A Girl Who Reads: 2012

A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin
(written in Lannister red)

Parents, this is not a book for children! As a teacher, there are times when parents will ask me if a book is appropriate for children. I am going to start putting appropriate ages on the books that I've written about just for you. This book is 18+, mature readers only! Sorry teens, I don't recommend it for you either.

Now that the age restrictions are out of the way, let's discuss Game of Thrones. I can't wait to see what everyone has to say about it.

I'll admit, I first read the book due to the hype behind the HBO show, even though I had never watched an episode. While there are elements in the book that push my comfort levels, there are many, many things that I admire.

1. Character development. Everyone has their top favorites, and the classics are Tyrion, Dany, Jon and Arya, but what makes them the favorites? Let's discuss it shall we. While I love all of the characters, personally, Sansa Stark is at the top of my list. While lost in her 'princesses and knights' world, the child grows up and develops into a very strong woman of character! I must say that I admire her more than Bella, Twilight, ugh...and even, dare I confess, more than Katniss...okay, maybe not more, but right up there with her. Martin writes the characters as if he knows each one, and is walking right beside them with a scope listening to their thoughts. He truly has redefined, for me at least, the depth of character development. It is not only about what happens to the characters that matters, but how they think, feel and react to those circumstances that make it all so real. Her sister, Arya, is also one of my favorite characters. (Maybe it's their sisterly connection and I can relate due to the relationship I have with my own sister. Look, Kim, I mentioned you in my Game of Thrones blog!)

2. World development. It is so easy to sit watch with Jon Snow on the Wall, or listen to Summer howling with Bran in Winterfell, (or Hodor for that matter), to face the sniffling Lord Robert of the Eyrie with Tyrion when he says "Can I make the little man fly now?, or become enchanted with the tourney at King's Landing with Sansa... Let me stop before I give too much of the story away. Martin makes the world so rich and real that you cannot help but to sink into it. It is reminescent of Middle Earth in LOTR, but with less fantasy. There are many other places in Thrones that I did not mention, what is your favorite and why? While it is hard to pick a favorite, I love the Vale of Arryn. It is beautifully written and if I could visit anywhere on the map, I would go there first.

3. Character death. I will not give anything away, I promise, but let me just say that I have a new appreciation for character death. Especially when you have invested so much time with these characters and want the best for them- and then...well, it doesn't turn out the way you thought it would. Some might hate it, but I love it. No story is ever all happy-go-lucky, and sometimes a character must die to further the story. I will enjoy the discussion over this one...

4. Evil villians. In Thrones, it is sometimes very, very difficult to know just who are the evil villians. Martin keeps you guessing the whole time. What I love about all of the characters are their humaness. Knights in other stories seem valiant and unmarred, but in reality, they are just men and therefore have a sin nature. Even the children find themselves doing, or saying things for selfish reasons. My favorite is Sansa when she doesn't stand up for Arya against Joffrey. (Joffrey I think is completely evil, but I would love for someone to show me his silver lining.) Or even Eddard when he has to deal with Sansa's direwolf. Duty and honor overshadow love, that's for sure. Who is your favorite evil villian in Thrones? Mine is Cersei. Oh, or Theon. Oh, or Jaime, or the Hound....too many!

5. Heroes. Just as with the evil villians, the heroes are marred with a human quality that makes them absolutely loveable. Every hero and villian has a dark and light side. Just as there are a great many villians, there are a great many heroes. A few of them could be both hero and villian at the same time. I would consider Tyrion Lannister one of those. One of my favorite heroes is Arya's dancing instructor, Syrio Forel. Who is your favorite, and why?

6. House/Family development. Each house has their own sigil. This reminds me of our own family crest. I absolutely love that you can infer so much about the person just by the house's sigil; the Starks with their grey direwolf over an ice-white field. My favorite, the Lannister's sigil, a golden lion upon a crimson field. I have to ask, what is your favorite? And if you came from any house, what house would it be, and why? Me, I choose Lannisters. Why? It's all because of Tyrion.

7. Lastly, character thoughts. Intermingled throughout each character's chapter, Martin brillantly gives the reader a glimpse into the mind of the character. You cannot understand a character completely without climbing into their minds and hearing their own thoughts. How can you understand how Jon truly feels about his lack of heritage without it? Or Eddard's mistrust of everyone around him in King's Landing? Or Arya's anger towards Sansa? Or Tyrion's resentment toward his father?

I enthusiastically look forward to reading all of your thoughts about the Game of Thrones.

"Lord Stark," Jon said. It was strange to hear him call Father that, so formal. Bran looked at him with desperate hope. "There are five pups," he told Father. "Three male, two female."
"What of it, Jon?"
"You have five trueborn children," Jon said. "Three sons, two daughters. The direwolf is the sigil of your House. Your children were meant to have these pups, my lord."

A Girl Who Reads

Monday, July 16, 2012

Game of Thrones

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