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SignUp Now!NCCUknow said:I am about to start Zadie Smith's NW. Anybody hear anything good or bad about it?
Dattier said:He writes consecutive chapters from the povs of different characters -- about 9 or so in this book -- in no discernible, regimented order that I've noticed. Something I really like w/in this format is that each character makes decisions that seem logical in isolation, but b/c of the last chapter you read or the next chapter you will read, you recognize how the decisions contribute to some overall "oh so close," "ships passing in the night" quality that is agonizing for the reader, but acceptable, too. Do this poorly and you come off like some contrived soap opera crap. Martin does it pretty brilliantly, though.
Dattier said:Epilogue away from end of A Storm of Swords (3rd book in Ice and Fire Series by George RR Martin, better known as A Game of Thrones, the first book in the series). Really good. High quality writing and incredible attention to detail. I've noticed some formulaic stuff, like how he starts each chapter at a point in time, then uses flashbacks to cover stuff he's skipped chronologically. He does this in almost every chapter. But my tendency to be disappointed w/ formulas doesn't really apply when it's so highbrow, so it's more an "I feel ya" thing w/ the author than disdain (like w/ stupid James Patterson).
I also noticed overuse of the word "niggardly." He never used it in the first 2 books of the series, but used it about 3 times in this book, in different chapters, w/ different characters. It's not the kind of word you forget b/c of its coincidental resemblance to THAT word. It's as if he just learned or remembered this word. I don't like that.
He writes consecutive chapters from the povs of different characters -- about 9 or so in this book -- in no discernible, regimented order that I've noticed. Something I really like w/in this format is that each character makes decisions that seem logical in isolation, but b/c of the last chapter you read or the next chapter you will read, you recognize how the decisions contribute to some overall "oh so close," "ships passing in the night" quality that is agonizing for the reader, but acceptable, too. Do this poorly and you come off like some contrived soap opera crap. Martin does it pretty brilliantly, though.
I love it but I read it when I was a teenagerJohaadDBC said:Enders game? Worthwhile?
That's what I'm worried about. I remember hearing someone on here say it was great, and then someone else told me today that if I liked Hunger Games, I'd love this. I guess hunger games is a teen book too.Topher said:I love it but I read it when I was a teenagerJohaadDBC said:Enders game? Worthwhile?
deepdarkblue said:He's certainly the best of the fantasy fiction writers, but even he falters at times. The last one or two in the series haven't been up to the standard set by the first few. I guess when it's like ten years between books, you sort of lose focus.
Dattier said:Epilogue away from end of A Storm of Swords (3rd book in Ice and Fire Series by George RR Martin, better known as A Game of Thrones, the first book in the series). Really good. High quality writing and incredible attention to detail. I've noticed some formulaic stuff, like how he starts each chapter at a point in time, then uses flashbacks to cover stuff he's skipped chronologically. He does this in almost every chapter. But my tendency to be disappointed w/ formulas doesn't really apply when it's so highbrow, so it's more an "I feel ya" thing w/ the author than disdain (like w/ stupid James Patterson).
I also noticed overuse of the word "niggardly." He never used it in the first 2 books of the series, but used it about 3 times in this book, in different chapters, w/ different characters. It's not the kind of word you forget b/c of its coincidental resemblance to THAT word. It's as if he just learned or remembered this word. I don't like that.
He writes consecutive chapters from the povs of different characters -- about 9 or so in this book -- in no discernible, regimented order that I've noticed. Something I really like w/in this format is that each character makes decisions that seem logical in isolation, but b/c of the last chapter you read or the next chapter you will read, you recognize how the decisions contribute to some overall "oh so close," "ships passing in the night" quality that is agonizing for the reader, but acceptable, too. Do this poorly and you come off like some contrived soap opera crap. Martin does it pretty brilliantly, though.
deepdarkblue said:Dattier said:Epilogue away from end of A Storm of Swords (3rd book in Ice and Fire Series by George RR Martin, better known as A Game of Thrones, the first book in the series). Really good. High quality writing and incredible attention to detail. I've noticed some formulaic stuff, like how he starts each chapter at a point in time, then uses flashbacks to cover stuff he's skipped chronologically. He does this in almost every chapter. But my tendency to be disappointed w/ formulas doesn't really apply when it's so highbrow, so it's more an "I feel ya" thing w/ the author than disdain (like w/ stupid James Patterson).
I also noticed overuse of the word "niggardly." He never used it in the first 2 books of the series, but used it about 3 times in this book, in different chapters, w/ different characters. It's not the kind of word you forget b/c of its coincidental resemblance to THAT word. It's as if he just learned or remembered this word. I don't like that.
He writes consecutive chapters from the povs of different characters -- about 9 or so in this book -- in no discernible, regimented order that I've noticed. Something I really like w/in this format is that each character makes decisions that seem logical in isolation, but b/c of the last chapter you read or the next chapter you will read, you recognize how the decisions contribute to some overall "oh so close," "ships passing in the night" quality that is agonizing for the reader, but acceptable, too. Do this poorly and you come off like some contrived soap opera crap. Martin does it pretty brilliantly, though.
He's certainly the best of the fantasy fiction writers, but even he falters at times. The last one or two in the series haven't been up to the standard set by the first few. I guess when it's like ten years between books, you sort of lose focus.
It was really rough getting through that book in a reasonable timeframe. Like, you knew it was going to get awesome, but it kept waiting and waiting.WarDamnKC said:Swords is the best of the 5 books out. You will not be able to put it down. I believe I read it in something like 4 days. Get ready though because Crows slows down substantially. The last 200 pages of Crows are amazing, but everything before that can be a difficult read at times.
Dragons is similar to Crows except I hate Dany's chapters.
I feel like if you're going to reference a character in this series, you should use the spoiler button to say they're still alive.WarDamnKC said:It was brutal. I don't know about you, but I love the Greyjoy/Iron Islander chapters. There is always some very important story line occurring in them.
I just wish Dany would die.