So I (finally) finished Game of Thrones. When I finished it, I said “I will write Monday’s essay about it.” And then I said “Where is Clash of Kings?”
Though, honestly, I probably should read American Gods first. It’s not like Winds of Winter is coming out anytime soon.
I also am taken aback because Cold Days
Then I realized that “Changes” ended on a note that made me say “AUGH I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT FREAKING NOW” and “Ghost Story” ended on a note that said “I can wait patiently for the next ‘un.” That particular virtue has paid off in this case. I am now pleasantly surprised to be this close to it.
So… what are you reading?
Yes, you should read American Gods. 🙂
Seconded. Followed by Good Omens, if you haven’t read that.
I would love to have discussion posts about each Song of Ice and Fire book that you finish. I read the whole series in about six weeks this fall and loved it (though I think the earlier books are better; events get quite a bit more diffuse as the series goes on). I think I remember you saying in the Google+ chat that you’ve watched the TV series, so do you know basically what happens in A Clash of Kings?
I found I, Robot at a used bookstore, read it, remembered I liked Asimov, and now have Foundation and Empire out of the library (I read series out of order depending on what’s available at moment) and am remember I’m not such a huge fan of the Foundation books. I remember the first time I read it as a teen it seemed like 90% plot and 10% characters, which is likely inevitable when you write a series to take place over centuries.
I’m impressed.
Yeah, I sort of binge on pop culture when I find something new.
When I finished AGoT, I immediately started ACoK, and then had to wait about six months for ASoS to come out. All awesome. Then five years to be disappointed in AFfC and six more years to be very disappointed by ADwD. But the first three are not only awesome, but leave many of the characters more or less resolved, for the time being at least. The original plan was for ASoS to start after a five or six year hiatus as the plot heats up again (which is one reason some of the characters in the books seem too young and are older on TV; they were supposed to have time to grow up.)
Shorter first paragraph: read at least the first three.
I’ll second the recommendation for Good Omens, and then suggest Pratchett’s Small Gods as an introduction to the Discworld. It’s a standalone, it’s one of his best, and it’s about things that interest you mightily.
Yes. Small Gods is the perfect intro.
Though Mort will probably always be my favorite.
I may have to give Good Omens a re-read. It didn’t really make an impression on me at the time, but at the time I read it I really wanted either more Sandman, or Douglas Adams (who people kept using as a reference point for Pratchett; HHG2TG was a foundational text for me). I remember being a bit underwhelmed. Never read any other Pratchett AFAIK, I may try Small Gods.
I originally had a hard time with Pratchett, because his books generally start with some hilarious, Python-like comedy, and then become more interested in the characters and the plot, so the funny parts get sparser. (Unlike HHG2TG, where there’s always a sidesplitting digression no more than a chapter away.) I had to re-calibrate expectations a bit. Good Omens is on the far side of that. It has some very funny bits, but P and G are very careful not to let them get in the way of the story.
Although I found it an entraining read, for Good Omens never quite stood up to Pratchett’s solo stuff.
GO was a well-told yarn, but the best Pratchett yarns always take the time to say something fairly profound between the lines on subjects like art, politics, government, justice, religion, success, etc.
I’ve been trying to get him to read Small Gods since before we got married. If y’all succeed, I will be mightily grateful :D. (Soul Music is my sentimental favorite, I think, but Small Gods is definitely one of the good ‘uns.)
Small Gods just might be the best book on religion that I have ever read; certainly it is the one that made me the most sympathetic and empathetic with the faithful.
I’ve read it multiple times, and the last line moves me so that I tear up each time I read it.
I want to go back and reread it if only to actually copy down the Vorbis/Brutha conversations of Trivial Truths and Fundamental Truths. It was brilliant.
Yes – that scene comes back to me a LOT when reading political blogs.
For class I am reading Reality Is Broken, about which I have many very strong, very mixed feelings.
Otherwise, rereading 2nd vol of Sandman (A Doll’s House), still meandering through Antonia Fraser’s memoir of being married to Harold Pinter, and dipping into and out of A Stone Bridge North (a Quaker meditation on falling in love over the internet, moving out to the middle of nowhere to live as uncomplicatedly as possible, and the virtues of the hearth).
My wife is making me read the new Gillian Flynn book.
Is that Gone Girl? That book is… stressful.
No – I already read Gone Girl (and I concur it was stressful). I’m starting Dark Places.
Oh, that’s from 2009. But I hope you’ll let me know what you think of it.
I just finished Red Seas Under Red Skies. As with the first book, I felt like Lynch had all the set-pieces right but somehow the whole thing added up to “just okay”. He can now join Martin on my list of authors I read who never seem to actually publish anything.
Up next is probably The Twelve and Among Others, in rapid succession.
I don’t think I will seek out The Twelve (but if someone loans it to me, or I have a flight to kill I will probably still read it – this was why I read Girl w/ the Dragon Tattoo, ugh). I thought The Passage had really propulsive momentum like old Stephen King (the obvious precedent) – I read the thing in a day or two – but it felt *way* less substantial than King’s stuff, just complete junk food empty calories, no memorable characters or dialogue; it all felt secondhand.
“Less substantial than Stephen King” is a hell of a bar, but I think you’re right. I’m mostly reading The Twelve because I have already committed myself to seeing this through.
Well, evidently, I’m soon going to be reading fewer comics.
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Breaking exile for this:
http://comicbook.com/blog/2012/10/30/star-wars-comics-dark-horse-responds-to-disney-lucasfilm-deal/
Well, shit. I didn’t even think about this. Dark Horse has made some of the best Star Wars stories due to what I believe was some form of limited “hands off” deal between Lucas and Dark Horse.
While the old Marvel comics weren’t bad and DID introduce 6 ft tall carnivorus rabbits to the universe (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jaxxon), Dark Horse was far and away the best fit for Star Wars if only because they could actually write stories where the characters in the movies weren’t the main stars.
As if my reasons to go to the comic store weren’t dwindling as it is.