March 3, 2013

A Song of Ice and Fire Read-along


This March, we – me, Cass, Brittany, Alyssa and Kristina – are embarking on what is sure to be the most epic of journeys. That’s right kids - we’re tackling the mammoth series known as A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by George R.R. Martin! 

We all have wanted to read the series for a while, but we felt seriously intimidated by the sheer length and reputation of these novels. So, after a Twitter conversation and a slew of emails, we’ve set up the (very casual) A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE READ-ALONG

This read-along is more for each of us to be able to (finally) read this series, and have each other for support while we do! Everyone who is interested is welcome to join us, as we will be having Twitter chats (#SOIFRA) every two weeks (or perhaps update you on Twitter as we read!). We’re also hoping to set up an email thread per book where we can discuss all the things that are happening (and so we prevent the tragedy of spoiling things for other people!).

Each book that’s out (five in total at the moment) will be read over a period of two months. Every two months, a different blogger will be “hosting” the read-along on their blog. You can check out the schedule below:

A GAME OF THRONES – here on Alexa Loves Books from March-April
A CLASH OF KINGSBooks with Cass from May-June
A STORM OF SWORDSBooks Take You Places from July-August
A FEAST FOR CROWSGone Pecan from September-October
A DANCE WITH DRAGONSThe Book Addict’s Guide from November-December

If you do feel like joining us, let me know in the comments! It’s going to (hopefully) get us going on this series, and then we’ll see what everyone’s been raving about and what we’ve been missing out on. There's also a button you can place on your sidebar below:



A GAME OF THRONES

As the first host, I’m including some information about A GAME OF THRONES and the reading schedule that we’re hoping to follow for the first book A GAME OF THRONES during the months of March-April below.

A GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin (Goodreads)
Series: A Song of Ice and Fire #1
Publisher: Bantam Books
Publication Date: March 4, 2011 (Originally published January 1996)

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. To the south, the king’s powers are failing—his most trusted adviser dead under mysterious circumstances and his enemies emerging from the shadows of the throne. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the frozen land they were born to. Now Lord Eddard Stark is reluctantly summoned to serve as the king’s new Hand, an appointment that threatens to sunder not only his family but the kingdom itself.


READING SCHEDULE

March 3-9: Prologue (“We should start back,”) to Chapter 8: Bran (“The hunt left at dawn.”)

March 10-16: Chapter 9: Tyrion (“Somewhere in the great stone…”) to Chapter  17: Bran (“It seemed as though he’d…”)

March 17-23: Chapter 18: Catelyn (“We will make King’s Landing…”) to Chapter 26: Jon  (“Jon was showing Dareon”)

March 24-30: Chapter 27: Eddard (“It’s the Hand’s tourney…”) to Chapter 35: Eddard (“He found Littlefinger in the…”)

March 31-April 6: Chapter 36: Daenerys (“The Horse Gate of Vaes Dothrak…”) to Chapter 44: Sansa (“He wouldn’t send Ser Loras…”)

April 7-13: Chapter 45: Eddard (“Pain is a gift from the gods”) to Chapter 53: Bran (“The Karstarks came in on…”)

April 14-20: Chapter 54: Daenerys (“When he had taken his pleasure…”) to Chapter 62: Tyrion (“On a hill overlooking the kingsroad…”)

April 21-27: Chapter 63: Catelyn (“The woods were full of whispers.”) to  Chapter 72: Daenerys (“The land was red and dead…”)

I do hope that you end up joining us in our quest to finally read the A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE series this year! The series has gained quite the reputation, especially after the television series started airing on HBO. Hopefully, all our curiosity about it – and yours – will be sated after this read-along!

36 Comments:

  1. Great 'challenge', enjoy! The books are absolutely amazing. ;)

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  2. Woo! I've signed up! I've had the first book in this series on my shelf FOREVER so it would be great to finally get it read! Here's my link:

    http://winterdistractions.com/2013/03/03/read-along-a-song-of-ice-and-fire-sign-up/

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    1. I'm so glad you're joining us for this read-along! I think it'll be a ton easier to get through these massive tomes if we can keep each other company as we read, and perhaps talk about the books :)

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  3. Count me in! I've read the first two books before but I've been wanting to start from the beginning and make my way through all of them all at one time. The first time I started reading these I don't think I really payed attention to all the details. This will be a great way for me to get through them all.

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    1. Thanks for joining us Kim! I'm glad you're going to (re) read-along this series with us, and I hope you enjoy it more the second time around. Feel free to tweet or email me if you want to talk about it!

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  4. Ok, I'm in! I got the box set of the first 4 for my birthday and haven't started them yet, so here's an excellent excuse!

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    1. I'm so glad you're joining us Megan! Please feel free to tweet any of us using the #SOIFRA hashtag and I promise we'll reply.

