Really like song of ice and fire

[Eulalia]

For the Imp's Soap List:
General Hoster

For Ursa's Opera List:
La Wally (of ice)

 

[No One]

I had read Moby Dick, but I still prefer song of ice and fire.

I've also read Moby Dick (loved it purely for the use of language and imagery) but would agree that ASOIAF is far more entertaining. I'd say Melville, along with a very large number of classic writers are far superior in some, if not most, terms, but not everyone has tried to tell a story with the plot logistics of Martin's work. And, IMO, Martin's work more than qualifies as quality literature.

While we're on classics, I'd be interested to know how many of us ASOIAF readers are actually into the classics. Not that I want to get into comparing Martin's stuff with a Paradise Lost, Frankenstein, or the Iliad, etc. That would lead nowhere good. I think anyone who enjoys something like ASOIAF would love something like The Histories (by Herodotus, detailing the Persian Wars. Most will at least know the part about the 300 spartans). If I had to pick one book to read for the rest of my life, that would be the one.

 

[Eulalia]

Okay, No One. Sorry, it's been a bad week!

I don't know, today's pot boiler is tomorrow's classic. The SOIAF has all the makings of a classic. I like the complex characters, the sophisticated plot, the writing (doesn't have to be archaic in it's time), the manipulation of historical detail and the themes.

After LOTR, the classic that it reminds me of the most is Vanity Fair (the novel without a hero) but that is not nearly as long!

Favorite classic for me? War and Peace--not kidding--is a very wise book, and it was a compelling read. Maybe it helps to be female, though, because it has a lot of romance and very non romantic ideas about domestic happiness. Of course, there is a fair bit about the nature of war that is not romanticised either.

Gosh it would be difficult to list the complex themes in ASOIAF.

Who is a hero? Why? What is a knight? Should you keep your oaths? What is honor? What if "honor" hurts a lot of people? How much do you owe kin? Nature or nurture? What does it mean to be a leader? What is a good (or bad) man? What is a good woman? What about loyalty? Is there a cost? There are even a few "Horatio Alger's". Most of them do not come off well, right? How far should you go to survive? What is vengence? What place does Capitalism have? Laws or custom? Should you be active or passive with events? How about ability vs birth? Who is brave? How far do you take emotion? Violence? How far do you take Machiavellian ideas? How far do you take attraction? Even, what makes good sex?

Actually, a lot of those themes can be found in Shakespeare. Or history. Or philosophy? Or right now.

 

[No One]

Okay, Eulalia. Sorry, me too!

I have War and Peace on my shelf. Still haven't got round to it, regrettably.

And some great notes on the themes - any worthy piece of work will invariably touch on these, because, as you say, they're endemic to history and philosophy (i.e: being human). No question that ASOIAF is a classic in the making.

 

[Eulalia]

And I forgot to add the whole power thing,too, but that was pointed out!

W&P is not really such a hard read, if you get a good translation. It's just long. That shouldn't scare people who like GRRM. Some of the opinion about the Great Man theory of history can be skipped if you are not into it. But I don't know, it's about Napoleon, how cool is that? Everyone has a few different names and nicknames, though, and there are lots of fine, realisitic characters. Lot's of practical observations about human nature, well demonstrated! (Don't marry the bad girl. Don't marry the dull girl. Watch out for the bad boys. War is not pretty or especially romantic. How a general can act...) Anyway, it's a wonderfully crafted historical fiction.

It's not as tough as, say, Gulliver's Travels, The Heart of Darkness (wow, even though it's short and interesting, it is painful), or even Frankenstein.

I should think after reading all of the above, Dance should be ready!