Game of Thrones (Books)

[britbox]

Just got the first Game of Thrones book (in the A Song of Ice and Fire series)...

Anybody else read the books?

 

[DarthFed]

RE: Game of Thrones

Just got the first Game of Thrones book (in the A Song of Ice and Fire series)...

Anybody else read the books?

I'm up to the 2nd half of book 3 (which is season 4 of the show). I will read the rest of book 3 once the season is over. They are great books as you'd expect. Enjoy :clap

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: Game of Thrones

This is the ultimate dilemma for me. I'm a huge fan of the show, but I'm the kind who prefers to be surprised (and god knows GOT offers plenty of them) so I'm staying clear of the books to avoid spoilers. Conversely, I'm sure the books are tremendous so I'm missing out by not reading. Not to mention, waiting a year in between seasons is too much. Plus, given that the show will be going on for a few more years, am I really going to be patient enough not to read the books in the meantime?

Decisions, decisions...

 

[britbox]

RE: Game of Thrones

Darth's idea sounds good - read the first two and the read the third after the TV season has finished. I think that's what I'll be doing.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: Game of Thrones

One thing to note is that certain things happening now on the show actually take place in book 4 so it's not necessarily parallel. I've made sure not to buy book 4 on my Kindle as I'm sure I would be tempted to read ahead, it's hard not to read the rest of book 3.

 

[markus1]

RE: Game of Thrones

Anybody else read the books?

I didn't read the book but I constantly hear people complaining that the TV serial "is so much worse, the producer ruined it all and blah blah blah"

However, people always say this when they compare a book and a movie/serial
Actually, I had never heard someone saying that movie was better than a book

 

[DarthFed]

RE: Game of Thrones

I've read the books up to the start of season 4 and I like the show a lot better though the books are great. The show is the best I've ever seen.

They do change certain things in the show compared to the book but they are all minor. I think most of the changes have been good but a couple (all related to Jaime Lannister) have been terrible.

SPOILER on Changes:




Good changes: Fight between Jaime and Ned in season 1 did not happen in the book. Fight between Brienne and the Hound in season 4 finale did not happen in the book (heard from a friend who has read all the books). I didn't really like the result of the fight but it was a great scene. There have been others in the first few seasons that have escaped my mind right now.

Bad changes: Jaime killed a distant relative to briefly escape captivity in season 2. This did not happen in the book as the distant relative was escorting Brienne and Jaime back to King's Landing but got killed. The 2nd one is the rape scene in season 4 with Jaime and Cersei. It was consensual in the book.

The huge things that have happened on the show all have happened in the book.

EDIT: In Season 2 Arya was cupbearer for Tywin Lannister whereas in the book it was Roose Bolton. Excellent change there as it advanced the character of Tywin Lannister.

 

[markus1]

RE: Game of Thrones

The show is the best I've ever seen.

True, it's very cool. I personally like it because it's absolutely unpredictable and you never know what happens next. It shows people pretty much the way they are, their "ugly sides".

As to Hound, I think he might survive. And I am not sure how I feel about Arya.. she's getting way too cruel (or not?).

Tywin Lannister remains a huge mystery to me. I would definitely use some background information about him.

So far, I don't feel like reading the book

 

[britbox]

RE: Game of Thrones

Anybody else read the books?

I didn't read the book but I constantly hear people complaining that the TV serial "is so much worse, the producer ruined it all and blah blah blah"

However, people always say this when they compare a book and a movie/serial
Actually, I had never heard someone saying that movie was better than a book

TV/Film is only an adaptation of the book and rarely an exact replica.

I actually get a bit fed up of some of the holier than thou bookies who insist that that adaptation is "wrong" because such and such happened in the book. With fiction... both are fiction - so who gives a ****?

Non-fiction is a little different.

I have the first book but yet to start it. But the TV shows is absolutely superb, regardless.

 

[markus1]

RE: Game of Thrones

Anybody else read the books?

I didn't read the book but I constantly hear people complaining that the TV serial "is so much worse, the producer ruined it all and blah blah blah"

However, people always say this when they compare a book and a movie/serial
Actually, I had never heard someone saying that movie was better than a book

TV/Film is only an adaptation of the book and rarely an exact replica.

I actually get a bit fed up of some of the holier than thou bookies who insist that that adaptation is "wrong" because such and such happened in the book. With fiction... both are fiction - so who gives a ****?

Non-fiction is a little different.

