminine Nasal Disorder (as someone else in another website eloquently put it). Always sniffing whenever they're annoyed or angry. Much of their behaviour says 'bad tempered brat' rather than 'strong woman'. And the seeming patience of the men in the face of their antics makes it worse! As a woman, I long for an author who could write real woman characters instead of caricatures. Jordan also attempts to provide some sort of history but a lot of it comes out contrived. Too much is revealed too early so instead of feeling immersed in the history and the world, you feel like you're sitting through a long,dull history lecture given by the characters. There is almost no mystery left, nothing to wonder or dream about. Fans say that Jordan's world is very complex and magical. It certainly is, but unfortunately you don't FEEL that it's complex and magical, the writer TELLS you that it is. And you're not convinced. Speaking of magic, the Aes Sedai and warrior in their company are so powerful that you don't worry about the safety of the characters at all. The main characters themselves have inborn superhuman hidden powers. There is no feeling of suspense or danger. There is no un-powerful underdog you can sympathise with. . At one point in the story, Rand al'Thor wonders 'Is everyone an Aes Sedai?'. Cynically, I wonder too... Heroism and virtue seems to depend a lot on blood lines. What is it with fantasy authors and 'strong blood'? Some people, because of weak genetics are virtually unredeemable. If you've read the book you'll know exactly what I mean - Coplins and Congars. For all its shortcomings, this book has a unique, interesting plot with (mostly) likeable characters. I've heard that it gets better with the second book. I fervently hope so since I plan on buying the second book. All in all, this is a book for fantasy fans, and fantasy fans ONLY.
Rating:
Summary: An EPIC with teeth!
Review: Robert Jordan has knocked my socks off with this beginner of an enormous epic series. What I liked about the "The Eye of the World" is the imagination, and scope of the world. There were so many places and people, such an indepth story and plot. What I didn't like was how TOO indepth it all got. Some times I felt like I was fumbling through descriptions, and all the adjectives and adverbs that are strewn throughout the sentences. But, the book is such a tremendous story that the few downers were easily overlooked in order to breathe in this great beginning.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Adolescent Fantasy
Review: This series might be right up your alley. After all, lots of people like it. I admit that I was charmed by this book when I first read it -- but I was a kid at the time, and moreover I'd never read a fantasy book before. Not even Tolkein. Nothing. While reading EotW, I fell in love with the genre, and I've been involved with it ever since. However, this book (and the series it opens) is a tremendously adolescent, simplistic fantasy. I know, I know -- most Jordan fans will scoff at me for calling it 'simplistic.' They would ask, 'How can a book with so many proper nouns be simplistic?' Well, because the world in which it unfolds is so simple (if bloated) that you can actually wrap your mind around its so-called 'complexities' without a great deal of trouble. Can you say that about real history? No, of course not. In reality, nothing is ever as easy, as cut-and-dried, as it is in this series. This makes Wheel of Time unrealistic and, yes, simplistic. Another thing that bothers me is that the characters are entirely incapable of having a mature sexual relationship. The men blush far too frequently, and every woman has an 'icy stare' and 'plants her hands on her hips' or 'sniffs pointedly' at every opportunity. Reading other, more mature fantasies makes this series look literally like child's play. Again, though, you might well love this series. But I urge you to check out Guy Gavriel Kay or George RR Martin. Try Martin first, actually (unless you love poetry, in which case you might immediately appreciate Kay). Read 'Game of Thrones' and you'll see what a serious, mature fantasy can do. Then move on to Kay, and you'll find language so beautiful it'll blow your hair back -- and make you realize that Jordan is for the kids.
Rating:
Summary: MORE LIKE 10 STARS!!! AWESOME AWESOME SCRUMTRELESCENT
Review: THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!! I have read alot of fantasy and this is the best that I have come across. It is far better than any works of Tolkien, HE IS NOT ALL THAT COMPARED TO ROBERT JORDAN!!!!!! I love this guy, his world is incredible. The characters are amazing, and the romances are HOT!!! Also if you want to learn to farm, he spends at least 30 pages describing how to harvest rice and wheat. I have a friend that thinks that The Hobbit is the best book ever made, and I PUNCHED HIM IN THE FACE for saying that. Also books such as Lord Valentine's castle are very good. Ither books if you like Robert Jordan are: David Edding's The Malorean ( The Belgariad sucked ) Starship troopers was also good if you like Sci-fi. The wheel of time and the next eight books are a joy to read. Each one is about 900 pages but I wish it was atleast 2000. READ THIS BOOK
Rating:
Summary: Definitely not representative of the series.
Review: Unlike some of my fellow readers here, I was warned beforehand that Robert Jordan got better at the epic as the series developed. I plunged into the series with this book, because I like to tackle things top down, and here's what I thought about the first book in what is a rivetting and additive series. 1. Similar to Tolkiens Hobbit, this book serves the sole purpose of defining the characters. In very broad strokes, Jordan walks you through the life and times of the characters before the start of their saga. 2. Jordan tends to leave large unfinished parts when he is sketching in the characters. What is most annoying is that this occurs over the course of the entire book and as you finish, you realize that you have not gained a good enough understanding into the characters to be able to understand their motivations and actions. However, the prose is tight, Jordan paints beautiful scenes of the characters home town, the battles are well depicted in every detail. The storyline is engaging and imaginative. You'd only wish he had done as good a job on the characters. 3. 7 Weeks later and well into the series, I keep coming across refernces to the characters behavior, their lives in the past, all of which become much clearer as the series develops. If for nothing else, it would be for this understanding that I'd read the book. 4. And finally, all things said and done, Eye of the world is an exteremely interesting book that I spend many wonderful hours reading. If anything, you will not find this book dull or uninteresing. I think it is time well invested. I do not claim to be a book critic, I just like to read fantasy fiction, and I thought that this book was eminently satisfying. If you decide to buy this book, I hope you'll share my thoughts about it.
Rating:
Summary: The Final Word on the Eye of the World
Review: If you have ever read any of my other reviews, you'll see I give bad and good signs of the book. If you looking for a my bad views on the book, please scroll down. :) First of all, let me thank Robert Jordan damaging my grades in college. :) The book impressed me so much that I neglected my homework a bit. :( Oh well, at least I enjoyed the book. If you get into high detailed fantasy books, you will absolutely love this book. The series isn't your normal run-of-the-mill fantasy book. I've never seen a plot like this one. The entire world he created in this book is quite different from your average Star Wars, basic good vs. evil type books where you can figure out what happens at the end with ease. The story line had so many twists in it, that what you think will happen, probably won't. The book is detailed in such a way that it seems your in the story yourself. You can feel what they feel, taste what they taste, smell what they smell, etc. In addition, I enjoy the fact that the characters who are to save the world are common village people. It kinda makes you believe that there is hope for us common folk after all. :) However, this book isn't for everyone... The details in the book are so elaborate, that it makes for a very long novel. If you like books that just cut to the chase, you'll love to hate this book within the first 100 pages. If you don't like books with multi-level plots and several characters, this book would drive you nuts. It comes with a glossary in the back so that you can look up the characters and objects that you've forgotten their meaning. Also, if you don't like intense fantasy, then don't read this book. Then again, why would you be reading this review? I can't wait to get book 2. Maybe I'll get it AFTER school gets out. :)
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