Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for New Spring by Robert Jordan starting April 27, 2022.

I just finished WOT#5 a few days ago, so perfect timing!
I'd like to join you for the upcoming buddy read.

Always welcome!:)

This buddy read has been updated to reflect the next book the group is tackling. The next one after this will be #6 Lord of Chaos -
on May 16, 2022. Sorry for the rearranging!

I accidentally set up the read for #7 and skipped #6. It all worked out anyway lol.

Thank you so much Niki!!!

Thank you so much Niki!!!

I started it a bit yesterday, interesting so far!

I just started! Finally on time for one of these. XD XD XD

When I first read the Wheel of Time ten years ago, I started with this book, going for chronological order. I remember almost nothing about the series (I even forgot Egwene, Nynaeve, and Loial existed and pretty much only remembered Rand and Mat, maybe Aviendha and not really Moiraine and no details). The only thing I remember about reading this book is that I was confused for most of it and didn't really enjoy it. I'm really glad to be reading this not at the beginning this time, and to see how my perspective has changed.

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[It's really interesting seeing regular war in the trenches in this world, without any application of the power or addition of monsters. Just politicking and tactics.

Also seeing the little bits we've become familiar with--the flame and the void, Aan'allein, Aiel behavior, even the geography--just feels shiny! I don't know why it feels special and interesting when this is still the same series really, but it does--more like the Easter egg nods you get when two connected series overlap and you're like "hey, I recognize that from this! Cool!"

And "as surely as peaches were poison"--huh what? Though I've heard that peach pits are poisonous--has anyone heard of that turn of phrase before?

"Maybe they're going back to the Waste." Ah, yup! Tee hee. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished Assassin's Quest, so will be starting shortly.

I wanted to read the Assassin's Quest... Was there a BR, or did you read it on your own?

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[Moiraine & Siuan are Accepted! Hah! Funny seeing them at this end of the Aes Sedai spectrum--especially after seeing Siuan all the way at the other. Fighting yawns, trying to ignore the cold--signs of youth long stamped out of them, while contrasted with Moiraine's sharp eyes and reasoning skills.

Gitara Moroso--that name is familiar. Was she the seer whose prophecy of the Dragon Moiraine & Siuan witnessed? Hah! Foretelling! She must be! And it must be happening now!! Oooh! It is! It's like witnessing history. (hide spoiler)]

I read a research article recently which looked at how people enjoy stories, and it found that people take more enjoyment when they know what is going to happen--that spoiling a story, or rewatching/rereading actually enhances the experience. I was skeptical--I mean, I love me a good plot twist!--but I also love it when I can figure things out beforehand. And I do love a good reread. Kinda getting that feeling here, like, we know in vague terms what happened, and I'm looking forward to the points that have been mentioned, like the one above (view spoiler)[and I'm really looking forward to the puddles. Lan and Moiraine talked something about puddles. Or lakes. There was definitely someone who got tossed in water. (hide spoiler)]

Choko wrote: "I wanted to read the Assassin's Quest... Was there a BR, or did you read it on your own?"

I love that series--if I wasn't massively overbooked I'd join you. Though I could try audio since it'd be a reread... I want to do a full series reread at some point to pick up the capstone trilogy which I haven't read yet. I'd be down for picking up the Realm of the Elderlings after we're done with His Dark Materials, Choko. Maybe we could catch up to @Shaitarn--that is, if you want company.

Choko wrote: "I wanted to read the Assassin's Quest... Was there a BR, or did you read it on your own?"

No, there was no buddy read. There's a buddy read of the later books in the series starting with The Dragon Keeper in August, so I'm re-reading the previous books beforehand. You'd both more than welcome to join in.

Nirkatze, I am game for it:))) You know you just have to say When:)))

Shaitarn, I have read only the first 5 books... I should probably re-read everything so I can finish the series finally...

I could make a thread in the Hobb folder for Realm of the Elderlings run-through 2022, and we could comment wherever we are... invite folks to join us.

