* Possible ADWD Spoilers * Struggling with book, any tips?

[lonewolf]

Hey guys,

I loved the first few books i read and didnt have "too" much trouble with the book prior to the latest one. But I am really struggling to get through this one. Ok maybe not a struggle as such but compared to how addicted i got to the first few...this one i am not really that addicted to at all. Not even that intrigued or wondering what awaits me on the next page etc etc. I am not sure if its because some of these characters i havent even read anything about for about 7 years now or if its to do with the fact that its been such a long time since i read anything in this world..

Or even maybe All my favs / characters i connected with have died and i am not that interested in whose left? I am starting to think its the latter as even though i have and still am dealing with Robert Jordan / WoT issues of length and years apart from each book, everytime i got the book i still was interested and got addicted to at least some chapters / characters. With this one, i have gotten through more than half way so far and still am not feeling drawn to it. So much so that i have put it down and am reading another book at the moment and will get back to it once i finish the other book....

Is there any tips or tricks i can do to get re-energized with the series? I saw the first season of the TV show but thats finished.... I dont want to go back and reread all the books again. Maybe i need to a refresher course on what took place previously as i realised i cant remember half of what has happened with these characters...

Is there perhaps like quick synopsis of each character and book floating around the web?

 

[Pilpel]

Re: Struggling with book, any tips?

A Wiki of Ice and Fire
It has loads of information about everything in the series.

It works different for each person, I have no idea what might get you motivated again
Whenever I got bored with ADWD I just put it down for a while. When I force myself to read something, it's not as fun. After a few days I usually got curious again.
A point that kept me going through characters I didn't like, was that there's always something important happening in a chapter that's crucial for the rest of the book, otherwise it wouldn't be there.

 

[Tywin]

Re: Struggling with book, any tips?

Are you reading A Feast for Crows, or A Dance With Dragons? If it's ADWD my advice will be to keep going until it picks up interesting characters again and the plot finally moves forward about halfway through.

 

[garion77]

Re: Struggling with book, any tips?

Hey guys,

I loved the first few books i read and didnt have "too" much trouble with the book prior to the latest one. But I am really struggling to get through this one. Ok maybe not a struggle as such but compared to how addicted i got to the first few...this one i am not really that addicted to at all. Not even that intrigued or wondering what awaits me on the next page etc etc. I am not sure if its because some of these characters i havent even read anything about for about 7 years now or if its to do with the fact that its been such a long time since i read anything in this world..

Or even maybe All my favs / characters i connected with have died and i am not that interested in whose left? I am starting to think its the latter as even though i have and still am dealing with Robert Jordan / WoT issues of length and years apart from each book, everytime i got the book i still was interested and got addicted to at least some chapters / characters. With this one, i have gotten through more than half way so far and still am not feeling drawn to it. So much so that i have put it down and am reading another book at the moment and will get back to it once i finish the other book....

Is there any tips or tricks i can do to get re-energized with the series? I saw the first season of the TV show but thats finished.... I dont want to go back and reread all the books again. Maybe i need to a refresher course on what took place previously as i realised i cant remember half of what has happened with these characters...

Is there perhaps like quick synopsis of each character and book floating around the web?

If you are talking about ADWD, I feel you with that... It was very slow and went no where in my opinion... He could have made AFFC and ADWD into one book if he would have took out all the food descriptions and endless traveling, and descriptions of land, rivers, and did I say endless food descriptions.... The story went NO WHERE... Nothing were resolved or pushed forward from the first 4 series...

It was a hard read... I had to go back and re-read the first 4 books to remind myself why I loved the series so much... I really hope he get TWOW right...

 

[Mesanna]

Re: Struggling with book, any tips?

Agree with Tywin. About half/two-thirds of ADwD runs concurrently with AFfC and suffers somewhat from the same slowness that dragged down AFfC. However it does pick up towards the end, so if you managed to get half way through, I'd hang in there!

 

[The Imp]

Re: Struggling with book, any tips?

Hey guys,

I loved the first few books i read and didnt have "too" much trouble with the book prior to the latest one. But I am really struggling to get through this one. Ok maybe not a struggle as such but compared to how addicted i got to the first few...this one i am not really that addicted to at all. Not even that intrigued or wondering what awaits me on the next page etc etc. I am not sure if its because some of these characters i havent even read anything about for about 7 years now or if its to do with the fact that its been such a long time since i read anything in this world..

