Chapter a day read of the books.

mariebeth

I'm just wondering would anyone be interested in doing a 'chapter a day' read of the books, starting with Game of Thrones and working our way through to A Dance With Dragons? The chapters are short, so it could be worked around other books that you're reading or other obligations, but I thought it might be interesting to be reading and discussing at the same time.

Basically how it could work is that there would be separate thread for each book, so once GOT was finished, a new thread would be created for Clash of Kings etc. We would read one chapter a day, and there could be a discussion about this chapter. I know at the beginning the discussion would be limited, but as it continued, there could be discussion about previous events and how they have impacted on the chapter we have just read.

For those of us who have read the books already, there would be room for discussion on things we may have missed first time round. Future events could also be discussed in relation to the chapter, however they would need to be put in spoiler tags, so this part could get a bit messy, so we may need to discuss the logistics of doing this before we begin the read.

If there is enough interest, the aim would be to begin reading maybe on the 14th May.

Tzar Chasm

am missing my copy of game of thrones, would join in from clash of kings on

krudler

each book has well over 80 chapters each so that'd take a looong time

Gbear

I like the idea.

At all times it takes considerable strength of will to not just pick up GoT and start over again.

Doing a slow read would be nice.

Mr.Prodston

I make no apologies for racing ahead :pac: although I have been meaning to re-read them

Mickeroo

Sounds like a good idea (though I've given all my books away ).

I'm not sure having first time readers reading along with people on their second or third read through is a good idea though. Plus there's no way anyone will be able to read just one chapter once they get into them

Actually a decent idea although it would take a while... I started GoT again a week ago so could wait and continue reading when you catch up. It's amazing the extra stuff you pick up when you know what's going on!

mariebeth

krudler wrote: »

each book has well over 80 chapters each so that'd take a looong time

Valid point, but it would tide us over until season 4 and until we finally have Winds of Winter released.

At the moment I was just hoping that there would be interest, hadn't fully thought out all the logistics of it yet but that's what this thread is for. A chapter a day isn't a lot, but it would take a long time, two chapters a day might be worth considering as well, if people would prefer that option?

Gbear wrote: »

I like the idea.

At all times it takes considerable strength of will to not just pick up GoT and start over again.

Doing a slow read would be nice.

It would be very nice alright. I've re-read GOT and COK, actually on ASOS part 1 at the moment, so I would probably be reading further in the series at the same time as going back to the beginning, but on the second read there's so much I missed the first time round already, and I'm sure there's things I'll come across on a third read that I didn't spot before.

Mickeroo wrote: »

Sounds like a good idea (though I've given all my books away ).

I'm not sure having first time readers reading along with people on their second or third read through is a good idea though. Plus there's no way anyone will be able to read just one chapter once they get into them

That's true, but even if you read ahead you could always go back to the specific chapter for each day

Deleted User wrote: »

Actually a decent idea although it would take a while... I started GoT again a week ago so could wait and continue reading when you catch up. It's amazing the extra stuff you pick up when you know what's going on!

There is so much going on behind the plot that I missed the first time round, and am probably still missing. Delving in to the dedicated forums for the series made me realise just how much I'd missed!

iamanengine

Great idea, I am only a tv watcher at the moment but have always intended on reading the books, now I have a reason to go out and buy them :P

I think a chapter a day would be tough though with people wanting to read more. But as you said the logistics have to be worked out, the overall idea is great though!

I guess what you could do is spoiler any discussion of further events like we do the TV threads but the main discussion would be on what we've read obviously. Would create good discussion about people's ideas about certain aspects of the books that are always debated. Liking this idea a lot more now I wonder could people be disciplined enough to keeping to one chapter

What I would say to anyone that is worried about reading any of the future books in fear of it ruining how much you love the TV series that didn't happen for me anyway. I watched the first season before reading any of the books but have enjoyed the show a lot more since reading all of them, although that isn't the case with everyone just my 2c

Gbear

Another point is that although TV viewers will be starting from book 1 they will almost all have knowledge of the general story right up to the end of book SoS part 1 once this season finishes.

