A Game of Thrones

So... my overall impressions after reading the book is that I am not as blown away as I had hoped to be. That doesn't mean this is a bad book. I think having read somewhere that this series is the equivalent of “literary crack” I just expected a bit much. I mean, the general consensus that this is a more realistic, gritty, shades-of-grey type fantasy world than can be found in other novels is a rather accurate depiction. And I actually do like that aspect of the book. The writing is very good, and I usually enjoy a political intrigue type of story. However, I am just not loving and obsessing over this book as much as I do with a lot of the other series I have read. I think perhaps it is because I just don't love a lot of the characters. I mean, I appreciate the characters - they are interesting and multi-dimensional. I wouldn't say a single character is boring. However, even the best of the bunch have their dark moments and there aren't a ton of characters who are entirely likable. Which, I suppose, is how it is with real people in real life. Which also adds to the realistic nature of this story. And even in this first novel there is some character growth and development, which is good. And yet... there were very few people I actually really liked. I ponder if it is because I don't feel like I can trust any of these characters, at least not fully. And even those I do trust... I worry about getting too attached because they seem to make some stupid, all be it noble, decisions that don't really give me much encouragement for their longevity.

The other lasting impression I have of this book is that it is very much a beginning. I think this books shows a lot of plot threads that could potentially all come together in a bout of awesome at the end of the series. I think that perhaps that is the other reason I am still not obsessing over this book is that I am still waiting for the series to go somewhere. Which isn't to say that important things didn't happen in this book, because they most surely did. However, all of these things leave the impression of events just starting to get into motion. Even the ending of the book (which was quite satisfying, I might add) feels more like the start of things yet to come, rather than a culmination of the events of this part of the story. I think many fantasy stories start with many of the characters together, then branching out on their own adventures, and finally coming together for an epic ending. However, in this case, I feel like most of the characters have been spread apart to begin with, and will hopefully come together in the end for some sort of epic ending.

Overall, I am not super obsessively loving this book. However, I do think it was a good book and well worth reading. I am starting in on the second book because I am afraid I will forget all of the little details if I wait too long. Also, the second book picks up right where the first book left off, so I think reading the entire series (such as it is, as it is yet unfinished) as continuously as possible will probably enhance the story. Hopefully the second book will leave me loving the series a bit more... I am hoping that my lackluster reaction really is due to the slow start and not me losing interest in fantasy novels and other nerdy pursuits. I mean, I haven't even seen the last few Harry Potter movies. Lately my sewing has been more practical than fantastic, and my bedside stack of “to read” has shifted from fat fantasy novels to technical sewing guides. I don't know. I seem to be having less of an interest in the nerd pop culture as of late and I wonder, am I losing my nerdiness? I hope not. But I suppose time and a few more fantasy novels will tell.

I read this after enjoying the TV series. The book is good, but I must say the TV show does a pretty good job of covering it. I was able to gloss over some of the more descriptive parts of the book because I had already seen the visual representation and so already had a mental image.

The real test will be when I read the next book, which I want to do before the second season of the show comes out...

Ordinarily not a big novel reader, let alone fantasy, but I was intrigued by the show on HBO and absolutely loved it. Additionally, the show did a fantastic job remaking the book; probably the closest I have ever seen. Since I ham now hooked, the balance of the series (4 books in total until next week when it moves to 5) will be added to my “To Read” list.

A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin:
These are the first four books in Martin's “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. I read them all in a rush. Cold, brooding, bloody, and utterly addictive – can't wait for the rest of the series.

Oo-de-lally, what is there to say about this that hasn't been said 3 million times already? Epic, sweeping, yet deeply focused on the individual. Rich characters–with a depth that Tolkein wouldn't bother with (not a slight on Tolkein, btw).

The fantasy series for those who aren't into fantasy–this book has a lot of villains, but no real heroes. There's a lot of black, a little white, and a whole lotta gray to the events, morals and characters here.

A great, great read...easy to see why this series has so many devoted fans, and will for years to come.

I kept hearing so many good things about A Game of Thrones and with the new HBO series airing they hype was building up. I decided to read this epic fantasy masterpiece and very quickly got bored. One of the problems I had with the book is the amount of characters, there are way too many to really enjoy the story. The only character I even remotely cared about was Tyrion Lannister because he was the only one that actually felt real to me. Everyone else is stiff and before you get attached to them you are off to the next character. There is no real build up to anything thrilling until the end of the book and by that time I was just hoping for it to be over and done.

