New Nostalgia — A Fantasy Book Review of The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
I read The Eye of the World a few years ago, and was completely blown away. In this book, Robert Jordan managed to pull off something incredible: he evoked the same feeling I experienced when reading J.R.R. Tolkien for the first time.
At the time I read this, I was running a landscaping business. As I worked, I would listen to audiobooks. One evening—it was the first cold night of autumn—I was raking leaves and I started this book. I was immediately transported—his prose, the plot, and his characters immediately pulled me in. There was something about the way that Jordan brings you into his world, juxtaposed with the chill air and scent of dead leaves of that that autumn evening, that has cemented in my mind. It a very fond memory.
I have seen a lot of people comment on the pacing of this book—with a few friends even giving up within the first quarter. It is slow, that's for darn sure. However, I think I found the pacing somewhat cozy. Sure, there are high stakes—with trollocs and dark friends creeping around the corners—but I loved how Jordan takes his time to immerse the reader into this story and its characters.
His prose is lovely. I am a sucker for detail—so I'm a bit bias. However, as I previously mentioned, I found myself in awe of the world he crafted on the page.
In terms of plot, The Eye of the World does not strive to reinvent the wheel (get it?). There is an impending doom with an evil enemy, a band of friends from a backwater village, and an adventure that leads them across the world and outside of their comfort zones. However, it's what Jordan does within this classic outline that makes The Eye of the World so memorable. All of these tropes are so fleshed out, it feels fresh and worth the while.
I love these characters. Even though they were written just a couple decades ago, they feel timeless. They all have distinct personalities, flaws, and desires—all while still being admirable heroes that you root for.
Before I wrap up my review, I need to mention the most random takeaway I had, that is also my favorite thing in the book: I love how the characters need to find places to sleep while they are on their journey. They play music in taverns for rooms, make camp in the wilderness, etc. It really makes the reader feel like they're on the road with the characters.
Overall, The Eye of the World is a classic fantasy through and through. The late great Robert Jordan wrote something special here by bringing originality and depth to a tried and true structure. In such a well established genre, The Eye of the World stands on its own, and stands tall.
-H.
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