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on July 31, 2015
I admit to reading this book after watching all of the seasons of the show that have been made thus far. Part of me didn't want to start over to the beginning since we are five seasons in on the show but the other part of me was curious. Curiosity won and did not disappoint. I found myself still laughing, crying and rooting for the beloved characters but only now able to know them on a more personal level. While Game of Thrones is my favorite show on TV, this book is truly a stand alone achievement whether you watch the tv show or not. The book provided me with more knowledge of the seven kingdoms, the character's motivations and more backstory than I expected. I also expected it to be hard to read like some other fantasy books I tried (and failed) to read before. Fortunately it was a smooth read and I am downloading the next book immediately. If you are a fan of the show or are just wanting to know what the hype is all about, don't hesitate to read it, you won't be disappointed.
on April 12, 2015
How do you judge a work of fantasy? With other works you have read, perhaps with the images and world it creates in your mind? For those, like me, who have already seen the images painted by the HBO series, some impatience in this introduction is to be expected. The first season is followed very closely to the book. Honoring the written page perhaps, but not leaving much else for the book to tell. The character inner voices and motivations are there, the deeper story. Also, the character descriptions do not fully match the casting in my mind (the cast is twice as old as the characters in the book for example). Still, the spirit of the setting is captured very well. Re-occurring Machiavelli life lessons concerning the pluses and minuses of honor, duty and station are entertaining, and a joy to review from both historical and present philosophical view points. The sigils and slogans of each house foreshadowing the characters beautifully. More pleasant a read than JR Tollkin, in my humble opinion, but a much better screenplay also. Hence I don't feel compelled to read the remainder of the books, but might if I find sufficient leisure time.
on September 3, 2016
What a brilliant book! I perhaps am one of the few who has never watched the television series, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew I wanted to experience the book first. I am so glad I did as book one of this series was a hidden gem I never expected. George R. R. Martin is simply masterful at character development. All the major characters have chapters devoted to them throughout the book, and each character (and hence chapter) has its own unique voice. The plotting of the book is fast paced (even though the book is 800+ pages long) and suspenseful. The world of "The Game of Thrones" is familiar, yet also fantastical. The tales in it is a celebration of the creativity of Martin, a wonderful story teller extraordinaire. As I read this book, I was reminded of Herman Wouk's brilliant "The Winds of War" / "War and Remembrance" which developed characters and storyline equally as deftly as Martin has, which for me is no mild praise as Wouk's 2-book series was the best I've ever read. Onward to book 2 ...
on November 24, 2011
I was suffering waiting for Game of Thrones to start back up again. I think it is one of the best shows ever created. The book follows the tv show to a "T". As I was listening, I began to wonder if I would EVER be able to follow the book without having seen the first season! There are a lot of characters to keep straight. Plus there is a different way of speaking in this fantasy land. Instead of saying someone is 25 years old, the author might say, "He was a man grown" or " He was five and twenty". So, I must admit that driving and listening at times proved difficult.
Now I am listening to the second book. I've been told by an actual reader of the large book that it is the least interesting of all of them and that I am doing the right thing in listening instead of reading it. Good because reading that brick was never an option. I am following along really well because I have gotten to know so many of the characters already. It's tiding me over until the second season begins. I am truly addicted.
Pogo was Drogo's Ko! Ha ha ha. See, I'm keeping the characters straight.
Now I am listening to the second book. I've been told by an actual reader of the large book that it is the least interesting of all of them and that I am doing the right thing in listening instead of reading it. Good because reading that brick was never an option. I am following along really well because I have gotten to know so many of the characters already. It's tiding me over until the second season begins. I am truly addicted.
Pogo was Drogo's Ko! Ha ha ha. See, I'm keeping the characters straight.
on July 11, 2015
PRO: The story is unquestionably interesting and complex. I have all 5 books from A Song of Ice and Fire, can't wait for the rest to be published.
CON: I chose Hardcover Library binding because books are my treasures, they are my jewels. With that said, the books cover were not in mint condition, it was slightly damaged. I kept 4 out of 5 books I bought although they are imperfect. The 5th book was replaced twice because the cover was greasy and damaged more than I can accept. I am still waiting for third replacement of the 5th book.
Another bad thing, some of the text prints were not in balance, they were printed somewhat smaller than the rest of the texts in the page and some letters were not clearly printed and out of place, e.g. a period looked like a comma (see attached pictures). It was as if the books were printed in a hurry.
CONCLUSION: Unless I can find another hardcover version, I'll live with such imperfections because George R. R. Martin wrote such irresistible books that you won't want to miss.
CON: I chose Hardcover Library binding because books are my treasures, they are my jewels. With that said, the books cover were not in mint condition, it was slightly damaged. I kept 4 out of 5 books I bought although they are imperfect. The 5th book was replaced twice because the cover was greasy and damaged more than I can accept. I am still waiting for third replacement of the 5th book.
