But really my long absence has been due to the fact that I have been deeply engrossed in George R.R. Martin's popular A Song of Ice and Fire series. Knowing how dauntingly lengthy the books are, I've been avoiding it for years, but I finally caved on April 25. During that time, I've been trying to figure what makes these books work.
The writing is okay, at times great but most times tedious. The plot basically consists of characters bumbling around a war-stricken land and being brutally injured if not outright killed. And most of the characters are annoying. So why am I still reading?
There must be something redeeming about these books, else they would not have so many fans or an HBO television series. But I can't figure out what it is. Occasionally, I will enjoy sections of the book long enough to think I understand why they are so popular, but then something terrible will happen, a favorite character will die, and once again I find myself questioning why I am putting myself through one thousand pages (per book) of tedious writing only to watch bad thing after bad thing happen to characters I like.
That must be the one thing stringing me along... despite everything, somehow Martin has successfully developed characters I'm able to become invested in. But seeing characters I like constantly beaten down and killed just means the reasons I was reading are disappearing.
As a writer, I cannot understand Martin's purpose. Why would you create a cast of characters and slowly kill off the likable ones over the course of the series? How do you expect to maintain a reader's interest? Perhaps he's just trying to be realistic, and in a war such as the one in the book would result in the deaths of many. But many of the characters do stupid things, things that did not have to happen. So what is the purpose of that?
Sometimes I wonder if people assume that sad stories are better just because they're sad. I must passionately disagree. In my opinion, a good story features characters that yes, make mistakes and suffer through hard times, but through that, they persevere and grow. If a character dies before he has an opportunity to enjoy life and grow, its just not fulfulling. And none of the characters ever seem to learn from their mistakes.
I will be posting a lengthier review of the series soon, once I finish book three (which I've heard is the worst in regards to who dies). Until then, if any Game of Thrones fans are reading this, please do not hesitate to explain why you enjoy the books in the comments below.
