Restricted Section: Term XXVI - Read, Reading, To Read

[sanalith.livejournal.com]

Activity: Read, Reading, To Read
Points: 10 points for your initial comment, 2 points for every substantial response, max 30 points
Deadline: August 30 @ 11:59PM UTC (Timezone Converter)

Details: Since this will be my only activity of Term XXVI, I wanted to both do something relatively simple AND take the opportunity to get to know you guy, so we're going to have a discussion post about our recent reading habits. For your initial comment, write at least 150 words talking about books you've recently read, are currently reading, and/or what you plan to read next. You can talk about any aspect of the books you wish, but some ideas would be why you selected the books, what you liked/didn't like about them, whether you'd recommend them to others, etc. For your responses, you'll need to write at least 50 words. Make sure you're saying something more than, "I read that book and liked/hated it!" Try to open a dialogue about what was good or bad, or even why you chose NOT to read it. Anything goes, as long as there's substance to it.

If you have any questions, direct them to the appropriate thread. As always, don't forget to sign each comment with your name/house or a sigtag.

Also, do remember that I wiped the roster clean, so if you have bonus items, make sure you register them HERE as soon as possible to earn your extra points. I won't be giving grace periods, so please double-check that you're good to go!

Comments

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

My recent reading habits, for the past year or two, have been taken up completely by ASOIAF! I watched the first series after everyone raved about it, not expecting much, and loved it, so checked out the books. The first book was great, but I realised that I was finding it a hard slog to read because I'd already watched the tv programme and knew what was going to happen (as AMAZING as the programme is, the books are better). So, I made sure I read the second book, A Clash of Kings (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/822995.A_Clash_of_Kings), before the second series, and then I vowed to do the same with the third, except that didn't go too well xD For a myriad of reasons it took me a while to get through A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/768889.A_Storm_of_Swords), and then a month or so ago I finally started on A Storm of Swords: Blood and Sand (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/147915.A_Storm_of_Swords), and I am loving it! I do not want to watch the tv series until I'm caught up, so I've put that on the back-burner for now while I finish A Storm of Swords: Blood and Sand (I'm currently on page 184 of 607, so 30% of the way through).

The reason I chose ASOIAF is because everyone raved about it and I didn't think I'd like it, not really liking fantasy (Harry Potter and a rare few others seem to be an exception :P), but I did. So I continued to read, and it just gripped me. Every chapter brings something new and unexpected, and there are secrets and surprises everywhere. There are little clues to everything that's going to happen, and while some can spot them, I only notice them retrospectively. His characters and his world are just so intricate and complex. I think GRRM is a genius writer, almost as good as JKR, and his books are truly captivating. I'd recommend them to absolutely everyone, and if you want to watch the series too, my advice is to read the books first!

I did, however, manage to sneak in a much smaller and stand-alone book a month or so ago, entitled She's Never Coming Back (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13072709-she-s-never-coming-back) by Hans Koppel. I love thrillers and crime fiction, and when I came across this I had to buy it. The summary just caught me, and I was not disappointed. It was a very easy read so I got through it in a matter of days. It certainly is a thriller! In the last few chapters my heart was racing as I flicked through the pages, reading as fast as possible to see what was going to happen. It was brilliant and I'd definitely recommend it. I actually just leant it to my mum, though not sure if she's read it yet.

At the same time that I bought She's Never Coming Back, I also bought Bunker (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12226040-bunker) by Andrea Maria Schenkel and Talk Talk (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243911.Talk_Talk) by T.C Boyle, which are both of a similar vein as they're also thrillers. I've started Bunker, I'm on page 36, and so far, so good. It's a nice, easy read with the potential to get your heart going. As much as I love ASOIAF, you do have to concentrate so you don't miss anything important!

I'm happy to discuss anything mentioned here and any books you see that I've read or want to read if you want to check out my GoodReads (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4775998-fairy) :) You can add me there too, if you'd like, but please let me know so I know who you are :) Ooh, and one last thing, please do not spoil me for A Song of Ice and Fire! ♥

Fairy//Hufflepuff//604 Words

[evening12]

May I friend you on GoodReads? My name is the same there than on LJ.

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

Certainly! Always happy to have new friends :)

[caitieness.livejournal.com]

I think what's good about ASOIAF for non-fantasy readers is that it doesn't really come off as fantasy. I mean, okay, the very first prologue is about the white-walkers but the characters don't even believe in them and they always find a way to rationalize things that are actually supernatural. I was convinced for like the majority of GoT that there was no fantasy element at all!