Or even maybe All my favs / characters i connected with have died and i am not that interested in whose left? I am starting to think its the latter as even though i have and still am dealing with Robert Jordan / WoT issues of length and years apart from each book, everytime i got the book i still was interested and got addicted to at least some chapters / characters. With this one, i have gotten through more than half way so far and still am not feeling drawn to it. So much so that i have put it down and am reading another book at the moment and will get back to it once i finish the other book....

Is there any tips or tricks i can do to get re-energized with the series? I saw the first season of the TV show but thats finished.... I dont want to go back and reread all the books again. Maybe i need to a refresher course on what took place previously as i realised i cant remember half of what has happened with these characters...

Is there perhaps like quick synopsis of each character and book floating around the web?

I've recommended these chapter summaries to people who need a refresher but don't want to go back and re-read all the books. They are the best I've seen.

http://towerofthehand.com/books/guide.html

and welcome to the forum

I got through aDWD in about 4 days (audiobooks version) but that's just me. It DOES kind of pick up after a REALLY slow start, but some of the POVs have "superfluous material" IMO.

 

[Koopa]

Re: Struggling with book, any tips?

The first part of the book is slow-going, you wonder when some new stuff will at long last happen. but then comes the second part of the book and it gets good.
It's like GRRM was still setting up the table of the feast during the first part of the dance, and at long last commenced on dancing during the second part.

I recall my initial dissapointment fading, and then dissapearing the further the book got along.
(well, except for the dany parts, too be fair even in the previous books i never cared all that much for her chapters. Which is a bit disturbing since she is obvious a major player. Well, he might pull a Jon on her (i mean this in the case

Spoiler

Jon stays dead

(spoiler))

 

[The Imp]

Re: Struggling with book, any tips?

The first part of the book is slow-going, you wonder when some new stuff will at long last happen. but then comes the second part of the book and it gets good.
It's like GRRM was still setting up the table of the feast during the first part of the dance, and at long last commenced on dancing during the second part.

eliminated the spoiler text that was quoted

 

[Tywin]

Imp, he's made it blank in his, but the spoiler is still in your quote.

 

[Koopa]

No Ursa changed it for me.
Forgot, the thread opener hadn't actually finished Dance.

I hereby apologise if you saw what i wrote.

 

[The Imp]

Imp, he's made it blank in his, but the spoiler is still in your quote.

Thanks. It's been fixed

 

[Coragem]

Personally I think ADWD is a superb book. It's true that it's "slow", but it's also extremely rich and textured.

I recommend trying to really savour what's being said. The descriptions are very vivid, and wonderfully written. They bring a "reality" to the world Martin creates in a way that few (if any) authors could match.

Unlike A Storm of Swords, this isn't excitement and action, but it's a different kind of pleasure -- more contemplative.

Coragem.

 

[The Imp]

Personally I think ADWD is a superb book. It's true that it's "slow", but it's also extremely rich and textured.

I recommend trying to really savour what's being said. The descriptions are very vivid, and wonderfully written. They bring a "reality" to the world Martin creates in a way that few (if any) authors could match.

Unlike A Storm of Swords, this isn't excitement and action, but it's a different kind of pleasure -- more contemplative.

Coragem.

As with AFFC, I'm liking ADWD much better the second time through it. I think that fo9r me, part of the problem was my need to race through the book as quickly as possible so I could "find out what happened". ADWD will never be my favorite of the series, but I certainly like it a lot better now than I did when I finished it.

 

[Timba]

Personally I think ADWD is a superb book. It's true that it's "slow", but it's also extremely rich and textured.

I recommend trying to really savour what's being said. The descriptions are very vivid, and wonderfully written. They bring a "reality" to the world Martin creates in a way that few (if any) authors could match.

Unlike A Storm of Swords, this isn't excitement and action, but it's a different kind of pleasure -- more contemplative.

Coragem.

This is my take on it also. I decided it had been so long I had to reread the first 4 books and then read this one. I think that helped my enjoyment factor but I agree with the idea that it does not move along very quickly but as you said it is richly descriptive and really, to me, feels like he now has the dominos mostly set up and the final (2?) books should have a faster pace. I also have to admit that since finding this forum and reading all the ideas people have about what is going on my anticipation factor for the next book is way too high given how long we will likely have to wait. Nevertheless the forum should keep my appetite stimulated and for that I thank you one and all.

