A Game of Thrones
Sat, 04/11/2009 - 16:39
Forum Level 9
I've had like five people recommend this book as a good fantasy read. One of our guildies was recently lauding it as a great book (and series). Can't say I ever made its acquaintance.
So I decided to finally give it a read. Now I admit, after having read maybe 300 GoT reviews on amazon.com, that it doesn't much sound like my cup of tea. But I'm willing to give it an open mind and see. I'll also post my first/general impressions as I'm going through it. Sounds like fun, no? Anyone is free to offer comment.
Okay, immediate impression before I even get started: Perusing the inner covers and facing pages, of which there are oh-so-many, I notice each book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series is named like it was filled in with a template. What's that about?
- A Game of Thrones
- A Clash of Kings
- A Storm of Swords
- A Feast for Crows
Just comes across a bit formulaic and immature. I cannot tell a lie.
*runs away*
Wed, 05/06/2009 - 12:21
#2
Forum Level 9
Great.
I'm glad you are rereading. I might need your clarification on a few things, as I'm finding this book pretty weighty and unreadable, in a sort of history textbook kind of way.
I've read the first few sections, and it took a few false starts to get that far. I kept getting distracted, couldn't stay focused and would put the book down after a short time. One of the problems is that so far none of the characters stand out to me or seem very interesting, which is what always pulls me into a book first. A lot of names is about all I get from it, blood splattering weee, a direwolf and cubs (kind of interesting there) and some creepy things called the Others (?) whose description kind of sounds like a rip-off from Dickens's ghost of Christmas past, but less polite. 
That's really about all I've gotten from it so far, as I can't get much of a feel for what's going on, if anything indeed is. I had heard its a slow starting book, so maybe that's my issue. I'll keep reading though, and try for a few sections/chapters/whatever they are each day, and hope it picks up.
Your description sounds hopeful though, and I'm really looking forward to getting to the parts with the interesting characters/ villains. Reminds me of the anime/lightnovel Juuni Kokki, where all the villains are never without some nearly rational reason for why they are evil. Its like you almost get why they are doing what they are doing, even though they are clearly very wicked in their actions. The most excellent characterizations I have ever seen. Watch the anime! Juuni Kokki/The Twelve Kingdoms. I'm not an anime fan, but this series bewitched me. It's an exceptional fantasy story interwoven with politics, war, and some of the darker realms of human psychology.
Like A Game of Thrones however, it may take a bit to get to the truly sublime parts. Though it starts off exciting enough, it lacks some of the deeper elements that you begin to see further into the first arc, and into the second, and most prominently in the third and fourth arc. Hang with it. You'll see what I mean.
It is one of my favorite series of all time if not my favorite. Its not LOTR but has a well thought out plot (or plots) good characters and a vast realm for their interactions. Martin writes his chapters around the actions of his major and minor characters. I especially like the way there is good and bad in all his characters. Even the most despicable show a bit of good and the best their flaws. He often develops a back story that gives incite in to how and why of a individuals action.
I am rereading (actually listening to an audio book as I work) and am enjoying it all over again. Lots of little plot details that I missed the first time around. I don't usually reread books but this may give me the impetus to have another go at LOTR.
Be warned: The series is intended to have 6 volumes. The 5th has taken almost 3 years to complete and Martin is getting older and heavier. I pray he finishes the series during both his life time and mine.