I had brought Rebecca West’s Black Lamb and Grey Falcon on vacation with me, which I am loving re-reading, as well as Evelyn Waugh’s Sword of Honor, which I have never read and am in love with already. It’s already made me laugh out loud three times and I’m only on page 12. Choosing what to read on vacation is a weighty decision. But you also have to be willing to throw out what you planned and choose your route spontaneously, should the occasion arise. Game of Thrones was on the bookshelf at the house where we were staying. I have never seen one episode of the show. I have never read any of the books. For no particular reason, I love all of those actors, and love Peter Dinklage, but, you know, I am extremely behind in television watching in general. I enjoy Martin in interviews, he’s a fascinating guy, but just never read any of his work. But suddenly last week I picked it up one day, took it down to the dock with me, lay on my towel, read only the Prologue, and thought, immediately, with something akin to despair: “Oh shit. Now I have to read all the books. Dammit.” Based only on the Prologue! The characters are amazing, the world is totally fleshed out and lived in, it feels real down to its underlying architecture, and he’s a beautiful writer. Had a lot of fun reading it over this past week (I finished it yesterday morning), but even more fun was talking about it with my nephew Cashel, who has read all the books (so far). Our conversation lasted the whole week. “So what’s happening now?” he would ask me as he joined me on the dock. Then we would talk it out and discuss plot and characters and the TV show and the adaptation and it was so fun. I love my nephew! He is such a great person, smart and funny and kind and caring. I will continue on with the rest of the series, and text him my thoughts, so we can keep the conversation going.
And Cashel’s vacation read? Cat’s Cradle was one of them (he’s as fast a reader as I am, and blows through two books in a day sometimes), so we had a lot of fun talking about that too.
The Song of Ice and Fire series is incredible. I’m not usually a huge fantasy fan, but it feels so gritty and real you forget they’re talking about dragons and magic and focus on the people. Its a blast to have a series with no clear “this is the bad guy with zero good things about him” bullshit.
Hope you enjoy them. Just don’t blow through them too fast or you’ll be stuck waiting like the rest of us! :-P
Alli – you’re so right about there being no clear “bad guy”. All of the characters are so three-dimensional, even the little kids!
Unfortunately, I feel like I am going to blow through them at the speed of light – how can I slow myself down??
Have you been watching the series on HBO?
I’ve seen all but the most recent season. So incredibly detailed, you can tell it was made by people who love the story. Waiting for the dvds so I can just binge on them in a row instead of waiting a week each time (no idea how people stand that!!!)
The cast is stellar. Especially the kids. The little girl who plays Arya is totally made of awesome.
Can’t wait!!
And Peter Dinklage – God, I love it already and I haven’t even seen it.
I have to admit I gave a little squee when I saw this post. Ever since I got hooked in the book series I wondered what you would say about it if you picked it up. And yes, the characters! They’re the best part of every book. It feels like GRRM really knows them all, even if it’s just a sellsword that appears for like three paragraphs before getting killed, it’s always a fully developed person, he would pick every one of them from a lineup without thinking twice.
Beware, though. Once you finish all the books, and it looks like you’ll do it pretty fast, you might join the hords who are worrying sick about GRRM’s health. It’s horrible and funny, and I couldn’t help but join them.
// you might join the hords who are worrying sick about GRRM’s health. It’s horrible and funny, and I couldn’t help but join them. //
hahahaha
I’m reading something else now but when I’m done with that, onto Book 2!!
I also appreciate the well-drawn three-dimensional female characters – they run the gamut. They’re villainous, they’re sweet, they’re manipulative, they’re brave … and sometimes one character displays ALL of those qualities. They are complex, in other words. I’m not sure I would have lasted if all the female characters were like Sansa, say. But Catelyn!! LOVE her. And Arya! And Cersei. They’re all just fantastic. The men are, too, but the men ALWAYS are. So it was thrilling. I also loved his structure – how each chapter has a different character’s POV. It keeps it very very lively – and some arcs are less interesting to others (to me, anyway) – so his structure is good because you know that, “Okay, this particular character doesn’t do much for me, but the next chapter we’ll be onto someone else.” If that makes sense.
And the SETTINGS. I mean, the Wall. And the Eyrie. And the jail Tyrion was put in in the Eyrie. So real, so vivid, they just popped to life.
I can see why the books are so popular. I could not stop reading it!!
Yeah, nothing quite like stalking GRRM’s blog hoping you’ll get a tidbit or breaking news… and then getting football news. Which, you know, great love football but damn. I thought it was going to be NEWS damnit.
hahaha the agony!!
OMG, the female characters! They’re awesome. Some of my favorite characters in the books are female. I have to admit that Sansa bored me throughout AGOT too, but, while I wouldn’t dream of spoiling a single event for you, I’ll just say she’ll do a lot of growing up on the next books. It won’t be pleasant.
I’m actually excited for you to meet all the characters that are ahead of you (Brienne! I can’t wait for you to meet Brienne of Tarth! And Davos Seaworth, Gah, so many!).
“And the SETTINGS. I mean, the Wall. And the Eyrie. And the jail Tyrion was put in in the Eyrie. So real, so vivid, they just popped to life.”
Couldn’t agree more. He misses nothing. And did you notice all the food?
One of my favorite things is how he not only created places, but whole cultures. I’m sure GRRM knows the history of Westeros like the back of his hand.