Ha, I admit for the last couple of books I've resorted to Google's "read aloud" option to listen my way through it while working out and such things. So I'm ge

Ha, I admit for the last couple of books I've resorted to Google's "read aloud" option to listen my way through it while working out and such things. So I'm getting the gist, but definitely not taking in every word (let alone reading them)! It's been a long time since I read WoT. I recall tearing through the first few books that were primarily focused on Rand & party. Aside from female character perspectives being frustratingly one-dimensional and stereotypical, I found it great. But then it started broadening, where each book seemed to spend less and less time on the main characters, and instead introduced all these other factions and settings and such that didn't immediately tie in in any obvious way. It did all (mostly) come together eventually (with Sanderson's help), but again I feel like the important parts could have been told without spending so many pages in other places. But hey, that's just my taste; clearly others love that!