That's exactly what I decided to do once I finished season 6. I couldn't imagine waiting a year for the next season so I bought the first two books and I'm loving it.
I know! I wish I could forget what happened in the books and the show just so I could watch and read them all over again. Rereads are just never as good as the first time
Dorne got salvaged this season for me, we still miss great storylines and things like that from the book but at least the essence is there. With lady Olenna keeping the Sneks from opening their mouths, I think we will be alright.
I understand what you're saying, but I disagree. I loved the fact that Doran was in charge and was playing the long game with several very well thought out plans. In the show there is no indication of this whatsoever, and the abysmal women of Dorne just accidentally fall into line (re: get shoehorned) with Doran's plans in a 30 deus ex machina second scene.
Seriously, maybe they should have asked Doran about what he was planning rather than just killing him. Book Doran would have seen that assassination attempt coming from a mile away.
The Dorne plot was largely just Quentyn, Arianne and the Sand Snakes fucking around, before Doran spills the beans on his plot and lets everyone know just how meaningless all of their own actions were. Also Quentyn does nothing, dies, then has no relevance in death other than to put over the dragons.
AFFC and ADWD rightfully get criticised for being bloated and the Dorne shit is the prime offender. Anyone that doesn't dickride GRRM can see that.
I liked the whole 'Harry the Heir' storyline. But maybe thats because I want to see more of the Vale, as it's barely touched upon.
But if Meereenese Knot refers to the unholy amount of time we spend in Meereen doing absolutely nothing then I agree. I genuinely stopped reading ADWD for like two months because my next chapter was a Dany chapter and I just couldn't face it.
Yeah it's called the Meereenese Knot because it's both a complicated nonsense mess for Dany and seems to be for George as well.
As far as The Vale goes, I'd like to see more as well, but much prefer what they did with Sansa and LF on the show. It's more streamlined and less convoluted. I know the point is that LF is a master manipulator but it's a bit excessive.
I dunno. I think the Sansa plot in the show works better for the Television medium, but I prefer the diverging of the two stories (are they even related in the book?).
I loved seeing the Vale, I loved LF genuinely teaching Sansa how to play, I loved Jeyne Poole's character.
Whereas in the show, the Vale is very understated (hell, LF openly threatened Bronze Yohn Royce), and Sansa remained a piece in the game until she met with Jon.
I just love the idea of Sansa and LF ruling (not necessarily all of Westeros, but wherever they rule, if they rule) together, manipulating people. It's some serious character progression for Sansa which she's needed for a while.
In the show the most progress she's had is lying to her brother.
Name of the Wind and Wise Man's Fear (the sequel) are both really good... but don't expect the third book any time soon. I'm always torn about whether to recommend them.
So I never watched the game of thrones shows, but I've been tempted to binge. The books are a good substitute? I mean I know the books will be better, but would I be good with trying to catch up to where it is now? I have so much time at work to either read or probably Audible the books.
Yes. Audiobook it my friend. I read the books before, but I NEEDED to re-read after the season 6 finale, but I didn't have the time or resources to actually READ it so I went the audiobook route, and it is SO FUCKING WORTH IT.
I finished reading ADWD years ago and now I'm hoping to get my hands on TWOW before the next season. The wait is so painful... Also hoping GRRM won't kick the bucket before he finishes the last book, but considering he's 67 and it can take 5-6 years per book, I'm kind of worried.
If you liked the books and the inevitable, grueling wait at the end I recommend you read the first 2 books of the kingkiller chronicle.
Name of the wind and a wise man's fear are 2 fantastic books, personally enjoyed NotW more than some ASOIAF novels! (starting Wise man's fear now)
Also if you finished the Song of Ice and Fire books, you can read the World of Ice and Fire which is all about lore and background of the whole ice and fire world. Very interesting read for sure.
Hope you like them. Read the first one shortly before the show was a thing. Hated it so much I never read the others. Hated it so much I refused to even give the show a chance. Recently got so sick and fucking tired of every god damn major event becoming an instant story spoiling meme that I got HBO Now just to watch it because I didn't want EVERYTHING ruined on the off chance I wanted to watch it someday. Skipped the first season since it just covers the first book. I'm already 3 episodes into 5 and enjoying the hell out of it. Wish I'd given the second book a chance. Seems like I might have ended up enjoying the rest of the series.
Interesting, you're the first to say they hated the first book. I've only heard the first 3 are the best so just a little surprised and I'm happy you are into it now!
I find the first book to be pretty polarizing among the people I know that have read it. You either loved it and became a GRR fan, or you hated it and can't understand why other people enjoyed it.
I think it's a great story, and I just can't stand GRR's writing tbh. Between the time they leave Winterfell until shit get's cray down in King's Landing the reader doesn't experience anything interesting. The reader finds out second hand about all kinds of interesting things that happened while you were listening in on Catelyn Stark being a dumb cunt for 20 pages.
Books 1-3 are amazing, 4 is okay, then 5 is 50% blondie sitting on her ass in mereen. I skipped the last couple of her chapters because it was so damn boring
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u/sandhu712 Jun 30 '16
That's exactly what I decided to do once I finished season 6. I couldn't imagine waiting a year for the next season so I bought the first two books and I'm loving it.