Chapter Two (Strangers)

I've read voraciously my entire life, but never one just genre, and the fantasy that I've read hasn't been what I'd call "trope."  So when some people get bored because Rand's introduced as a central character, but he's a farm boy, or because he's off to the village Festival, that doesn't actually ring any bells for me.  While I admit that I know Robert Jordan said that the first half of tEotW is shaped after the Lord of the Rings, I'll also admit that I never finished tLotR.  Not that Tolkien's story wasn't amazing or that I'll never try to go back.  Just that I haven't.  Not yet.  So that's my disclaimer on tLotR comparisons.  I've told myself that I'll try not to compare to other authors either, but this chapter is already testing that wish - more on that later.