Re-Kindle-ing old habits
I just finished reading George R R Martin's first novel in the Song of Ice and Fire series, A Game of Thrones, the other night - and I'm about 6 chapters into Book 2, A Clash of Kings, as I write this. Wow, what spectacular, exciting fantasy writing. Vivid, compelling characters (is anyone cooler than Tyrion Lannister?), intriguing, edge-of-your-seat plotting, and best of all, superb use of language. I feel a tinge of regret at not having read these novels earlier (especially since the announcement of the HBO series adaptation makes it feel a bit bandwagon-jumpy of me). I remember when I re-read the Lord of the Rings before the first Peter Jackson film was released, I wanted to go right to another epic fantasy story, and a friend told me about Martin's Song and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. I went with WoT and was pretty disappointed with it, which ended my epic fantasy lust fairly quickly (Jordan fans take heart, my girlfriend at the time picked up The Eye of the World when I set it down and promptly consumed the entire series with gusto. One reader lost, but another gained). No doubt if I had made the other choice I would be one of the numerous impatient throng, clammering for the completion of A Dance with Dragons.
But this blog post isn't about A Song of Ice and Fire.
I also read the last half of A Game of Thrones on my brand new Kindle, a delightful birthday gift from my buddies and co-hosts over at the Totally Rad Show (thanks, fellas!) - and really grew to love the experience. I always thought the Kindle was a solution in search of a problem (what's wrong with books?), but having one now has made me a believer. I feel I'm reading quicker, easier, and - let's face it - cooler than I used to.
But this blog post isn't about the Kindle, either.
No, this blog post is about reading. Reading in general. As someone who happily makes his living talking about movies, tv, video games, and comics, I am struck once again by the narrative advantages of the novel. As much as I love those other artforms, no other medium can match the thrill, richness, or depth I experience while reading a great book.
I've come to the conclusion that I tend to be a cyclical guy by nature. I can get into something very heavily for a while, leave it for a time, and return to it later with as much (more?) enthusiasm, causing the cycle to repeat. Reading is a great example. I'll find myself an excellent book, fall in love with it, and spend hours on Amazon, planning out my next few reads. I'll actually take a break from the book I'm reading to get lost for a time in the (wonderfully) infinite loop of Amazon lists and recommendation pages, based on that book, to see all of the cool, previously undiscovered experiences that await me when I finish it. It is as if the joy in reading the current book creates a line-up of promises that I then use as incentive to finish it. "So excited to read Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind," I'm saying to myself right now, "but not until I've gotten through the four Song books."
Yet somewhere, somehow along the line, life seems to conspire to steal me away from the reading experience. I'll find myself not reading - worse, not wanting to read. One step in my chain of promises might be less than thrilling, and I fall out of the habit of reading.
But when the inevitable return happens - when I move along the cycle to the point (as I am now), where I rediscover the unmatched joys of losing myself in a great writer's words - I wonder why the hell it took me so long to get back into reading!
So... here, at long last, is really what this blog post is about: This blog post is a reminder to myself to pick up a book. Hopefully, when that down-cycle in my reading pattern inevitably comes to pass, I'll find myself editing this blog page, and I'll glance down a bit and see what I wrote here, and maybe, just maybe, I'll make some time to pick up a book, and cut that "not-reading" part of the cycle a bit shorter.
And maybe you're in your down-cycle, too. Maybe you haven't read anything great in a while. Maybe seeing this post can have the same effect on you. I'd love to see some great recommendations of excellent reads down in the comment section, something to inspire me or another reader to try something new. To grab a book. Because, damn, there really is nothing better.
Oh, and no spoilers for Song, please!! I'm reading as fast as I can!
Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 11:22PM
Reader Comments (65)
I loved ASoIaF! I wish GRRM would get the next one finished. I have been wanting to get into another epic fantasy series, but I haven't found one I liked. I picked up The Name of the Wind, but couldn't get into it. I'll probably try it again.
I can't wait for HBOs ASoIaF. I hope they turn it into a series.
Hi Jeff.
Love TRS. Love to read. Love other people that love reading. I'm fulla love!
Enough about love. Let's talk books. First of all, you should check out GoodReads.com It's got a really active community all about books. I'm there at http://www.goodreads.com/tjwebdude and read/comment/review regularly.
OK, back to the love... I LOVE the GRR Martin Ice and Fire series... an awe inspiring work. I check GRR Martin's site regularly hoping for some news of the concluding volume. I realize the guy's busy, so I don't hold the lack of progress toward the final book against him. As Neil Gaiman (another great writer - American Gods!) says, GRR Martin is not my bitch.
In the meantime, I've been biding my time with some Neil Stephenson - Anathem. Another work of brilliance. It's mind bending the way these guys can create alternate universes with nothing but pen and paper. Also very much enjoyed Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. I'm hoping someday to see a Cpl. Bobby Shaftoe book. That would be... Totally Rad.
OK, so you probably get a feel for my tastes now. Here comes the payoff for reading all the way to this point... Stephen R. Donaldson. In the 70-80s, he wrote two sets of books that changed the way I thought about life and about myself. And that's what good writing is REALLY about, right? Donaldson puts characters on an emotional/psychological precipice and then writes the story of the choices they make. No goofy plot devices or writer tricks needed to move the story from Point A to Point B, just straight up, gripping fiction.
1. Chronicles (First and Second) of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Six books altogether. A modern day leper is cast into a Tolkien-esque universe. Or is it the self-delusional fantasy of a tortured man in a coma?
2. The Gap Series. Space opera done right. A five book series. damsel in distress, a villain and a hero. But are things really that straight forward? As the story progresses, all roles and perceptions change.
The major advantage over a GRR Martin series or a Robert Jordan series? Donaldson's books have a pulse pounding, supremely satisfying ENDING. (OK, OK, Jordan died. I guess that gives him a justifiable excuse for not finishing the story!).
Enough. I've probably pushed you into another pricing tier for storage with my comments.
Keep up all the great stuff you're doing. I'll see you on TRS!
Great post Jeff. I found a lot of myself in what you said. Particularly the part about kind of the eb and flow of geeking out on something. I will constantly find that I get very intensely into something whether it be a book, TV show, piece of technology, etc. and then I'll kind of drift away and eventually comeback even more intensely. Often it is the Star Wars novels I'll forget about for MONTHS and then pick one up and tear through it in a day or two of reading every spare minute, which is always a great feeling.
Enjoyed your thoughts as always but in particular this time in written form!
Just wanted to see what you thought of this - "Kindle killer"?
http://gdgt.com/sony/reader/daily-edition/
I'm trying really hard to get back into reading. It's literally been a decade since I was captivated by a book long enough to finish reading it (Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park). I've finally started reading The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton, AMAZING BOOK! It's got my juices flowing again.
All these folks are recommending some (mostly) good reads. I would be remiss, though, not to recommend to you a standalone novel by Brandon Sanderson called Elantris. No series commitment (love GRRM, btw), just an excellent story told with style and brilliant efficiancy. Also a good one (involving magic but not of the traditional fantasy tropes): the hilarious Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Happy reading!
I also happen to be reading A game of thrones right now(just started). I started listening to it actually as an audio book for a car trip and now its found the odd niche of being what I listen to while I grind in World of Warcraft. I thought at first, perhaps it would be too much for my brain to handle but was pleasantly surprised that I can keep up fine listening to the story while slaying dragons or whatnot.
It isn't the same as reading, and probably alot slower.Its taken me a pretty good amount of time to just get halfway. However, I consider it super saturating my fun time and it makes grinding alot more enjoyable as well as epic.
Wow Jeff, I now understand why your blog is the next best thing since sliced bread. The written word is such a powerful thing, yet we like to ignore its prowess of stimulating our minds to be lulled by moving images and easy-to-grasp bite-sized pieces of information.
I applaud you for reading A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. It is such a nice feeling to be emotionally invested in a book--a place of someone else's creation through which you make your own little world--especially if it is such a great book as A Game of Thrones! Not to sound pretentious (although by saying that I invite it upon myself), but I have actually met George R. R. Martin, at his house!! No, I was not stalking him; he lives in my hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is a friend of a friend! I do have pictures to prove it, and have befriended your public facebook profile, so if you ever have the time check it out:
http://www.facebook.com/LeeMerrill
As a closing note I've realized that one of the main reasons why I will stop reading is simply because of school. Having to read through Physics and Calculus and Programming books gives you an eyesore and a slight headache, which leaves you in no mood to pick up a good novel. It is much, much easier to put in a movie or play a video game to alleviate the craziness of it all than it is to pick up that stack of bounded paper.
Keep up the good work!
Lee Merrill
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Just got three of the series from the sci fi book club. I've never actually read a fantasy novel. I'm more of a sci fi/horror reader, but I decided to give this series a chance because Jeff mentioned my main roadblock when reading these - made up names for people and places that are hard to keep track of. I don't read hard sci fi for that reason either. Gonna start A Game of Thrones after I finish the book I'm reading now. I also have some great news, Jeff. I'm very close to getting it on a ballot that your blog be named the sixth Great Lake. I'll keep you posted.
I have a cool story about getting into Ice and Fire... I was actually at a Barnes and Noble about 5 years ago getting a Wheel of Time book to give to a friend as a gift. The employee there asked if I ever read George R.R. Martin. I said I hadn't and he recommended the series to me, saying I would like it if I liked Wheel of Time, only, "Don't get attached to any of the characters, he has no remorse."
I didn't buy it then, but the next day I found myself in a bookstore again and figured, why not, it was on sale after all. Of course I got totally hooked.
So anyway, I think it's cool you're digging that series. Although I was getting kind of frustrated watching you talk excitedly about the series at the beginning of TRS episodes and having Dan and Alex look at you like they didn't quite believe you. :) They need to get into this series as well; the HBO series is going to rock!
Cannata, you HAVE to read the Prince of Nothing by R. Scott Bakker. It has a lot of wierd names and will feel like Tolkien-lite at first, but STICK WITH IT. You won't be sorry.
I have a notebook I keep in my purse and one by my computer where I jot down books I find interesting, or recs from friends/the internet. I've got 4 huge bookshelves filled with books. I can read my favorites over and over. I can find a new amazing book, read it in a few days and send it along to everyone I know. I recently got a nook (from barnes & noble) after much debate. Could I really give up BOOKS? I love my nook, I've got about 10 books on there right now, but I've also picked up 5 actual books since Christmas. I think I'll never actually give up on reading, I love it too much. My life is sort of boring and normal, but man, the adventures I have in books! The people I meet! The villans I would be scared to death of! The places I've visited! All found in books.
I usually have 2 or 3 books going at once. One paper book and one on my nook. Man, reading is awesome. People who don't read are really missing out. There's some amazing stuff out there!!!
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Based off this post I bought book 1 and 2 in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, I have to say I'm absolutely hooked on the world that George R R Martin has created, book one was epic to say the least and now I'm smashing my way through book 2. Still reading them old school but hopefully there's a kindle in the pipeline for my birthday. ;)
-Steve
You just comprehensively described in detail my attitude towards reading. Fortunately i'm just in my "up-cycle" and just read The Book Thief, an amazing novel!
Jeff, you should check out the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher.
Couldn't agree more with you... Play & watch as much as you want, but, please, don't forget to read ! So I'm asking : since, as you mentioned it, you make your living talking about basically almost everything entertainment industry produces (movies, comics, TV, video games...) except books, why don't you add few advices for readers in TRS on in your blog ? Many movies / TV Shows (good ones or bad ones...) are based on books, couldn't you just mention it ? Lord of the Rings, Blade Runner, Shutter Island, Song of Ice and Fire (btw, did you finish the fourth book ?), Flashforward, Fight Club...
Anyway, thanks for the amazing job you do on TRS and on your blog !
P.S. Apologies for my bad English... I hope I still made myself clear enough :)
It's a true ensemble cast, and each book he really changes each character, especially those of the Lannister
I agree that anything that encourages reading is positive in the long run. The Kindle, as you mentioned, does make it easier to read a variety of books while on the go. However, I'm in the camp that still prefers the feeling of books made from dead trees. The smell, the touch... they still mean something to me. Could this be because I'm old fashioned? Perhaps. But I sure hope that paper books never vanish.