Why I Changed My Mind on These Books

Here are some books I have changed my mind on - for better or worse!

Check out @Johanna_reads video on changing your mind on books:


Other links!
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0:00 - Intro
0:55 - The Wheel of Time
2:07 - The Licanius trilogy
3:15 - Brandon Sanderson
4:35 - The Books of Babel
6:15 - The Dark Tower
7:26 - The Poppy War
8:53 - Kings of the Wyld

Contact me? (Review requests allowed but not likely to get reply)

[Johanna_reads]

Thank you for the shoutout! I had a similar experience with The Gunslinger. Aside from First Law, I’ve never been more rewarded in continuing a series. I enjoyed your reflections on all these books!

[Alphreth]

I think a lot of people feel that way about Sanderson. He is a lot of people's gateway back to reading fantasy, or sometimes even just reading in general. They remember how much they liked to read, or how fun reading can be. They think he is amazing. Then when they start to branch out to other authors like Hobb, Williams, GGK, Clarke, Erikson etc, they start figuring out the more specific things they like, and they develop a taste for certain things in books/literature. Then they realize that while Sanderson is still great at what he does, that he isn't the be all end all of fantasy.

[OnlyTheBestFantasyNovels]

The great thing about the more you read, especially within a particular genre, is that it helps to shape and contextualize what you've previously read as well. You'll find books that both improve and degrade the respect you have for other works from sheer comparison, and it never ends.

Even though you hated it, based on what you've said I'm even more curious to get to the Books of Babel, another Booktuber whose taste I like has them pegged as favorites. Great video!

[Degrad]

For me Echo of Things to Come was a huge improvement in every aspect.

[LemonsRage]

I lost myself in the world of wheel of time. I think the writing style of robert jordan made that possible. It is not fast paced, you get to wittness alot of the world. Even if I disliked some arcs it was still captivating. TWOT has everything, from a LOTR style fantasy novel while hunting for Callandor, over a poltitical thriller over everything that happens in Caemlyn, the politics of the world to a scifi novel with how channeling is treated.
I am a hughe nerd for ancient and mystical stuff and what I really digged was the way the one power was portrayed and how the aeysedai where introduced. At first you think moirane is the only one and the one power is seen as something bad and mysterious. Then more and more is uncovered and over the entire series new concepts get added and reused. The introduction of their way of "fast travel" was genious. The rules around using it and how rand finds a way to cirvumvent those rules. This just shows how fleshed out the world build is.

Next series will be three body problem and the storm light saga. I am so excited that I cann't wait.

[BooksBeveragesAndBesties]

Wheel of Time will always be so special to me since it was sooo rewarding to finish and it was my first fantasy series, but yeahhhh I definitely struggle to recommend it to anyone as well. -Tabatha

[Kalavin]

Kings of The Wyld, has so much heart and soul, has so much rock and roll, I had to give it a 5

[natalyaduncan]

Robin Hobb spoils you for anyone else. I just can’t be sure I’ll ever read anything like ROTE ever again 😂

[bobkeane]

I'm 2 books into The WOT and am really enjoying it

[wmcneill]

I read Game of Thrones years before it became popular and hated it. I was like, "where is the magic? where are the monsters? this book sucks." Years later, i reset my expectations, and I gave it another try and have come to like it much more now that I appreciate it for what it is. It's more like a political thriller than a typical epic fantasy.

[Elijah_Gillard]

I absolutely loved the Gunslinger on my first read, so excited to finish the tower and re read to Love it even more

[jarrynculturedinchrist]

Reading thru wheel of time, and other then Lotr it has to be my favourite fantasy series

[salmansayem]

Kings of the Ulyd is One of my favorite book. Read is more than 3 times.

[mavrifantasia]

Someone spoiled the end of the dark tower for me and i’m still mad about it. Vis-a-Vis the Poppy War trilogy and R.F. Kuang’s work in general, I always want to love it since they have intriguing premises and I enjoy a lot of her worldbuilding, but characterisation always falls short for me. Like you, I also don’t enjoy the weird plot twists and I hate hate hate how didactic they are. They are very patronising to the reader and it feels like she doesn’t think we’re smart enough to understand what she’s going for and that’s borderline insulting. (I’ve read all of her books by the way.)

[emosongsandreadalongs]

I just started The Wheel of Time. First book was mid to good. I'm looking forward to book 2

[AnthemNotBanal]

Agree with Sanderson and The Poppy Wars.

In Stephen King's book "On Writing" he mentions that when you read something and think, "Wow, I could write better than this!" it can give you a big boost and help motivate you to start writing. That was The Poppy Wars for me. Fun overall story and plot, but man the writing was just... amateur? Because of it, I've written a lot more. So, thanks?!

[virginiajb]

I think we all go through this process sometime in our reading experience. It's ok to change your mind on books or even authors. It is your taste and opinion. I may or may not agree with everything, but I respect your opinion.

I'm currently reading The Dragon Republic, the second book in the Poppy War series and I am really struggling to continue reading it. I have been reading R.F. Kuang's books and although I don't hate them, I haven't really enjoyed them either. I'm going to keep reading The Dragon Republic but I definitely believe this author is jut not for me.

[AaronR.Williams]

Great video. Some good reflections.

I think this is why it can be helpful to let the book/series sit in the mind before reviewing. Let the dust settle. In everything, this is probably a good method. To reflect and gather the feelings and thoughts, etc. Then respond. If response is even required.

Thanks for another great video!

P.s. I'm still deciding whether to read Wheel of Time 😅

[jryan]

I agree it makes a difference when you meet the author. I worked at Tower Records in the 80's and 90's and met many bands, well known and unknown (or starting out) and it definitely affected my feeling about the music and made me more inclined to enjoy and promote it after meeting, hanging out with and understanding the people who made it.

[gerrade]

Good topic. It seems that long series, which are read over a long span of time, need to be read slowly. The repetition is there to help contemporary readers of its release. This is why I try to mix up genres a little. Flatish 3☆ books can be good to read after something dense and heavy. And vice versa.