I've read one chapter of Game of Thrones and I'm already bored by it.

[ImBigBob]

I keep feeling like I should get back to reading books, as I disproportionately favor video games, TV shows, and movies for my entertainment. So I decided to pick up Game of Thrones, since it has a new show and everyone seems to be talking about it. After reading the prologue and the first chapter, I'm not sure I can go on. Right off the bat, I was reminded of this XKCD comic:

http://xkcd.com/483/

There's a ridiculous amount of made-up words early on, even for things that we already have words for (ringmail = chain mail). Not to mention, I hate that the book is trying to sound like it's written in ye olde englishe, when I KNOW it was published in modern times. That's a big reason why I couldn't get into Lord of the Rings: I had to struggle just to read the thing because of how quickly language changes. Yet games like Fire Emblem have that fantasy setting to them, but they're written with modern language in mind, so I had no trouble following along.

Am I being too picky? Because I've already found a lot to complain about, and I'm barely even into the book. People could say "Oh, just stick with it, it gets better", but I'd still rather be watching Doctor Who or something.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Well, ringmail exists IRL [http://www.arador.com/articles/chainmail.html]. Generally speaking, based on what I've read in the first few chapters that book tends to use real words except for things that don't exist. I also wouldn't start out with Game of Thrones if you're trying to get back into reading - it's a pretty dense book. Same goes for LoTR, actually. The Hobbit, on the other hand, is excellent intro fantasy, if a bit slow.

 

[PancakesSUCKTHEYDO]

I found the first book to be a bore 1/2 of the way through. The other books, well...They were amazing.

 

[Evidencebased]

I keep feeling like I should get back to reading books, as I disproportionately favor video games, TV shows, and movies for my entertainment. So I decided to pick up Game of Thrones, since it has a new show and everyone seems to be talking about it. After reading the prologue and the first chapter, I'm not sure I can go on.

I officially give you my blessing to ditch the book and go watch the show instead; I personally think the show has been just as good as the books (managing not to screw up the characters or mangle any of the plots) and it cuts out a lot of the wordiness and slow-moving bits. And once you run out of show you might be motivated enough to get into the books that follow where the show ends!

As for a good gritty series to try, check out The Hunger Games (if you haven't already.) The writing is simple and the books are a fairly quick read, but there is still plenty of violence and baby-killing to give that deliciously sadistic George R. R. Martin flavor.

 

[spartan231490]

I keep feeling like I should get back to reading books, as I disproportionately favor video games, TV shows, and movies for my entertainment. So I decided to pick up Game of Thrones, since it has a new show and everyone seems to be talking about it. After reading the prologue and the first chapter, I'm not sure I can go on. Right off the bat, I was reminded of this XKCD comic:

http://xkcd.com/483/

There's a ridiculous amount of made-up words early on, even for things that we already have words for (ringmail = chain mail). Not to mention, I hate that the book is trying to sound like it's written in ye olde englishe, when I KNOW it was published in modern times. That's a big reason why I couldn't get into Lord of the Rings: I had to struggle just to read the thing because of how quickly language changes. Yet games like Fire Emblem have that fantasy setting to them, but they're written with modern language in mind, so I had no trouble following along.

Am I being too picky? Because I've already found a lot to complain about, and I'm barely even into the book. People could say "Oh, just stick with it, it gets better", but I'd still rather be watching Doctor Who or something.

Well, I like reading a lot, and ASoIaF is a tough read for me. I would suggest something like inheritance, or maybe The Fifth Ring. If you want more epic fantasy, try Sword of Truth, which isn't written with the old English feel.

 

[Mausthemighty]

Try to keep reading. I won't spoiler anything but this isn't the generic fantasy book it looks like.

 

[smearyllama]

I say keep going. Yes, it moves slowly occasionally, but when it's awesome, it's awesome.
Also, puppies.
Direwolf puppies.

And, might I add, ringmail is a real thing. It's just a different type of chain mail.
It has ring shape links, hence the name.