So although using spoiler blockers for books 2 and 3pt1 would still be a good idea, it meant that if curiosity got the better of you it'd be unlikely that anything major would be spoiled.

I would propose that any spoiler includes reference to the book it's in.

So Dance with Dragons

spoiler

would indicate that it spoils everything up until the end of that book.

On one hand you could argue that there shouldn't be any spoilers from future books, forshadowing, minor characters reappearing and so forth adds a lot to the book for rereaders so it'd be a shame to leave it out.

mariebeth

iamanengine wrote: »

Great idea, I am only a tv watcher at the moment but have always intended on reading the books, now I have a reason to go out and buy them :P

I think a chapter a day would be tough though with people wanting to read more. But as you said the logistics have to be worked out, the overall idea is great though!

The whole chapter a day thing could be revised to maybe two or three chapters, but I was thinking it might be better for people who maybe want to read other books at the same time, or who might have other commitments. I'll probably be reading further on in the series at the same time, but going back to the specific chapter for each day.

It might be easier to start also with one chapter, and if people feel that it's going too slow, or the discussion is dwindling then we could speed up by reading more chapters.

Deleted User wrote: »

I guess what you could do is spoiler any discussion of further events like we do the TV threads but the main discussion would be on what we've read obviously. Would create good discussion about people's ideas about certain aspects of the books that are always debated. Liking this idea a lot more now I wonder could people be disciplined enough to keeping to one chapter

What I would say to anyone that is worried about reading any of the future books in fear of it ruining how much you love the TV series that didn't happen for me anyway. I watched the first season before reading any of the books but have enjoyed the show a lot more since reading all of them, although that isn't the case with everyone just my 2c

I'm also a show watcher turned book reader, and I agree. I think reading the books has added to the show in one way. Although like with any adaptions, you have to separate the two, because unfortunately they don't always stick to the book.

Gbear wrote: »

I would propose that any spoiler includes reference to the book it's in.

So Dance with Dragons

spoiler

would indicate that it spoils everything up until the end of that book.

On one hand you could argue that there shouldn't be any spoilers from future books, forshadowing, minor characters reappearing and so forth adds a lot to the book for rereaders so it'd be a shame to leave it out.

Referencing what book the spoiler is from is a really good idea.

It also might be worth agreeing to not talk about big events that would be coming up, even within spoiler tags, for the sake of anyone who wants to begin reading the books through this project?

calex71

mariebeth wrote: »

Valid point, but it would tide us over until season 4 and until we finally have Winds of Winter released.

Given Martins pace of writing I'd say you have 3 - 4 years easy before winds of winter is released, even with chapters already being read publicly by him I'm not holding my breath for it to come any sooner than that

There was so much I missed / overlooked in the books on my 1st read, even with current events in the shows 3rd season like how did (spoiler in case folks are not current with the show / this point in book 3 )

Beric come to be rocking that badass eye patch???? etc.

and had to look it up so a re-re read is needed for me big time

Graham_B18C

I think this is a brilliant idea, but I reckon discussion should be kept only for the people reading along and stick to either one or two chapters a day, some chapters can take 40 mins or so to read so if some people are reading 3 chapters a day, others may not be able to keep up with this making the whole thing pointless.

If its a chapter a day it means everyone can take in everything that's happened and will appreciate everything that's happened. The discussion about the chapter each day will keep everything fresh also. I might start the first one again just to join in with this.

Interrobang

Great idea - however this ends up working out, count me in.

December2012

I think this would be lots of fun. I would join in definitely!

mariebeth

I'm quite pleased at how much interest there is in all this!

So it looks like this will definitely be going ahead, is everyone happy to maybe start on May 14th? Or sooner? I'm just thinking that people might need to get their hands on copies of the book.


