A Song of Ice and Fire: Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
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- Sir Readalot
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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire: Game of Thrones by George RR Mar
But I seriously doubt.
- Carsh_Lohal
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- jacobmc
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- ashersb
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For me, Game Of Thrones had all the basics of a good sci-fi fantasy book and then some. Its unexpecting to say the least. You never know what will happen from one page to the next and as soon as 1 chapter gets really wild, its one to the next which leaves you hanging. I loved it.
- lane_vespertine
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My main problem with these stories can be explained with a real life series of events:
My wife likes to ask me what is happening when she sees me reading a book. She isn't looking for a summary, just a quick description of exactly what is happening at the moment she asks me. I have no idea why she likes these summaries, but she does.
First time she asked me in A Song of Ice and Fire, I responded with something like, "Everyone is worried about old dudes raping young girls."
Second time, "Old guy just married a young girl."
Third time, "Old dudes are raping and pillaging."
These incidents were at different times throughout the book, and I know it had a large amount of coincidence involved.
My wife then asked me if that is what the whole book was about, to which I obviously said no.
But it got me thinking...
The Seven Kingdoms is not historically accurate or even realistic (dragons, white walkers, giants... oh my!) I understand that 'back in the day' old dudes frequently married young women (like 14 or younger), commonly against their wishes or at least without their permission. But The Seven Kingdoms is not real! Why do they have to maintain this pretty disgusting tendency in a world that has nothing to do with 'ye olde times' Europe? After that, the frequency of it began to bother me. I kept thinking of it as something Martin, the author, WANTED to put in there, which creeped me out. After a particularly violent depiction of this exact thing in the third book, I put it down and haven't picked it back up since.
In short, I like a book when all of the parts of it are necessary for the story. When I can answer my wife's question honestly and know that whatever the answer, it is meaningful to the book as a whole. I couldn't do it with A Song of Ice and Fire.
Still page turners though.
- R+M
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What I like about Martin's writing in ASOIAF books is that he reveals characters' internal dialogues by using italicized passages. This allows for another layer of conflict, characterization, and thematic expression that gets lost in the transition to the show.
A prominent theme I'm noticing is that of filial duty and succession. The Lannister line's power seems to revolve around Tywin since he is the father, but his children seem to hate obeying him. Everyone wants power, but who really wields it?
Something tells me that ASOIAF is more about the human condition than most people care to admit. In response to the reader above, sure, there's a lot of rape and old dudes marrying young women. But it's not as if women are all victims. Look at Cersei -- she uses her gender to her advantage to get the Kettleblack's to do her biding and to get other knights to work as informers for her in King's Landing.
So are women really the weaker sex? Or are some women worse at playing the game than others? And a similar question can be posed toward contemporary society -- just who holds the "power" in "society?"
I would wager that Varys' riddle from A Clash of Kings may provide some insight to an answer. I suggest you all check out How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World by Harry Browne to decipher the riddle.
Very interested to learn more about the House Targaryen, House Stark, dragons, and the Others. Off to read A Feast of Crows now!
- BlackRose
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The books are on my reading list, but I read somewhere about a possible spin-off. That Martin would like to write a "Targaryen" story. All the history of this wonderful world through the eyes of the Targaryens.
Now that is a book I couldn't put down.
- Catherine and AJ
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I am looking forward to watching the first season of the TV show. Everyone keeps asking me if I've seen the show, but I like reading the book first, so now that I've read the first one, I'll follow up with the recommendations to watch the show.
- Miche Sora
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- NerdGirl91
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I did the same thing! I haven't given up completely yet. I'm going to try and read it again this summer.Miche Sora wrote:The first four books were great, and then the fifth book came out: A Dance with Dragons. I bought the hardcover, had Mr. Martin sign it, got to page 200 or so, and just couldn't continue. I tried a couple of times, but no luck, and ended up giving the book away.
- Miche Sora
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to fill up and live.
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- KiMB00P
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The books are so lengthy, with A Dance with Dragons I stopped reading halfway through to take a break and read some other books. Then I came back to it a few months later with rejuvenated interest.NerdGirl91 wrote:I did the same thing! I haven't given up completely yet. I'm going to try and read it again this summer.Miche Sora wrote:The first four books were great, and then the fifth book came out: A Dance with Dragons. I bought the hardcover, had Mr. Martin sign it, got to page 200 or so, and just couldn't continue. I tried a couple of times, but no luck, and ended up giving the book away.
I'm just waiting now on the next book. I was a little distraught to find out the next one wasn't out yet, considering A Dance with Dragons was published in 2011. On George R.R. Martin's website he said he was hoping it would've been finished last year, but he's now hoping it will be done this year.
Then, when it does come out, we'll have to wait another 6-7 years for the last installment, haha.
- NerdGirl91
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I'm currently on book 5 and trying to read the books and watch the show is extremely hard! They don't go in the same direction at times so some characters die in the books but not the show and vice versa. The other down side is the show is close to going farther than the books so it's uncharted territory. Will be interesting to see if the books even get to continue once the show proceeds them.tnc08 wrote:I wanted to read this series for a while now, but then I started watching the HBO series. I'm afraid reading the books would make me lose interest in one or the other
-Annie Dillard
- Meggie Lou
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