A Game of Thrones
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What age should read this book
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Stefan
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 27, 2014 06:06PM
Ummmm.... this is awkward because I am 13 years old and I've almost finished A Game of Thrones! Is this okay? It has taken me around three months to finish it with about a 1/2 hour a night on school nights and nearly all the free time I have on the school holidays! Am I a slow reader?
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It's okay, but tell me how much can you read up to an hour?
Stefan wrote: "Ummmm.... this is awkward because I am 13 years old and I've almost finished A Game of Thrones! Is this okay? It has taken me around three months to finish it with about a 1/2 hour a night on schoo..."I don't think your reading speed is important, nor is it what this topic is about. But it's a big book, it's not at all abnormal for it to take three weeks to finish. If you really want to know your reading speed, you can test it against the national (USA) average here or here's another one.
Arbaaz wrote: "It's okay, but tell me how much can you read up to an hour?"I think I can read around 2 or 3 chapters but I only started reading for hours on the holidays. I think I read about 6 chapters a day.
I think the main issue with age is that there is a TV series that has very mature content. If the series was made for regular TV, then there wouldn't be so many issues with younger audiences reading the books. (You know many people that read will want to watch the show). So, I am not allowing my 12 year old daughter to read the series yet. She is able to read at a high school level. Maybe when she is 15, I will allow it. I believe that parents should be the indicator on if you should read it or not. Be open with your parents and ask for their advice.
Stefan, i meant the pages. How many pages do you read?
I'm not sure. I read the series on my ereader.
So you can't count the pages in the ereader?And for the record, i can read up to 20 pages per hour.
Arbaaz wrote: "So you can't count the pages in the ereader?And for the record, i can read up to 20 pages per hour."
It depends on the ereader/ebook. Kindle supports pages but not all Kindle books have it enabled.
Page count isn't a very accurate measure of reading speed since page size and font size (and therefore words per page) will vary greatly between books and editions. Your edition of GoT might have a very different amount of words per page than someone else's.
The two reading speed tests I linked to will measure your words per minute reading speed - "average" is supposed to be around 200 words per minute.
Robin wrote: "Arbaaz wrote: "So you can't count the pages in the ereader?And for the record, i can read up to 20 pages per hour."
It depends on the ereader/ebook. Kindle supports pages but not all Kindle book..."
I did a "test" for how fast I can read and it said I read 280 words.
Arbaaz wrote: "So you can't count the pages in the ereader?And for the record, i can read up to 20 pages per hour."
I think that's about the same for me! :)
Oh yeah, you are right robin. But the thing is that i don't have the time to count the words but i'll try sometimes. Okay, have you finished yet with AGOT yet stefan? And also, if thats the same for you then you are going great. It took me several months to complete it (i had been reading it on and off).
Arbaaz wrote: "Oh yeah, you are right robin. But the thing is that i don't have the time to count the words but i'll try sometimes. Okay, have you finished yet with AGOT yet stefan? And also, if thats the same fo..."I have almost finished A Game of Thrones! I have about 7 more chapters to go! Thanks! :)
Good. Is anyone dead yet ;-)?
Arbaaz wrote: "Good. Is anyone dead yet ;-)?"No, not yet. But I have a feeling Ned is going to die!
Arbaaz wrote: "How?"We'll he is in a dungeon and Joffrey and Cersei are evil pricks!
Haha, yes they are. By the way, what do you think about the (SPOILER FOR SOMEONE WHO HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK) jaime lannister and cersei's conflict?
It is very weird but I was warned before I started reading the book!
Arbaaz wrote: "Oh yeah, you are right robin. But the thing is that i don't have the time to count the words but i'll try sometimes. "I'm not suggesting you do. I'm just saying to measure reading speed against what is "average", it's best done in WPM.
Okay. And stefan, what was the most surprising scene so far?
My opinion on when someone should read the book from reading this year depends on how mature the person is in their reading level and has tons of experience with the Middle Ages, War of Roses, and epic fantasy in general. Another thing that I do suggest to anyone who is a seventeen year old like me or younger than an adult is to ask someone who has read this book or series if they think you can handle the series based on your maturity as a reader.
