Update: Old posts fixed

I has an issue with a lot of my old posts being cut off on the right side so you couldn't read everything. These old posts had been transfered from an old blog I had. I have gone in and removed all the old html code and left the text. They might have some issues still but you should at least be able to read everything now.

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A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

674 Pages (Fantasy Fiction)

The Song of Fire and Ice is a series of books that begins with A Game of Thrones. Martin is in the middle of writing the series. (The fifth book is supposedly coming out soon.) Apparently there will be a total of 7 books in the end, but you can never be sure.

I have already read the first four books and I am reacquainting myself with the series hopefully before the 5th book is released. You can probably figure out that I enjoy the series a lot if I am re-reading them. I have a huge bias towards Martin and not just because we have the same last name.

In the cold north of Westoros, the Stark family has ruled Winterfell for generations, back to the time of the old kings. A huge hustle and bustle is happening because King Robert has come to visit and ask Lord Eddard to be his Hand. Some say, the King sits upon the throne, but the Hand rules the land. Unable to refuse, Eddard takes his daughters and leaves his sons to run the castle is his absence. Right before leaving, the young Bran is pushed from a tower in order to hide the Queen’s improprieties. Leaving his son unconscious and crippled Eddard must go south to fulfill his duties. Soon after, Lady Stark is hurt defending her son from a late night attack. A letter comes from her sister advising to beware the Lannister Family. Robert’s queen is a Lannister.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the sea, Prince Viserys Targaryen sells his sister to the horse lord, Khal Drogo. He plans to uses the armies that the Khal provides to take back the Iron Throne. Jamie Lannister killed Viserys father. King Robert took the throne. The Taragaryen, the blood of the Dragons will have their revenge. Daenerys Targaryen is given many fine Bridegifts. None are so fine as the three ancient dragon eggs. All three turned to stone over the centuries. All the dragons are dead, but the mythical beasts still live on in stories and these three stones.

In King’s Landing, where the King sits upon the Iron Throne, Eddard is pulled into a mystery as he tracks down the reasons for the death of the previous Hand. He tracks down more clues and starts to piece together the mystery. Unfortunately, before Eddard can inform him a boar gores the King. The queen tells Eddard, “When you play the game of thrones, you either win, or you die.” The Game of Thrones is about to begin.

The series is written from a different point of view with each chapter. This sets the book up to change the reader’s perspective constantly. As you read about certain characters you start forming opinions about them. You may like one character and dislike another. As “their” chapter comes around you see things from their point of view and can sympathize with them.

I have always been a fan of Fantasy Fiction and I have never been so drawn into a series as I have with these books. Martin makes the people come to life and have real reasons for doing the things they do. The knights in shinning armor do evil deeds. The seemingly evil help those in need. The reader is never sure about a character and depending on what point of view you are reading you might root for opposite sides. Martin’s writing is clear and colorful. He doesn’t overdose you with fine language, but entices with flavorful metaphors.

I think most people would get drawn into the books. It is hard to judge just the book by itself since I have read the following books. I know that A Game of Thrones is actually set up for all the epic things that are to come. Anyone that has a taste for intrigue, honor, and battle, thrown in with emotion and adventure will enjoy this book.

Emotional: 4 You become very involved with the people that live in the book. You soon find your favorites and live with them through their trials and success. It is easy to get lost the fantastic world and become a part of the story.

Intellectual: 4 This book is more about the story, but you get a look into the lives of great houses and all the dealings and twists that come with that. The mystery and underhandedness are stimulating as well. Each characters personal reasons for their actions are huge part of what makes this book successful.

Long Term: 5 I am going to make a bold statement here. I have read a lot of fantasy books in my day and I feel that this series had the best fantasy books I have ever read. I realize that makes me a Tolkien Blasphemer. And if it weren’t for Tolkein, Martin would have had nowhere to start. I still find Martin to be the better writer. These books will easily stand the test of time.

13 out of 13. It is extremely rare that I re-read a book, much less a whole series. Only what I see to be some of the best books would be worth it. A Game of Thrones is well worth anyone’s time to read. Grab a copy and become a part of the world. And remember to Keep Turning Pages.

The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth

By Ken Follett

973 Pages (Realistic Fiction)

The book was actually discovered through a boardgame. My wife had read the book and saw a boardgame with the same title. The game is loosely based on the book. Having a background in art history I thought reading about the building of a cathedral would be quite interesting.

The book starts in the mid 1100’s by following a mason named Tom Builder. Tom has aspirations to become a master builder of a cathedral. His means of livelihood soon are lost and his family becomes homeless and destitute in the wild. Terrible things continue to happen as the family travels across southern England looking for work. Eventually this leads them to Kingsbridge. The night they stay there the current church burns. God has sent them to fulfill Tom’s dream of building a Cathedral.

I expected this to be all about the building. The book isn’t so much about the cathedral, but more about the people that surround it. The king needs to verify that it be built. The political maneuverings of the local lords and bishops play in how money is supplied. The fighting for the leadership of the land makes work hard to continue. The small village grows and the cathedral needs more workers. The town is attacked and the building has to stop, as there is no money. So many people lives become entangled with the building that its success is necessary for so many lives. Although the actual building doesn’t exist it is based on similar cathedrals from real life. You get a real look into the lives from that era and that is what makes the book enjoyable.

When I first started reading the book I was a little disappointed in Follett’s writing. It seemed overly simple. As the book went on I was either sucked into the story enough to not care or Follett improved. I did get very involved and would not want to put the book down. That said, I don’t feel that Follett ever impressed me with his writing style.

Intellectual: 5 – The intellectual side of the book is what makes it interesting. You see all sides of the building process and get to experience the lives of the people first hand.

Emotional: 2 – The characters really aren’t that deep. Most of them are fairly one sided and I personally never became really attached to any of them. There is a human side to the characters but it is more of a means to an end.

Long Term: 3 – The book has the potential to have lasting impact. It is about an interesting time of history. It takes something historical and brings it to life and is very readable.

10 out of 13. My interest in art history made this book very compelling to me. I think people interested in this era or cathedrals would be entertained. As I mentioned I don’t feel that Follett is the greatest writer, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t an enjoyable book. Sometimes simple writing allows the reader to get lost in the story and in this case Follett succeeds.

Keep Turning Pages