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Kim's Reviews > A Feast for Crows
A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)
by
George R. R. Martin is a blowhard.
I mean that with respect, I suppose. I guess any author that got me to read over 2400 pages of his writing garners some respect, right? A smattering, maybe? I don’t know, maybe it’s because I was raised Catholic, or maybe it’s my sense of follow through or maybe just the fact that I’ve invested so much time in this damn series… whatever. I’m here, I’ve finished book #4. Yay.
Okay, so the reason I’m grumpy is that it took me 480 pages to get into this. Which left me 200 pages to actually enjoy. That’s not fair. And this isn’t the first time, this is a pattern with this guy. I spend all this time trying to remember who is who and why I care that I’m either confused or bored silly. Okay, for example: We have Elys who is married to Alys and we have Belwas and Boros and Balon . And Pate, Pod and Peck (don’t ask me to explain who is who, please) and then we have Sansa who is now Alayne ---not Arianne, she’s someone else--- and we have Arya who was Weasel and then was Arry and then became ‘no one’ and then became Cat of the Canals, who shouldn’t be confused with Cat who was Caitlyn who became ‘The Hooded Woman’ and then later ‘Lady Stoneheart’. Do you see what I mean?
This is worse than Days of Our Lives because then you really only need to watch maybe a day or so to catch up. Oh, and if Jaime and Brienne don’t hook up, there will be hell to pay, Mr. R.R. Martin. HELL. And, thank you for having Sam lose his virginity; that gave me hope. (oh, come on, are you going to get on me for spoilers?? If you’re even reading this review, it’s because you’ve invested as much time in this series as I have.)
Then… THEN I come across this little gem:
‘”Hey, wait a minute!” some of you may be saying about now. “Wait a minute, wait a minute! Where’s Dany and the dragons? Where’s Tyrion? We hardly saw Jon Snow. That can’t be all of it…”
Well, no. There’s more to come. Another book as big as this one.
Bastard.
Okay, so I’m whining. I know. Of course, I’ll read ‘A Dance with Dragons’ (oh, and another thing, George? Can we get you to work on better titles? Because when I’m sitting there reading these tomes and someone comes up to me and says ‘Whatcha readin’?’ I’m a bit hesitant to say ‘A Feast for Crows’ or ‘A Game of Thrones’ without rolling my eyes and explaining that I’m NOT into D&D, just a suggestion. Thanks) but I will do so reluctantly.
by
George R. R. Martin is a blowhard.
I mean that with respect, I suppose. I guess any author that got me to read over 2400 pages of his writing garners some respect, right? A smattering, maybe? I don’t know, maybe it’s because I was raised Catholic, or maybe it’s my sense of follow through or maybe just the fact that I’ve invested so much time in this damn series… whatever. I’m here, I’ve finished book #4. Yay.
Okay, so the reason I’m grumpy is that it took me 480 pages to get into this. Which left me 200 pages to actually enjoy. That’s not fair. And this isn’t the first time, this is a pattern with this guy. I spend all this time trying to remember who is who and why I care that I’m either confused or bored silly. Okay, for example: We have Elys who is married to Alys and we have Belwas and Boros and Balon . And Pate, Pod and Peck (don’t ask me to explain who is who, please) and then we have Sansa who is now Alayne ---not Arianne, she’s someone else--- and we have Arya who was Weasel and then was Arry and then became ‘no one’ and then became Cat of the Canals, who shouldn’t be confused with Cat who was Caitlyn who became ‘The Hooded Woman’ and then later ‘Lady Stoneheart’. Do you see what I mean?
This is worse than Days of Our Lives because then you really only need to watch maybe a day or so to catch up. Oh, and if Jaime and Brienne don’t hook up, there will be hell to pay, Mr. R.R. Martin. HELL. And, thank you for having Sam lose his virginity; that gave me hope. (oh, come on, are you going to get on me for spoilers?? If you’re even reading this review, it’s because you’ve invested as much time in this series as I have.)
Then… THEN I come across this little gem:
‘”Hey, wait a minute!” some of you may be saying about now. “Wait a minute, wait a minute! Where’s Dany and the dragons? Where’s Tyrion? We hardly saw Jon Snow. That can’t be all of it…”
Well, no. There’s more to come. Another book as big as this one.
Bastard.
Okay, so I’m whining. I know. Of course, I’ll read ‘A Dance with Dragons’ (oh, and another thing, George? Can we get you to work on better titles? Because when I’m sitting there reading these tomes and someone comes up to me and says ‘Whatcha readin’?’ I’m a bit hesitant to say ‘A Feast for Crows’ or ‘A Game of Thrones’ without rolling my eyes and explaining that I’m NOT into D&D, just a suggestion. Thanks) but I will do so reluctantly.
