Game of Thrones, Season 1, Episode 1, Winter Is Coming
My first nice unbiased comment is that I really do like the opening sequence with the model of the wall and Westeros. That is very cool… I like the kind of ‘clockwork’ aspect to it.
Winterfell…
I also do think that Sean Bean was a a good choice for Eddard Stark, he does fit the picture of Ned that I had envisioned while reading the books. Catelyn, however, is nothing like what I imagined and seems far too old.
Right away I feel like the Winterfell children are all too old and I don’ like it. One of things that made these characters enduring in the books was their tender ages and what they had to go through.
King Robert seems to fit into the role quite well for me but Cersei not so much… I think I may just have issues with all the female casting.
Jaime…. well first I was expecting someone more, well I don’t know… more svelte, sexier… but not player type but more Bondesque or something. I wanted to meet Jaime for the first time and feel the need to jump him, ya know.
Tyrion I think will probably grow on me because I think the actor is good and I think the personality is spot on — however, in the book he was described as being much more grotesque and I think his character needed that to work to create that love-hate relationship throughout out the story. You also get your first glimpse here that Tyrion may not be the most morally corrupt of the cast… stay tuned.
Joffrey… does he remind anyone else of Malfoy? Ugghhh.
I totally love Arya (even though I feel like she’s too old). Sansa isn’t developed enough to comment on and we don’t get to see the true nature of Bran yet.
I wish we could have seen a little more of the dire-wolves.
John Snow… I am going to withhold judgement right now because he is one of my treasured characters.
Across the sea to Pentos….
Daenerys was too old but at least her character behaved younger. Viserys was definitely creepy and I’m seriously looking forward to his demise. One thing though… their hair should have been silvery and shimmery – not white.
Khal Drogo wasn’t really what I pictured but as kind of a minor character (in my view) I guess I didn’t care so much. Off topic I did like him much better in Conan.
Gods… I know that all I want for my engagement gift is a freaking box of snakes!!! If it’s a good omen to have some killed at the reception I’ll be sure to invite all my exes!
Their first time is nothing like what was in the book. *Dislike*
So… episode one leaves us with a cliffhanger and any sane person should want to kick Jaime and Viserys in the teeth.
Game of Thrones, Part Duex
So after much contemplation I have decided to try watching the miniseries again. I will admit to having hated it on my first attempt. I’ve read all five of the books and am eager for the next. Sadly, it sounds like it may be 2 years before book 6. So, here I go with season 1…
April 2011 Book Reviews
Some of the books I read in April (acutally read Instinct last week, but who’s counting?)…
Weirdly enough 3 of the books I read this month turned out to be about genetic mutations\de-evolution\super-evolution etc. In fact, 2 of them both featured female veterinarians as the heroines. Just thought that odd… Made me wonder if we’ve run out of things to be afraid of and had to start making up shit. Anyhoo…. I’ll start with the biggest loser…
Breathless by Dean Koontz
Horrible. Too may story threads that never really come together. A lot of character building that wasn’t very well sequenced. The worst though, in my view, was the complete non-ending. It just ends… no closure, no explanation, nothing. I guess I was expecting something better from a writer of Koontz reputation. This is one of those that had a female vet and weird genetics (or possibly aliens, couldn’t really figure that out). Not recommending this one folks.
Altar of Eden by James Rollins
Girl-vet (actually cryo-zoologist) v. weaponized genetic mutations. Better than Breathless by a long shot but still just mediocre. I did enjoy the scenery though… one interesting setting was an alligator farm in New Orleans. Wasted a few pages with yet another romantic angle… I really don’t understand the purpose of that in suspense-thrillers… but oh well.
Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen
Things that I liked: the heroine is a computer whiz and is chasing down secrets from a long dead Egyptian Lady Doctor. Love it! And thanks to the authors who included a note at the end telling about the real Egyptology involved (which I also loved!). This book had another common theme I see in thrillers of late… looking for a cure for something ‘incurable’. Of course, I didn’t need the romantic twist (there were actually two) but in this case I don’t think it detracted from the story too much. Ending could have been better but overall I enjoyed it.
Instinct by Jeremy Robinson
Here’s a twist… genetic freaks v Delta Force. If you’re into military fiction then I think you’ll enjoy Robinson’s Chess Team. (Warning… there weren’t any magical Ramboesque M-60s but some of the Delta members do seem to be more than human.) I will likely pick up another of the Chess Team missions because of this book. The story was okay… alot was borrowed from other stories… several came to my mind. It was entertaining enough to keep me reading through to finish it in one night.
Next up is:
The Siege of Troy by Greg Tobin
Current Mood:
Book Review & 
Thinking! & 
Writing