Arbaaz wrote: "Okay. And stefan, what was the most surprising scene so far?"Probably when Dany eats the horse heart to make Rhaego stronger. By the way I have around 2 chapters left and Ned has died! :'(
James wrote: "My opinion on when someone should read the book from reading this year depends on how mature the person is in their reading level and has tons of experience with the Middle Ages, War of Roses, and ..."I thought about me being mature enough but then I remembered me reading the Harry Potter series in Grade 2.
I feel this series is suitable for ages 14-30 somethings. No wonder I disliked it so much; I'm not in that demographic. At least I saw what all the hoo-ha is about.
Jane wrote: "I feel this series is suitable for ages 14-30 somethings. No wonder I disliked it so much; I'm not in that demographic. At least I saw what all the hoo-ha is about."I know plenty of 40, 50, and 60 somethings who enjoy the series. Heck, the author himself is in his 60s. But yes, perhaps pre-baby boomer generations are not the primary demographic.
"I don't think anyone who enjoys game of thrones can realistically be accused of believing that portrayals of sex in fiction should be avoided, I just think there's such thing as age appropriate content.Nicholas I'm not familiar with the other series you're referring to, therefore I can't comment on whether I think it's appropriate for a 13 yr old or not."
In Deadhouse Gates, the second book of Malazan Book of the Fallen, during the Whirlwind uprising men rip out peoples intestines and use it as rope to rape woman.
(People not used to gore don't read!)
"It was then, Duiker saw as his mount picked a careful path through the bodies, that madness had truly arrived. Men had been gutted, their entrails pulled out, wrapped around women – wives and mothers and aunts and sisters – who had been raped before being strangled with the intestinal ropes. The historian saw children with their skulls crushed, babies spitted on tapu skewers."
If that's not considered pretty bad than I wonder what is.
What book is it??? I need to read it
Nicholas wrote: ""I don't think anyone who enjoys game of thrones can realistically be accused of believing that portrayals of sex in fiction should be avoided, I just think there's such thing as age appropriate co..."Showing me other examples of books inappropriate for children has no bearing on my thoughts about ASOIAF.
I think if you're interested in it, then you should read it. Age is immaterial, either you understand the book or you don't and that applies to adults as well. If there are subjects that make you uncomfortable, then discuss them with a trusted peer / adult or even in a group discussion here on Goodreads. In fact, discussing disturbing emotional content from a work of FICTION can help relate these matters back into our disturbing reality.
I think many young girls are ill prepared for how lecherous some men / boys can be. If fiction can give them an inkling of that truth then maybe girls / women will be better prepared to deal with their adulthoods.
I also think the gray morality of this series is an excellent gateway for examining one's own moral truth and the morality of the world that surrounds them daily. Lessons can also be learned from the many characters jumping to erroneous conclusions (Catelyn Stark being the biggest offender IMO, that leads to the most dire consequences).
I would have no problem with my 13 yo son reading these books if he showed the interest. I would look forward to the opportunity to discuss many of the themes / actions that occur in the books with him. It would certainly help me gauge where I've been successful as a parent and where I should focus more effort in his overall morality.
Wow robin, just wow
Although this book does have sexual content, to an extent. If the reader is advanced enough, he/she should be able to look past those scenes and really delve into one of the most well crafted fantasy worlds.
Anyone with a strong mind should and can read this series.
Advance read 16+, takes a level of comprehension to understand what is transpiring between characters and plots. A good read.
I'm 13, will I be good on the comprehension? The "hardest" books I've read are Les Mis and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. (Probably fine with graphic violence, and some sexual instances....)
Mia wrote: "I'm 13, will I be good on the comprehension? The "hardest" books I've read are Les Mis and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. (Probably fine with graphic violence, and some sexual instances....)"Mia, I think, as someone else may have said, it is the sensitivity level here that is most important. Some people can read about murdered infants and not get too upset by it. I don't want to spoil too much, but keep in mind that in Westeros things like castration and dismemberment are used as punishment for certain crimes, and the violence is graphic. As for the sex, I really can't judge it for you. When I was 13 my friends and I were reading The Happy Hooker. I guess health class just didn't give us enough gory details, so we set out on our own and discovered that particular book; but I think we're all okay now in spite of it.
