Game of Thrones (Storm of Ice & Fire Series)- George R.R. Martin

     Based on my past interests in books, movies and television, this is a series I should hate. The problem with it is that I don't hate it. I LOVE this series.
     I was turned on to Game of Thrones by a friend/co-worker who was watching the first season of the HBO series and was giving me daily lunch hour play-by-plays of each episode she had watched. My impression was...lame. However, it dawned on me that although I am gainfully employed, have a boyfriend, friends and a life...I am bored almost ALL of the time. So, picking up a new series was not a challenge for me.
     I watched season one and found myself in LOVE with the series. Of course, being a reader, as I am sure many of you understand means that if you enjoy the movie or TV show based on a book you haven't read, you must read it IMMEDIATELY. So, I ordered all 5 books of the Game of Thrones series online and could not wait to get started.

Oh my god, this is the longest series ever. Each book is a million pages long and I might have to spend what is left of my twenties entwined in this book.

1st Book- A Storm of Ice and Fire: Game of Thrones

    If you watch the series, I probably wouldn't bother reading the first book of the series. The show follows this book verbatim. You can literally open any page of the book and the lines will be exact to the show. The only difference is with the book, as can be expected, is that you get more insight into what the characters are thinking-which helps to better build them as characters. However, that being said, the acting in the show is incredible and I think from the first season alone you are not missing out on much at all by just watching the show- This is the FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER SAID THIS!
    For this I give huge credit to George R.R. Martin and the producers at HBO.

Basic Premise: (somewhat a spoiler, but not crucial to the main plot or the interesting way the story unfolds)
     These characters are all grouped into families (lordships). The time frame takes place only a century or so after dragons have ceased to exist. The landscape is vast, and there are no regular seasons. Summer lasts for years as does winter which is a huge problem. The lordship families all worship one king, a king who has now died. The new king is a deranged boy born of incest and his mother, Cersei is queen regent. Although Jeoffrey is the new king, many other families in the kingdom have begun to play the game of thrones and take their place/attempt to claim thier birthright on/to the Iron Throne...however, this is only the story that takes place south of "The Wall". Beyond the wall is the unknown- creatures and beings that have only existed in bedtime horror stories back from the days before the wall was built.  <----This is a terrible basic overview as it is sooo much more complicated than that.

Regarding some characters:

Cersei Lannister- I am fascinated with her. I have a pseudo-lezzie crush on her and I am not embarrassed about it. Her character is incredible. She is the bitchy power-driven popular girl in high school all grown up, however what motivates her is what makes her so different from other characters that meet this stereotype. She genuinely loves her kids, she loves her twin brother Jaime- and basically hates everyone else. Kinda like me, I tend to dislike most people as well. She is HUGE penis-envy throughout the story. She is obviously smart, knows how to play the game, however she is a woman and that makes her unsuitable to rule. Her looks though are her greatest power, she uses her sexual persuasiveness and her wit to gain what she wants. I would totally bang her.

Tyrion Lannister- This little guy is awesome. Tyrion is the hated "imp" (politically correct version: little person) brother of Cersei and Jaime Lannister. He brings comic relief throughout the tense and intense interactions throughout the whole book. Most people in the book hate him. As a reader, or watcher of the TV series, you know this guy is smarter than the rest of them and has to come out on top in the end. However, this is not a predictable series. Don't get too close to the characters, most of them wont make it in the long run.

Sansa Stark- I want to punch this bitch.

I'm curious what other people think of Tyrion...more curious if other people had a sex dream about him. Is that weird? I think it is....ahhh the beauty of cyberspace- I'm only talking to myself.

Ill get to book 2 another day....

P.S.- I am currently reading book 5 of this series...more on that later.