tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post3281935287117152347..comments2024-03-27T05:13:25.241-05:00Comments on The New Dork Review of Books: Should I Read The Game of Thrones?Greg Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-14576925575948343012012-03-06T15:08:58.261-06:002012-03-06T15:08:58.261-06:00Hey Meredith! Thanks for stopping by - and thanks ...Hey Meredith! Thanks for stopping by - and thanks for your input. Sounds like your feeling echoes a lot of the others here - that I'd be stupid not to read 'em. ;) They've been in my car on BN.com since I posted this, but I still haven't had the balls to pull the trigger. Getting closer, though. Cheers!Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-11769386166461684792012-03-06T12:50:58.551-06:002012-03-06T12:50:58.551-06:00Hi Greg-
This is Meredith, Chris' sister. We ...Hi Greg-<br />This is Meredith, Chris' sister. We were just talking about books that he needed to read and I mentioned The Art of Fielding and then told him that he should also start on Game of Thrones. And then he told me about your blog and now here I am. <br />I am the anti-fantasy reader. The only thing that I have read outside of my comfort zone was the Ender's Game series. God help you if you haven't read that series. You won't eat for the 2 weeks that it takes you to read the 5 or 6 books. <br />All I have to say is Find. The. Time. I bought the first Game of Thrones book for my husband who is a huge nerd and the slowest reader known to mankind. He tore through it. So, naturally, being a middle child and having to get in on the action, I picked it up. The imagery is amazing, the novel is well written and the story (so far -- I've only read one book) isn't about ghouls and goblins. Its about families and life struggles and love and war and foreign lands all with fantastical elements to it. The only reason I haven't picked up the second is because my slow-reading husband is only 550 pages into it.<br />I'm interested to hear about what you love/hate about it.<br />Good luck!<br />MereUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08592384862418497758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-49263847974274015902012-03-02T12:33:56.088-06:002012-03-02T12:33:56.088-06:00Oh, I know what you mean. Though part of me is rel...Oh, I know what you mean. Though part of me is reluctant to start until he's finished the series. But then, given his track record...that could be forever! And I feel so guilty watching the show before reading the books. :)Stephhttp://www.bellasbookshelves.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-23427380067602031032012-02-29T15:16:32.164-06:002012-02-29T15:16:32.164-06:00That's interesting - I always have trouble wri...That's interesting - I always have trouble writing reviews for genre fiction, too. But it's more interesting that you haven't yet been motivated to pick up the second. Sounds like a warning sign to me!Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-49863911141841050242012-02-29T15:15:44.690-06:002012-02-29T15:15:44.690-06:00I've decided definitely "yes." Just ...I've decided definitely "yes." Just have to find the time now! :)Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-59006363868043801432012-02-29T08:55:51.789-06:002012-02-29T08:55:51.789-06:00I downloaded the sample of the first one and was i...I downloaded the sample of the first one and was interested enough at the end to continue reading. I ripped through the first book - the drama and the twists kept it ticking along at a furious pace, the political intrigue was intense verging on confusing and the characters were interesting although not all likeable. In fact very few were truly likeable. I put it down and declared that it was a damn good read. <br /><br />Then I tried to write a review about it. And couldn't. And I haven't been inspired to pick up the next book either. So make what you will of that - even I'm not sure what it really means.Kathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16731173186767835989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-92126675401660779782012-02-29T06:24:58.026-06:002012-02-29T06:24:58.026-06:00Melody: READ THE HOBBIT!! :) (As you can tell, I h...Melody: READ THE HOBBIT!! :) (As you can tell, I highly recommend it. It's not like LOTR, but has more of a storytelling tone.)Stephhttp://www.bellasbookshelves.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-36143064919534019502012-02-29T06:23:22.776-06:002012-02-29T06:23:22.776-06:00SO?? What have you decided? I know I'm going t...SO?? What have you decided? I know I'm going to read them, eventually. I want to at least try them. I do like the show, and I do like the genre. Whether or not I'll appreciate his writing enough remains to be seen. <br /><br />God, I sound so snobbish. Yikes.Stephhttp://www.bellasbookshelves.