What a book!!!

I was a bit reluctant to get into such a tome, nay a whole series of tomes, as I'm quite a lightweight reader these days but this book was fantastic. I found it quite halting and dificult to get into at first, but once I had, I think I spent two days reading non-stop.  

Such an array of interesting characters and dilemas.  I came to this book on the recommendation of some friends.  I didn't read up on it before hand and I haven't seen any of the series on Sky 1, which I was really glad of, as I really enjoyed every twist and turn.  I think the bit when poor little Bran has his accident (thank you Cersei and Jaime ) was the point at which I became really hooked. 

It was such an impressive feat of imagination.  Far, far above things like the Dark Matters series (highly over rated imo) which have done so well. I absolutely loved the description of  the Arryn house, high up on the cliffs.  Another Arryn thing which I loved was Robert Arryn the six year old boy.  Whose mum pulls out her teat for him.  There is so much to say about this book that I really don't know where to start.

This story has been a slow burner, but I guess its time has come. 

I'm the opposite to you - I read the book after watching Season 1 and was really glad I did it that way round!  Loved loved loved it - we have the whole series on TBR and I'll be reading book 2 before Series 3 starts next year

I am loving this series of books too, but I am gutted that I didn't know about the Sky1 series, especially with Sean Bean as Eddard Stark (mmmmm!). I do have a break between books though, saving them for when we are in Portugal, much more time for reading there!  No problem with the 'tome' thing though as I read on kindle now.

Not read the book or seen the series, although  I have both (book and DVD). 

But I am wondering/interested why you are comparing GOT to His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (if that's what you were referring to by "Dark Matters"), as they are totally different stories and to my mind have nothing in common with each other.  I have read HDM, (and seen it on the stage), and it's an absolutely brilliant tale. 

However, if you're not talking about that, then I'll shut up.  

 Hi Sazzy the problem that I find with watching something then reading the novel afterwards is that you don't get to use your imagination fully when reading, as you have the images of the actors in your mind.   

Hilarygra - I have heard great things about the series.  Also apparently George RR Martin specifically wanted Sean Bean for Eddard Stark.  When I started reading, I thought that Sean must have been playing the King.  I think I was thining of him and the big poster of him as King in Percy Jackson

My friend ahs got the whole series which he downloaded from HBO.  I have no idea how to do this, but it is possible apparently.

 Hi peppercricket 

I know the much closer/obvious comparison is Tolkein.  But it is "fantasy" fiction nevertheless, so in my mind is in the same sort of category as Pullman''s Dark Matters.  What specifically reminded me of the Amber Spyglass in The Game of Thrones was description of a house set way, way up in the hills/cliffs.  I was feeling quite giddy and getting vertigo when reading it.  And it reminded me of the bit where Lyra and Will and the Harpy are walking across some cliff type things and there's a huge drop next to them.  I think Lyra actually falls and Harpy saves her.  That is probably not much of a reason to compare the books though   There was also something of the parallel universe type thing that Pullman has in his series, where things are very similar to our world, but slightly distorted. 

When I read the Dark Materials I thought they were great, but since then, I've thought  that Pullman really isn't as clever as he thought he was.  I find Pullman incredibly smug actually. Some books grow on you and improve on re-reading;  his didn't!  Personally, I think that Game of Thrones is far more sophisticated and has more to say, intellectually - and George RR Martin doesn't feel the need to try and constantly tell us how clever he is, he just is deeply clever.  I don't think I've ever read anything which has really made me think about power and war in the way this one does.  The way that the characters are nuanced is incredible.  You see the same conflict and how it's fought and how it's viewed from two different sides.  I felt I was actually getting an insight into something really wise about the whole of humanity.

 I absolutely loved Tyrion.  I'm sure he got the best lines. 

And the Wall!  How wonderful and bleak it was.  I was thinking that the Great Wall of China must have been his inspiration, but according to my friend who has researched the book and Martin extensively, George R R Martin, got the idea for this when he visited Hadrean's wall.  He stood on it and wondered what it was like for the people who had to actually stand there and guard it.  I do think that this might be one of the things which has made his writing great.  He hasn't just sat down and thought "yeah I'm gonna write an action packed adventure set in the olden days!"  He has actually closed his eyes and tried to put himself in the position of real people and the real difficulties that they must have had to cope with. 

I've never read Tolkein, but I'm sure this is much better. 

mslondon01:

the problem that I find with watching something then reading the novel afterwards is that you don't get to use your imagination fully when reading, as you have the images of the actors in your mind.   

 

I would've probably not managed to read it if I hadn't seen it first - so many characters and detail that I feel I would have really struggled.  BUT - we'll never know, and I love reading them the way I am

 I know what you mean.  I was getting really confused at the beginning with all the characters plus complicated backstory.

BTW Peppercricket - I've just seen what you mean:  Dark Materials not Dark Matters lol.

Thanks for your explanation, interesting! 

I shall have to bump this one up the TBR, although the sheer size of it scares me somewhat, and knowing there are more books in the series, eek!

 I feel exactly the way you do about the size of the book!  The pages started to fly by with this one though, so it really didn't feel like a life sentence. 

I've read hefty tomes in the past, so I should be ok once I start.

I shall let you know if I ever get round to reading it (I should really, cos a friend lent it to me, whoops!).

Just started this and have to say I'm a bit overwhelmed by the number of characters and amount of detail and I'm only at Page 30! Really want to get into this as I'm sure it's worth perservering with, but can anyone reassure me it gets easier??

I'm not sure it gets easier, but it is worth perseving as the story has such rich depth. What does happen is that you become more familiar with the characters and their families so you stop being confused. It was only in the very last book that I began to get a little confused about a few characters but it didn't affect my overall understanding of the story and certainly didn't lessen my enjoyment. Also, there is a considerable section at the back with a breakdown of all the characters and their families / homes. 

I know this will probably get me lynched but I far preferred this to Tokien!

And I agree that Tyrion is the best character!

Thanks so much Kahlan for directing me to the appendix which I hadn't discovered!! Was wondering why there wasn't a cast of characters at the start.... Now I know why!  That will really help. Thx again!