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Message
Question for GoT book readers
Posted on 5/7/15 at 10:50 pm
Posted on 5/7/15 at 10:50 pm
I'm 50 pages into the first book. I don't really have a full grasp of the 20+ people I have been introduced to so far. Will I get a firm grasp on characters, their lineages and families as I continue to read, or should I go back now and reread and pay closer attention.
Would watching a couple of episodes of the HBO series help me get a grasp on the characters?
Would watching a couple of episodes of the HBO series help me get a grasp on the characters?
6
Posted on 5/7/15 at 10:52 pm to Finn
quote:As someone who is 3.5/5 way through the series for the first time I can tell you yes and no.
Will I get a firm grasp on characters, their lineages and families as I continue to read, or should I go back now and reread and pay closer attention.
quote:It'll put faces to some of the names but reading the books is the only place where you really can get a grasp of who a character is.
Would watching a couple of episodes of the HBO series help me get a grasp on the characters?
This post was edited on 5/7/15 at 10:54 pm
Posted on 5/7/15 at 10:54 pm to Finn
Yes like any book with lots of characters you'll adjust. It takes more time to get used go his writing style if you're used to "traditional" fantasy. There's also an index in the back if you're that confused.
No the show is less confusing but still the same learning curve.
No the show is less confusing but still the same learning curve.
Posted on 5/7/15 at 10:57 pm to DMagic
How closely are the books to the show? How close are the books to an ending?
Posted on 5/7/15 at 11:00 pm to Purple Spoon
The first season is very close but like any film adaptation the subsequent seasons veer off.
As to your second question your guess is a good as any book reader.
As to your second question your guess is a good as any book reader.
Posted on 5/7/15 at 11:02 pm to Purple Spoon
quote:
How closely are the books to the show? How close are the books to an ending?
First season is pretty close to the book, but it leaves out my favorite scene from the entire series to-date: a Ned flashback to the Tower of Joy. The show also significantly under-delivers on the direwolves due to low budget. After season 1, show is almost an entirely different story compared to the books. I gave up on the show a long time ago.
Posted on 5/7/15 at 11:04 pm to Purple Spoon
quote:
How close are the books to an ending?
there will never be a GRRM book ending. That fat frick will die before that happens. my guess is he wants it that way because he A) he doesn't know how to get to an ending that wraps up enough of everything to satisfy readers and/or B) the popularity of the series/show have grown so much, he knows that the expectations are so high that he will get blasted for the ending
Posted on 5/7/15 at 11:11 pm to Displaced
At least he's conscious of the need of a good ending. He could shite all over his fans like Bioware did with mass effect 3.
Posted on 5/7/15 at 11:28 pm to Finn
It's impossible and kind of unimportant to remember absolutely everyone and how they connect together. It kind of just gives the story some more depth. I tend to remember enough when they get mentioned again, or there is some background mentioned around then. You can also look at the wiki for a refresher, although you have to be careful of spoilers.
Posted on 5/7/15 at 11:32 pm to LeonPhelps
quote:
After season 1, show is almost an entirely different story compared to the books.
That's an exaggeration. They're still basically the same story. Some characters are combined. Some characters play the role of others that aren't introduced in the show. Some things go a little differently, but I still am under the impression that things are headed pretty much the same direction. It's almost entirely just necessity so that the books can be compressed into show form.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 5:41 am to Peazey
Show is better than the books, IMO. The first book is the same as the first season. Second book is very close to the second season. Third book covers third and fourth seasons. The fourth book is work to get through. The fifth book is like the fourth with better characters.
This post was edited on 5/8/15 at 5:42 am
Posted on 5/8/15 at 5:44 am to LeonPhelps
quote:
After season 1, show is almost an entirely different story compared to the books.
Up until the fifth season, the overwhelming majority has been the same, and the ending will be the same as well.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 6:05 am to ohiovol
I agree. The 4th book was a pain in the arse to get through. Took me over a year to finally get through. Just kept putting it down. It took the 5th book coming out to give me the motivation to finish the 4th.