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-71126305952140722392012-02-27T19:09:06.544-06:002012-02-27T19:09:06.544-06:00For the love of all that is holy, yes. A resoundin...For the love of all that is holy, yes. A resounding yes, read it, read it now!Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369504951819517390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-33523354597954308582012-02-26T07:20:51.369-06:002012-02-26T07:20:51.369-06:00I am finding this readable, but not original. I&#...I am finding this readable, but not original. I'll get through it but probably wouldn't recommend it.MSAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12277419499091080662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-19048877422591266982012-02-23T14:58:37.287-06:002012-02-23T14:58:37.287-06:00Oh, boy! I was once where you are--curious about t...Oh, boy! I was once where you are--curious about the series, fearful of descending into the world of fantasy. (I'd never even read The Hobbit.)<br /><br />But A Song of Ice and Fire is good. Martin crafts incredibly complex characters and an entrancing plot. His fiction is among the best I have ever read.Melody (Melody and Words)http://www.melodyandwords.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-23669690116897233672012-02-21T09:45:14.725-06:002012-02-21T09:45:14.725-06:00I'll buy that! Thanks for the input!I'll buy that! Thanks for the input!Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-56948403907692327652012-02-21T09:44:56.873-06:002012-02-21T09:44:56.873-06:00Yeah, I like the idea of trying them to be a more ...Yeah, I like the idea of trying them to be a more well-rounded reading - and, as you say, enjoying something that's outside of my comfort zone. Thanks for the input on The Hunger Games - no real desire at all to even attempt those.Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-2446897216044792452012-02-21T09:38:54.571-06:002012-02-21T09:38:54.571-06:00Yes. Yes you should read it. Why? Because it's...Yes. Yes you should read it. Why? Because it's good. It's entertaining. What better reason to pick up a book?Emma Cunninghamhttp://www.emmacunningham.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-77733705957515050242012-02-21T09:20:58.913-06:002012-02-21T09:20:58.913-06:00A dissenter! I like it - thanks for your input. Re...A dissenter! I like it - thanks for your input. Regarding the writing in these, I tend to think that, because we know it's not literary fiction, the writer gets a little leeway in exchange for fast-paced story. <br /><br />I'll take your advice - try it on a trial basis! ;)Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-52513501094116226152012-02-20T20:08:23.151-06:002012-02-20T20:08:23.151-06:00I think that if you like the books you'll stil...I think that if you like the books you'll still be surprised, not because it's what's supposed to happen, but because you found something outside of your comfort zone that really appealed to you and that might lead to reading some other stuff outside your comfort zone (and I don't mean just fantasy), but if you don't like it then no real harm done, you just reinforced your comfort zone and will continue reading the kind of things you have been reading with probably a renewed love for them, just because you tried something different and didn't like it. So no matter what you think of the book (or books if you read the whole series) I think this can be a very enlightening experience for you either way.<br /><br />As to The Hunger Games, which somehow ended up in the same conversation as A Song of Ice and Fire, I read all three of them and found them increasingly worse, and increasingly disappointing. They could have evolved so much better, with the characters maturing instead of becoming a repetition of themselves with no real development.Dadrocanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02973447030040428603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-8141138029951413802012-02-20T19:58:29.458-06:002012-02-20T19:58:29.458-06:00Oh, and Kerry, you should definitely read Pillars ...Oh, and Kerry, you should definitely read Pillars of the EarthDadrocanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02973447030040428603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-23283293883286837732012-02-20T19:57:23.718-06:002012-02-20T19:57:23.718-06:00This series definitely has a lot of elements simil...This series definitely has a lot of elements similar to The Pillars of the Earth, and the setting he has put together is so well crafted that even if you don't like fantasy you will enjoy this. The characters are some of the best constructed ones I have ever come across, so much so that there is not a single one of