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A Game of Thrones Song of Fire and Ice book 1 GRRM
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Jon
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Jun 18, 2009 05:00PM
I am at page 60 and the whole thing is so boring. Their was no action yet besides the very beginning and it was just going on and on about some things which made me look at the back of the book for house info. every page. Will it get better?
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I made it to around 120 the last time I read it before dropping out. I believe it does get better though. If you can get past all the incest.
This is one of my absolute favorite fantasy novels (and series) of all time, so I don't get when people don't like it. But yes, it does get more intense....
I recently read this book and loved it. For me, the thing that drove the story was the characters. They were all so well-developed and three-dimensional. I kept reading not because I wanted to know what happened next, although I was interested in the events, but primarily because I wanted to know what happened to the characters.I would keep going, Greg. The characters, world, political intrigue, and plot will get much more engaging (at least in my opinion).
The first half of the first book is probably the toughest to get through of the series. There is so much being developed that it can be a little bit tedious. I would definitely recommend sticking through it, though. It gets MUCH better.
I loved A Game of Thrones. I didn't find it slow at all. It kept my attention the whole way through wanting to know the fate of the characters.
The whole series is excellent. Yes, there's a lot of 'slow' but that's what I love about Martin - he takes the time to let you know his characters and learn the politics so it's not just one battle after another. There's a reason behind everything.
I agree with what everyone else has said. It does get better, but this really has been, for me anyway, more about the characters than the action. I've only read the first two, but I love them. The third is on my birthday wishlist.
Have to agree that it is slow in the beginning, but it does pick up. The worst part for me was the "overwhelming bleakness" as one person put it in the series discussion thread. That was troublesome at times...
I'm up to page about 150, and I'm still not really into it. The only heroes I care for are being sent to the middle of nowhere (the dwarf and the bastard). The rest of the characters I don't realyl care if they die. And at the rate things are going, they probably will all die.
I tried to read this book on recommendation of a friend a few years back, but just couldn't seem to get through it. I got to about 300 or so the first time, but recently picked it up and started it over again due to the peer pressure of said friend!I'll say that the book does get better as you get into it, and I have heard the rest of the series gets a bit less dry. I'm working my way through it now, and I'm curious if I'll find enough to keep my interest this time!
David wrote: "I'm up to page about 150, and I'm still not really into it. The only heroes I care for are being sent to the middle of nowhere (the dwarf and the bastard). The rest of the characters I don't realyl..."The bastard is probly my favourite character of the entire series. Jon Snow rocks my SOFI world! ;)
I hope you can get further. It's a hell of a push for the fist book, I know. It does get better... though the bleakness of the world does not really change.
I'm definitely with the Martin lovers on this one. One of the best series I've ever read...
Let me just update by saying that I'm halfway through the book, now, and it has completely caught me at this point. There is a lot of cool twists and turns along the path in this book, and the web of intrigue that Martin has created has definitely ensnared me!
Glad you're enjoying it Jim. Martin is a master weaver of plots.
Jim wrote: "Let me just update by saying that I'm halfway through the book, now, and it has completely caught me at this point. There is a lot of cool twists and turns along the path in this book, and the web..."This book had me hooked from the opening pages, and when I got to that part about Bran's "encounter" with Jaime Lannister... well, let us say that my reaction was "Whoa. This is not your regular fantasy story", and then I gobbled up each book as it came. Feast for Crows was a bit of a let down, but that's because Martin didn't explore a lot of the POVs in that volume that will be explored in the forthcoming A Dance With Dragons.
If you like A Game of Thrones, you'd likely enjoy Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts, which is on the July list. Steven Erikson comes to mind as well.
Lochaber, that part of the book was for me also the exact moment where I realized this was something special. "The things I do for love..." What a line.
Stefan wrote: "The things I do for love..." What a line."Indeed! The whole book is just so dark and cruel - in a good way. There's not enough fantasy out there like that.
This series is way more realistic than most .. People get hideously scarred and maimed from all the fighting.. I was sorry what happened to Arya in the third book, was hoping something good would happen to her.. Jon Snow is my favorite character, so he better be a MAIN one in the 4th book !!
Mm, I tried to read the first book 2 years ago, and didn't find it interesting...But then this winter, I read it, and became totally hooked ^-^
There is a lot of bleakness, it can be very discouraging. But it's very good, and if you like at least a couple of the characters, you'll love it.
@Cazteal-I didn't think what happened to her was a bad thing... (unless I'm mixed up on which book 3 is) anyway I better stop cause I don't want to inadvertently spoil it for anyone.