I am not a die hard fantasy reader and unless you are a die hard I don't think you will enjoy this book. I think if you invest the time to read the next few books in the series it might get better, but this first book was nothing more that a super huge introduction to the characters and the world they live in.

Since it was first published in 1996, A Game of Thrones has been one of my favorite books, and the start to one of my most-anticipated series ever. With each new volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, I find myself excited, and anxious to return to the world of Westeros that author George R.R. Martin has created.

When the HBO series Game of Thrones started in 2011, I found myself interested in re-reading the Ice and Fire saga for two reasons: It had been well over a decade since I'd first read it, and many of the specifics of the story had been lost to me over time; The second, and most importantly is the impending publication of the fifth book in the series, A Dance With Dragons, due out in July. It has been six long years since the last time I delved into the lands of Westeros, so found a refresher necessary.

I've since learned that catching up on the Ice and Fire saga is no simple task. With over 3,000 pages making up the series so far, A Game of Thrones was just a small leap into the series. But alas, I did read Thrones again, and here are my thoughts:

The seat of Winterfell is harsh and cold, with little ornamentation or fanfare. Fortunately, the same can't be said of author George R.R. Martin, who does an amazing job of bringing this fictional world to life. The reader is immediately drawn in, with descriptions of evil tidings taking place beyond the Wall. And what a Wall it is! An ingenious setting, the Wall actually becomes a character in itself, imposing and inhospitable. Martin makes the reader actually feel bad for the men of the Night's Watch, as they have this enormous weight standing over their heads; they surely must feel as if the world stands on their shoulders.

Though the novel is long, it never feels tedious or bogged down. The use of so many viewpoint characters helps to keep readers interested, and the plot flowing along nicely. Indeed, with so many characters, it would typically be difficult to keep up with them all, but Martin miraculously prevents this from happening. Where so many authors fail in introducing new characters, Martin shines brilliantly. The story truly revolves around the four main houses: Stark, Lannister, Baratheon, and Targaryen. Hundreds of other houses are introduced, and play their role, but Martin keeps them in their place, as required, and the novel excels because of it.

Memorable characters, landscapes, and events fill A Game of Thrones from beginning to end, and though this is a series based in a mythical kingdom, in a world where summers last years, and winters a lifetime, there is little that is unbelievable; it's a book about real people, with real ambitions, and political scheming, as those with power vie for even more. So much of history is made up of stories like this that the events in the book are not only believable, but plausible as well.

Upon reading through a second time, I actually found the novel more entertaining that the first read-through (or at least I believe so, the first having been more than a decade ago.)  The story is eminently enjoyable and enthralling, ending with a bang. I can't recommend A Game of Thrones highly enough, and thoroughly look forward to reading through the other books of the series for a second time.

When I first listened to the audio book version of “A Game of Thrones” I put it down at a point that I think many people can identify without me spelling it out. I was to angry to continue reading, and I stuck with that notion determined to never read another book by Martin. Well a friend made a good point to me one day, when has any other book elicited such a strong true emotional reaction. When have I been that surprised at the events in a book.

This is why I finally re-read the book and finished it. Because in truth I really wanted to know more about the world and characters of the Seven kingdoms. That is also why I have given this story 5 stars. Martin will keep you on the edge of your seat with surprises from page one. Enjoy this book and check out the new HBO series, only after reading the book.

Review to come later.

I finally got around to reading A Game of Thrones, despite the fact that the series still wasn't finished when I started, because the television series was starting. [a:Sam Chupp 11847 Sam Chupp http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1219698183p2/11847.jpg] really wanted to watch it, and I didn't want to see it without having read the book, so I gave in and started reading.He had repeatedly warned me that it was really dark, and indeed it is. I think he said that there are no wholly good characters. So far, at least, that isn't quite true. It may be something that becomes more accurate as the other volumes unfold. There are certainly no simple characters, or plots—but then, I remember enough of Martin's earlier work (on the Wild Cards series and such) that I wouldn't expect anything else. People aren't simple, or purely black and white, so why would characters in good fiction be that way?The best way I've found to maybe tell protagonists from antagonists so far is to use the chapter names as guides: the people whose names are used as chapter names are either protagonists or survivors. I'm not sure which. Catelyn and Tyrion are the only people from the “older” generation who have chapter names. No, wait—I just thought of someone who kills my theory. I can't say because that would be a spoiler.I did find several incidents in this first book disturbing. I don't like it when bad things happen to children or animals. Cersei would be a fun character to play, although I suppose she'll get her comeuppance at some point (or I hope she will). I've tried thinking of her as a woman protecting her children, but that's not helping.If you're easily disturbed, don't read the book (or watch the television series, apparently). Just - don't. You won't be happy with the opening scene, and it sets the tone for the rest of the book. But if violent war and political scheming, incest as a dynastic strategy, and very occasional creepy supernatural happenings are okay with you, it's a very well-written book.