But to OP I don't think watching the show first would help. Hell I would be lost as frick if I didn't read first. Just started the show over with someone who hasn't read and had to give summaries on people in between each episode.
But to OP I don't think watching the show first would help. Hell I would be lost as frick if I didn't read first. Just started the show over with someone who hasn't read and had to give summaries on people in between each episode.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 6:27 am to GatorReb
I hadn't read the books by the time I watched the first season and had to read the episode recaps on Wikipedia to make sure I knew all the characters.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 7:23 am to Finn
quote:
Would watching a couple of episodes of the HBO series help me get a grasp on the characters?
I watched the first season before reading the books, then read all the available books while waiting for the second season to start. It helped me get a grasp of many of the characters before reading the books but there is so much going on you will eventually need to consult The Oracle (ie: google). There are a few sites out there with extremely good interactive maps (kingdoms outlined, named, house names and banners, etc).
Posted on 5/8/15 at 8:59 am to ohiovol
quote:
Up until the fifth season, the overwhelming majority has been the same, and the ending will be the same as well.
They killed one of Dany's bloodriders in the 2nd episode of season 2 when all 3 are alive and well through the latest book. Those bloodriders are bad-arse and the prelude to her Queensguard. Killing one of them off was unforgivable. That's when I checked out.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:01 am to GatorReb
quote:
The 4th book was a pain in the arse to get through. Took me over a year to finally get through. Just kept putting it down. It took the 5th book coming out to give me the motivation to finish the 4th.
Having started the series in ~2001 and having waited years for each book, I took off of work for 3 days to read book 4 from start to finish. I did the same for book 5. I really regretted doing that for book 5 because Mereen pissed me off to no end. But I know I will be doing it again in 2029 when he finally finishes book 6.
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:13 am to LeonPhelps
The hell..
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:13 am to Finn
Do a first read of the series so far, taking everything for face value. Then to a re-read to get a better understanding of what's really going on.
Then read all the theories and get really jacked up, then watch the show and get even further jacked up when the show doesn't do that one line or that one scene that you've been thinking about for a year.
A last word of advice: Totally unhinge the show from the books and treat them both as two different mediums. Thank this board later.
Then read all the theories and get really jacked up, then watch the show and get even further jacked up when the show doesn't do that one line or that one scene that you've been thinking about for a year.
A last word of advice: Totally unhinge the show from the books and treat them both as two different mediums. Thank this board later.
This post was edited on 5/8/15 at 9:14 am
Posted on 5/8/15 at 9:30 am to Finn
I'm currently finishing my second read through the entire series. There are ALOT of people that introduced. A lot of them become important in their own way while other s are introduced to give you a feeling of the environment and just to get you inside the POV character's head. The first book is very important to pay close attention to as it introduces to the entire realm and some of the history.
The show and book follow the same main story and the ending will be the same they will just take different paths to get there. As a book lover I personally like some of the changes the show has made.
Because be warned the books have a tendency to throw so much at you that you may feel overwhelmed and Martin is a great story teller, not the best writer. things sometime become bogged down and you will feel like the book is going nowhere, but trust me it is a good read.
If I was in your situation I would be the first book through then watch the first season, then read the second book and then the second season and so on.
If you want the full experience of the books STAY OFF THE BROADS AND STAY AWAY FROM SPOLIERS
The show and book follow the same main story and the ending will be the same they will just take different paths to get there. As a book lover I personally like some of the changes the show has made.
Because be warned the books have a tendency to throw so much at you that you may feel overwhelmed and Martin is a great story teller, not the best writer. things sometime become bogged down and you will feel like the book is going nowhere, but trust me it is a good read.
If I was in your situation I would be the first book through then watch the first season, then read the second book and then the second season and so on.
If you want the full experience of the books STAY OFF THE BROADS AND STAY AWAY FROM SPOLIERS
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