Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin turned out to be a great fun read. I could have barreled through it, but managed not to because I was in the middle of a bunch of other books at the time and then the floor project got started.
Game of Thrones is epic fantasy with a large cast of characters, sword fighting, political intrigued, good guys, bad guys, and guys whose allegiance is on the side it is most expedient to be on at the moment. There is murder, attempted murder, and betrayal as those not in power try to get more power and those in power try to keep their power. Then there are the people who are innocent or honorable and only want to do what is right and good and suffer at the hands of those who don’t give a fig. There are no wizards but there are wights and the Others about whom we don’t learn much other than they are a threat of some kind. Oh, and there may or may not be dragons.
One doesn’t read this kind of book for character development or discussion of philosophical questions. This is the kind of book one reads for the plot and the sheer fun and surprise of what will happen next. Some of the characters do manage to be well fleshed-out or are hinted at becoming more important in later books.
One of the things I liked about this book is that there are a number of female characters, there is even a woman who fights in a very large battle at the end, because there always has to be a battle. Her part is small and brief, however. The women in this book are smart and calculating. They know what’s what and have power and authority of their own. There is also a girl of eight or so who is one of my favorite characters, Arya. She can never manage to be a lady and it really pisses off her older sister who sets her sights on marrying a prince and believes in love and romance and knights in shining armor. Arya’s father gives up trying to force her into being a girl and hires a water dancer to teach her how to fight. Water Dancers are sort of like ninjas with a sword.
That’s about all I can say regarding this book. If I say more I will give things away and that is no good. Bookman is glad I am finally done with it though. He has been eager to watch the TV series. Hopefully the series to date doesn’t go past the first book since that is as far as I have gotten. The second book won’t make it to my reading in-progress pile probably until the end of October.
Oh, I love Arya!
Yeah, there are a lot of very smart, powerful women in this book, but it strikes me that it’s still very much a man’s world. Women who wield a sword are the exception. All the violence they suffer! And the age-old double standard re men’s vs women’s behaviour. They realy need their wits to survive.
I love Arya too! I can’t wait for the series to come to Netflix. Maybe it’s already there? I loved the book too. WAiting on the second, but maybe it would be better to read after RIP. I’m already behind.
I didn’t know about the books until after I’d watched the tv series. I’ve never read any George R R Martin before, but now I want to read this series! even though all the major plot points have been spoiled for me. Arya’s my favorite character, too.
Ahhh, so that’s what this book is all about. It is plastered all over our bookstores at the moment. I can’t quite do fantasy, but I have a tender spot in my heart for the sort of big, overwhelming, racy, pacy, fun books that whisk you away from the real world for a bit. I’m wondering whether it’s possible to classify books by characters in Winnie-the-Pooh. I have certainly read Eeyore books, and I imagine Game of Thrones to be a Tigger!
Isabella, I suspect quite a few of Martin’s female readers like Arya. You are right that the book is still very much in a man’s world, these types of books generally are which is why I don’t read much of this kind of fantasy anymore. At least, however, Martin’s women aren’t all doey-eyed damsals in distress with heavy bosoms as happens so often.
Daphne, I hope netflix gets the series soon too!
Jeane, that is good that the TV series has made you want to read the books, that means it was well-done! I’m sure they must have left lots out from the books so hopefully when you read them they will still hold some surprises!
Litlove, yup, the book is plastered all over bookstores here too and the TV series hasn’t even become generally available here yet. I like your Winnie-the-Pooh classification system. This would definitely be a Tigger.
How cool about the female characters! I doubt I’ll read this book, to be honest, but I’m so glad you think it’s good, and I’m glad Hobgoblin enjoyed it. He hasn’t gone on to the second one yet, but I’m sure he will at some point.
Fantasy has never been my genre, but after reading your mentions I was curious enough to go looking for it and figure out what it’s about. Every time I would see the books there would only be the second and third parts, but last weekend I finally scored (the last on the shelf) first book. I like books where women get to wield swords. Of course it is pretty hefty so I don’t know when I’ll start it, but it sounds like it’ll move quickly once I do!
Yeah, I think liking Arya is a thing. I like her a lot, but she’s not even my favorite amongst the kids (BranBranBran). The discussion of the role of women in the series is actually a pretty heated one, with the recent article that A Song of Ice and Fire is inherently sexist and that George R. R. Martin is creepy (and all sorts of stuff like that) but I’ve always been more of the opinion that the women in the books, though undergoing several horrific experiences, do run a lot of the show. There are some pretty incredible women in the books and it’s not only kick-butt Arya.
I’d actually vehemently disagree with you, though, that the books are only to be read for plot. Though they’re obviously super plotty at first, the series as a whole does a wonderful job of world-building and character development. Martin builds his story such that things are never what they seem to be, and this includes his characters. Some of the later books are even somewhat disliked for their focus on characters and writing, less on the grandiose storytelling…
Rebecca, it is rather a nice surprise to have strong female characters in novel like this written by a man. My husband is currently on the book just released having read the first four years ago, and keeps telling me how good they are. So hope Hobgoblin enjoys the second book when he gets to it!
Danielle, the book is fat but it reads pretty fast after you get past the beginning and sorting our who is who. Hope you like it!
Bibliobio, Bran is pretty cool too. I suspect he is something special and I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on. I had no idea there was a discussion about the books being sexist. I’ve not paid attention to anything since I have only just finished the first book and didn’t want any spoilers. As far as the books not being just about plot, I am glad to hear it and happy to know I have so much to look forward to!
I liked the female characters, too, and found it odd that somewhere I read a review that called the book “sexist.” I didn’t see that, except, you know, sexist in the ways life was in the Middle Ages. Arya quickly became my favorite character, too, and I’m eager to find out how she grows. (I’m suspecting she ends up on The Wall. We’ll see…)