How is it I've been on Goodreads all this time, and never rated any of the Wheel of Time books? SLACKING! And why do I read reviews before posting my own? I had no idea enjoyment of this series was such a contentious issue. Well, I like it just fine, and if you don't like my liking it, then phpt on you. 
 I've read all of the books in this series up through book 11, and am listening to those on audiobook. Then I'll read the last 3 since the series is finally finished and I have all the books on my shelf. RJ and I have a bit of a love/hate thing going on. I love the story and the series, but it took him 23 years to tell this tale, and he will use 1,000 pages when 600-700 would do just as well. I was halfway through book 10, and he was still on the same day around page 300 and something as he was on page 1, and he was just telling how everyone was reacting to an event that happened at the end of the previous book. Don't get me wrong; it was a very important event, but I finally put the book down and said "Fuck this shit. I'm waiting until he finishes the entire series, then I'll reread the whole thing in one go. I'm tired of this 'wait 2 years between books, and then go unfulfilled' crap." Then in 2007 he announced he was writing the final book, and that it WOULD be the final book, he didn't care if the publisher had to create a new book-binding system to make it happen. AND he said it was going to be out in early 2008! So I started rereading the series, then the asshole up and died when I was 3 or 4 books in. BUT he had notes for everything, and commissioned another writer to make it readable, so that was cool, but then that jerk broke it into 3 books (and has done a great job with them from what I understand), and the last one came out at the beginning of this year, 2013, 5 years after I had finished rereading the first 11 books. Once the publication of the 12th book was pushed back (it didn't show up until October 2009, a full year and a half after the promised date for the end of the whole thing), I once again said "Fuck this shit!" Yea, verily did I say it. THIS time I didn't start rereading (well, listening, technically) them until I had the final book on my shelf. I truly love the story, and can't wait to find out how everything goes in the last 3 books, but dammit, man... (I'm doing the same thing with the Game of Thrones series which I set aside after the 3rd book several years ago. These fantasy writers are hellbent on making sure some things never get off of my to-read list). 
 One thing I remember annoying me about this series is how some things were reexplained in every book such as the nature of the One Power. I remember thinking in the 5th or 6th book "Dude, I got it. It works like so. You don't have to tell me in every book. Anyone who starts a series on book 6 deserves to be lost, and shouldn't have the fundamentals of his fantasy world explained to him). Also, some history of what happened in the previous book was rehashed just in case the reader wasn't paying attention. Anyone who starts a series on book 6... but I'm Robert Jordaning here. 
 I read this for the first time in high school, 1995 or 1996. I think it was the first book I read where I stayed up for hours, and simply couldn't put it down no matter how late it got in the evening. I've since experienced that many of times, but I guess I have a soft spot for my first. I must admit that at the time, I was of an age where this kind of story was right up my alley, and this book was right at my reading level. I've since read many classics, and have a couple of favorite modern authors, and I must confess that I don't believe Robert Jordan is in their league as far as craftsmanship of the English language is concerned. He's not bad by any means, and I would even say he's quite good, but definitely not great. But luckily for him he doesn't have to be. The world he creates and the story itself carry this book very well. 
 Something a lot of other reviews on here tend to do is compare this to Tolkien's Middle Earth, language, writing style, etc., as if Tolkien is supposed to have a monopoly on the fantasy genre. Actually, that's a trait in almost any fantasy series review. I guess Tolkien is a measuring bar, and I reckon that's fair enough. If you had to pick someone to represent the fantasy measuring stick, that's a good one, but it doesn't mean the others suck just because they don't compare favorably to certain aspects. So, if you're judging this story based on how it shakes out next to The Lord of the Rings, you're going to be disappointed, so don't bother. If you want to read something just for the fun of reading it, then you could do much worse. Trust me, I know. You could do much, much worse. 
 The world created in this series is fantastic, and so easily visualized thanks to the massive amount of details Mr. Jordan gives us. There was a time where I knew the geography, customs, accents, hairstyles, dressing styles, history, peoples, and everything of this world better than I did the real world, and I was a frickin' history major in college! It was my business to know all that about real life. (Admittedly I wasn't the best student, but I still got my degree). The imagery is so rich that I have no problem picturing exactly what the author was trying to convey. 
 Another thing I enjoy about the series is the characters, and how they grow throughout, but I must say there isn't a lot of character development in this first book. However we're introduced to the majority of the main cast. As far as exciting moments go, there aren't many. The attack on the town at the beginning of the book is the part that made the biggest impression on me when I first read it. However, there are plenty of exciting moments throughout the series. (One would hope so since it goes on for 12,000 pages), and the chapter about Dumai's Wells in book 6 is still one of my favorites in all modern literature. 
 So, while none of the real action for the main plot starts happening until book 3, that doesn't mean this book (and the next one) still aren't enjoyable for they are. Like I said, this was quite the page turner the first time I read it, but it is mostly introductory material in the grand scheme. Still, I love meeting the characters, and I also love how the Green Man totally ruins Balthamel's day (and vice versa) at the end. Neither of them is a main character and are gone as quickly as they show up, all in the space of one chapter, I think, but it was still pretty cool. Maybe 2 chapters for the Green Man. 
 I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a great fantasy yarn, but only if you think you're going to get in it for the long haul. Unless things completely fall apart in the last 3 books that I haven't read yet, I guarantee it's worth it.