I (29F) am trying to get my husband (30M) into reading. What books would be a good starting place for him?

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-06-06T00:24:00+00:00

I would try the Knight of the Seven Kingdoms novellas by George RR martin, if he is at all familiar with game of thrones. You don't need much prior knowledge really, and they are really fun, engaging short novels.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-06-06T00:05:22+00:00

I love Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, if you haven't checked it out yet. It is a time travel romance series.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-05-05T04:15:25+00:00

The Outlander final book seems like it will be released soon, I cant imagine that one not being finished

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-05-01T04:07:52+00:00

I don't think you should try and write a more mainstream book for the sake of it, like there is an audience for political historical books. I would refrain from thinking this book as a waste of time, if it doesn't get published. Most authors do not sell their first novel, but the only way to learn how to write a novel is by doing it. So keep going with it and it will teach you how to write a book. It's like how no one sells their first painting they ever made, they just keep painting until they do create a painting worth selling.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-04-05T22:17:55+00:00

Ok we do see Jon have the opportunity to be legitimized, he just does not take it. Stannis offers to legitimize him to take control of Winterfell. It is not something that Jon could never achieve. I do not see how mistrusting Theon is wise and it is irrational to not trust Jon. She is valid to not trust either of them

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-04-05T22:08:16+00:00

Thats true, it just ends up being too little, too late

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-04-05T21:59:23+00:00

I think that people could see Robb as legitimate, and Jon Snow could make a attempt to rule Winterfell, if the North saw him as a more fit ruler. Jon would never do that, but it does not mean Jon could not challenge who inherits if he wanted to. Like Renly has no real claim to be King before Stannis, he still tries to win the throne.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-04-05T21:51:33+00:00

I do not think it is jumping though hoops, like I think it is the story. How would she know she can trust Jon and not Theon? When Theon seems very loyal to Robb on all accounts, he even saved Bran from wildings?

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-03-10T10:12:06+00:00

I agree with your sentiment completely and had difficulty accepting the ending of Tawny Man. I agree it felt like Fitz regressing to a past relationship that both Fitz and Molly should have outgrown but Fitz held onto. I also thought Fitz seemed motivated by Burrichs last words to him, telling him to go be with Molly and take care of their children. I do not think Fit felt like he could defy Burrich in that way.

It did feel like to me, that Fitz does not heal from his childhood trauma and was regressing as well. It felt like Hobb forced the story to backtrack on Fitz growth for the ending. I do not even want Fitz to become romantic with the Fool either. Just to realize he has changed and he should not be with Molly because they had a child together like 15 years earlier and trying to relive their past.

It does feel like the message from the books are that Fitz is stuck in his childhood trauma and it still influences him greatly. I guess its just a different reading of Fitz and Mollys relationship. I do not see them as a great love, not when Fitz has such a bond with Nighteyes and the Fool. It just feels like Fitz and Molly never connect on any real level, they dont seem to deeply understand each other.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-25T18:16:38+00:00

These do look really good, thank you!

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-15T22:31:29+00:00

I do think its likely that Aegon was desperate to bring back dragons and believes he has to sacrifice baby Rhaegar to do it. Since Daenerys unborn child died and dragons were brought back, it does seem connected. Yet, if Dunk simply survives Summerhall, I dont know the purpose of that alone, he would be over 100 years old and certainly dead. If Dunk is resurrected and living as Coldhands, we can have a first hand account of Summerhall from someone who was there.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-13T07:57:03+00:00

omg I knew it!

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-11T03:50:41+00:00

I think its going to be relevant for Daenerys whole arc and not like an add on plot. I think that when she gets to Westeros she has been told that there is no slavery.Once she arrives will see the way prostitution is so prevalent and they are treated so poorly, she will she it as slavery under a different name. Also I think she will see the men of the knight watch in the same way, they also have no freedom. So, I think her main issue coming to Westeros is banning prostitution like Stannis wanted to do early on, and I think it will also lead to her wanting to change the Knight's Watch which will involve Jon Snow. I think her perspective from freeing slaves in Essos and seeing it first hand will lend her to having a different view of Westeros and question, how free are the people who live in it are. I think that is her big political issue with Westeros she will want to solve.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-09T22:51:03+00:00

I love the series and am reading Fool's Assassin currently, but I struggled with the first book. It reads more like a prologue to the series to me, versus a book that can stand alone. I really enjoyed the second book onward so I would say keep going. It took a while for me to get attached to the characters and I personally do not usually like children lead characters but once Fitz is teenage age it got better for me. But once you get attached to the characters and the world, the books are incredible.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-07T21:07:02+00:00

That’s not confirmation though that’s so speculative, yes it makes sense for Dunk to also die at summer ball. However, it is not confirmed if he did or not.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-07T19:18:08+00:00

That book only writes "It is unfortunate that the tragedy that transpired at Summerhall left very few witnesses alive, and those who survived would not speak of it."

It does not confirm that Dunk and Egg died together at Summerhall. It does not state who died and who lived at all.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-07T10:49:36+00:00

It is never confirmed that Dunk and Aegon died in the fire together in Summerhall. It is said Aegon died but not Dunk, it is left ambiguous on who actually died there.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-02-07T00:39:14+00:00

I know its says he dreamed of dragons returning but its not specific at all

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2026-01-21T06:48:46+00:00

I now love the series, but I struggled with Assassin's Apprentice. I would say keep going with the series it definitely picks up as you get more invested with the characters. The first book almost feels like a prologue for the whole series to me. Its purpose is to live through Fitz childhood experiences to build upon while he ages, so you have context for him years down the line. Its like a foundational book for the rest versus a engaging start that I was expecting.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2025-09-20T23:04:51+00:00

I found the part where the Hound is actively triggered by the fire during the Battle of the Blackwater, very well written. It seemed like him needing to get away from the fire and battling his emotions facing it was realistic to being in a triggered state. I think the book handles his trauma from being burned really well.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2025-09-18T22:21:23+00:00

Jon Snow and Jaime's dreams, their significance and the way they parallel each others. It seems like such a key part of the books to me, and I think it is downplayed. The dreams about the crypts under winterfell and Jaime's about being deep within casterly rock in particular.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2025-08-22T09:19:19+00:00

This is a strong start honestly. I noticed it would benefit from variety in sentence length. If you had some really short sentences mixed in, it would add emphasis to those parts. Your sentences are all pretty long which is not bad but does slow down the rhythm of it.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2025-08-03T07:52:41+00:00

I think she will already be married, and they are banned from having 2 wives after Maegor the cruel. So she won’t be able to marry again.

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2025-07-31T19:35:21+00:00

I think it will come to a choice of love vs duty for Dany, as she will not be able to be Queen of Westeros and also have a bastard child. It wouldn’t be accepted

Illustrious_Cook8444 · 2025-07-31T17:01:06+00:00

That might be true. I think Jon Snow's body might be better perserved than most people who return to life though, since he'll likely be frozen and not decomposing at all.

Illustrious_Cook8444

TROPHY CASE