 

[Mesanna]

I also have to admit that since finding this forum and reading all the ideas people have about what is going on my anticipation factor for the next book is way too high given how long we will likely have to wait. Nevertheless the forum should keep my appetite stimulated and for that I thank you one and all.

That's exactly how I feel too. Not only does the forum present ideas that might never have occurred to me otherwise, it helps to scratch an itch while we wait for the next book (which is going to be full of awesomesauce and I will throw pies at anyone who dares to feel differently!) Cheers, folks!

 

[The Imp]

That's exactly how I feel too. Not only does the forum present ideas that might never have occurred to me otherwise, it helps to scratch an itch while we wait for the next book (which is going to be full of awesomesauce and I will throw pies at anyone who dares to feel differently!) Cheers, folks!

The GRRM forum on Chrons is the first thing I check when I start my day. It is my favorite forum in the history of the internet, literally. Period. Everyone is literate, intelligent, civil, and insightful. In a world that I find increasingly more depressing with each passing day, this is my little corner of the universe where I don't have to think about real life (for the most part).

And now i have to go flame someone on an NBA forum i post on Just kidding

 

[viZion]

Someone somewhere on these forums posted a guide to reading AFFC and ADWD simultaneously in chronological order. I.e. you switch between the two books so that you're getting ALL of the characters all at once. Apparently the people who have done this have reported fantastic results and they've said it makes the experience 10 times more enjoyable. If I can find it, I'll link it here. I would like to try it once I get some spare cash to buy the Kindle version of AFFC.

 

[Needle]

I also have to admit that since finding this forum and reading all the ideas people have about what is going on my anticipation factor for the next book is way too high given how long we will likely have to wait. Nevertheless the forum should keep my appetite stimulated and for that I thank you one and all.

That's exactly how I feel too. Not only does the forum present ideas that might never have occurred to me otherwise, it helps to scratch an itch while we wait for the next book (which is going to be full of awesomesauce and I will throw pies at anyone who dares to feel differently!) Cheers, folks!

The GRRM forum on Chrons is the first thing I check when I start my day. It is my favorite forum in the history of the internet, literally. Period. Everyone is literate, intelligent, civil, and insightful. In a world that I find increasingly more depressing with each passing day, this is my little corner of the universe where I don't have to think about real life (for the most part).

And now i have to go flame someone on an NBA forum i post on Just kidding

I completely agree with you all! This forum has become my favorite place to be. It is the first and last (and usually sometime in the middle too) thing I do each day. My son laughs at me because I complain all the time about how much time he spends online, and now he says "Moms talking with her friends again!" and I am! I could so hang out with you all!

On another personal note- I received my AA in nursing for an RN degree last Sat.! Went from a 10th grade education to a college degree in just over 2 years, I am proud of myself but the point here is to thank you all for the help you unwittingly provided! it was a very stressful 2 years and this is my de-stress place! Thank you all!

I will stop threadjacking now!

P.S. Mesanna, I can supply the pies!

 

[Mesanna]

Someone somewhere on these forums posted a guide to reading AFFC and ADWD simultaneously in chronological order. I.e. you switch between the two books so that you're getting ALL of the characters all at once. Apparently the people who have done this have reported fantastic results and they've said it makes the experience 10 times more enjoyable. If I can find it, I'll link it here. I would like to try it once I get some spare cash to buy the Kindle version of AFFC.

I plan to do this next time I re-read, and I bookmarked the post that gave the reading order. Have a look here:

http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/1516518-post7.html


Needle,
Big congratulations on getting your degree. That's fantastic news! A big pat on the back from all of us and a smooch from the Westeros hottie of your choice!

 

[Ursa major]

On another personal note- I received my AA in nursing for an RN degree last Sat.! Went from a 10th grade education to a college degree in just over 2 years, I am proud of myself but the point here is to thank you all for the help you unwittingly provided! it was a very stressful 2 years and this is my de-stress place! Thank you all!

I'm glad you don't find us pointless. But while we may have injected some je ne sais quoi into your obviously in-no-way-vain attempts to gain your degree, we all know your achievement is really yours alone.

Many Congratulations, Needle.