Aand more New Spring stuff:

Chapter 2 colors (view spoiler)[I like the little tidbit that Moiraine thinks the white of the novices and Accepted is like wearing constant mourning garb. So for Cairhien, and maybe Andor since they seem pretty culturally close, white is the color of mourning, just like in Eastern cultures. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 Sea Folk etc (view spoiler)[Zemaille, a Sea Folk Accepted--I wonder how much she knows? Happy to be reading this after Nynaeve & Elayne met the Sea Folk Windfinders--they said something about sending enough girls to the Tower so that they would not be suspicious. And the way Zemaille is very deliberate in her studies--Moiraine had seen her fumble a weave time after time before suddenly setting it so perfectly that you wondered why she had failed before--definitely seems like Zemaille is purposefully acting untalented. If Aes Sedai think that those who come from the Sea Folk are nothing special then maybe they will be even less suspicious. That, and the fact that most Sea Folk choose Brown--Brown seems the least active of the Ajahs, always looked down on as lost in books and unaware of the world. But on the other hand, they're the most likely to be useful to the Sea Folk--having access to research and knowledge that would be barred them otherwise. Clever! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 architecture (view spoiler)[The descriptions of Tar Valon's Ogier architecture are pretty cool: A three-story banking house suggested a flight of golden marble birds taking wing, while the Kandori merchants’ guild hall seemed to represent horses running in surf, or perhaps surf turning into horses, and a very large inn called The Blue Cat strongly resembled exactly that, a blue cat curled up to sleep. The Great Fish Market, the largest in the city, seemed to be a school of huge fish, green and red and blue and striped.

This made me hit the internet for pictures. Sadly, not much fan art out there outside of the tower itself. The coolest conceptualization of the Tower I found was this:
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

I'm really enjoying the look at Tower life, especially since we really haven't gotten to see much of it. In fact, we've pretty much missed out on regular Tower life altogether, considering that it is now split and nothing is quite normal. The hints at practicing for test for the shawl (and probably the test itself soon, I'd imagine) are nifty too, extra so as I'll bet we'll see at least Nynaeve and maybe Elayne test for the shawl sometime next next book. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[I feel kind of bad for the girls, since we know that all their name-taking and list-searching will be in vain. Rand would never appear on any of those lists.

Laras is mentioned! The kindly cook who took Min under her wing and talked of having to deal with the attentions of men! And she is described as "more than pretty"--a cool little nod!

So Taringail--Morgase's dead husband and father Galad, Elayne, and Gawyn alike--is Moiraine's half-brother. Moiraine mentioned that her father had taken a scholar as his second wife--probably Moiraine is the child of his second wife, and Taringail father of the first. Taringail was married to Tigraine before she ran off to the Waste, became Shaiel, and birthed Rand. SO Moiraine is like...Rand's ex-half-aunt by marriage. Glad to have that nailed down!

OMG No they didn't! Good for you Moiraine, turning down a crown! Though Cairhein didn't do too well with the ruler it did get, did it? (hide spoiler)]

I am only done with Ch. 1... I am enjoying it as well. It is cool to see more from LAN's point of view:)))

Up to Ch. 12. I am really enjoying the story so far. I think, if you read it before now, it wouldn't be as interesting, because we wouldn't have had the investment in the characters we have at this point. It really is a more indebted look into the life in the White Tower and how the students there live. I just got to the point where the girls went into the house of the Blues, and I love those details! I think the Blue and Brown Ajahs are my favorite so far.

The whole episode with the taking the names and giving the money was very cool! Particularly the part where Siuan Sanche gave the money to the lady who was obviously not eligible, but truly needed it... I love Siuan and Moiraine!

And it really looks like the Tower would love to install Moiraine as the Queen of Cairhein... And her refusal makes me love her even more!!!

Up to Ch. 14... Going to the seamstress was hilarious! Siuan coming from such poor background shows and her character is better for it!

Ch. 14... WTF is wrong with the new (view spoiler)[ amerlin? She is just about as horrible, if not more, than our current Red! Wow!!! Is she Black Ajah, or is she just a horrible human being? And that was a bit of a fast death for the previous one, wasn't it? Hmmmm.... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[Hey, Lan's back! Just for a second though. Quote: Some wars could not be won, yet they still must be fought. Very telling of Lan's philosophy there. Borderlander philosophy. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13 just a tidbit--(view spoiler)[
...Siuan had agreed on six dresses, to make up one for each day of the week with what she already had... and Siuan already had 4 dresses...which means the weeks in WoT are 10 days long. Not that it's come up at all so far, but I thought that was interesting.

