Anyone reading my blog (all 2 of you) may have noticed that my “Currently Reading” selection has changed after many many months of the Game of Thrones cover occupying that space. Since last summer I have been deeply entrenched in the Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin. 3,880 pages later I have just finished the fifth book of the series. The only reason I am stopping is because dear old GRRM hasn’t written Book 6 yet. Lori, Julia, and Heather (and maybe Shane too?) have been with me on this journey and they all warned me that there is an empty place when you read the last page. I feel like I am missing friends. And I will be missing them for a long while as GRRM takes 4-5 years between books. So I have a long wait. Fortunately I have the HBO series to ease my loneliness (season 2 starts in April). Until then I thought we could look back via oft spoken phrases:
- When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.
- What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.
- The things I do for love
- You know nothing, Jon Snow
- Stick them with the pointy end.
- Valar morghulis.
- A Lannister always pays his debts.
- Fear cuts deeper than swords.
- Words are wind.
- Winter is coming.
Please feel free to add what I have forgotten. If you haven’t read the books you are really missing out.
Also, I hope your other reader posts a comment, too!
I have only watched and loved the HBO series (and even then as I watched the final 15 minutes counting down to the end of the season I started freaking out about what I would do until next season). Now, I know the books will be better than the series, my question is, does either one ruin the other? Because its very rare the movie/show stays true to the book, except maybe Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. I have the same conflict with Walking Dead. I had been told to read the comic long before the series existed, but never got to it. Now I have interest in the comic, but those who have read it get agitated that the show is different. I would rather wait a few years after the show and then read the comic at this point.
So, having seen Season 1, do I dare pick up a book or not?
PICK UP THE BOOKS! But we can see how others weigh in. The producers of the show are working closely with GRRM. He writes one episode for each season. He has given them a brief outline of how the whole thing wraps up so if he (god forbid) bites it before he finishes the books at least we will have some hope for closure.
The benefit of the books is that each chapter is from the POV of one character. So you really see the world in a different way. The tv show is adding little things with the other characters that don’t have their on POV chapters but it’s cool. Like in Season on there is the scene with Little Finger and Varys before a council meeting. Great scene. Doesn’t happen in the books. So there a benefits to both.