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Keeping track of the characters, how does one do it?


Terry Sperling

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I have never done this for any other literature -- even Russian or Asian, but I keep note cards on the people and with whom the interact and in what book. Once Dany started meeting all the folks in Qarth and beyond, I got lost.


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I had a hard time with it as well my first time. Hell, I still do. I would recommend doing a search for any character you don't know, as the wiki is pretty good. Although you could open yourself up to spoilers that way. Maybe note cards is better.

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Be warned, once you start note cards, you have to have a filing system and then keep a note which book and page. I have two large file boxes -- I am long passed characters, and into quotes and cross referencing. I have stumbled across many theories that way. I have the signed hardbacks and paperbacks for reading and taking notes in the margins - then they go on the cards.



And this is my second name on the Boards. I have been here along time. And keeping cards for years.



The references in the books are good for knowing who may be alive or dead at the beginning of a book.



And searching here is a good way. But you would be surprised how much readers miss. I find something new on every read-through



The Concordance is also good. But they only give out so much information. They pose theories and prophecies, but rarely confirm them.



Welcome to the Boards. Good reading.


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  • 2 weeks later...

actually, the best way i learned out, i got into the tv series first, up to season 2, before i started reading. when you watch the tv series first, you can actually put a face to the names written down in the book. after you identify each face with a name, it just becomes repetition, and eventually you can remember all of them. im presently on a reread of the entire series on book 2 presently, and everything is as clear as day.



trust me, watch seasons one and two, get to know the faces, then attribute them to the book names. do not WATCH season 3. read book 3 before you watch season 3


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Im on the second book and having a hard time. Also watching the first season on dvd.

WELCOME TO WESTEROS!

I use notecards just as BEATHAG mentions. I also find color-coding helpful. Green for information on greenseers, greendreams, and Bran/Reeds; Red for weirwoods and related info; Grey for Starks; and so on.

I also have each POV tagged and la labeled, even numbered, for quick reference and citations.

Big projects, like rereads or other threads, I use a spiral notebook for my analytical notes and textual evidences. These I later type into my documents and file.

I hope this helps!

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I keep an Excel sheet with all the characters, grouped by areas (or main Houses) and for each of them I keep a small comment box with the pseudonim, current whereabouts and relationships with main characters. Also, I have 3 colors for alive, missing, and dead.



I try to keep it up to date every time I finish one chapter. It is hard work, but it has proven very useful. I am on my first re-read now and I am adding some details, very helpful to keep everyone pinned down.



The sheet is currently updated with the 5 books, so I guess it is not useful for you at the moment...


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  • 4 weeks later...

Watching the show definitely helps (some characters are different in the show but nevertheless it will help you memorize the characters).



Also, I plan to start drawing a bit more seriously; so far I was only doing it for fun. But now that I bought me a descent tablet with an active digitizer I (really really) want to learn drawing characters better!



Another thing that might help is to picture someone you know (with similar "characteristics"); though I have the problem that I couldn't decide which of all the choices should act as Cercei ...


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  • 1 month later...

Honestly, watching the show before reading the books has been tremendously helpful in that regard.

I am a big beleiver of reading the book before watching the movie....or show, in this case. I was completely lost reading before I watched the series, I couldn't even get through the first book. Watching the series gave me a really solid foundation for the books, and now I'm starting Feast for Crows, completely obsessed and a heavy user of the ice and fire wiki!

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I am a big beleiver of reading the book before watching the movie....or show, in this case. I was completely lost reading before I watched the series, I couldn't even get through the first book. Watching the series gave me a really solid foundation for the books, and now I'm starting Feast for Crows, completely obsessed and a heavy user of the ice and fire wiki!

watching the series first definitely i think is the way to go before beginning the books, as you can put a face with the plethora of names thrown at you. feast for crows will be a little bit more challenging, as a good portion fo the book are brand new never before seen people (until this season begins, that is).

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For those people saying watch the TV series first - NO! It is so much more exciting reading the books and not knowing what is going to happen next than reading the books knowing what happens! When I read the Red Wedding I was stunned. Didn't believe it at first, got half way through the next chapter and I was like 'waaait.... WTF!' and I reread the Red Wedding chapter again and realised.



As for remembering characters and what they are doing - if your right into the series I suggest a reread. My first read I missed some stuff and I found I had a lot more clearer understanding of the plot on the second time. Gods be good dont go writing notes, its hardly necessary.


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