When I saw Kristilyn posting about the read a long for A Song of Ice and Fire I knew I had to participate. Why? Because I have read the first three books in the series, in 2011. Since then I have wanted to continue and have never been able to find the time. For some reason I can never manage to go outside of my requested review books, so I have been trying to change that. None of the book that I review on A Glo-Worm Reads are review books, one might occasionally slip in, bur for the most part these are book I buy and read when I can. Anyways, having read the first three books, which I loved, and now watching the third season of the HBO show, I think it’s time to get all of the books that are currently out read. So I joined in!The first time I read A Game of Thrones, I’m ashamed to say it was right after I had watched the first season on TV. So I knew everything that was going to happen, there were no surprises. Please don’t do this to yourself. The show follows the book almost exactly, so reading it right after watching it was a bit tedious. I still really enjoyed it, but once I realised that the show followed the book amazingly well, it was harder to read. These aren’t short books, this one is about 800 pages, depending on the version you read. So reading 800 pages of a book that you know everything that’s going to happen for the first time? Time consuming. The writing is really well done and I can envision Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, but there weren’t really any surprises.One of the things people generally want to know about these books when you’re reading them is who your favourite characters are. This story is told from multiple points of view. It has to be. I’m not talking about two or three different people either, there are at least eight right now that I can think of. I’m not sure if I’m missing anyone though. Like I said, a lot of characters. It’s really hard for me to pick a favourite out of all of them, but I’d have to say that Tyrion, Arya and Daernys are the ones I enjoyed reading the most, I just love them all.They all seem to be characters who want to be something they are not “allowed” to be. Arya would rather be a boy if she could, Tyrion is hated by all for who he is and his father hates him, Dany wants the world for her child, but she’s a woman (more like a child herself) and in this world women don’t really have power so she has to rely on the men in her life. I also enjoy reading Jon and Sansa’s PoV, but not quite as much. Jon is a bastard and the only place he seems to be welcome is the Wall. Sansa is just really misunderstood, I think a lot of people forget when reading that she’s only 11, so really just a small child, and like most girls her age, she wants to be queen. A lot of the time she comes off like a brat, but that’s only because she’s ignorant of everything that’s going on around her. One that I didn’t really like was Catelyn, she’s just really mean to Jon all the time and almost everything she did rubbed me the wrong way. I know she’s a mother and her family is all broken up, but she should be home with her small boys who need her. I also can’t forget the direwolves, they are completely awesome and I want one!All in all, I can’t really do this book justice with a review. George R.R. Martin does a great job creating a world that you can get lost in. His characters come to life when you’re reading and you are thrust into the harsh world of Westeros. And it is harsh. There is a lot of sex, murder, incest, war, rape, torture, betrayals, and plotting for revenge. These things are what make this world seem more alive. It’s a high fantasy that everyone should read at some point. I only wish I had of found this series sooner, so I could have enjoyed it sooner.
A Glo-Worm Reads
Canadian book blogger, wife, mom and animal lover. I enjoy curling up with a book, snack and my kitties.
You can visit my blog at A Glo-Worm Reads.
When I saw Kristilyn posting about the read a long for A Song of Ice and Fire I knew I had to participate. Why? Because I have read the first three books in the series, in 2011. Since then I have wanted to continue and have never been able to find the time. For some reason I can never manage to go outside of my requested review books, so I have been trying to change that. None of the book that I review on A Glo-Worm Reads are review books, one might occasionally slip in, bur for the most part these are book I buy and read when I can. Anyways, having read the first three books, which I loved, and now watching the third season of the HBO show, I think it’s time to get all of the books that are currently out read. So I joined in!The first time I read A Game of Thrones, I’m ashamed to say it was right after I had watched the first season on TV. So I knew everything that was going to happen, there were no surprises. Please don’t do this to yourself. The show follows the book almost exactly, so reading it right after watching it was a bit tedious. I still really enjoyed it, but once I realised that the show followed the book amazingly well, it was harder to read. These aren’t short books, this one is about 800 pages, depending on the version you read. So reading 800 pages of a book that you know everything that’s going to happen for the first time? Time consuming. The writing is really well done and I can envision Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, but there weren’t really any surprises.One of the things people generally want to know about these books when you’re reading them is who your favourite characters are. This story is told from multiple points of view. It has to be. I’m not talking about two or three different people either, there are at least eight right now that I can think of. I’m not sure if I’m missing anyone though. Like I said, a lot of characters. It’s really hard for me to pick a favourite out of all of them, but I’d have to say that Tyrion, Arya and Daernys are the ones I enjoyed reading the most, I just love them all.They all seem to be characters who want to be something they are not “allowed” to be. Arya would rather be a boy if she could, Tyrion is hated by all for who he is and his father hates him, Dany wants the world for her child, but she’s a woman (more like a child herself) and in this world women don’t really have power so she has to rely on the men in her life. I also enjoy reading Jon and Sansa’s PoV, but not quite as much. Jon is a bastard and the only place he seems to be welcome is the Wall. Sansa is just really misunderstood, I think a lot of people forget when reading that she’s only 11, so really just a small child, and like most girls her age, she wants to be queen. A lot of the time she comes off like a brat, but that’s only because she’s ignorant of everything that’s going on around her. One that I didn’t really like was Catelyn, she’s just really mean to Jon all the time and almost everything she did rubbed me the wrong way. I know she’s a mother and her family is all broken up, but she should be home with her small boys who need her. I also can’t forget the direwolves, they are completely awesome and I want one!All in all, I can’t really do this book justice with a review. George R.R. Martin does a great job creating a world that you can get lost in. His characters come to life when you’re reading and you are thrust into the harsh world of Westeros. And it is harsh. There is a lot of sex, murder, incest, war, rape, torture, betrayals, and plotting for revenge. These things are what make this world seem more alive. It’s a high fantasy that everyone should read at some point. I only wish I had of found this series sooner, so I could have enjoyed it sooner.