Lachlan wrote: "I'm not sure what age I need to bet to read this"
there is a lot of sex and gore, so i would say high school
there is a lot of sex and gore, so i would say high school
I was 13 and I had no issue with it. I say, give it a go!
im 11 and i read it and i dont see whats wrong with it (atleast for me)
I'm 12 and I got through it pretty well, I don't think it's too hard to comprehend for people my age but just maybe don't let your parents know... XD
Hiro wrote: "I'm 12 and I got through it pretty well, I don't think it's too hard to comprehend for people my age but just maybe don't let your parents know... XD"i think the book may be alright but the show don't tell them
Yeah. The show is worse.
Salome wrote: "I don't even think it should be compared to Lord of the Rings, for GoT is much darker, grittier, and more gruesome. I would maybe start out with some Stephen King and work your way to GoT"Don't see this as darker than SK. SK reaches into psychological terror most of the time which is a level above the beheadings, gore and overall gruesomeness of GOT which at its heart is a mature adventure story/political drama (depending on which character arc we follow).
I think GOT's fit for 15-16 year olds or even younger, if they're mature enough. Having said that there are nuances and details that you're more likely to pick up on a an adult reader.
I think this book is good for an average 17 year old. The subject matter is for mature readers (with adult themes like rape, incest, graphic violence, butchering, and people getting molten metal poured on their scalps). The relationships between the characters and their back stories are complex and lengthy. A younger reader might lose interest or not be prepared for the ramifications of what they do.17 is a good age for this.
I haven't read GoT yet but I read all the Harry Potter books and The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings series in 4th grade. I'm at a college reading level and based on my knowledge of the books I'd say parents should have a say in the choice. If you are mature enough to handle it I say go for it. You just need to realize what your going to read. It may be hard and is gruesome, but if you read it give it a try. :)
Christopher wrote: "I think this book is good for an average 17 year old. The subject matter is for mature readers (with adult themes like rape, incest, graphic violence, butchering, and people getting molten metal p..."...I would have been perfectly happy reading these books when I was 10 or 11. Children aren't idiots, nor are they generally put off by sex or violence (often, they like these things). There are much, much scarier things in children's books than the killing-with-molten metal scene! And as for backstory, it's adults whose brains are too small for that. Memorising the trivia about fictional characters is practically the #1 hobby for a lot of kids. I could have given you complete geopolitical sitreps on half a dozen fantasy worlds by the time I was 11.
In fact, I remember when I actually was 11, we were asked to write a short description of one of our favourite characters in fiction, and I wrote a lengthy dissertation, compiled from several sources, of the history and pre-history of Gollum, the context of the last alliance, the differences between Stours and Flatfoots, the coming of Rohan, the history of Moria, inter-goblin political relations, the Battle of Azanulbizar (also known as the Battle of Nanduhirion if you prefer Sindarin to Khuzdul) and so on. Now sure, i was overly enthusiastic, but actually lots of kids gave really extensive details from their chosen fandom. This sort of thing comes naturally to kids, who I think perhaps lack the ability to discern important from unimportant facts, and so view all facts as being exciting and important. It's only as they become teenagers that they start to view learning as work...
I concur with most of what I'm seeing here--it's not a question of assigning a hard-and-fast age so much as it is a consideration of maturity. There are some pretty knotty topics being discussed here, so a decently advanced level of maturity would be advisable. Every rating system is fundamentally flawed (giving Gladiator and American Pie the same rating?), and in the end merely a guideline. I watched a parent buy Grand Theft Auto V for their five-year-old last month at Wal*Mart. Everyone's yardstick is different on such matters.
They aren't that described in too much detail. I had no problem reading them at 15.
Ah, the beauty of youth having consistently high opinions of themselves.
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