the main characters that can be called one-sided, even the "bad guys" (for lack of a better term) have something that you can admire in them, and in the words of Martin himself, "nobody is wholly evil or wholly good"Dadrocanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02973447030040428603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-83276844009032335552012-02-20T13:31:04.748-06:002012-02-20T13:31:04.748-06:00I took the "read 50 pages and see what you th...I took the "read 50 pages and see what you think" approach and checked the first one out at the library instead of buying the whole series like I would normally do. I'm glad I did, because 50 pages was all I could handle. I thought the writing was awful, and I just couldn't get in to the story. Nothing grabbed me, and I just kept making fun of the writing and calculating how much further I had to go to make it to 50 pages. I'm usually a bit OCD about finishing books as well, but I think forcing myself to establish the limit before hand helped. That and the fact I had no desire to keep going. I've heard so many great things about these from people whose tastes are similar to mine, so I was surprised. I also didn't care for The Magicians, which I read around the same time. I don't read much fantasy, although I love Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, and enjoyed the Lord of the Rings although they dragged quite a bit in places. I normally go for more literary fiction and classics and don't read much young adult fiction outside of the two series I mentioned, both of which I felt were worth it. I did really like The Hunger Games. The writing isn't the best ever, but it has an entertaining story and great characters. Maybe I didn't give Game of Thrones enough of a chance, but my advice would be to just try it and set your OCD aside and aim to just read 50 pages and stop if you don't like it!Lindsey Sparkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03654365166738983077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-5751129838783072592012-02-20T13:02:40.641-06:002012-02-20T13:02:40.641-06:00I haven't actually read Pillars of the Earth.....I haven't actually read Pillars of the Earth... yet? Should I have that on my imaginary list?Kerry Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10624436758426097032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-32292999845208029202012-02-20T12:43:24.151-06:002012-02-20T12:43:24.151-06:00There are supposed to be seven books in the A Song...There are supposed to be seven books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series(aka Game of Thrones)and reportedly,Martin is working on number six as we speak. Personally,I think he's worth the wait but am taking my time with number five.lady thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16287907577241697874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-48419084039100605092012-02-20T09:43:46.598-06:002012-02-20T09:43:46.598-06:00I'm with you on the reading outside your comfo...I'm with you on the reading outside your comfort zone - but the only thing with Martin is that there's really no "pleasant surprise" payoff. Since everyone raves about them - well, mostly everyone - if I love 'em, it'll be like "well, that's what was supposed to happen," and I don't, it'll be "well, that was friggin' disappointing." Huge Catch 22! ;)Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-60176458665364759482012-02-20T09:41:24.430-06:002012-02-20T09:41:24.430-06:00Re, the writing - well, it's hard to imagine a...Re, the writing - well, it's hard to imagine any series of such massive size would really be a literary powerhouse. That said, I didn't mind Follett's writing - I guess I didn't notice it as bad or good enough to be a distraction or to be worth commenting on. I just thought he was excellent at immersing readers in hi story. "Should" is meant very tongue in cheek - no, of course, no other readers should judge you on your own reading.Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-30646591887729008252012-02-20T09:38:53.829-06:002012-02-20T09:38:53.829-06:00See, I took that leap of faith with Atwood, too, a...See, I took that leap of faith with Atwood, too, and wasn't a real big fan - but I know that really has nothing to do with whether or not I'll like the Ice and Fire series. I'll be interested to hear what you think of Oryx and Crake.Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-30570137636470300082012-02-20T09:37:29.081-06:002012-02-20T09:37:29.081-06:00Whoa - that's a lot of pressure! I'm so cl...Whoa - that's a lot of pressure! I'm so close - the books are in my B&N cart, and I've had the cursor hovering over "Complete Order," just haven't quite been able to do it yet. :)Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.com