I am 2/3 of the way through book 4. I am enjoying them very much. Martin does a really good job of developing characters and getting you emotionally attached to a character...then he starts toying with those emotions.
Heh. Don't get too attached to any character; it's the kiss of death.I am 2/3 of the way through book 4. I am enjoying them very much. Martin does a really good job of developing characters and getting you emotionally attached to a character...then he starts toying with those emotions.
I'm now in the middle of the third book, and my only criticism of the series thus far is that the storyline meanders all over the place. I'm not certain that Martin knows where the story is headed at this point -- it feels a bit like a soap opera. Nevertheless, I find the political intrigue mesmerizing.I'm currently reading A Game of Thrones and like the way GRRM organized the book -- it's like a series of interwoven short stories. I like that each chapter is focused on a particular character and the characters immediately around him/her, and I like that each chapter is reasonably short yet quite substantive.
Have to agree with you about the storyline. I am also halfway through the 3rd book and have no idea where Martin is going with this series.I'm now in the middle of the third book, and my only criticism of the series thus far is that the storyline meanders all over the place. I'm not certain that Martin knows where the story is headed at this point -- it feels a bit like a soap opera. Nevertheless, I find the political intrigue mesmerizing.
The absolute best character is Tyrion -- he's sort of bad and sort of good -- I thoroughly enjoy his chapters most of all.Have to agree with you about the storyline. I am also halfway through the 3rd book and have no idea where Martin is going with this series.
***mild spoilers if you haven't read much of anything***
I can only guess that the dragon chick ends up as queen in the end.I started reading these over christmas after I "borrowed" them from my brother. My other criticism is, the story is pretty depressing. I keep reading to see if something good happens for the good guys but it never does, or if it does it is soon undone. Just waiting for every last "good" character to die off now lol.
One of the things I really like is that the characters are more complex than simple 'good guys' and 'bad guys'. The only one I think is truly 'bad' is Joffrey, and he's a sociopath.Have to agree with you about the storyline. I am also halfway through the 3rd book and have no idea where Martin is going with this series.
***mild spoilers if you haven't read much of anything***
I can only guess that the dragon chick ends up as queen in the end.I started reading these over christmas after I "borrowed" them from my brother. My other criticism is, the story is pretty depressing. I keep reading to see if something good happens for the good guys but it never does, or if it does it is soon undone. Just waiting for every last "good" character to die off now lol.
They're just covering about 1/2 of book 3 this season, right? I hope so. I want them to take their time and cover as much detail as possible.Just bumping this with the TV show set to return at the end of the month.
The events covered this season are going to be quite interesting, especially for those who are familiar with the happenings of the 3rd book.
I still want to see Tyrion with the crossbow. (And the scene just before it)They're just covering about 1/2 of book 3 this season, right? I hope so. I want them to take their time and cover as much detail as possible.
Joffrey apparently takes after his mother -- she's another evil one in my opinion. Oh, and the Freys are pretty disgusting as well.One of the things I really like is that the characters are more complex than simple 'good guys' and 'bad guys'. The only one I think is truly 'bad' is Joffrey, and he's a sociopath.
ETA: And Ramsey Bolton, the sadist.
I just read In Cold Blood and thought it was great. Can you recommend any others?This is the first of the series that A Game of Thrones is based on, correct?
I'm watching the HBO series and, while I enjoy it, I find myself frustrated by how much back-story is unknown to me. They try to fill the viewer in, but it seems to come at such a rapid-fire pace that a lot of it is lost on me.
I'm on a bit of a Truman Capote kick right now, but once it's run its course, I may have to start this series of books.