After watching a few episodes of the wildly popular HBO series, Game of Thrones, I did some more research and discovered that it was a series of books. I quickly hotfooted it over to my local bookstore and picked up volume 1, A Game of Thrones.
The tale is set in the fictional land of Westeros, where magic and mythical creatures roam, and centers mainly around the Stark family. The story is told from seven different viewpoints: Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark; Lady Catelyn Stark, Ned’s wife; Sansa, Arya, and Bran Stark, Ned’s daughters and son; Jon Snow, Ned’s bastard son; Tyrion Lannister, dwarf brother to the Queen; and Princess Daenerys Targaryen, an exile. Through these viewpoints, the story slowly unfolds as we learn about the various noble families of the Seven Kingdoms, those living on the Wall, and exiled Targaryen family. The plot is complex and political as the families vie for power.
When I first realized there were multiple viewpoints, I was wary. I assumed it would difficult to follow and jumpy. However, Martin expertly made the plot flow. Every change in narrator made sense and helped further the plot. His writing was well done and he did an excellent job of creating a strange new world. There were slower points where I had trouble getting through, but that was mostly likely my dislike of war and tactical maneuvers that kept me from enjoying it as much.
Overall, the book pulled me in and transported me to a much more visceral place, where people kill without blinking and are more carnal in their desires. I’m looking forward to engrossing myself in the next volume, A Clash of Kings.
books for brunch 