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  5. I'll join too - I borrowed this from a friend over a year ago, read about a third of it, became distracted with other library and new releases, and it's been just sitting there! I'm sure my friend would like his book back at some point! LOL

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    1. Hooray! I hope you end up enjoying it. I've read up to the stop point of week one, and I like it so far. It's very fascinating!

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  6. I am so excited for everyone who is just reading this series. It is one of my favorites ever. EVER. Once I started read Game of Thrones, I devoured the other three books that were out at the time back to back to back without reading anything else until I was done--almost 8 months of nothing but this series (CRAZY I know. Thankfully I read them before I started my blog!). I can't wait to chat with you all about it!! And I hope you all love it, too!! :-)

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    1. I was worried I was going to find it too difficult to get into, but apparently, I'm loving it! I really want to keep reading to see what happens in the lives of all these fascinating characters :)

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  7. I think I'll join in as well. I've read the first three books so far, but have been wanting to get around to finishing the series. It's been so long since I've read the others that this will be a good way to remember it again :)

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    1. YAY! I'm so glad that you've decided to join us. Please don't forget - you can feel free to email or tweet any of us using the hashtag #SOIFRA if you want to chat about the book as you read.

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  8. Awesome! I've read the first two books, but I've been sitting on A Storm of Swords for THE longest time so perhaps this will make its length seem less overwhelming for me.

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    1. Do feel free to jump in and join us when we hit the third book! This is mostly a casual support group type read-along, where we can discuss whatever is going on in the books via email or Twitter (using hashtag #SOIFRA).

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  9. I am also hosting a GAME OF THRONES Readalong, but it's set up a little differently than yours. If you'd also like to take part in my readalong see my START OF THE GAME OF THRONES READALONG on my site. I will definitely be checking out your readlong and commenting as I am reading the books as well. Can't wait to see how this series is.

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    1. Great minds definitely think alike! Good job on hosting your own read-along for this series :) Looks like you'll be a bit ahead of us!

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  10. So happy to hear that this is happening! I won't be participating as I am drowning in my other two readalongs, but I will be following along to read thoughts! WEE!

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    1. YAY! I shall be tweeting you (and Amy) constantly about this series, be warned.

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  11. You guys are sooo awesome for doing this! I've had A Game of Thrones in my hands since Valentine's Day, but have been hesitant to start up too. Jumping into all of these with others sounds a lot more fun and a little less daunting, so count me in on this adventurous read-a-long! =)

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    1. That's how we felt! Feel free to chat us up on Twitter using the hashtag #SOIFRA - we're all really nice and won't bite ;)

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  12. I might read along with you depending if I can read the prologue and first ten chapters in 2 days! I think this is brilliant. As soon as I'm done with the first book I can watch the first season :D

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    1. YOU CAN DO IT! It's actually fairly easy to get into it, and once you start, I won't be surprised if you get addicted too. I'm watching the first season after I finish book one as well, so yay!

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  13. i have read the first two books so i'll join in july!

    http://ilikebigbooksblog.wordpress.com/

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    1. Sounds like a good plan to me! Thanks for joining in :)

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  14. I have the box set of the first four books, so I really want to be able to do this with you guys! And hopefully according to schedule as well.

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    1. Hi Leanne! I do hope that you hop on in along with the rest of us for this read-along. It's been such a fun experience so far :)

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  15. I'm a little behind but I think still early enough to join! I love that this is paced out already for us, I have a difficult time self-pacing. Great idea!

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    1. Glad to be of service! I'm fairly certain that you can catch up - it's not hard read at all. Hope you do join us!

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  16. Omgosh! I'm hosting a Song of Ice and Fire giveaway really, really soon, so what a wonderful coincidence! The read-along sounds fantastic, and I'm definitely down to do it. I read the first book a while back, but I wouldn't mind picking it up where you guys are now. So excited! :)

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    1. I hope you do jump in and join us! We're having a really good time so far, and we're each reading the series (at our own paces) and trying to stick to the sched :)

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  17. I am so hurt that I just found this read-along. I literally opened up the book this weekend (after having it for almost a year on my shelf!). I know I cannot possible catch up with you guys. :(

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  18. I was reading this book by myself and actually finished it recently. I wish I would have known this readalong was going on.

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  19. What a great challenge, I think I might join since I have read the first book and I already have the second book on my shelf waiting to be read.

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  20. Ohh this challenge sounds fun! I've read the first 3 books and started the 4th but somehow didn't finish it. Not sure why! Can I join up once you guys start the 4th book?

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  21. i'm ready for book #3!!

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Thanks for leaving a comment! I love seeing what you have to say, and will try to reply (here or on Twitter) as soon as I can :)