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A Song of Ice and Fire
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A Song of Ice and Fire Read-Along
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I am stalled at moment, in middle of 2 big reads need to finish by end of next week, but will give some thought and get back. I came gere to post a link to GRRM blog, specifically look at A Winter Garden post. This is mostly about the art of writing generally and his writing process.
https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/
Plus the tiny general hints about unpublished book vs. finished GOT...always yummy.
Heather, I have kept on reading the series -- just could not stop. Am about halfway through "A Fast for Crows." About the horn, (view spoiler)
I know this read-along has slowed down considerably, but I'm just wondering: Anyone else planning to watch House of the Dragon when it premieres next week? If so, does anyone want to discuss, either in this thread or a new one?I think I'm gonna do a bit of a rewatch of Game of Thrones to get me back in the mood... and perhaps revisit the Dance of the Dragons in the World of Ice and Fire. (I should probably just be reading Fire & Blood, but I've still got so much else on my plate right now... one day, one day.)
Heather Reads Books wrote: "I know this read-along has slowed down considerably, but I'm just wondering: Anyone else planning to watch House of the Dragon when it premieres next week? If so, does anyone want to discuss, eithe..."I will watch it, have not read the book, but unlikely to watch right away. I have to sign up for HBO MAX though...need to see if any deals in offing. Would love to discuss.
I too have a lot on my plate right now.
Let's go ahead and discuss here. Just put House of Dragons at top of each post.
I will be starting this up again at end of this year, and will update the first post accordingly, having been inspired by finally finishing the reread of Harry Potter series I had started over a year ago. That took longer than I ever thought it would but work, life, other challenges, and other books all kept pushing me in other directions. At the same time the slower pace (and sometimes having to glance back at a chapter) had me picking up on lots I had missed or forgotten.I will be re-starting A Clash of Kings. Plan is to stick with about 200 to 250 pages a month.
@Steven - how far ahead did you get?
I believe we have a couple more members interested in starting rereading with GOT. Jump right in!
Going forward, I think keeping this as an open read-along is the best option. Everyone can read at own pace, though there will be a 'schedule' set as guide to make reading progress and for discussion. No need to join in on each book's read along.
@Heather - we can even set up the reading schedule in ASOS sooner than later. AFOC and ADWD will be more work as I certainly want to follow one of the schedules recombining the books on this rreread. Maybe in 2024....
Discussion - at top of any discussion post, identify which book and where in book, as we were doing as a way of providing any first time readers with spoiler notice.
I finished them all - could not stop myself. Even enjoyed "A Dance With Dragons" much more this go around. Still plan to follow here though. In 2023, am thinking of rereading the "Lord of Rings" trilogy.
@Theresa - I would be happy to restart ACOK in the new year! I too fell behind, as this year ended up being so much more challenging than I thought it would be. But watching House of the Dragon revitalized me and I would love to return to Westeros. :) I even bought the 2023 wall calendar because it promised pretty new art...
I'm going to Santa Fe for Christmas next month, also! I am looking forward to seeing GRRM's stomping grounds. :D
I am out until you get to the last book written, however will be going along on the journey with you
@Heather - I must pm you a few tips on the GRRM Trail! Also am so jealous you will get to ride on the train before I do! If you are doing that. Do not miss Meow Wolf...it is a must do. I have NOT been watching House of Dragons. Too much going on right now and I missed out on the related discount deal to subscribe to HBO+. For now, it's something I will catch up with in the future.
@Steven - please do follow along and chime in! Who knows? Maybe by the time we get to ADWD you will need a reread?I totally approve a LOTR reread. I have read it 3 times. First in high school where reading it was all about the plot. 2nd time was in my late 20s/early 30s where it was Frodo's personal story that just grabbed my attention.
The 3rd time was 2001 after the first movie cane out. Then it was Sam's journey that struck me. And I realized that every time I read it, I pull something else out of it.