And I loved the bit of Moiraine at the bank! The plot thickens...

I love seeing how Moiraine and Siuan contrast each other and balance out each others weaknesses. Did we ever even get them together in a room during the books so far? One thing I like about the TV series (view spoiler)[we get a whole episode of them playing off each other, and it makes the relationship that is only hinted at in the books official. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Choko wrote: "Up to Ch. 12. I am really enjoying the story so far. I think, if you read it before now, it wouldn't be as interesting, because we wouldn't have had the investment in the characters we have at this..."

I totally agree Choko! One of the teens I work with told me she'd picked up WoT at Costco this weekend on my recommendation and was about to start with book 0 and I was like nooooooo! Start with book 1! Read New Spring after 5! 'cause I'm really enjoying it here! And then we chatted book and it was awesome.

I really like how Siuan and Moiraine are both very observant--but in very different ways, and their blind spots are covered by each other's strong points. They make a great team.

Choko wrote: "Ch. 14... WTF is wrong with the new [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 14 re: hmmm... (view spoiler)[That was my thought too! Was the Black Ajah involved in Tamra's death? And if so, will we ever find out? And if so... is the current Amyrlin Black, or a pawn, or is it all a coincidence?

It's also cool to see how Siuan got involved with the Blue's eyes and ears.

And I'm glad Moiraine managed to escape! I wonder if the scarred man is just in the employ of a Cairhienan king/queen wannabe, or maybe another plot of the Tower somehow? Except that he first showed up before Tamra died, so if he's connected to the Amyrlin (or Black Ajah), he predates the change in power.

I'm guessing he'll follow Moiraine and Lan will end up taking him out. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[So poignant seeing the former Malkierans. How does a nation die? But the memories of Malkier already were dying. A nation was memory as much as land. Seeing all of the little cultural bits of Malkier--the hair, the hadori, the way to act around women--and to see how her last generation is discarding them... it's so relevant to today also, in so many ways. Native American traditions. Serbian genocide. Even just the trials of growing up as a second generation immigrant, caught between two cultures and your own identity. There's a lot to relate to in Lan's story.

I especially thought the traditional Malkierian relationship between men & women telling--so that's why Lan likes Nynaeve! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17. (view spoiler)[Revising my vote on whether the current Amyrlin is Black. Weighing in on yes. They killed Tamra because of the list. And the list is being used now to seek out and kill all the potential male babies. Good thing Siuan & Moiraine kept the prophecy and search to themselves, and lucky that Rand is not on that list. Scary about all the searchers being killed too.

I wonder if Josef could channel? Just a little side story--a man who seemed unnaturally lucky--or if maybe he had a little something like Mat's luck? Too little of a side bit to ever know, probably.

Cadsuane! I've heard of her--I'm pretty sure she plays a big role to come in the books. There was a funny bit on Twitter during the TV series run last December where Shohreh Aghdashloo heard a rumor that Rafe Jenkins was interested in her playing Cadsuane--so she tweeted him and he said back "yes, let's talk." I love Shohreh Aghdashloo! And Cadsuane seems like a fun character. Great resume! I'd love to see her meet our Edmond's Five group--especially Nynaeve!

Siuan & Moiraine officially called "pillow-friends" here, suggesting they had a romantic relationship. Considering how aware they are of each other throughout the book, and how Moiraine reacts, I lean into that theory. I wonder if the book had been published nowadays, if Jordan would've been willing to state it straight out instead of hide it. (hide spoiler)]

Serbian genocide? Is that regarding your heritage? I would love to hear more:))))

Ch. 16... All the signs of the slow death of even the memory of Malkire are very sad... The other couple of things that cought my eye were Lan getting his warrior on!!! And how much the first lover has affected him, and the saying about always staying with you... However, this one seems to be a tough lady, who seems to like raising the flag in his name, but prefers to do it in his memory, not to have him alive and cramp her style... Those strong ladies are a little bit terrifying...