I don't know why the incest bothers anyone, it's not condoned or lauded, and the characters practicing it could even be considered villains.
Recent tweet from @FantasyCafe - There is an interview with George R.R. Martin @ http://www.montrealgazette.com/audio/...He discusses the new HBO series coming up as well as discussing the next book in A Song of Ice and Fire.
I'm at page 400 and starting to get into it. But there are still parts I don't like. I hate jumping from character to character every chapter. Some (most) of the characters I don't care that much about. And to me the narration itself is a bit dry.
Viktoria wrote: "Recent tweet from @FantasyCafe - There is an interview with George R.R. Martin @ http://www.montrealgazette.com/audio/...He discusses the new HBO series coming up as well as discus..."
anyway you could transcribe parts of that? I can't seem to get to the link :(
Jennifer wrote: "My only frustration with this series is the amount of time it's taking to get the next book."Amen to that.
Yeah too long to wait. My sister and I both read the first three books when they first came out. We loved them but my sister couldn't reconnect with the characters after so long a wait - so she bailed. I'm still in the game though. :)When I kept handing her the books she would look at it and say - "So which one is this then?"
"The one with the dire wolves in it," I'd reply.
When Feast came out we went though the usual routine but this time she added, "Dire wolves?"
Michael wrote: "Yeah too long to wait. My sister and I both read the first three books when they first came out. We loved them but my sister couldn't reconnect with the characters after so long a wait - so she bai..."haha!! It looks like you sis has deleted the first book from memory in lieu of other things. *grin*
The first book spends a lot of time developing the characters. The rest of the series moves much faster because the author assumes that you already know the back-story so he is more free to move on to a more fast paced and rich storyline.And by the way all the characters that you may hate now, and you don’t know why they are even in the storyline in the first place get better as the story progresses. All in all I agree with what has been said before this is a story about people not events and battles.
I looved the first one it was definatly my second favorite next to Storm of swords. number two i thought went slowly but was good. All who havnt yet gotten to three should be definatly excited about it.
I read about two and a half of Martin's books, they were not for me either. Oh, the first two weren't bad in my eyes, but there were just too many characters I didn't care for at all. The boredom getting to the characters I liked made me sigh in frustration. So I put them aside eventually.
Hey man read the third i will not spoil it but it was the nest of the first three. At least read it it will be worth it i promise!
I loved this series. And although the sex and violence may have turned some people off, it's what turned me on to the series! It may not have cute lovable characters, but that just adds to the grit. After reading many fantasy novels, I like finally feeling that I'm reading fantasy that I probably shouldn't pass on to my little sis'. I also loved Martin's wit. There were many times I laughed out loud while reading! And his descriptive writing, especially when describing food, made my mouth water! I am constantly comparing new fantasy novels that I read against ASOIAF, I can't help it. I am really looking forward to the new HBO series. I've been following Martin's blog and getting so impatient! But unlike Martin's history of book/writing deadlines, at least it will not take ten years to film the season. I've decided to finally subscribe to HBO just to watch the series! I'm so excited!
Well being only 15 i doubt my parents will EVER let me watch them on HBO and besides i prefer sticking to the books. As to the wit bit, I fully agree i think Tyrone was the best at that he made me bellow with laughter half the time. Loved ASOIAF! Cant wait for the 4rth to be added to my collection!
I think this was one of the greatest fantasy series I have read till now (maybe the best). Usually, in these kind of fantasy novels, u usually wont get anywhere during the first 20 or 30 pages. But, believe me, u just have to continue to read further and only then the plot will thicken. But, this book certainly not put downable after 100 pages. I guarantee it.But, u have to let the authors to first create the world in which they are telling the story first :) Once u get past that, this one is a masterpiece
I read the first 100 pages of Fire & Ice and the last 100 pages, decided it was more of a "guy thing" and gave the book to my son. He loved it.
I haven't read this series yet but have it on my wishlist for this year. All my friends have recommended it to me so I'm hoping to buy the books in Feb. I am currious to see how good of a fantacy it is, if it is as good as Terry Brooks "Sword of Shannara series than I know I will love it.
Ronda wrote: "I haven't read this series yet but have it on my wishlist for this year. All my friends have recommended it to me so I'm hoping to buy the books in Feb. I am currious to see how good of a fantacy..."It is much better in my opinion. Terry Brooks is a great writer, but you will love GRRM's characters (if you aren't too squeamish).
