Game of Thrones (THE BOOK) fans
Um ... so tell me why this book is good?
I started it a few days ago and am about 80 pages in and not enjoying it at all.
I can live with the author taking a million years to get through the setup and to the meat of the story, but the writing itself is not very good at all. What do you all like about it? What am I missing?
I started it a few days ago and am about 80 pages in and not enjoying it at all.
I can live with the author taking a million years to get through the setup and to the meat of the story, but the writing itself is not very good at all. What do you all like about it? What am I missing?
0
Replies
-
Bump.
Anyone? Bueller?0 -
It starts off slow and it's not for everyone. If you like happy endings or get offended easily I highly suggest you pick a different series to read.0
-
Nope. I can live without a happy ending and I do not get easily offended. But I'm finding the actual writing very difficult to take. it's not ... good.
I read the author's bio and with all his experience, I thought it would be. But it's very amateurish. I think that bugs me more than anything. I just don't get what the story is and I feel like after 80 pages, I should have SOME idea!
I guess I'll keep going and see if it picks up at all.0 -
It starts off slow and it's not for everyone.
^ agree...but it's great! I'm on pg 774 of the first book in the series and am already scheming to get my hands on the other 3.0 -
I don't think the writing is so terrible. It is a really good series... some of it is rather boring but I've read them all and am anxiously awaiting book 6 The Winds of Winter.0
-
Nope. I can live without a happy ending and I do not get easily offended. But I'm finding the actual writing very difficult to take. it's not ... good.
I read the author's bio and with all his experience, I thought it would be. But it's very amateurish. I think that bugs me more than anything. I just don't get what the story is and I feel like after 80 pages, I should have SOME idea!
I guess I'll keep going and see if it picks up at all.
Ya his writing style is kinda different, I would just keep going, I think you'll find that it does get better. I've been following this series for years so I might be a lil bias. I'm currently approaching the end of the last book in the series. Sadly, it's been a slight disappointment so far.0 -
I've heard the later books aren't as good. And if I don't like the first one, that doesn't bode well. lol
I guess I'll keep going. But the writing IS that bad. It's technically good (he can write a proper sentence) but it's poorly constructed in other ways.
I've read similar style, just never in a published novel. It's very, very, very bad.0 -
I guess I loved the first one because I am a HUGE fan of the series.0
-
I guess I loved the first one because I am a HUGE fan of the series.
The show? I haven't seen it. Maybe it's like The Notebook where the writer sucked, but the story was good so the movie was so much better than the book.0 -
The style is very Faulkner-esque. It takes a while to get past the construction of the book -- Each chapter being told with a different point of view. Sometimes the story doesn't movie in a linear fashion, either. You're not really getting a God's Eye view of the plot like with most novels; you have to piece it together. Martin makes you work for it, but, ultimately, I found it rewarding.0
-
The style is very Faulkner-esque. It takes a while to get past the construction of the book -- Each chapter being told with a different point of view. Sometimes the story doesn't movie in a linear fashion, either. You're not really getting a God's Eye view of the plot like with most novels; you have to piece it together. Martin makes you work for it, but, ultimately, I found it rewarding.
I have a degree in English lit. I've read a lot of books by a lot of authors. I even took an entire class on Faulkner. Sorry, but this guy is NOT like Faulkner, who could actually write.
I'm going to keep reading and see if it picks up since so many people love it. But I still stand by that he is not a good writer. Whether he's a good storyteller (two very different things) is yet to be decided.0 -
I've read the first three books, and currently stuck in the beginning of the fourth.
It's a compelling story to me, but I found myself skimming some of the chapters. It's overly detailed, with perhaps even too many characters to keep track of. I haven't picked up A Feast for Crows in a few months, and I probably won't anytime soon.0 -
Do you normally read fantasy lit or did you just pick them up because of the series?
I love the series, and I like how he writes. Then again I was really dragged in by how cruel he is to his characters. Guess each to his own
If you don't like it, don't read it. They are being fairly true to the books in the TV series so you can always get the major plot from there (but not the twisted little side plots, muhaha).
His writing shows how much he loves food though, tooo much description on that hehe. I generally skim over the menu and whenever major landscape description starts, do that with other books as well.. what is it with fantasy writers and describing landscape. It wasnt that great when Tolkien did it.. its not that great now. *hides from angry Tolkien fans*.0 -
The style is very Faulkner-esque. It takes a while to get past the construction of the book -- Each chapter being told with a different point of view. Sometimes the story doesn't movie in a linear fashion, either. You're not really getting a God's Eye view of the plot like with most novels; you have to piece it together. Martin makes you work for it, but, ultimately, I found it rewarding.
I have a degree in English lit. I've read a lot of books by a lot of authors. I even took an entire class on Faulkner. Sorry, but this guy is NOT like Faulkner, who could actually write.