I really wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy this book going in, as it seems a bit like Marmite - people either rave about the A Song of Ice and Fire series or pan it, in my experience. But I'd heard mostly good things, although it has been sitting on my fiance's bookshelf for years as a book he'd tried but could never get into, so picked it up as the ads for the TV series looked promising and I wanted to read the book before it aired.

I did find it really tough to begin with - the prologue was a bit of a struggle, but I hate giving up on books so I ploughed on ahead. To begin with I was quite confused because the prologue seemed to have little to no bearing on the rest of the story, and the switching from POV to POV was a bit jarring at first. However, I'm glad I stuck with it, because before I knew it I was hooked.

The perspective shifts each chapter, and at first this bothered me, as it seemed that as soon as I'd begun to get to know and feel comfortable with a character, I had to get to know another entirely. But once I'd gotten to know them all a bit more, I found that this is one of my favourite features of the novel. It's said that everyone's a hero in their own story, and it really is shown in this novel (and also the subsequent installments) - I may not agree with the character's actions or even particularly like them, but understand their motivations. I wound up rooting for characters who appeared to be on different sides. I definitely have favourites - I looked forward to Arya, Jon and Tyrion chapters especially, but all the POVs serve to illustrate the story from all sides, and advance the plot.

The pacing picked up quite a bit as the story progressed - it gets a bit bogged down in all the exposition and establishment of the setting, perhaps, but I enjoyed it regardless. But once things start kicking off, the pace really picks up with all the twists and turns and I just had to know what happened next.

It's not the sort of fantasy book that follows a hero's epic quest. Rather, it's an immense undertaking in world building, full of political intrigues, a drama more than an adventure story. If you hate cliff hangers or long reads, then this is definitely not the book for you. It can't really stand entirely on it's own, as when it ends you are left with the sense that it's all only just beginning, that all the drama of the novel was just a taster for something much larger. Now that I'm midway through book 3 of the series, it seems clear to me that A Song of Ice and Fire is not one of those series where each installment has it's own resolved story arc within the larger series arc (such as the Harry Potter books), but is more like one great big novel chopped down into more manageable chunks. There is no real resolution of the story at the end of A Game of Thrones because the end of the book isn't where the story ends - it's more like an intermission.

A note on the TV adaptation - if you're enjoying the show, then you should definitely pick up the book as it is a very well done and faithful depiction, and can only give you deeper insight into the motivations of the characters.

While this isn't the usual type of book I read, I can't say enough how glad I am that I read this. It's absolutely fantastic. The author writes these characters so well, you love some, you hate some, and you don't know at all what will happen with any of them. I can't wait to dive into book 2.

I loved this one when I first read it, and I'm so glad I went through it again as there's a lot of subtle stuff I missed in the first read through. Some of it was explicitly stated stuff, like the Old Bear being Ser Jorah Mormont's father; others were only hinted at, like my newfound belief that Jon Snow is part of House Targaryen.

I think the first time I read this I was a little blinded by the assumption that it was Eddard's story, and that the other stuff was just subplot. Knowing that it's more than that, that it's a large tapestry with dozens of equally important threads really forces one to look at the whole thing differently.

Beyond that I'm really not sure what I want to say about it, other than it's a complete masterpiece of high fantasy and a must-read for fans of the genre.

(note: Originally read in January 2005.)

Great read! Gonna definately pick up the next in the series

Well, I made it through about 500 pages, and that should count enough.

Political intrigue usually fascinates me, but this book is a turd. Books that give equal air time to multiple characters are ambitious, but all those characters have to be written well. I kept going for 500 pages because I really liked one character, Jon, but even his story went dry too so I said to hell with it.

I don't really understand why this serious is so popular.

Just did a reread of this after finishing the HBO series. It's excellent. Even better than I remembered.