@Goof said:
@GetEveryone: I'm just starting A Clash of Kings and I'd recommend getting through the first two before the third season comes out. Watching the show first certainly helps avert confusion when sifting through all the political details of the books, but in my experience it diminished any sort of suspense.
Instead of getting engrossed in the story I often found myself pushing through just so I could be caught up, and finally read something new (which is my own fault for watching the series first). Also, significantly less nakedness in the books (sort of). Take that as you will.
I tried to like the series and just couldn't. Granted, I only read A Game of Thrones, but I found Martin's writing style to be so piss-poor that, despite the incredibly intriguing world and plot he created, it felt like a constant chore to work through. Perhaps, though, this is because I had seen the first season, so the twists and the turns of the plot weren't as engaging? I don't know. I was really disappointed. There just seemed so much clunky writing, needless descriptions of food and clothes, and many grammatical pet peeves (seemingly unintentional fracture, ending on awkward prepositions, etc). Maybe it gets better in subsequent books?
Right now I'm about halfway through 2666 by Roberto Bolaño. It's pretty good, though I'm drawn more to the character interactions than the seemingly overarching plot--though that seems like it's starting to pick up now. After that's done, I think I'm going to try Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow again. I started it last year, but college kicked in and interrupted me. Not a book you can juggle with others. I also have some Foucault, Delueze, and Nietzsche on the horizon.
Also, if anyone finds them in need of something to read, go pick up David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest. I cannot recommend that book enough.
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