Game of thrones or the hobbit?

[koonja]

I'm at the airport and have about 7 hours of flight over the next two days and am deciding what book to buy. I've seen all of lotr but never read, and haven't yet seen game of thrones. Thoughts?

 

[greyhammer90]

Depends on what you like.

If you want to read a history textbook read LOTR. If you want something that is more personal read GOT. Ironically I would say that if you really enjoyed the LOTR movies, you would most likely enjoy GOT more.

You're going to win either way, they're both must-reads IMO.

Edit*: I forgot the subject of your post said "The Hobbit". That's an important distinction. The Hobbit is very differently written than the LOTR trilogy. If you're reading the Hobbit, expect a more adventurous reading, but still with the classic Tolkien linguistic focus. Overall the Hobbit is a "kids" book. (But a damn good one.)

 

[koonja]

Depends on what you like.

If you want to read a history textbook read LOTR. If you want something that is more personal read GOT. Ironically I would say that if you really enjoyed the LOTR movies, you would most likely enjoy GOT more.

You're going to win either way, they're both must-reads IMO.

Thanks, went with the hobbit because I might be able to actually finish it lol.

 

[greyhammer90]

Yeah if you're not a habitual reader The Hobbit might be smarter to pick up because GOT doesn't really end in any "satisfying" conclusion. Just leaves questions for the next book.

 

[ACamp1900]

The best obscenely long book I've read was actually The Witching Hour by Anne Rice,... The 'history' in that book... Almost two thirds of it, was some of the best fiction reading I've ever come across....

 

[IrishLion]

The best obscenely long book I've read was actually The Witching Hour by Anne Rice,... The 'history' in that book... Almost two thirds of it, was some of the best fiction reading I've ever come across....

That description reminds me a lot of a book called "The Historian." The title is no joke. It's fiction about Vlad the Impaler and his extended life as "Dracula," but the actual history, both the fiction and the way the book reads, is awesome as "history."

 

[Andy in Sactown]

That description reminds me a lot of a book called "The Historian." The title is no joke. It's fiction about Vlad the Impaler and his extended life as "Dracula," but the actual history, both the fiction and the way the book reads, is awesome as "history."

I enjoyed The Historian immensely. Extremely well written.

 

[IrishLion]

I enjoyed The Historian immensely. Extremely well written.

I actually only read a third of the book, which was awesome, before I got talked into reading Game of Thrones before the HBO series started. I lent the Historian to a friend who has had it for a few years now lol.

 

[IrishLax]

Game of thrones....

 

[Irish YJ]

GoT, no question.

 

[DSully1995]

GoT, ive read both

 

[IrishHokie22]

I've read all of the Song of Ice and Fire series (GoT), as well as The Hobbit and LOTR. I love Tolkien, and greatly enjoyed The Hobbit and LOTR... but this is a no-brainer. Definitely GoT. It's easily the more gripping story, IMO.

But that said, if your goal is just to have a nice read on your seven hour flight, The Hobbit is a great choice. If you start GoT, you will be beginning a long and time-consuming commitment, in all likelihood. That's not a bad thing; just know what you're in for. It's addicting.

You can't go wrong with either, but I'd recommend GoT.

 

[rikkitikki08]

Middle earth all day son

 

[koonja]

Lol, even split I'd say. I got ~ page 90 today of The Hobbit and I have no complaints so far.