[boarder542]

I'm not posting this just to just to piss all of you off, I'm just saying my opinion. I'm not trying to say Martin is a bad author, either I just don't see his greatness and something in his writing isn't connecting with me, or I'm not far enough in the story. But usually, I consider about 350 pages in a 650 page book enough to judge it.

The first time I tried to read AGoT, the character names were thrown at me so fast and I didn't know who was who and I was at page 150. I decided to stop, figure out who belonged to what house, and start over again. Also, a very odd thing happened--the book didn't start jumping out into my mind like most do, I can picture everything going on in my mind. This didn't happen though, none of the events or characters were in my brain at all--it was all text to me.

So I decided to continue on, with encouragement from the board. I still am having trouble reading the book--it just bores me.

I guess if I REALLY want to get into it again, I will, but right now I don't see where his greatness is.

[Bad Heartburn]

My condolences.

[Chop my Head]

If the characters are thrown to you too fast, you should consider reading slower. ;)

It really is a good book.

[Rincewind]

Just out of curiousity Boarder, which authors do you like?

[Evil Agent]

I quit reading A Game of Thrones That sucks! You're missing out... :p

Honestly, though, after having read a lot of complex authors lately, Martin really doesn't seem that difficult to me. And I found the characters leapt off the page... so I don't know what to say.

[Acei]

Maybe Martin's just not for you. It's very much like a fantasy soap opera, and this may not jive with you. The first book is probobly the hardest to get into. If you can make it through it's probobly worth the time just to see if the series gets better to you once you get into the second book.

[AuntiePam]

I wonder if part of the reason for your disappointment is that these books focus on people and plot, with not much time spent on background stuff, like setting, weather, landscape, etc.

The books are rich in characterization, but I don't get a sense of place, there's very little "ambience", for lack of a better word.

I love the books, but I think it's accurate to compare them to soap opera, where location is relatively unimportant.

Books where place/setting are important can make for a richer reading experience. Martin's characters don't connect with the land, except as something to fight over.

[Bond]

Without boarder542 explaining exactly why he doesn't like it, it's hard to say whether the immediate reponse of many that the story aspects are what he dislikes is correct. For me personally the kind of tale in ASOIAF is a kind that usually appeals to me greatly but I can say I only like the series a little. The series seems to lack an interesting personality. It has no endearing idiosyncrasy for me. It is a good solid story but it feels too workmanlike. It's like that nice person at work who has qualities you admire and who you have nothing bad to say about but who you've never gotten close to. Technically the characters are well written but for me none of them have really come alive. If these characters were real people I wouldn't find them interesting to be around.

[The Blackfish]

I read it in a week or so my first time (Two years ago) and I understood it perfectly. I missed a whole lot, but I uinderstood it.

[Cat Snow]

That sucks! You're missing out... :p

Honestly, though, after having read a lot of complex authors lately, Martin really doesn't seem that difficult to me. And I found the characters leapt off the page... so I don't know what to say.

I concur. I just wonder why anybody would choose to spend their time at a forum posting comments about a book/series that they neither loved nor hated! That strikes me as odd- but, to each his own. I suppose I could go over to a Jordan site and go on about how bland I found the read. But why? :confused: