The Battle of Midway

“Any act can be a prayer, if done as well as we are able.” Truth.

36.12 A Storm of Swords

I really loved Game of Thrones. I knew going in that there would be a lot of backstory and character introductions and I thought it was done really well.  I really cared about that core group of characters: Tyrion, the Starks, Jon Snow and the small group of The Watch, Cersi and the Kingslayer, the Hound, (Sorry, but Dany annoys me).  I couldn’t wait to see what happened to them next, and herein lies my problem.  The next two books have given me a bit of detail on their stories, and the fact that they are still around leads me to believe that they are in it for the long haul, but they are still the only characters I care about.  Both Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords and full of new characters pledging loyalty, gaining lands, acting both chivalrous and treacherous, experiencing battles, deaths, marriages.  And I care not a lick about any of them.  As my eyes read the works my brain literally says, “Blah, blah, blah.” When I come to a heading chapter and see the name of a character I don’t care about I force myself through just to see who is next.  

These are big books and they take time to read, and while I love those original characters I am wondering if I am just wasting my time wading through all this other nonsense when I could be reading a new book and discovering new character to love instead.  I don’t want to give up on Game of Thrones but there is very little holding me to the story at this point that I can’t really imagine four more books, especially when two of them haven’t been written.

***Confession time!***

I wrote the first half of this post after reading the first half of the book.  I really considered putting it aside and giving up.  I was so tired of people moving from place to place and looking for food and shelter; but man, once people get where they are going – watch out!  There is nothing off limits in this series.  No character is safe, no one to really be counted on to act as they have before, and my mouth was left hanging open more than once.  But it was all saved up for the last 1/4 of the book and that makes me wonder what all of that other running around is really about.  Is it even important?  Is it time to give up on the reading and just watch the TV show - I can't even believe I just said that! I wish more than anything that the series was already complete so at least I would know there is a resolution waiting, but it isn’t.  

Clearly I  am losing some of my fortitude to continue with the series but I imagine that I will, because when the going gets good it is soooo good.  I just wish it would get going a lot faster and more often.