 

[The Gnome King]

I keep feeling like I should get back to reading books, as I disproportionately favor video games, TV shows, and movies for my entertainment. So I decided to pick up Game of Thrones, since it has a new show and everyone seems to be talking about it. After reading the prologue and the first chapter, I'm not sure I can go on.

Different strokes for different folks, but I would give at least the first book and a few chapters of the second book a chance before you pass judgment. My wife and I thought they were some of the best fantasy novels that we have ever read, but she admitted that it was "slow to get started" in the first book; which admittedly is set-up.

I didn't really notice a heavy usage of "Olde English" style words or writing.

I'd say that if it hasn't hooked you halfway through book 2 you probably won't dig the series; but most people I know who have put in the time to read them are quite glad that they did.

And the books ARE better than the TV show. The TV show is awesome, but you miss all the inner dialog that you get with the books. For example, in one scene where the Dragon-house princes is being wed to her new barbarian overlord/husband, the show simply oozes with sex but the book has some very interesting inner-dialog and thoughts going on that make it a joy to read them before watching the series.

I would definitely read the books before watching the show, if you're going to be reading them at all.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Yeah, I was once stuck in a hotel room for around 8 hours with only that book to entertain me(no TV). And I STILL couldn't get into it.

Several months later, though, I gave it another shot and now it's one of my favorite series ever. It can be extremely boring at times, though.

 

[The Funslinger]

I started getting bored towards the end of A Clash Of Kings.

The problem I have is that Martin simply focuses on too many characters, meaning his stories have all the pacing of a limping snail. He'll spend a chapter focusing on a character, then you'll have to get through another eight or nine chapters before that he returns to where he left that character. The story will progress a little, then he'll bound off to focus on other characters. And it's like this for the whole book.

The problem I have is that for all that Martin's created a believable world and interesting characters, the books are simply too broad. Reading A Clash Of Kings, I didn't feel like I was reading a cohesive novel, more that I was reading extracts from other novels. I appreciate the level of political backstabbery going on, and the breadth of the conflicts, and the intrigue of the Night's Watch story. But as soon as I get interested in any plot thread, I get yanked out and chucked somewhere else in Westeros. Martin puts a lot of emphasis on subtle actions and backstabbery, but keeps switching the scene so often that it's difficult to keep everything pieced together.

I honestly think Lord Of The Rings did the large ensemble cast thing much better. Cut the cast down into manageable chunks, and give each chunk a whole book in which to get through the story. In A Song Of Ice And Fire, so many characters are fighting for a chapter in the book that the story ends up going along at 5 mph.

I'll get round to reading the rest of the series at some point, and I greatly enjoyed what HBO did with Game Of Thrones, but at the minute I don't think I can be arsed to pick up another ASOIAF book.

Well I found that being left on cliff hangers kept me reading. Plus within a page, I'd usually be interested in this new character. When I was returned to the initially enticing character's chapters it was a pleasant surprise. I don't think that writing style is as bad as you make it out to be, as I'd say it's a matter of taste.

 

[GundamSentinel]

No offense, but video games, TV shows and movies might have done bad things to your appreciation for a good book. I didn't notice a thing of ye olde English. To me it was plain well written and it had a lot of speed to the storytelling.
I didn't see an abundance of made up words either. There's what you can expect from a fantasy book and no more. In fact, there is very little blatantly fantastical about the first book anyway. If you keep reading you might notice that most of the story and setting is in fact very down to earth.

The only problems for me with A Song of Ice and Fire were the ridiculous number of number characters that are introduced (and you are expected to remember three books later) and the way the story can branch out too much (too many arcs). Other than that, excellent read.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Hmmmm...not really much to see here, people.

A person reading a boring book is *gasp* bored.

My suggestion is to avoid fantasy books altogether if you don't like the language being used in them.

Generally, if there is a map at the front of the book for reference, and a glossary in the back, it's a chore to read.

