HBO's "Game of Thrones"

[PlayaGroom]

Originally Posted by u2girlie

[/b]

EXACTLY! I keep telling people who hated the first book and refused to read any more that they have to watch the series. The show is (IMO), 1000 times better than the book for the exact reason you state above.

You could also tell them that he lays off the history lessons a bit more in books 2 and 3 and really pours on the violence and war. That perked up two of my friends that kept going, and they said I was right

[u2girlie]

Originally Posted by PlayaGroom

You could also tell them that he lays off the history lessons a bit more in books 2 and 3 and really pours on the violence and war. That perked up two of my friends that kept going, and they said I was right

Nah. My naysayers will not be swayed. They think he's one of the worst writers on the market right now. Funny how much people's opinions vary.

[PlayaGroom]

Originally Posted by u2girlie

Nah. My naysayers will not be swayed. They think he's one of the worst writers on the market right now. Funny how much people's opinions vary.

Wow, with friends like that I don't blame you for wanting to leave the country

[Rissask]

'one of the worst writers'

No, that would be the woman who wrote The Hunger Games.......or maybe Dean Koontz or Nicholas Sparks.

[u2girlie]

Originally Posted by Rissask

'one of the worst writers'

No, that would be the woman who wrote The Hunger Games.......or maybe Dean Koontz or Nicholas Sparks.

I like Dean Koontz! Well, I've only read one of his books.

I can proudly say I've never read a Nicholas Sparks book.

Now I've only heard good things about The Hunger Games. I've heard awful things about the Twilight series though - wouldn't even consider reading those.

[melliedee]

I really enjoyed The Hunger Games. For YA lit (and especially in comparison to Twilight) I thought it was very well done.

Nicholas Sparks----blah. I know people love him. My mom had a copy of "A Walk to Remember" and I hated it: cheesy and over the top sentimental.

[Rissask]

yes, Sparks is a horribly cheesy writer....I couldn't finish The Notebook.


No offense meant to anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games, I just didn't like her writing at all. I think she and the Twilight author are about on the same level....JMO.

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by melliedee

I really enjoyed The Hunger Games. For YA lit (and especially in comparison to Twilight) I thought it was very well done.

Read a review of the HG film yesterday that said it was pretty awful.

Haven't read those books myself, but was glad they were available in Spanish for Benjamin, a rare example of something current and popular that we could get for him in that regard (and get on time, before he read it in English).

[gingele]

Originally Posted by melliedee

I really enjoyed The Hunger Games. For YA lit (and especially in comparison to Twilight) I thought it was very well done.

Nicholas Sparks----blah. I know people love him. My mom had a copy of "A Walk to Remember" and I hated it: cheesy and over the top sentimental.

I agree- I also enjoyed The Hunger Games and thought they were well-written. Just saw the movie last night with the family - Jonah and I had read the books, Jason and Sam had not. We all enjoyed the movie (although the shaky-cam thing was distracting at some parts).

I haven't read the Twilight series and refuse to do so, I will admit to seeing the first two movies (not in the theaters, mind you - won't pay $8.00 to see that) and while I didn't feel like sticking pencils in my eyes I also wasn't exactly thrilled with them. Meh. I haven't read Nicholas Sparks and refuse to do so.

I can say that while I enjoy the "True Blood" series on HBO, I could not stand Charlene Harris' books - and I tried, I read the first three hoping they'd get better. They didn't. They read like trashy Harlequin Romances.

Originally Posted by u2girlie

Nah. My naysayers will not be swayed. They think he's one of the worst writers on the market right now. Funny how much people's opinions vary.

I'm curious, do the friends who feel this way typical read sic-fi/fantasy novels? I ask because with the popularity of the HBO series, people who would have never otherwise picked up the books are doing so, and I think that for some readers who usually don't venture into the genre, they can seem overly-long, overly-detailed, etc. etc. As a fan of the genre, I took the level of detail in stride as par-for-the course. To me, Martin's books were a walk in the park compared to Donaldson (Thomas Covenant series), Wolfe (Book of the New Sun), even Robert Jordan (who lost me around Book 7 or 8 in his Wheel of Time series) and to some extent even Tolkien (not including The Hobbit).

[u2girlie]

Originally Posted by gingele

I'm curious, do the friends who feel this way typical read sic-fi/fantasy novels? I ask because with the popularity of the HBO series, people who would have never otherwise picked up the books are doing so, and I think that for some readers who usually don't venture into the genre, they can seem overly-long, overly-detailed, etc. etc. As a fan of the genre, I took the level of detail in stride as par-for-the course. To me, Martin's books were a walk in the park compared to Donaldson (Thomas Covenant series), Wolfe (Book of the New Sun), even Robert Jordan (who lost me around Book 7 or 8 in his Wheel of Time series) and to some extent even Tolkien (not including The Hobbit).

My BIL was one of the people and he's a huge Tolkein fan. Also reads quite a bit of Sci-Fi/Fantasy. He's definitely not unfamiliar with the heavy details. He's incredibly picky though. INCREDIBLY. He's horrible to discuss movies with. You could pick the best movie ever made that everyone on the planet agrees is the best movie and he would hate it. Love him but we agree to disagree!

The other person who went off on GRRM was a librarian friend who reads just about every genre out there but can safely be called a literary snob. Kind of like Jack Black's character in "High Fidelity" but from the literary sense, not musical.

[gingele]

Originally Posted by u2girlie

My BIL was one of the people and he's a huge Tolkein fan. Also reads quite a bit of Sci-Fi/Fantasy. He's definitely not unfamiliar with the heavy details. He's incredibly picky though. INCREDIBLY. He's horrible to discuss movies with. You could pick the best movie ever made that everyone on the planet agrees is the best movie and he would hate it. Love him but we agree to disagree!

The other person who went off on GRRM was a librarian friend who reads just about every genre out there but can safely be called a literary snob. Kind of like Jack Black's character in "High Fidelity" but from the literary sense, not musical.

Got it. Well I guess that blows my theory!

BTW, Love High Fidelity (book and movie). The only problem is that every time someone mentions it (like you just did), I immediately think of this scene, which turned my hate/hate relationship with Katrina and the Waves into a tolerable love/hate kinda thing:

[u2girlie]

I love the line - "Since when did this store turn into a fascist regime?"

It's a great movie & I love, love, love Jack Black in this movie - which I can't say for all his stuff.

I have to say that pretty much anything with John Cusak or Joan Cusak is a winner for me.

[emc]

Season premier tonight!!

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by emc

Season premier tonight!!

I'm ready.

[gingele]

Just finished the entire first season (again) - this time with husband and eldest son (their first viewing, and neither had read the books). Had to watch the last 4 episodes in a marathon session yesterday to do so, but so worth it.

I did duck out at the brothel scene.

Both husband and son were shocked and stunned at the end of "Baelor" (episode 9). (Still don't want to spoil it just in case any noobs stumble in here).