The Eye of the World review

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan was surprisingly good. I knew beforehand that this was the first book in a series of 10 or 11 already, and sort of expected it to barely scratch the surface of a vast fantasy world. But this book wove a fine tale of swords and sorcery, coming to a distinct conclusion, while still (obviously) leaving the story open ended for future books to continue. The story was familiar to anyone who reads sci-fi/fantasy: a legend starts to come true, sending a group of misfit heroes on a quest. They get separated for a time, but manage to overcome scary beasts and evil. Formulaic, yes, but still a good read.
Next up is Life of Pi by Yann Martel, winner of the 2002 Man Booker Prize. "A boy, a tiger, and the vast Pacific Ocean. This is a novel of such rare and wonderous storytelling that it may, as one character claims, make you believe in God." I'll settle for keeping me occupied on the flight to Vegas.