Grimdark Fantasy discussion

I've created a Reading Challenges folder for anyone who wishes to do some personal reading challenges. Just create your topic and pick a theme for your challenge and be sure to update us on what you think!

My personal challenge is 'Books I should have Read'. So basically, the classics.

I'm starting with The Fellowship of the Ring! Let's see how it goes...

Great idea! My recommendation with LOTR is to skim battles and skip songs. These parts are great in audiobook format but I found it too dragging in book form. I actually read "The Hobbit" after LOTR and that was annoying because there is recapping of "Hobbit" in "Fellowship." Plus it felt really juvenile after LOTR.

Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov are two that I have on my list. I wonder which is a better choice...

Thanks! I have some audible credits to spend :)

Those are both on 'possible future additions to the list' list. This may we'll turn out to be a never ending challenge!

I actually own the audiobooks for LOTR on CDs. I listened to them all multiple times. Jim Dale is AMAZING and sings the songs! Pretty sure it was Jim Dale...

I'll do a cleaning-up-my-overflowing-TBR-shelf challenge but need to think about how...

I find it so hard to believe you haven't read LOTR. Reading it now for the first time would be interesting. I don't think it would have the impact it did when I first read it at 11.

Scott wrote: "I find it so hard to believe you haven't read LOTR. Reading it now for the first time would be interesting. I don't think it would have the impact it did when I first read it at 11."

I know! I'm kinda embarrassed. Our school library didn't have it, so I read the Hobbit instead.

Silvana wrote: "I'll do a cleaning-up-my-overflowing-TBR-shelf challenge but need to think about how..."

Best way is to just do it. I spent way too much time thinking about how I should do my challenge. Gotta start somewhere, I guess.

Three hours down in the audio book. Wow, it is so dense! A lot of history with names and places.

Gotta love those elven names!

4 hours down, I'm still waiting for it to kick in. I wouldn't say I'm bored, but if it continues at such a slow pace I might find it a struggle to get through. :/

5 1/2 hrs and we've finally reached The Prancing Pony. I swear if they spent as much time navigating as they did singing, they'd be at Mt Doom already!

You don't like the singing? O Elbereth Gilthoniel!

Silvana wrote: "You don't like the singing? O Elbereth Gilthoniel!"

Not really. *Braces for angry stares*

I've sped up the narration, that should keen me going through the, uh .... slower parts.

That is the one plus about the books - I skimmed the songs and poetry and fight scenes...I was okay with it when listening as I was commuting anyway.

I'm finally past the halfway mark!

I'm bored. *Gasp*

I doubt I'll pick up The Two Towers.

Oh no! They are pretty dense books.

I liked The Two Towers better than TFoTR, actually. It is where it gets darker. Saruman was awesome.

I can agree with that. The first book you just want to say - get on with it!

Yay finished this morning. Finally.

I wish I could say I was moved by the whole thing, but I was not. I'll just stick to the films in future.

Not sure what to move onto next.

That is fine, no need to force something you don't enjoy.

I want to join this challenge as well but not sure which book/series to pick. I am thinking Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet but I might also pick some next-in-series like Anthony Ryan's Legion of Flame.

Silvana wrote: "That is fine, no need to force something you don't enjoy.

I want to join this challenge as well but not sure which book/series to pick. I am thinking Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet but I migh..."

I know what you mean! I have so many unfinished series. I'd like to complete a few of them too. I just don't have the time to spare.

Yeah I want to read Foundation but I need to finish Dark Tower, Dune, and Chronicles of Amber first.

I have currently 10 series to complete and 18 to keep up with. And yet I keep reading first-in-series.

ha! That's definitely a problem. I'm almost done with Dune as of like 12 years ago...I really should finish. My view is to finish Dune, then Amber, then Dark Tower (as that is the most efficient method).

I think I might try The Big Sleep next.

I found Far from the Madding Crowd in a local bookstore for a very cheap £3, so that's my next challenge.

Who know's I might even like this one!

Haven't read it.

I'll let you know if it's worth picking up.

So I never started Far from the Madding Crowd, however I did pick up Of Mice and Men, which is interesting to say the least.

Mice and Men is such a trip. I read it in maybe 2000.