I'm going to keep reading and see if it picks up since so many people love it. But I still stand by that he is not a good writer. Whether he's a good storyteller (two very different things) is yet to be decided.
Then just put the book down and start with another book. If you can't get past his "bad" writing you won't enjoy the book at all.... soooo no point in reading it.0 -
Do you normally read fantasy lit or did you just pick them up because of the series?
I love the series, and I like how he writes. Then again I was really dragged in by how cruel he is to his characters. Guess each to his own
If you don't like it, don't read it. They are being fairly true to the books in the TV series so you can always get the major plot from there (but not the twisted little side plots, muhaha).
His writing shows how much he loves food though, tooo much description on that hehe. I generally skim over the menu and whenever major landscape description starts, do that with other books as well.. what is it with fantasy writers and describing landscape. It wasnt that great when Tolkien did it.. its not that great now. *hides from angry Tolkien fans*.
His writing (not the story-telling, but the writing) reminds me of cheap romance novels. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I was really thinking about it today and that's what it is.
And every once in a while, for fun, I read a cheap romance novel and at least get enjoyment from the story. I guess I was just wondering (and I haven't seen the TV series because I don't have HBO) if it ever picks up story-wise. If it does, I think it's worth continuing just for the fun of it.
I like all kinds of books if they're well-written. I've read some incredible fantasy and sci-fi novels in my time, so it's not a problem with the genre at all. I guess with all the hype and the author's bio, I expected better. I really expected to like this. I'm kind of disappointed. :-(
Maybe I'll give it another hundred pages and if it's still this awful, I'll stop.0 -
It starts off slow and it's not for everyone. If you like happy endings or get offended easily I highly suggest you pick a different series to read.
Happy Ending? I would be happy with any ending.:laugh: I am on the 5th book now and am enjoying the series, but I am not sure the author knows where he is going. I mean 5 years between book 4 and 5. I know he was planning a book 5 because he said so in book 4, but I get the feeling 5 was rushed to take advantage of the TV series (which I have not watched due to being cheep and not having HBO)what is it with fantasy writers and describing landscape. It wasnt that great when Tolkien did it.. its not that great now. *hides from angry Tolkien fans*.
As someone who has read LOTR 16 times and is a big fan of Tolkien, you are correct about the landscape descriptions.0 -
It starts off slow and it's not for everyone. If you like happy endings or get offended easily I highly suggest you pick a different series to read.
Happy Ending? I would be happy with any ending.:laugh: I am on the 5th book now and am enjoying the series, but I am not sure the author knows where he is going. I mean 5 years between book 4 and 5. I know he was planning a book 5 because he said so in book 4, but I get the feeling 5 was rushed to take advantage of the TV series (which I have not watched due to being cheep and not having HBO)
I was surprised when I looked at the copyright and saw it came out in 1996 (I think???). 1990-something, definitely. I thought it was new.
If he pulls the crap the Lost writers pulled and I invest in this series, I will be quite angry.0 -
It took me a while to get into the first book but I did enjoy it. I'm on the third at the moment 0
-
I like it. Took me about 2 days to read the first book and now I am slowly but surely reading the fourth book.0
-
If he pulls the crap the Lost writers pulled and I invest in this series, I will be quite angry.
in this genre it's called "pulling a Wheel of Time" /"Robert Jordan" :devil: He has been poked about that and he says he will do his best not to have it without an ending. It's kinda sad that both him and Pratchett are getting to their end.. I'll have to find some other author to satisfy my evil fantasy thirst (aside from re-reading Grimm.. and ofc Neil Gaiman).
The hype is more about the story than his style. It gets quite nasty with lots of twists, and he gives his characters.. unique qualities. The Lannisters for example really start to shine in the 2nd book and onward.0 -
The first season is coming out soon. I would just watch the series, books are WAY to boring. Season 2 come out April 1.0
-
If you end up liking the series, just be prepared for your favorite character to die.
0 -
I like it but less so than when I read the first book in 1995/6. Now I just want to see where it is going. Between that and Robert Jordan I am never starting a series again until all the books are written 0
-
If you end up liking the series, just be prepared for your favorite character to die.
So true!
I hated the way Lost ended. Game of Thrones better have a proper ending!0 -
I've heard the later books aren't as good. And if I don't like the first one, that doesn't bode well. lol
I guess I'll keep going. But the writing IS that bad. It's technically good (he can write a proper sentence) but it's poorly constructed in other ways.
I've read similar style, just never in a published novel. It's very, very, very bad.
If you think it's 'very, very, very bad', give up then!! Why keep going if you think it's that bad???!!!!!!!
I love the books and happen to think that they are all astonishingly well written but I guess it's horses for courses.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 423 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions