Hope, and When To Give Up...

[kmkibble75]

I may have to give up on the Song of Ice and Fire series about 250 pages into the third book. I just can't take the constant stream of bad things happening to the main family in the stories -- it's just too much. I realize sometimes reality can be like that, where misfortune is followed by misfortune after misfortune, but this is something I'm

Comments

[frigg]

*nods*

I haven't read the series, but sometimes the doom and gloom works and sometimes it is just off-putting. It is a balance.

[mnfaure]

Yes, and I think Martin is pretty much lacking in balance.

It isn't fair to say that of the whole series, but the first few books, definitely.

[frigg]

I have to admit that I like the TV series so far. At first I did not want to watch, but then peeked because of Nikolaj Coster Waldau (who is Danish), I found it too violent, but then I got caught up with Daenerys' storyline and character. Of course I now have my usual problem with series shown on the TV. I cannot remember when to plonk myself down in front of the TV and then I start missing episodes. :p

[mnfaure]

I haven't watched tv in ages and probably won't any time soon. :P

[mnfaure]

I had the same problem with Martin: http://mnfaure.livejournal.com/191693.html

I didn't get past book three. Let me know if you do. I don't know that I'll ever get back to them; like you said, there needs to be some hope.

I know you think *I* can write pretty dark(ish) stuff but my endings always feel a whole heck of a lot happier and lighter than his.

[kmkibble75]

At least with Witherwilds, it didn't feel the same as his, you're right. But I guess I'd have to see books two and three to be sure. ;-)

I didn't do any reading last night... I'll let it sit for a bit and see how I feel. The weird thing is that if this were all on TV, I'd probably keep watching. But since it needs my imagination, I feel like an accomplice in the characters' suffering.

[mnfaure]

That's a good way of putting it, about being an accomplice. And I think the suffering is more long term when you read, as in it sticks with you longer, at least it does for me.

And I'm, um, flattered that you think I put my characters through the wringer as much as Mr. Martin. (Ha! I can't hold a candle to him!)

[pjthompson]

You have stated the precise reason I never tried these. They just seemed so damned grim. Not my cuppa, not with RL being so damned grim.

[kmkibble75]

I started reading Magic Slays yesterday, and the contrast was startling. MS isn't exactly a happy book, but there were scenes that actually ended on a positive note -- that alone is a big shift from GoT.

[pjthompson]

It's a good one. She does grim sometimes, but not that soul-sucking kind of grim. I think you'll find it a satisfying read.

[tree_lady]

Joining late but I agree with your point. Reading about terrible things happening to people one after another -is- more traumatizing than seeing it in a film or TV show. Why? Because it's over sooner. Films are two hours. Series TV is usually in one hour chunks but tops out at 2. In between, you get a chance to forget some of the worst stuff. On the other hand, if I'm reading, I'm more likely to do it for more than two hours -and- without distractions like TV ads, etc.

An old friend once seriously into DragonLance, thinks this series is the best ever. I guess he's changed over the years.
I wouldn't one of his books for anything at this point. Makes me wonder what's going on inside his head.

"If I stop now, I can just pretend things turned out alright."
--- That makes me think of my attitude toward the Aliens films. In "my world", there were only the first two of them! The rest were just this weird nightmare I had once.