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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think GoT has ruined reading for me?

63 replies

Deemail · 17/08/2013 17:46

I finished Game of Thrones a few weeks back and I can't get into any other books no matter how I try, nothing compares.
Has anyone been where I am? How long does it take to put GoT out of your head? Will I ever read a book again and not compare?

I did a search and a series called wheels of times gets mentioned a lot, is it worth a shot or will I just give up fantasy reading and try something else.

My kindle was my prized possession and I can't even look at it these days without feeling bereft.

OP posts:

GetStuffezd · 17/08/2013 17:50

Are they really that good? My brother NEVER reads but he's nagging me like hell to read GoT, he's obsessed!
Wheel of time - I read the first three or so when I was younger then gave up. Definitely worth a read though, I loved the first one.

Metarie · 17/08/2013 17:53

I've only read GoT, i've got the others to read. I've steuggled massively. I hope their GRRM introduces some stronger female characters.

MissBeehiving · 17/08/2013 17:54

Oh, I agree. I haven't found anything as compelling

SofaKing · 17/08/2013 17:55

I was the same, I felt I needed therapy after finishing book five.

It lasted about two months and then another author I really like in another genre had a new book out, and I managed to immerse myself in that. It helped a lot, especially as it was a different genre so I was less inclined to constantly compare the two.

It will pass. Eventually. If you look back, you are lost.

JumpingJackSprat · 17/08/2013 17:56

i really dont get the fascination with game of thrones, its poorly written shite. try robin hobbs assassin or liveship trilogies. maybe i hated game of thrones because i read it after i read robin hobb.

Original poster

Deemail · 17/08/2013 17:56

Yes they are great, I think because I discovered them when most of the series was already written and didn't have to play a waiting game for the next book to come out, they kind of took over. They are very very long it took months for me to read them all.

OP posts:

BrennieGirl · 17/08/2013 18:02

What are they actually about? I quite often don't like books that others rave about so I don't know whether or not to give them a try.

FondantNancy · 17/08/2013 18:03

I thought the first two were cracking, but the action really petered off after that. So by the time I read the last one I was ready to move on.

No suggestions other than Ken Follet's two medieval novels (Pillars of the Earth and the one after that), they are just as epic with brilliant plots and characters (including some kick-arse female characters).

Reality · 17/08/2013 18:03

STRONGER female characters? Are you taking the piss?

Cersei, Danaerys, Arya, Sansa, Catelyn? Not exactly weak and feeble, even in GoT. They do get stronger as the series progresses.

The female characters are one of the reasons I love the series.

I fell in love with the Kvothe books afterwards, but was left bereft after book two as he hasn't written book three yet. They are nothing like as well written and immersive but I loved the story.

pinkr · 17/08/2013 18:05

What is unreasonable is the amount of time between books...at the moment the TV series will overtake the books in a few years. I wish he would finish them...I need to know what happens!

Metarie · 17/08/2013 18:07

Perhaps its because i've only read the first book, but other than Arya and Dany, they all seem too men obsessed. I'm looking forward to a CoK.

MarianneEnjolras · 17/08/2013 18:07

I feel the same OP. I've read all the ASOIAF books, including the Hedge Knight series and the preview chapters from the The Winds of Winter. Plus a fair bit of fanfic.

I neeeed more.

waddlecakes · 17/08/2013 18:08

Try Robin Hobb. Also the Kushiel's Dart series.

Glup · 17/08/2013 18:11

Ok I almost don't want to mention her, as it may ruin your life: Robin Hobb.

Her books are all great, but similarly long. You'll need at least 6 months to get through them all.

Original poster

Deemail · 17/08/2013 18:13

Danny becomes men obsessed too!
I would imagine he would need to get his skates on and finish the last couple of books, it's hardly likely the series producers will wait years and years to end the series.
Having said that I can't see how he will manage to wrap it up in just two books with the amount of detail he include.

OP posts:

Trills · 17/08/2013 18:15

A caveat to "try Robin Hobb" - start with the Assassin books. And then follow up with Fool books. And the Liveship books. They are more PG than GoT but I do like them. DO NOT try the Soldier Son books - they are crap.

Yes to Wheel of Time - it's not quite as dark as GoT and there is more magic, but it has loads of characters (many of whom are women), lots of locations and conspiracies and stuff.

I've recently read The Blade Itself which is part of a trilogy and s rather dark.

I also LOVED The Name of the Wind but it's part of a trilogy where part 3 has not yet been written, and that's a bit annoying, so read some of the finished series' first. :o

Original poster

Deemail · 17/08/2013 18:16

I will look up Robin Hobb now, is he really that good?

My life couldn't be more ruined.

OP posts:

Wowserz129 · 17/08/2013 18:16

How similar is the first book to the first tv season? Just asking as don't think I want to read it if its really similar as i obviously will already know what happens!

Original poster

Deemail · 17/08/2013 18:18

It's similar but with a lot more info and detail.

Re Robin Hobb, which series should I start with or will it make a difference?

OP posts:

WitchOfEndor · 17/08/2013 18:19

Raymond E Feist, the Empire Saga has a strong main female character and is a great read. The Riftwar Saga is good too, Magician is the book that got me into his work. Some of his later co-written work is so-so though, don't know what he was thinking.

delilahbelle · 17/08/2013 18:19

Anne Bishop is an author work checking out if you like Robin Hobb / Jaqueline Carey. Not hugely published over here but available on Kindle - it's a bit more fantasy than some but quite addictive.

Trills · 17/08/2013 18:19

Robin Hobb is a she :)
Yes they are good. You will cry near the end of each book of the Fool Trilogy (they are a follow-upto the Assassin trilogy)

Regarding the women in GoT being obsessed by men - I don't think they are obsessed by actual human men so much as by what the men mean in their lives, which is fairly reasonable given the world they live in.

A blogger has invented something called the Jane Austen exemption to the Bechdel test - when Jane and Elizabeth and Charlotte talk about Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, they talk about £5,000 and £10,000 a year respectively. These are conversations about economics and sociology much more than they are conversations about men. They are conversations about whether you will be able to survive after your parents die and whether the man whom you will be utterly dependent on for said survival will treat you halfway decently.

GilmoursPillow · 17/08/2013 18:20

they all seem too men obsessed. I'm looking forward to a CoK.

PollyPlummer · 17/08/2013 18:21

I started reading them again. They were even better second time round and I picked up more that I missed the first time.

delilahbelle · 17/08/2013 18:24

Peter F Hamilton is good from a huge world building perspective if you can cope with the sci-fi bits.

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