Monday, January 6, 2014
Game of Thrones. Better as a Book or TV show?
The simple answer is as a TV show. I tried to read the Game of Thrones book simply because i wanted to see how closely it followed the show. This effort lasted for about forty pages. The book, as far as i'm concerned was horrible. The style of writing that George R. R. Martin uses in the book seems to me to be some kind of forced higher level writing, similar to something you'd see from older novels from British Literature. This style of writing made it very difficult to casually read and was more trouble than it was worth as i decided. The second problem i have with the book is the annoying extra info that is presented all the time. Every time a character gets introduced there is a long winded paragraph about all these accolades and achievements and references to stuff that is absolutely not necessary. This itself was enough for me to put down the book after forty pages. So, in conclusion, as far as i'm concerned, Game of Thrones is meant to be watched on TV rather than read simply because it is easier to follow and more streamlined. Although it is annoying having to wait six months at a time for a new season. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers i guess.
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I feel the same--that the show is better. I have read two of the novels, cannot commit to more. But not because the writing sounded like it was an "antique" British novel, but because the diction was so florid and overdone on purpose. That is one of my complaints about most scifi and fantasy too---the style is so self conscious that you notice it, and not in a good way. That is why I still think Dune in the best scifi or fantasy novel ever--never once did I say to myself "my, Frank Herbert's style is wonderful." I never thought about it. I just read as fast as I could--and then bought the next book in the series.
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