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Reading Progress
February 9, 2008
– Shelved
March 15, 2008
– Shelved as:
fantasy
Started Reading
August 31, 2008
–
Finished Reading
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I too have invested time in his first 2 books, number 3 has sat on my shelf for 8 freaking years!!! I haven't read it yet and now after reading your review I know that I will have to read the first and 2nd one over again so that I can reacquaint myself with all of the characters. The problem is that I LOVED the first two books so I hope that the rest of these aren't going to disappoint me too terribly!! I gave up on Robert Jordan for the exact reasons you stated in your review....maybe I'll just wait until I'm retired to read this whole series....it will probably take that long for him to finish it!!!
I've been trying to read it for FOUR YEARS, and it finally seems like I'll finish it this time. I loved the first three, and if I had never read them, there is absolutely no way I would've kept trying so hard for this book.The names drive me crazy, but at least there's an appendix to help straighten everything out. I just recently read an Alyane chapter where she wasn't referenced as Sansa at all, and it confused the heck out of me. I had to look it up in the back to make sure it actually was Sansa and not someone else. I think with so many characters, the easiest way to not get frustrated is to just let go and accept you're going to get people confused... but it shouldn't have to be that way.
I'm afraid that when/if the next book comes out, it will do me in. Yeah, I'll still read it, but with a sense of doom hanging over me...
Kim wrote: "I'm afraid that when/if the next book comes out, it will do me in. Yeah, I'll still read it, but with a sense of doom hanging over me... "I just finished it. I definitely think the last 100 pages were the best... but now I want to read more about some of the characters, and that won't happen in the next book. Also, Pate at the end? I know I should know him, but I can't remember who he is! Ughh.
My sentiments EXACTLY! I've beenr reading fantasy all my life, and I'm a pretty good reader, but I've found that it's nearly impossible for me to follow all of Martin's obscure characters and plot twists. It's so tempting to skip past an obnoxious character's section sometimes, especially knowing there will be dozens more like it. However, I know I'll be doomed if I do, because some vital plot twist will appear! I've resorted to downloading the series on audiobook. Sure it takes me 30+ hours to plow through one of his novels that way, but it also ensures that I pay more attention and fully digest what is going on!Still, I'm nearly done this one (2 hours of audiobook left), and I've got to say I'm enjoying it. Now, all I've got left is to wait two more years for the next book. Amazon said it was supposed to be released October 2010, but according to his blog he's still in the process of WRITING it. Not editing or revising. WRITING. And crucial scenes, from the sound of it. :(
beautifully said !! I was laughing hysterically at your review...I loved the first three books but was wiped OUT by this last one...killed off all his main charaters...whatever.
I agree! And it's a drag to have high expectations for a character only to read that they are dead...too many people die and too many people are introduced.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who had trouble following the myriad of characters and storylines. I was starting to feel a little slow.
This book was particularly disappointing because I thought book 3 in the series was so good. Then book 4 lost the momentum. He introduced way too many new characters that I didn't care about and ignore the ones that I wanted to be reading about! And Cersei... Man she's annoying and stupid and had way too many chapters.
It took me soooo long to finish this book (on audio!!) I was still bored. Hope the next one is a comeback. I really don't care about hundreds of obscure characters either...
Exactly how I felt. Mr. Martin is a fabulous storyteller. Too bad he tells it like your grandpa, rambling and telling you about someone that you don't know!
Don't you think poor Brienne seemed dead? George hasn't been one for surprise happy endings so far. She seemed pretty finished to me.
I feel exactly the same, George is a good writer, but there is just to much stuff to keep a track on, characters who ramble on about totally uninteresting babble. Characters that gets to much focus thats not a part of the plot. Actually this book series i think the tv production is better than the books. All in all the main story lines are very exiting, but these books should be shaved down to half their size.
Love this review. Spot on.
Had the same feelings as you. It sort of became a little tedious and I couldn't wait to get to the end just to get it over with. It feels more like that TV series LOST. I got lost after a while.
On the subject of titles - can we talk about the fact that by the time I finish telling someone the name of the series, their attention span has already wandered? "A Song of Ice and Fire" is a TERRIBLE name for a series just for conciseness's sake, in addition to sounding a bit fey if we're being completely honest. HBO did well to go with Game of Thrones as their show title.
Couldn't agree more!
'Okay, so the reason I’m grumpy is that it took me 480 pages to get into this. Which left me 200 pages to actually enjoy.''I spend all this time trying to remember who is who and why I care that I’m either confused or bored silly.'
Well then the problem is your mental capacity, not the book. I personally have no problem at all and I am not even reading the book in my native language...
Agree, the book spends too much time rambling on with all the cool and interesting developments saved for the end. His books need seriously editing.
havehad this one on my to-read list.