But I still find Tom Bombadil unnecessary and boring and not worth reading.
@Theresa - Please do PM me!! I'm excited for the trip - I have tickets for Meow Wolf and your mentioning the Sky Railway just made me look it up again. I had been monitoring it for awhile but the only trips available were Christmas-themed for children... but tonight I saw they had added dates for a murder mystery dinner while I'm going to be in town, so I was able to book them!! I'm excited :DI totally recommend House of the Dragon. I'm not a big TV person but I thought it was very well done and it kept me wanting to watch to see what was going on every week. The scope feels a bit smaller than Game of Thrones, which I suppose makes sense, but it's entirely focused on the politics and the build up to the Targaryen civil war, and I couldn't get enough.
Attention! 2023 Reading Schedule for A Clash of Kings - I've updated the first comment to reflect this. Using my book that is equivalent to hardcover pagination:
Section 1 -page 1 Prologue through Bran III that ends about page 251. Read and discuss by end of March 2023
Section 2 - about page 252 - Caetlyn II starts As she slept... through Caetlyn VI that ends about page 497. Finish reading and discussion by end of June, 2023
Section 3 - about page 498 - Bran VI starts The sound was the faintest... through the end. Finished and open for discusson on entire book in September 2023
I've made it pretty slow... covering a good part of the year. We can speed it up if we find ourselves moving along faster. I just know that the first quarter 2023 is not only going to be a heavy work period for me, but I also have a pretty hefty read for my January Feminerdy Book Club that I have yet to start and can't before New Years weekend, and we'll be starting all the lovely new challenges and buddy reads we've decided to fill our reading lives.
Anyone is welcome to read ahead, comment as you go along, whatever. To avoid spoilers if any first timers reading this are participating at any point, Please post at the beginning of your comment where in which book you are.
If you went ahead and did the full reread last year, like Steven, chime in at appropriate times please. We treasure your commentary.
If you are still reading GOT and it is your first time AND did not see the HBO series - we support you -- just watch the spoilers. No need to watch for spoilers really if you watched the series.
Couple more things:
1. No discussion here of the new series, House of Dragon. I've yet to watch it or read the book and I will not be watching it in the near future.
2. Heather needs to fill us in on her Christmas Holidays in Santa Fe GRRM stalking. In January.
Remember: Winter is Coming.
Ahhh, Theresa 🥰 I will try my best to come back from Santa Fe with juicy tidbits!I have watched HOTD, so if anyone else wants to discuss, perhaps we could start a separate thread for it.
I got about 2/3 through ACOK in 2022; not sure if I'll go back to the beginning or just drop back in when we're in that section. I'll see how I'm feeling in the new year.
Looking forward to resuming the read!
I only got a few chapters in but I'm also a pretty fast reader when not pulled in a million directions. Steven finished so if no one else hops on board for ACOK, I'll post as I go and once I finish, we can set up ASOS -- which is going to need to be chopped up more given just HOW F'ING MUCH happens!
This is why we love GRRM:Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli.
Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab.
Fantasy tastes of habaneros and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer.
Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end.
Written by George R.R. Martin
We welcome you with open arms, Kate!
A Clash of Kings may possibly be going on holiday with me … I got about half way through earlier in the year - it’ll be good to pick it up again
Yippee! We are blessed with double Kates, one on GOT and one on ACOK!
Kateloves2read wrote: "The new year is going to be bloody fantastic! ( I suspect GOT is very bloody)"Wait until you get to volume 3 if you want bloody -- A Storm of Swords is Boldly Bloody!
Well Happy Holidays to you Kate! Quite the present you got yourself!
Kateloves2read wrote: "I started GOT yesterday and ended up reading 50 pages. I’ll be spending the weekend hopefully making a medium size dent in this chunkster. We ❤️s it!"
Way to go! When you finish one of our reading sections, check out the discussion we had last year and chime in. Reading Sections posted in first comment.
It is 'Evergreen'.