I have the first book but yet to start it. But the TV shows is absolutely superb, regardless.

You're right, people often forget that any film is an adaptation (probably, I am one of those as well). For instance, the Hobbit book is extremely interesting, but it's a bit static and lacks actions, so the director added some parts that weren't actually in the book and the film turned out to be great

 

[britbox]

RE: Game of Thrones

Anybody else read the books?

I didn't read the book but I constantly hear people complaining that the TV serial "is so much worse, the producer ruined it all and blah blah blah"

However, people always say this when they compare a book and a movie/serial
Actually, I had never heard someone saying that movie was better than a book

TV/Film is only an adaptation of the book and rarely an exact replica.

I actually get a bit fed up of some of the holier than thou bookies who insist that that adaptation is "wrong" because such and such happened in the book. With fiction... both are fiction - so who gives a ****?

Non-fiction is a little different.

I have the first book but yet to start it. But the TV shows is absolutely superb, regardless.

You're right, people often forget that any film is an adaptation (probably, I am one of those as well). For instance, the Hobbit book is extremely interesting, but it's a bit static and lacks actions, so the director added some parts that weren't actually in the book and the film turned out to be great

I wasn't that keen on the Hobbit (movie) to be honest. But on the same note, I don't rate the book that highly either

Lord of the Rings... loved the books and loved the films. I read the books first (on multiple occasions) and thought the films were superb adaptations.

 

[markus1]

RE: Game of Thrones

Anybody else read the books?

I didn't read the book but I constantly hear people complaining that the TV serial "is so much worse, the producer ruined it all and blah blah blah"

However, people always say this when they compare a book and a movie/serial
Actually, I had never heard someone saying that movie was better than a book

TV/Film is only an adaptation of the book and rarely an exact replica.

I actually get a bit fed up of some of the holier than thou bookies who insist that that adaptation is "wrong" because such and such happened in the book. With fiction... both are fiction - so who gives a ****?

Non-fiction is a little different.

I have the first book but yet to start it. But the TV shows is absolutely superb, regardless.

You're right, people often forget that any film is an adaptation (probably, I am one of those as well). For instance, the Hobbit book is extremely interesting, but it's a bit static and lacks actions, so the director added some parts that weren't actually in the book and the film turned out to be great

I wasn't that keen on the Hobbit (movie) to be honest. But on the same note, I don't rate the book that highly either

Lord of the Rings... loved the books and loved the films. I read the books first (on multiple occasions) and thought the films were superb adaptations.

Lord of the Rings is the greatest book ever, I'm re-reading it now. First time I’ve read it in my mother tongue but now I decided to read in English and it's so much better in the original. I guess I'm such a huge fan that I love all the books even Hobbit. I do agree that Hobbit is not as good as Lord of the Rings, but it was the first book and maybe Tolkien just tried to find himself Practice makes perfect

 

[Federberg]

RE: Game of Thrones

Having read all the books available, I have a theory about what happens in the end. This isn't a spoiler at all, as it's entirely speculation. It involves who one of the eventual dragon riders is likely to be

 

[Kirijax]

I just started reading the books last summer and I'm in Book Four now. I usually reread the chapters just to make sure I got everything. Fantastic. I have my own idea of who the dragon riders will be as well. They all have Targaryen blood.

 

[DarthFed]

^ Not all of them. I haven't read through the rest of the books yet but at least on the show they kind of gave away part of Bran's future last season by saying that "he will never walk again but he will fly"

 

[Kirijax]

^ Not all of them. I haven't read through the rest of the books yet but at least on the show they kind of gave away part of Bran's future last season by saying that "he will never walk again but he will fly"

I took it as Bran "warging" with the dragon. So he would BE the dragon and Jon Snow rides him. For some reason that was the image I got.

 

[DarthFed]

^ Possible but I took it to mean he would be flying on one.

 

[Federberg]

^ Not all of them. I haven't read through the rest of the books yet but at least on the show they kind of gave away part of Bran's future last season by saying that "he will never walk again but he will fly"

Haha! I agree. Bran will be a rider I reckon

 

[britbox]

I got the full book boxset at Christmas after having the first one in a drawer for months but have only actually just started reading them. First one is pretty good so far. The TV series does have fair buffer of artistic license but unlike some who rant on about "That didn't happen in the books"... I couldn't care less. TV seasons are adaptations, not verbatim duplicates and this TV series is possibly the best I've ever seen.