Ch. 17 - 18 (view spoiler)[ There are obviously black sisters in the tower!!! I am so angry about all those awesome sisters being killed! Siuan Sanche is devastated and so brave still! How can you not love her?! My heart is breaking for the Aes Sedai as a whole. The Darkfrieds have to answer for a whole a lot!!!!

And it is not just the sisters that are dying, also the kids that they are looking into... This is just horrible! Who betrayed them? I really, really hope it isn't Kitsuene, because I really like her character so far. She is so strong! And so formidable, I love her. It would break my heart if it is her behind all of these horrible things... The way she handles all of the Aes Sedai around her tickles me:))) (hide spoiler)]

Choko wrote: "Serbian genocide? Is that regarding your heritage? I would love to hear more:))))"

Back in the 90s, when the Serbians were committing ethnic cleansing against Bosnians--I should have said Bosnian genocide. Not my own heritage, but I remember the news growing up. More here: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian...).

Finished the book! I have thoughts, but no time right now. Hopefully later today! Enjoyed it a lot more this time than last time.

So, thoughts through the ending:

Lan & Malkierans, a little re: Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[the whole male-female dynamic was pretty interesting and I would have liked to see more of it. The carneira idea--like you were saying, @Choko, of how his first lover affected him... I really liked the saying: Your carneira wears part of your soul as a ribbon in her hair forever. I think it's true that one's first lover stakes a claim in your memory and does not easily let go.

I also think Jordan does a great job of coming up with old-tongue words. Carneira supposedly means "first", but with "carn" one can't help think of "carnal." (hide spoiler)]

miscommunication (view spoiler)[OMG so much miscommunication here. I worry that this is foreshadowing for what we're going to be getting into more and more as Rand gets increasingly closemouthed about his plans--especially with Moiraine not around anymore. (hide spoiler)]

And speaking of Moiraine (view spoiler)[I was seriously disappointed in her treatment of Rand. The first few pranks, ok. But I kept thinking of...was it Merean? who said that she had a tendency towards pranks, but none of them were ever in malice. This seemed super malicious. Sending bugs after someone? Wasps? Seriously not ok. And I was also disappointed in her lack of knowledge, or rather, her assumption that she knew everything that needed knowing already. Earlier in the book she had prided herself on her wide knowledge of world cultures. Why wouldn't she have tried better to understand the culture of the Malkierans, and to understand that by bearing her torments in quiet he was showing her respect? Showing that he would take the punishments she chose without complaint? At first anyway, then it became a battle of wills. But seriously, that bugged me, that she would be so petty and arrogant, just like the worst of the Aes Sedai. A vast difference to the Moiraine of book 5. (hide spoiler)]

Black Ajah (view spoiler)[Interesting reveal that they don't know what--or when--they are looking for! And I was happy to see that I'd guessed right about the first dude mentioned, in thinking that he could channel! I just didn't put it together that the Black was hunting any man who could channel in the fear that he was the Dragon Reborn. Makes a lot of sense for the Red to be a focal point--not necessarily of the Black, but of Black control. Red's goals are more aligned with the Black's, so they're easier to direct. No wonder they paved the way for Elaida. (hide spoiler)]

I wrote a review of the book--well, more of why I was really happy to read it where I read it. Just sticking it here 'cuz I was happy with the review. :) (view spoiler)[This was my first reread, and I enjoyed the book infinitely more on the reread than I did first time 'round. The main reason: I DIDN'T READ THIS BOOK FIRST.

I've enjoyed watching Daniel Greene's Wheel of Time videos on youtube, and he staunchly recommends reading New Spring after book Five (Fires of Heaven). I tried it this time on the reread, and OMG it was so much better!

First off, I actually had the background knowledge of the world that I've earned through reading the first five books. New Spring is a really cold introduction to the series--not a great way to start. But why after five instead of after one, or two, or after twelve, like the original publication order?

First off, there are some character arcs that come to a head in book five which make heading back to the prequel all the more poignant. Second, up to this point, we've had very little time with the White Tower--but the storylines leading up to five hint very strongly that the White Tower and its traditions are going to feature heavily in book six, so it's a nice refresher and expansion of the world of the Aes Sedai before jumping in. Finally, there's at least one character introduced in New Spring that I know plays a huge role coming up--so it's going to be that much more fun to see them when they make their main-series grand entrance. And it was a really awesome introduction too.