Question for all - if today's British Royal Family were in GOT, which characters or families would each be in? I am talking only Charles, his sons, and their wives. Of course in ASOIF it would likely be someone ultimately dying a gruesome death, not publishing ghost written celebrity memoirs.
I have to place Camilla as Cici just cause I hate them both with equal measure😂
Kateloves2read wrote: "I did start a shelf called “ my sibling is a serial killer” for an upcoming read. Wonder if this series will fit that tag. 🤔"Absolutely. Top of the list!
It may be a book or two before tbat becomes clear though.
Tyrion is freaking awesome. My second favourite character. And he has some of the best one-liners. My overall favourite is Arya, though. A girl with serious attitude
Tyrion and Arya are the most beloved characters and just awesome. Tyrion is actually GRRM's alterego. He is usually the smartest person in the room.Welcome to ASOIAF Fandom!
Kateloves2read wrote: "Forgot to mention I am past part two of GOT. This will be in my top 10 for this year, in the running for my favorite series (I know…I haven’t finished book one let alone book five)."
They are SO good though - and really only get better IMO!!
Kateloves2read wrote: "I am under 300 pages left. Thrilled I got the box set so I can start book two immediately."*as she crawls out of her blanket/pillow nest, undetected so no one in the real world knows where she is
Kateloves2read wrote: "My blanket nest is so comfortable in the caboose. So far I haven’t scared the Dickens out of someone wanting an extra blanket or pillow only to see eyes staring at them."😂
Perhaps the gentle snores when you doze off with a book on your chest might have alerted a few folks, or the hand with glass suddenly sticking out for a refill.
Kateloves2read wrote: "Yes, both of those things are 100% accurate. Was I drooling? 🫣"
If you were, we are not disclosing... and we probably thought it was because you had been ogling Cabanna Boy Tex, our cowboy.
Kateloves2read wrote: "I started book two last night. 🥳"Hurray!
Did you expect it to start where and how it did?
Ah, FINALLY finished A Clash of Kings! I did an audiobook this time and had a blast. You can really tell GRRM writes for television - every scene acted out had such tension and drama!
Congratulations! I am still in first quarter. Glad to hear about thecaudio. I have a trip in July with quite a bit of solo driving which 8s when I listen to audio. I have used audio credits to download all of ASOIAF. That will be an excellent choice.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
A Clash of Kings (other topics)A Clash of Kings (other topics)
War and Peace (other topics)
The City of Brass (other topics)
The Night Circus (other topics)
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Erin Morgenstern (other topics)Diana Gabaldon (other topics)
In the chapter where Jon and the Night's Watch reach the Fist of the First Men, Jon follows Ghost into the woods and discovers daggers, spearhead and arrowheads of dragonglass, along with a warhorn, buried there recently in the cloak of a Night's Watch brother. I don't think this plot thread has yet been returned to in the books? What do you think it means? I have theories, which I'll put under spoiler tags because it mentions things that happen in future books.
(view spoiler)[Do you think the horn is meant to be the Horn of Joramun? That becomes quite relevant later on when it's revealed Mance Rayder is looking for it as its supposed to be able to break the magical wards on the Wall, I think. There's some back and forth in future books about whether Mance has found it or whether that was a feint of his. If this is the true Horn of Joramun, that would be super interesting.
Second, who buried it there? I always forget it's wrapped in the Night's Watch cloak, and just got to that part this morning. Was it Benjen Stark? I think that's perhaps the most obvious implication, right? But then, how did Benjen find those things? And what happened to him??? Even after ADWD, we still don't know...
I recall a fan theory during the run of the show that posited Coldhands, who encounters Sam and Gilly later on, is some sort of undead Benjen. But supposedly GRRM debunked this theory when it came to the books? I am getting sketchy on the details now...
What do you think happened to Benjen? And is this the Horn of Joramun? (hide spoiler)]
I'd love to hear what you think!