SuperTiger
Yamada Kōji
Kunoichi-san
*meyolow*
Posts: 1,187
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Post by SuperTiger on Jun 30, 2014 16:38:40 GMT -5
So, I bought the first book in the "A Song of Fire and Ice" series. I started reading it because I know it's the basis for Game of Thrones which people are always raving about. The problem is, I don't know if I should invest time into reading all of the books because they're all very lengthy. Couple that with me being a pre-med student always pressed for time, and if I had to guess it'd take me a long while to finish them. That being said I can make some good progress on them for the next seven or so weeks before the semester starts. Anywho! I am in a bit of a predicament. I would also love to watch the show, but I'm kind of OCD and like to have read the books before I do so. For anyone that has read/watched the show, preferably both, what should I do? Are the books really good enough to spend the countless hours reading them, or should I sell out and just watch the show?
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Post by SasukeAnimator on Jun 30, 2014 16:48:41 GMT -5
The first 3 books are fantastic, and I would highly recommend them. However, the 4th book drops in quality so much that I couldn't finish it. I recommend reading only the first three, I think the 3rd took me about a month, and the first two were a bit less than that.
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Anshin
Nakata Daisuke
Retired Staff
Retired Staff
Posts: 949
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Post by Anshin on Jun 30, 2014 23:53:26 GMT -5
I started watching the show after the first season had finished, and before the second season had started. I've also read the first and second books; and i'm currently reading the third. Personally, I prefer to use the show as a basis/starting point, as the books are not easy reads by any means; and then fill in the gaps of the show with the details of the books. I'm a visual person, so watching it first makes it much easier for me to understand what's going on in the books as I read it later. But that's just me. Also, fixed your topic title. It's "A Song of Ice and Fire," not "A Song of Fire and Ice"
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Post by dlee on Jul 1, 2014 0:34:56 GMT -5
Now the show has finished for a year Im re-reading the 3rd & 4th books at the moment. And i couldn't agree more with SasukeAnimator & Anshinritsumai!
Im also a visual person so I watched the first season then took on the books and i loved them straight away.
First 3 books are awesome ,exciting and very vividly detailed. The 4th book (feast of crows) made me stop reading the series all together. Im hoping that this time around I actually enjoy it and get onto Dance with Dragons because they really are amazing books and I've heard the latest is the best.
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Anshin
Nakata Daisuke
Retired Staff
Retired Staff
Posts: 949
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Post by Anshin on Jul 1, 2014 11:40:19 GMT -5
It won't matter starting out, but eventually, take note of the book order. ---- Book 1 - A Game of Thrones Book 2 - A Clash of Kings Book 3 - A Storm of Swords Book 4 - A Feast For Crows Book 5 - A Dance with Dragons Book 6 - The Winds of Winter (not yet published) Book 7 - A Dream of Spring (not yet published) ---- Books 4 and 5, AFFC & ADWD, both take place at roughly the same time, just following different POV characters; but they should still be read in-order regardless, as their is still a very loose continuity between the two books (despite taking place at the same time).
Also, here's a general breakdown of how the Books are translated to the TV show.
Season # - "Book Title" ---- Season 1 - "A Game of Thrones" Season 2 - "A Clash of Kings" Season 3 - "A Storm of Swords" (roughly the first-half of the book) Season 4 - "A Storm of Swords" (roughly the second half) & bits of "A Feast For Crows" and "A Dance with Dragons" ---- Seasons 5 & 6 have been ordered by HBO, but won't air until 2015 and 2016, respectively. They will also cover more of the fourth book (A Feast For Crows) and the fifth book (A Dance with Dragons). ---- Season 7 and beyond hasn't been ordered yet, but should wrap up any and all storylines from "A Feast For Crows" & "A Dance With Dragons" (assuming season 6 doesn't already), and should cover the sixth book (yet to be released), "The Winds of Winter."
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Post by The Chief on Jul 5, 2014 12:22:05 GMT -5
Spoiler alert: Everyone dies. Even that guy you liked.
I hear the books are really good, but the TV show does add some scenes not in the books. So, it's kinda like you gotta do both...but the TV show I feel has more shock value, so I would watch, then read...you have plenty of time to do both, 50 hours for the TV show, and then the rest of the next 2 years to read the books.
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Post by sasukeguy on Jul 5, 2014 17:29:40 GMT -5
Will I had never read the books but did watch game of thrones. Its more of a choice,you could read the book but game of thrones would show the important stuff of the books.
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