A Game of Thrones

[uberreiniger]

I think the Beats Antique concert was what I needed to get me out of the rut I've been in the last week or so in regard to bass playing. Although everything I come up with sounds distinctly Middle Eastern now.

I wish I could as easily get out of the rut I've fallen into writing Seasons in the Abyss. The same thing has happened on the last two attempts. I'll get about a hundred pages in and then I just get stuck. I'm not stopping and letting it fall by the wayside this time, I can't afford to. But man do I feel stuck. And I feel like the story isn't that interesting. Maybe it's time to type up what I have and open up some beta readership to see if it really is as boring as I think it is or if Nitokris is a dumb a heroine as I think I've made her. I don't think I'm venturing into "dumb horror movie bimbo" territory with her yet, but I worry if her reactions to all the weird stuff that happens to her are plausible.

Meanwhile, after having it sit on my bookshelf for two years I am finally reading George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones. I can see what all the fuss is about because it's pretty good. Even though not much has happened yet, I'm hooked on the gloomy medieval characters and weirdly plausible fantasy world. His writing really pulls you in and reading it makes me want to listen to power metal where there is much singing about swords, and battles, and feasting, and fighting to the bitter end, and mourning the king who hath fallen, etc. I'm trying not to get too emotionally attached to any characters because I have heard that every character you could get emotionally attached too, dies. We'll see. Looking forward to my break at work so I can keep reading.

Comments

[ayashi.livejournal.com]

Really enjoyed that book! I'm holding off on book 2 because I want to make sure I'm good for discussion for book club next week... but after that I'll probably start book 2. The HBO series also starts next Sunday, so that doesn't hurt one bit :D

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a book club I'd like to be a part of! I don't have HBO so won't be watching the series. I'll probably catch it after it wraps and I've finished a volume or two.

[germsama.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm so glad you're finally reading it. I'm actually due for a re-read with the show and new book happening this year.

Beta readers may be just what you need. I know it's helped me a lot. Even if I end up completely disregarding their comments, it really helps in stepping back to view your story from different angles. I'd be happy to give it a read if you end up doing so - keep me in mind! :)

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I mentioned this on Facebook, but I can't help but wonder if the Lost writers didn't read Martin and were influenced by him. You've got a forest full of scary... things called "The Others" that most people don't believe actually exist. And you've got a massive cast of characters with each chapter from the POV of a different one... And each POV chapter revealing a significant chunk of said character's backstory and why they're so miserable. I mean, I doubt the Lost folks actually did read it because as far as I know a copy of it never appeared on the show but there are some strong parallels. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Jon Snow were to start yelling for people not to tell him what he can't do.

I reread the part I thought wasn't working tonight and it flows better than I thought. Beta still wouldn't hurt though. If I can get it typed up I'll count you in.

[ravenbrenna.livejournal.com]

Man...that is what I think with EVERYTHING I write. Hence I always put it up on my LJ for opinions. You may just be too critical of your work. *nods*

Based on who told me to read Game of Thrones I figured I would find it horribly boring. I can't explain this person in any other way but robot. lol. Also uh...Sean Bean in the tv series. I'm not waiting to read the book. Not with all the other bajillion books I still have to read! lol.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

See I've had the same fear which is why it's taken me so long to read. Because people always talk about the series like it's LITERATURE(!) (emphasis mine.) But I'm finding it's really a page-turner. Not in a nail-biting suspense kind of way... It's hard to describe. Martin somehow can take a scene of, say, a couple sitting in a garden talking about the wife's sister and make it utterly fascinating. The only stumbling block I'm having is that there are a LOT of characters and sometimes it takes a moment to remember who is who and how they're related. It's made worse by the fact that they all have really short, simple names. (Jon, Ned, Robb, Robert, etc.) But yeah, not a boring book in the slightest.

I think I am being too critical. I re-read the parts that troubled me last night and it turned out I really liked them. Taking some time away from them and reading them again later really helped, I think. I'll include you in the beta if I can get it going.

[ravenbrenna.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of worried I"m going to regret just watching the series instead but it starts on Sunday and I haven't had new Sean Bean to fixate on in like...years. *clings to teh Bean*

Yeah I do that a lot. I go on about how I hate something I wrote and then look at it in a few days or a week later or whatever and It's just like that's actually awesome.

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

Love your Girl Genius icon! Whatever problems Sean Bean is going to face in Game of Thrones I'm sure they could all be solved quickly by an army of Jagermonsters!

[ravenbrenna.livejournal.com]

Omg I didn't know you read it! <3 it! And Maxim is my fave Jager! lol

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

I've fallen behind on reading it. I need to just take an entire day and start over and get caught up. It's hard to pick a favorite character, but Maxim and his buddies are right up there. I really like Gil too.

[ravenbrenna.livejournal.com]

<3 Gil! I just recently caught up so now I have to wait for it to update. :(

[styxx374]

That's on my list of books to read. I guess I should check it out.

Oh, and I LURV Sean Bean...