It seems we have to disagree about what you did or didn't suggest, then. Because "one of the stronger examples" and "a higher quality writing and storytelling than average" sounds to me like you do hold it in fairly high regard, even if you pointed out in the same post that it wasn't all that original or a masterpiece.

I'm not so sure that I have. Especially now that you confirm that you read the book a long time ago and haven't reread it since (or did you just mean you didn't reread it specifically for this book club?). As I wrote elsewhere in the thread, my opinion of the Empire series was fairly high based on my memories of reading it - but it's a lot lower now that I actually reread most of it. Then I don't think it's that unreasonable to suspect you might have a similar experience if you reread Magician, or that if you reread it and still liked it a lot, part of the reason why would be nostalgia, like with Eddings for so many people. I might be underrating the book by saying that, but then, neither of us seems to have read it any time recently.

I admit I may have misinterpreted your reply to Myrdhyn as being more critical of WoT than it actually was. A number of times in recent months, you've made similar comments about not thinking WoT is all that great, and perhaps the contrast between that negative tone and your enthusiastic tone about Magician has made me misjudge your comparative views of the two, when in fact the remarks were made in very different contexts and can't be compared.

No doubt.