When reading the prequel, I had a lot of moments where I was like "oooh, look, we get to see this scene that was hinted at in that conversation way back when" and "oooh, so this is how that character got that piece of knowledge/skill/opinion etc." There are a ton of Easter-egg style tidbits throughout the book that I adored. Future rereads of this series, I'm totally keeping it here after five! (hide spoiler)]

Nirkatze, totally agree with everything, including my favorite, Moiraine, who acted like a spoiled brat half of the time. However, it did give you an idea of how long and how many people were sacrificed on the search for Rand ... This is why when he thinks of himself and his actions as his own, it really bothers me. I know he didn't choose his destiny, I know he didn't ask for it, but I think he should understand by now how important he is in the big picture, and I wish he would stop fighting it, because it diminishes all those who have lost their lives up to that point and will continue to do so...

Nirkatze wrote: "Choko wrote: "Ch. 14... WTF is wrong with the new [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 14 re: hmmm... That was my thought too! Was the Black Ajah involved in Tamra's death? And if so, will we ever find out..."

Nirkatze, have you ever read Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay? Your comment about a culture dying made me think of it. If you haven't, I recommend it.

Shaitarn, Tigana was awesome!!!

Finished, and I have to be honest, I didn't like it that much.

I only really liked Moiraine as a character in the first book, after that she started to grate on me a bit. (I seem to have a dislike of women who know more than the main protagonist, refuse to tell him or her anything but expect everyone to jump when they say 'jump'. I never liked Polgara either.) Seeing her as a brat in this book hasn't helped. And that business in chapter 23 (view spoiler)[leaving the female innkeeper to be gang-raped and calling it 'justice'; I'm sorry, no. I don't care if it's tit for tat; I expect my heroines to be better than the people they're fighting. (hide spoiler)]

Lan: I really like Lan as a character, and I wish he'd been in the story more. If the story had been told from his point of view I think I would've preferred it. (view spoiler)[Does anyone else find the idea of a 30 year old woman taking a 15 year old boy as a lover a bit stomach turning? It was a bit 'eurgh' for me. (hide spoiler)] I wish we'd read more about the borderlands culture.

So, I wasn't so keen on this one and doubt I'll read it again.

Choko wrote: "Shaitarn, Tigana was awesome!!!"

It was; I love all of Kay's work; he's such a great writer! And his new book is out in a few days!! *fan-girl squeal*

Shaitarn wrote: "Nirkatze, have you ever read Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay? Your comment about a culture dying made me think of it. If you haven't, I recommend it."

I've read about half of Kay's work, loved each one, but Tigana is in the half I haven't read yet. Would love to BR it sometime! Kay's books all have so much worthy of a good talk.

Shaitarn wrote: "Finished, and I have to be honest, I didn't like it that much.

I only really liked Moiraine as a character in the first book, after that she started to grate on me a bit. (I seem to have a dislik..."

I can see your points on Moiraine--though honestly, I apply that aspect to all the characters in WoT--they all seem to think they know better than everyone else and would they please just TALK TO EACH OTHER???? Still it makes for good tension and occasional humor. If much frustrations. Occasional feelings of wishing I could reach into the book and shake characters or bash their heads together...

Regarding that scene in the bar... (view spoiler)[am I the only one who walked out of that scene not thinking a woman was going to be gang raped? Honestly, I didn't think much of the scene at all, outside of "bad lady literally drinking her own medicine left behind good riddance." Maybe that makes me as bad as--or at least as naive as--Moiraine... (hide spoiler)]

Carneira (view spoiler)[Yes, the 30 year old woman taking 15 year old Lan as her lover was a total ick moment--but then I think we were supposed to be icked out at it... I do think it is very interesting how each country and culture in the book has carefully sculpted male-female relationship rules--from the Domani with their games of seduction, to the Aiel with their marriage wreaths, Andor ruled always by Queens, and free love in Mayene. The Malkieri is the most complex system we've seen so far, with their carneira and the strange power dynamic. (hide spoiler)]

I'm with you on the bar scene Nirkatze, I didn't read it that way at all.

