Game of Thrones - The Book Series

So I've just recently started ”reading” the Game of Thrones book series. Well actually, I've been listening to them on audio, while I'm doing my regular job. I know, officially the book series is called ”A Song of Fire and Ice”, but thanks to the TV series, it's most popularly known as the Game of Thrones series.

When I started ”reading” them, I was interested in finding out what the hype was all about. As a writer myself, I was curious what George R. R. Martin was doing 'right' in order to become so successful? And as I mention in my video series about writing: An author needs to read a lot of books. Not to copy someone's recipe for success, but to become inspired, or perhaps figure out whether or not they agree with this particular author's style of writing.

First of all, I'd like to say, that Mr. Martin is a lot more experienced than I am, when it comes to writing. He's a full time writer with numerous books published. Me, I'm currently working on my second book, while holding down a regular 8 hour job, and being a family man as well (see my family blog here).

With that out of the way, I can start talking about the books themselves. I'm currently reading book three of the ASOFAI series(A Song of Fire and Ice), and I'm almost through that book. Instead of reviewing each book, I'd like comment on his writing style and the way he's chosen to tell his “story”.

No Storyline

Now, when I put “Story” in quotation marks, it's because that is one of my biggest gripes about this series. There is no clear definable storyline. Just having several different factions contest for the right to rule the Seven Kingdoms makes for a very feeble storyline at best.

Objectively speaking, George R. R. Martin is merely creating a great big mass of events that swirl around each other, sometimes mingling with each other, and other times floating off into obscurity or simply ending.

There is no ultimate or overall plot-line driving the story forward, just a series of events that occasionally intertwine.

No Hero

This is one of the first books (or series) I've read where there is no main character, or hero so to speak. This makes the reading somewhat of a challenge, because you never feel like you have time to identify with the main character, because there isn't one. Well, except in the first book (Eddard Stark), but if you've read it, you know what happens to him, right?

When there is no definable hero, it's difficult to drive the story forward... Wait, read my previous point about “No Storyline” above. There is no storyline to drive forward. A bold man (or woman) could say, that since you don't have a storyline, you don't need a hero. Well, yeah.

But I think a book with a fair amount of solid integrity to it, needs a hero you can identify with, that you can feel with, and with whom you can meet and overcome challenges with.

I may be wrong. There might be “one” hero: Daenerys Targaryen. But she has so few scenes, that it hardly qualifies her as the main character.

I do have a prediction, however, about how this entire series will end. We'll see if I'm right or wrong.

Too Many Characters

There are so many characters in this series, none of which seem to be the hero. There are no Chapter 1, 2, 3 etc. Each chapter is dedicated to a character, following their perspective. Truth be told, to me, it makes for very confusing storytelling. Even lesser characters have chapters dedicated to them.

Great Dialogue

After all the criticism I've given above, I also need to give him credit where it's due. George R. R. Martin does have a knack for making vivid dialogue.

Writing Style

Overall I'm not overly impressed with his writing style. He does try to capture a classic English style of telling his story. But there are a few points not to my liking.

• Repetitive usage of expressions – “Man-Grown” and “Bend the Knee”. These are two expressions the author continues to use again and again and again. By the end of the third book, every time I hear this on the audio-book, I almost gag. He's used these excessively throughout the series.
• “Shopping-list” descriptions – I call them shopping list descriptions, which is when you list a lot of details, trying to describe a person, what they are wearing, or when describing locations and environments. George R. R. Martin does this a lot. As an author, I've always felt it slows down the flow of the story and the action. I only apply details of this type when it serves a purpose and helps set the mood of the story. I like to leave it up to reader's imagination to fill in the blanks. I may provide a few descriptive words about garment and setting and leave the rest up to the reader's imagination.
• Everyone has a name – Even the most trivial character has a name. It doesn't really help the flow of the story that you flood the readers with names. Martin does this often, for example when listing who were lost in a battle. He does it for the sake of realism, but in many ways it just makes for tedious reading.

I still have two (maybe more) books to go before this series concludes. I may be wrong about my criticism, but so far my reading experience has been one courting annoyance, which is where a book fails, in my opinion. A good book is supposed to be an enjoyable and, hopefully memorable, experience. If not, then how can it be a good book.

#gameofthrones, #writing, #books, #georgerrmartin, #fantasy