I need a support group

[Uncle Grandpa]

Ok, so I started reading Garden of the Moon after reading many recommendations. I had recently gotten through the first books of GRR Martin's SOIAF, and many people said that if you liked that you'd like this. So I picked up the first book, and the first part was really good. Once it got to Dharujistan (sp?) I just seem to have no interest now. All I hear is how great the series is once you get past the first book.

Someone out there, please, I need some support to keep at it.
Wow, this is totally opposite from someone trying to kick a bad habit. I'm trying to keep a habit.

Thanks

 

[Corn! Corn! Corn!]

Trust me, I was the exact same way. I honestly didn't like Gardens of the Moon much, even after it was over. Here's a post I made shortly after beginning Deadhouse Gates:

I finished GoTM a few months ago with mixed thoughts. After buying Deadhouse Gates shortly after, I read a few pages and then just let it sit on my bookshelf. I really wanted to read and like the book (and the series), but I guess after reading GoTM I just wasn't that "hooked."

I've kept hearing good things about the books since, so I decided to pick up DG again. I'm only 200ish pages in and can already tell I will like this one a lot more. I honestly don't want to put it down. In general, the writing seems much better, although it may just be that the first book accustomed me to his writing style.

Is this normal? Hopefully I will enjoy the rest of the series as much as I have DG. Like I said, I was very weary after GoTM, but am very glad that I continued.

Hopefully I won't be too disappointed later.

Deadhouse Gates was unbelievable. I can't remember wanting to finish a book more than I did this one, aside from...um...HP. (I was young when I started the series. ) I am now approximately 1/2 way through Memories of Ice, and it is just...brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! Read on, my friend. Please.

As a side note, how far are you with GRRM? Have you read all four?

 

[chopper]

GOTM is like landing in the middle of a story - it's hard to understand what's going on until you come back around from reading the rest of the series - and Esslemont's books too - and do a re-read.... but even so, it's a pretty good read and is miles above most other fantasy series (opinion stated).

advice? stick with it. seriously. you need this one to get through MoI later on....

 

[HoopyFrood]

I think this the opinion of many who start this series...if it wasn't for someone else going "Keep going! It's amazing!" I doubt they'd be many followers of the books.

I myself got about halfway through Gardens of the Moon and had to restart it. I did the same with Deadhouse Gates, too (the change of characters threw me a bit and I just wasn't getting that into them). So I reread the first one and went on to the second one straight away, and enjoyed it immensely. It's an amazing series once you get into it (and not worry too much about trying to pick up all the little details). The ending to Deadhouse Gates is...whoa, and Memories of Ice, the entire thing, is...WHOA.

Keep going! It's amazing!

 

[Pyan]

Contrary view, for which I may be lynched....

Don't bother: Life's too short to read a long series because you feel you should/people say you should persevere. I gave up halfway through Deadhouse Gates, and d'you know what? The sky didn't fall, the earth didn't split asunder...and I went on to read another book, (Un Lun Dun, I believe it was) which I enjoyed much, much more than facing another page of Erikson...

 

[chopper]

how would you prefer to be lynched?
Scott Lynched?
or David Lynched?

 

[HoopyFrood]

There seems be something in the series, however, that so many people say keep persevering. And I don't think anyone's really suggesting that such mighty things would happen if someone didn't continue with the series...just that those who do read the series really do enjoy them a lot, as with any fan of a book (and can't help being a bit vocal about it). Obviously not everyone is going to be taken by it, whoever finally writes a book like that'll have their brain dissected to see how the hell they managed it, but it does seem with this series that it's generally a good thing to carry on until the second book at least -- it's like saying that it's good to get through about half a book to decide if it's really worth the effort, and because this particular tale is just so...huge...a book and a half probably equates to about the same.

 

[elvet]

I urge you to continue. Deadhouse Gates is amazing. I just finished all the books and have started rereading them. Gardens of the Moon makes so much more sense now. Believe me, you'll want to reread it too once you get into the series.

 

[Valko]

Have to admit I had the same problem with GOTM.
It was only because I'd already bought the 2nd and 3rd books at the same time that I ploughed on with it.
I'm so pleased I did, it's a brilliant series

 

[anthorn]

Different problem for me.

I had difficulty getting into the begining bits. Only decided to stick with the series when I read the first Dharujistan part. Still on with the book though. Already have bought deadhouse gates

 

[Lenny]

I think Chopper has said it best:

GOTM is like landing in the middle of a story

To be perfectly honest, you ARE landing in the middle of a story. It's natural to stumble if you hit the ground running, the question is whether you'll steady yourself or let the cold, hard tarmac embrace you.

One of the best things about the series for me is that you're always discovering new things, and new connections. I've read the first seven books three times each, the eighth twice, and I'm currently halfway through the ninth - there are things in the second book that don't make sense until you've read the third, things in the first few that don't make sense until you've read the fourth, things in the sixth that you don't pick up on until you've read the second much deeper... and so on. I'm picking up on things in the first eight books (which have been there all along, staring me straight in the face) that I never realised, and only am realising because the ninth book is shining a bit of light onto them. And I imagine when I've finished Dust of Dreams and go back to GotM and do another re-read of the series, I'll pick up on things in DoD that I didn't think important at the time...

If you get my drift.

I personally think the story arcs are some of the best I've read, and the sheer size of the world, with its many races and thousands of years of history, doesn't leave me wanting.

Obviously it's not for some, but I don't think you get a taste for much until the third book, Memories of Ice. If you can, then go on, but if you can't... well, it's like Marmite.

EDIT: Oh... thread necromancy.

 

[Tansy]

I must admit after a 2nd try GOM wowed me

I then ordered the next 2 or was it 3??

BUT after attempting the first few chapters I gave up on Deadhouse Gates, I do intend trying to reread and I am convinced it will be amazing.. thing is work is full on atm so when I get home I wanna chill and with Eriksson chilling isn't an option, therefore once I get round to reading it I am sure I will adore it

It's just taking some building up to get there

 

[Tansy]

I must admit after a 2nd try GOM wowed me

I then ordered the next 2 or was it 3??

BUT after attempting the first few chapters I gave up on Deadhouse Gates, I do intend trying to reread and I am convinced it will be amazing.. thing is work is full on atm so when I get home I wanna chill and with Eriksson chilling isn't an option, therefore once I get round to reading it I am sure I will adore it

It's just taking some building up to get there

EDIT: must add GOM wowed me when I used to come here often... so about a year ago, ever since then I've been working up the enthusiasm to give another book that much emotional time