Another bad thing, some of the text prints were not in balance, they were printed somewhat smaller than the rest of the texts in the page and some letters were not clearly printed and out of place, e.g. a period looked like a comma (see attached pictures). It was as if the books were printed in a hurry.
CONCLUSION: Unless I can find another hardcover version, I'll live with such imperfections because George R. R. Martin wrote such irresistible books that you won't want to miss.
on April 3, 2015
While GAME OF THRONES is an excellent book, it does not tell a complete story. It was over 800 pages long, and each succeeding book seems to be longer still. While I enjoy an occasional fantasy novel, reading this series requires a devotion to fantasy that I do not care to indulge in. So far there are five books, with an indeterminate number still to come. One fears that the author will die of old age before he tells the full story. So having read, and enjoyed, the first two, I will not read any more. When I was a teenager I read THE LORD OF THE RINGS, and I remember that Tolkien remarked that it was too short. A fantasy trilogy nearly two thousand pages long was quite a novelty in those days, so that comment struck me as odd. Now it is the norm. I don’t consider that a good thing.
The HBO series follows the books quite closely, except for having more graphic sex, and Tyrion is a handsome midget rather than a deformed dwarf. It is rare that the movie is as good as the book, but in this case it about the same. I’ll stick to the movies in this case.
The HBO series follows the books quite closely, except for having more graphic sex, and Tyrion is a handsome midget rather than a deformed dwarf. It is rare that the movie is as good as the book, but in this case it about the same. I’ll stick to the movies in this case.
on January 6, 2017
Yes, I love the tv series and starting in with the books definitely shows that there is so much more detail to discover. Which is a great thing until you find out that it just keeps going on and on and on.
And that wouldn’t be a big deal, but when I read a fantasy book I want to see some magic or something, you know, fantastical. I mean isn’t that what makes a fantasy a fantasy? Not so much with this one.
Otherwise, the book is a great read, just like the tv show with tons of develop that shows the author loves the world and characters he has created which means it feels very real and alive…just don’t be in a hurry to see something really extraordinary (other than the introductory scene, which teases magical happenings, then turns off the tap for a really long time).
So good, but lacking some spark that wasn’t as noticeable with the tv show.
And that wouldn’t be a big deal, but when I read a fantasy book I want to see some magic or something, you know, fantastical. I mean isn’t that what makes a fantasy a fantasy? Not so much with this one.
Otherwise, the book is a great read, just like the tv show with tons of develop that shows the author loves the world and characters he has created which means it feels very real and alive…just don’t be in a hurry to see something really extraordinary (other than the introductory scene, which teases magical happenings, then turns off the tap for a really long time).
So good, but lacking some spark that wasn’t as noticeable with the tv show.
on June 2, 2017
WOW just WOW. Im only half way through this book but I'm in love with it. I can't put it down. I wish I would have read the book before I watched the show but man this is amazing.
on January 8, 2015
So begins the game of thrones….winter is coming.
What I liked most about this book was that you really got the feeling you were reading something different and special. Martin doesn’t focus on the traditional epic battle between good and evil as many fantasy books do….there are clearly good and evil characters, situations, and dilemmas in the story but that is not the ENTIRE focus. In many ways you are left to make up your own mind about the situation and characters.
I especially loved the prose…though it was complex, it was elegant and engaging. I loved how the language and tone of the book mimicked the cool romanticism of Winterfell and yet left you feeling warm….just like the cold, harsh landscape the reader is able to find warm within the tone of the book just as one finds warmth in the walls of Winterfell.
I found myself compulsively reading, unable to stop. Though the foundations of the story were lengthy and complicated and at times I found myself distracted–re-reading or referring back to the wiki to navigate the story–but that did not put me off to the book, in fact I HAD to keep reading because I HAD to know how everything was going to fit together.
What I liked most about this book was that you really got the feeling you were reading something different and special. Martin doesn’t focus on the traditional epic battle between good and evil as many fantasy books do….there are clearly good and evil characters, situations, and dilemmas in the story but that is not the ENTIRE focus. In many ways you are left to make up your own mind about the situation and characters.
I especially loved the prose…though it was complex, it was elegant and engaging. I loved how the language and tone of the book mimicked the cool romanticism of Winterfell and yet left you feeling warm….just like the cold, harsh landscape the reader is able to find warm within the tone of the book just as one finds warmth in the walls of Winterfell.
I found myself compulsively reading, unable to stop. Though the foundations of the story were lengthy and complicated and at times I found myself distracted–re-reading or referring back to the wiki to navigate the story–but that did not put me off to the book, in fact I HAD to keep reading because I HAD to know how everything was going to fit together.