My mind went to killing her, not raping her, for some reason, and I was totally ok with that, since she was a predator, and I wanted her to be stopped... I didn't think rape at all. But if it was, I am still fine with her, since she caused it for others... I am a horrible person then too...:(((

Choko wrote: "My mind went to killing her, not raping her, for some reason, and I was totally ok with that, since she was a predator, and I wanted her to be stopped... I didn't think rape at all. But if it was, ..."

When I gave it a second thought, I thought more or less the same--bad folks in bar will toss bar, maybe kill her. Weird though, in my mind killing doesn't feel as bad as rape, but it should be, right? I keep thinking back to Perdido Street Station, where rape is described as "second degree choice theft."

Choko wrote: "My mind went to killing her, not raping her, for some reason, and I was totally ok with that, since she was a predator, and I wanted her to be stopped... I didn't think rape at all. But if it was, ..."

You're not a horrible person, Choko; in every buddy read I've done with you, you've been warm-hearted, kind and generous.

It was that reference to one guy 'licking his lips' as he watched her crawl across the floor that implied rape to me; it made me feel he was looking forward to having this woman at his mercy. And rape does feel worse than killing. I don't know why, but it does. Maybe because we've read so many books were good guys have killed bad guys before it's less shocking. Or perhaps because killing is a necessary evil in novels, whereas rape is simply a crime?

Rape is horrible!!! I think I might have a particularly screwed point of view between rape and murder... (view spoiler)[ I was cought and imprisoned together with a group of protesters against the BG government in 1990... 9 kids, really, I was 16, the oldest one among us was 21... We were tortured for days, all of us together in the basement of a police station, and only 4 of us came out of that alive... Then we were imprisoned for months, and once I was somewhat physically recovered, I was raped... The difference in the experiences was that I knew I was going to die like my friends while tortured and the terror of that knowledge was unlike anything else, overwhelming the pain to a degree where you run away from your own mind... When I was being raped, I felt helplessness and anger, together with humiliation and all those other violation feelings that came with it, but I knew I will live through it, and I barely ever think of it, because it was so largely overshadowed by the torture and witnessing the death of my friends... I think this is when in my mind, I created a very clear distinction between the two - rape was something horrible, but if the rapist is not also a murderer, you live to fight another day... The other outcome is much more devastating, at least in my mind... It helps me to survive every day. I know that I can live through almost anything... (hide spoiler)] But yeah, this is, I think, where my mind is...

Choko wrote: "Rape is horrible!!! I think I might have a particularly screwed point of view between rape and murder... [spoilers removed] But yeah, this is, I think, where my mind is..."

Wow Choko, you are an amazingly strong survivor. You have had horrible things in your life, and you came out such a kind and wonderful person. I am in awe and bow down to you.

I don't think your viewpoint is skewed at all. Thinking more on it, like Shaitarn said--people can kill for a lot of reasons, even if the end result is absolute. But rape is taking something that should be beautiful and corrupting it.

I am not that strong. I just have a very logical mind and I try to trick my soul into getting over horrible things as a safety mechanism. It took me years to get back to some normalcy, but life is worth it:))) And it helped finding the love of my life when I was 21, and her helping me through everything. The other hardest thing I went through, was loosing her 13 years later... But I survived even this. Married 4 years later to my newly ex husband, since last year:))) And I still think life is beautiful!!! :) And books make it even better! ❤️

Choko, I echo everything Nirkatze said; your strength and your positivity after all you've been through is awe-inspiring. You have a beautiful soul.

Thank you guys! I only shared because I feel safe in this group, and also to explain my sometimes weird reactions to things... But you guys are too kind:)

By the way, Nirkatze, if you ever want someone to buddy read Tigana or any of Kay’s works with you, let me know. I love his writing and am always up for a re-read!

Just now checking back here and that's horrible Choko! You are amazingly strong. *hug* I can't even imagine...

Thank you! Truly! Believe it or not, books and talking about them has been the best therapy ever!

Waaa! Hugs all around! <3 <3

And I would love to BR Tigana! And any Kay really. I have read about half of his stuff--love everything too--but it sometimes takes an extra oomph for me to start. A BR would be just the thing.