 

[unoleian]

First, there are hardly any "made-up" words, but certainly many archaic and obscure ones. For flavor. The only terminology he uses early-on that one might question is the "sentinel trees," which I can't exactly figure out what that is. I always end up picturing pines like our spruce trees.

And also, ring-mail is not chain-mail. Chain-mail is a suit made of interlocking rings. Ring-mail is also made of interlocking rings, but they are sewn to a thick under-layer, like leather or heavy canvas. Same thing, but really two different things.

You're not really being picky, but perhaps missing the point. I agree with your sentiments otherwise, though. I hate fantasy reading that pretends to be smart and unique by burying the reader under a metric-ton of made-up terminology. Those never hold me for more than a chapter. (FFXIII is also excessively guilty of this. Like, wow.)

If you want to get back into reading, I second the sentiments about Goodkind's The Sword of Truth series. It's also a fantastic read, and likely much easier to get into. G.R.R.M's work is really only rewarding if you can really dig into it. Otherwise it can be a bit of a slog at times. A few other books might also help better prepare you to puzzle out words whose meanings you're not quite clear on.

I started getting bored towards the end of A Clash Of Kings.

The problem I have is that Martin simply focuses on too many characters, meaning his stories have all the pacing of a limping snail. He'll spend a chapter focusing on a character, then you'll have to get through another eight or nine chapters before that he returns to where he left that character. The story will progress a little, then he'll bound off to focus on other characters. And it's like this for the whole book.

[snip-snip]

I'll get round to reading the rest of the series at some point, and I greatly enjoyed what HBO did with Game Of Thrones, but at the minute I don't think I can be arsed to pick up another ASOIAF book.

I'm digging my way through A Dance With Dragons right now, and I'd tend to agree for sure now. If you think it's bad to have so many arcs contained in a single volume, try keeping everything straight across two. Read all the way through A Feast for Crows to the end, and now the new one is back at the beginning where Feast started, but with a whole other cast. At some point toward the last 300 pages or so, everything should catch back up and everyone will be in the same time-frame again. It's a nightmare keeping track of who's where when at what time when someone else in the last book was at the same place at a different time....yeah, it's not an easy go. If he can tie all these arcs together, though, well damn, it's gonna be a spectacular finish, that much is evident.

Spoiler

Arya spends most of the novel running around a castle pretending to be a serving girl. The only time things get really interesting is when she meets a shapeshifter, then decided to bust out and head back home. And then the book ends. I personally think the vast majority of Arya's story could have been judicously edited for ACOK without a negative effect.

I for one am always happy to read about Arya. She's one of my favorite characters of them all.

 

[Lt. Vinciti]

I'll admit it has hits and misses....

The only issue Ive had is when it skips to the other people

NOT INVOLVED IN THE STARKS STORYLINE!

Im looking at you Drogo chapter!

I would love to watch the show and only hope it comes to DVD

 

[Ahomelessman]

I felt that the first book had too much violence and back stabbing for its own good, It just distracted From the more interesting story lines. When it came time to read the Second i just dreaded it, i couldn't sit through All the "'Haha I troll you!!' 'No it is I who troll you' 'GASP'" just to get to the better parts. But it has been a while Since i read it so feel free to correct me if need be


You could try to read The Elric Saga, though it does have slight problems of it's own. Or the Belgariad novels i really loved them. I am currently reading Acacia: The War with the Mein and it's OK.


Edit

If you want a Break from the standard Medieval Europe Fantasy Give Bridge of Birds a Try possibly the best book I ever read

Its set in 7th Century China I highly recommend it

 

[Evidencebased]

I'll admit it has hits and misses....

The only issue Ive had is when it skips to the other people

NOT INVOLVED IN THE STARKS STORYLINE!

Im looking at you Drogo chapter!

I would love to watch the show and only hope it comes to DVD

I got your back: http://series-cravings.info/watch-game-of-thrones-online-free

 

[Hosker]

Um ... so? You didn't like a book ... Did you really have to make a thread and announce it to everyone? And just because a book was published in modern times means they have to speak like they're from them? That seems kind of stupid.