BookTalk.org

I just ordered a few discs from season one of GoT from netflix. Netflix has four seasons, wow, where have I been? I usually read first and watch after but I think I will watch as I read. A friend of mine told me there is much content in the novels not incorporated in the show. I will try to stay ahead in the reading to avoid spoilers. Does each season represent a novel?

Good question, Suzanne.

This is how I understand the books to match up with the HBO series...

HBO Series Season 1 of Games of Thrones = A Game of Thrones, the first novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire book series.

HBO Series Season 2 of Games of Thrones = A Clash of Kings, the second novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire book series.

HBO Series Season 3 of Games of Thrones = the first 1/2 of A Storm of Swords, the third novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire book series.

So for now you are safe with considering Season 1 of the HBO series to properly correspond to Book 1 of the series.

Season 3 of the HBO series is the best season I think but they are all simply amazing. I think you're going to be blown away, Suzanne. Let us know what you think but wait till you're a few episodes into Season 1 to form any opinions.

Crystalline wrote:I started reading this book and quickly felt lost amid all the characters, their names and nicknames. The author introduces 30 characters in the first 38 pages of the book. I felt like maybe I needed to take notes as to who was who…

I have to agree with you here. Keeping track of all the characters is no easy feat. Normally, I wouldn't make such a suggestion but think about this idea. Since this fantasy book series is now an HBO series you might want to watch the series concurrently with reading the books. That way you have a face to associate with each name. I find it difficult to read a book, form ideas in my head about what each character looks like, and then later watch the book made into a movie and the characters are nothing like what I imagined.

Another 'trick' to remember is this... Martin has an appendix in each book listing the characters of the houses, at the Wall, the wildlings, etc. The copies I read also included maps of Westeros and the surrounding areas.

Good idea, Cattleman. I'll spend some time looking those pages over.

I'm getting all this advice on how to read this book. It's really not a big problem for me...I was just, more or less, critiqueing the author. All of you seem to be absolutely fascinated by this author and this book, and I'm not so sure I feel the same way . I reserve the right to disagree...

Well wait a minute Chris, the characters as described in the book really are nothing like the characters in the series... I sort of get the feeling that making the HBO face for each character the "official" face is doing each character a disservice.
I like Jon as slim, graceful and quick. Robb makes more sense as a "jock", a little obtuse at times, somewhat impulsive but his father's son nonetheless. I think of Robert as huge, with a thick and wiry black beard, a protruding belly and large, imposing shoulders that have begun to slouch from years of "kinging".
Arya in the HBO series isn't as agile as she's supposed to be, the "imp" is nowhere near as impressive (with one black eye and another green in a squashed in face with a crogmagnon shelf of a brow...). I swear, Peter Drinklage look far more intellectual than that description allows... Which isn't really a problem since Tyrion is rather an intellectual.. but I've always felt that disfigurement was an important part of his character.

Hey VMLN,

You present an interesting problem. I suppose matching the HBO characters to the book characters won't work as I originally proposed. Oh well.

I have not watched the HBO series, but I also heard that the women in the HBO series are portrayed as older than the 11-13 in the book, so as not to offend the audience about the fact that older men are having sex with a 13 year old.
The imagination of the reader always creates a better, more fun and a more entertaining picture...I think we should just stick to the book, or else we will be discussing two different things. Actually, I don't really care, I'll just voice my opinion as I see it .

Crystalline wrote:I'm getting all this advice on how to read this book. It's really not a big problem for me...I was just, more or less, critiqueing the author.

We're trying to help you with a problem you said you were having. Your words were...

Crystalline wrote:I started reading this book and quickly felt lost amid all the characters, their names and nicknames. The author introduces 30 characters in the first 38 pages of the book. I felt like maybe I needed to take notes as to who was who…

I went on to say that I agree with you. There are a lot of names and it is difficult to keep track of them all. From my experience with fantasy genre books this is a common issue. Names and locations are thrown out quickly. This is why most fantasy genre novels will include extensive maps, dictionaries, and character bios.

Crystalline wrote:Martin’s writing style and descriptions are good, but so far I find no main character, or a couple of main characters. It bothers me somewhat that the younger characters are so young, the girls of 11 and 13 are betrothed and/or married off to adult men, or women brutally raped.

I hope as you progress through the book you change your assessment from "good" to excellent. But perhaps that won't ever happen. We all have different tastes. This fantasy series was turned into an HBO series because of the storytelling genius of George R.R. Martin.

There are a dozen main characters but they are in different houses and you'll have to give the author time to adequately introduce you to them all. Fantasy is different than most other novels. The author is slowly rolling out an entire fantasy world to his readers. And a world is too large for one main character. Each chapter is devoted to a different person. In time they all start to tie together.

If you find 11 and 13 year old girls getting married to adult men as distasteful then you will want to avoid reading much of European history. Even though this novel is set in a fantasy or imaginary world it is largely a medieval world. And in medieval times there were plenty of swords, mead, young marriage and even rape. The author isn't trying to make you comfortable. He is setting a tone. And brutal rape is nothing compared to what you'll eventually read so prepare yourself. There are great battles and wars and beheadings and worse.