So I have begun reading the Game of Thrones books since I love to read and the simply fact is I do not have cable or dish at home to watch it on HBO. Books are so much better anyway. I have finished Book 1 and have begun Book 2, A Clash of Kings.
I have to wonder if the inspiration of these books for the author, George R. R. Martin, is modern politics. So much of the politics the book is very much like reading about what is going on in Washington D. C. today. In the books, you have 4 great houses or families. First one of note is the House Stark of the North. Lord Eddard, or just Ned, Stark of Winterfell is an honest man. Sure, he made some mistakes in his younger days. Ned had a son out of wedlock, Jon Snow, but at least he did the honorable thing and raised the child and took care of him. This was certainly a hard thing to do in a society where bastard children are chastised and marginalized. Jon of course realizes this and decided to "take the black" and become a brother of the Night's Watch at the Wall. Overall, the House Stark is a good house.
The flip side of the coin seems to be the House Lannister of Casterly Rock. The only Lannister I appreciate is the Imp, Tyrion. He sure has a wit about him and can talk his way out of anything. At least he gives you what he promises. Tyrion is, so far of what I've read, probably the only honorable Lannister of the whole house. His Lord father, Tywinn Lannister, is...shall I say, sneaky. Of course, Cersei is no better. Like father like daughter? Cersei is very treacherous! She murdered Jon Arryn because he discovered what Ned Stark had discovered...Joffery, Myrcella, and Tommen are all pure-blood Lannisters!!! Of course, Ned was able to talk his way out of being killed by Cersei, but that didn't stop her brat son Joffery! Geeez...what a jerk! Having Sansa's father beheaded right in front of her! So yeah, I have no love for the Lannisters save for Tyrion.
Now there's the House Baratheon. I am not sure what to think of them. The late King Robert of Baratheon was, well, he just wanted revenge against the House Targaryen for killing Lyanna Stark! So he and Ned Stark teamed up to usurp the Mad King Ares II. Kind of an inside job as it was Ser Jamie Lannister of the King's own guard who ran Ares II through. Uh, yeah...some loyalty. Thus, Ser Jamie becomes known as the Kingslayer. Anyway, the House Baratheon brothers Stannis and Renly are now at each other for the Iron Throne.
So let's see here, we've got Joffery "Lannister" crowned King (by his mother no doubt...Joffery is most likely his mother's puppet even though he doesn't admit to it), Lord Stannis Baratheon claiming himself King and his brother Renly doing the same. And in the north, Robb Stark has been proclaimed King of the North! So now we have all these "kings" bickering with each other and oblivious to what is happening across the narrow sea...Daenerys Targaryen!
Lovely Dany by the end of Book 1 now has 3 hatched dragons! Ooooooooooooooo....she's the one I'm watching. I can't wait to see what she does.
Favorite House: Stark
Favorite Character: Daenerys Targaryen
Favorite moment: when the dragons hatched and Dany emerged from the fire unburnt!
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Well I have finished all the published books of the Song of Ice and Fire series and am waiting the release of the next book. All I can say is the author leaves you hanging at the end.
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