The basic ground rules to start off would be:

• one chapter a day to be read and discussed. If you want to read ahead, fine, but come back and discuss the specific chapter on the day, not what you've read ahead.

• Anything that is from a previous chapter that we have read, shouldn't need spoiler tags. If you have read the books previously and want to comment about foreshadowing or how this adds up to something that will happen, put spoiler tags, and a reference to what book the spoiler is from.

• Would everyone be in agreement not to make references to big future events in the books if they have not happened in the TV series yet? For example, if something in book 1 foreshadows Ned's head on the chopping block, or the battle of Blackwater, then these are safe to discuss but anything big that hasn't happened, then that's a no-no.

I think that's about it. If anyone wants to suggest any additions or changes, please feel free to

December2012

Well I'd suggest that (much like some of the podcasts) you can discuss anything and everything up to the end of that threads last chapter and nothing further.

Molly

Make it so you can discuss anything, will become a giant pain if half of the thread is spoilered out. Not being able to discuss future events will remove some of the good discussions

mariebeth

Molly wrote: »

Make it so you can discuss anything, will become a giant pain if half of the thread is spoilered out

The big problem with that is if people who haven't read the books want to join in with this. It'll be either a case of discuss nothing that hasn't happened up to where we have read, or else spoilers for future events. I'm starting to think that the first option might be the easiest/safest route to go.

Duckworth_Luas

It can't work unless you can talk about all events in all the books.

I read all five after watching seasons 1 & 2 together. A huge part of the books is the foreshadowing, this is going to be even bigger on a second read.

Foreshadowing is my main interest in this idea to be honest. As people said anything that needs to be spoilered out should be noted by what relevant book you'd have to have read etc.

Interrobang

mariebeth wrote: »

It'll be either a case of discuss nothing that hasn't happened up to where we have read, or else spoilers for future events. I'm starting to think that the first option might be the easiest/safest route to go.

Easier, yes, but not the most enjoyable. One of the best things about re-reading the books is noticing flags that you'd missed before or linking things to later events. Excluding discussion of future events would limit the thread greatly.

As you say, though, that presents a problem for first-time readers... maybe two separate threads, one for each group?

Mr.Prodston

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

It can't work unless you can talk about all events in all the books.

I read all five after watching seasons 1 & 2 together. A huge part of the books is the foreshadowing, this is going to be even bigger on a second read.

I'd agree with Duckworth, there's no point in doing a reread if we can't talk about what we didn't pick up on the first time. Selfish some might call it but the majority of people who'd participate will be people who have read the book already. I'm all for participating in whatever way we'll end up doing it though.

December2012

Interrobang wrote: »

Easier, yes, but not the most enjoyable. One of the best things about re-reading the books is noticing flags that you'd missed before or linking things to later events. Excluding discussion of future events would limit the thread greatly.

As you say, though, that presents a problem for first-time readers... maybe two separate threads, one for each group?

I think the two separate threads are a good idea.

mariebeth

Interrobang wrote: »

Easier, yes, but not the most enjoyable. One of the best things about re-reading the books is noticing flags that you'd missed before or linking things to later events. Excluding discussion of future events would limit the thread greatly.

As you say, though, that presents a problem for first-time readers... maybe two separate threads, one for each group?

I'm happy to work with two separate threads, one for first time readers and one for re-readers if everyone else is.

Meathlass

Can we not assume that first time readers have knowledge of what has happened up to the tv show?

Or are you talking about discussing things in the later books as well?

Tom.D.BJJ

Yeah, in.

iamanengine

Would it be suitable for first time readers to only read a chapter a day though?

Meathlass

iamanengine wrote: »

Would it be suitable for first time readers to only read a chapter a day though?

I defy any first time reader not to read ahead but they only have to discuss the relevant chapter each day.

I think we need someone to put up a synopsis of each chapter though as well.

Tom.D.BJJ

Meathlass wrote: »

I think we need someone to put up a synopsis of each chapter though as well.

Why? That's already available on the wiki