And my copy of A Storm of Swords as a kindle version that had it all as one book which I am grateful for. The second half was so much more interesting so I hope you like it! Even though the Starks are my favorite characters, I find myself more interested in King's Landing (especially Tyrion!) than any of the other plots.

caitie . puff

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

Exactly! I think that's it as well, to be honest. It's not so over-the-top that it's unbelievable, and anything that is fantasy related is gradually introduced and explained, so it definitely helps.

Lucky that you got it as one book! And yes, I definitely agree that the second half is more interesting than the first; my husband thought that too. I'm so mixed with the Starks; Sansa's my favourite character and I love Arya too, but I don't care much for the others (though Jon is another favourite of mine, but it depends if you want to class him as a Stark xD). I also agree that King's Landing is more interesting than what's going on elsewhere, and I adore Tyrion and his plot too. I think the Lannisters' Slytherin-esque actions and thoughts are what makes them so fascinating (and I'll be cryptic, but I'll just say that what I just read, I did not see coming at all!).

Fairy//Hufflepuff

[meredith44]

I tried ASOIAF a long, long time ago, well before the television show aired, because I adore fantasy and it was getting raves. However, I only made it about 2/3 of the way through the first book. I appreciated the story line, and the complexity, and everything, but I couldn't find a single character that I liked. And as much as I love story and plot, character comes first to me. (I'm well aware this isn't the case for most people. Just for me.) I've thought about trying the television show and seeing if that captures me and makes me interested in the characters such that I can read the books, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do that yet.

I think that She's Never Coming Back sounds fascinating, though. It's at the library near where I work on Saturdays, so I think I'll have to check it out. Thanks.

Meredith // Hufflepuff // 2

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

I can understand that; there's a lot of characters that I don't like, and that can get annoying when you have chapters dedicated to them, but for me, I persevere because there are characters they interact with that I love, and I like the story as a whole. But I completely see where you're coming from! Hopefully if you try the show you'll like it :) The actors may help with that, as I think they've got the casting spot on.

You're welcome! I really hope you like it :) I was glued from the moment I started, and then that ending is just so thrilling and powerful and really gets your heart racing. It's definitely made it to one of my favourite ever books.

Fairy//Hufflepuff

[queer-theory.livejournal.com]

I'm also reading ASOIAF right now, though I'm way behind you and probably more spoiled to what's coming up, unfortunately. That's at least partly my fault, because I wanted to know what happened with my favorite characters as soon as I started reading the book. That is to say... do my favorite characters stay awesome, or... >_>

Heather/Hufflepuff/3

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

Wow, really?! I don't think I could ever spoil myself like that xD I really, really don't want to find out what's going to happen to any of the characters xD I've been tempted to watch the show and thus get spoiled, but I've made myself stop watching until I'm all caught up. Since I watched the first series before reading the book and then reading the book was such a hard slog, I just don't want to go through that again as the books are better than the show (although the show is AMAZING).

Fairy//Hufflepuff

[queer-theory.livejournal.com]

I'd already been so spoiled by friends of mine who watch the show and/or have read the books, but I didn't know much about the character I loved best, so yeah... I spoiled myself. Normally, I wouldn't do that, and I'm pleased that there are plenty of things I still don't know. At least, I think there are. There are so many characters and some I know almost nothing about, so that must count for something.

I'm thinking of watching the show once I've gotten past the point in the book they're at. I have a decent idea of where that is.

Heather/Hufflepuff

[erzsebet.livejournal.com]

I felt the same way about ASOIAF as you in the beginning. I wasn't sure I'd like it and Harry Potter seemed a rare exception to my general dislike of fantasy. The world is so immense, so full, that I couldn't help but love it. And I really like that GRRM chose to not have the kings (the standard "heroes") have POVs. It adds a nice twist to it, reading only what's happening around the rulers and not knowing exactly what they're thinking.

Who are your favorite POVs?

Liz | Gryffindor

[pinkphoenix1985.livejournal.com]

Fairy,

Haha, I tried watching the show and I couldn't get through the pilot :/ (are there better episodes to watch?) and thought that the whole hype was just something that I didn't understand. But now I've taken out of the library, Games of Thrones and we shall see. I might love it or might find it to be like the Hobbit and the LOTR which I did try and read and couldn't get through it.

Danipuff//wc-75//03