Feast for Crows

Westeros; King's Landing.

Cersei is ruling, or thinks she is, the land in Tommen's stead. She is one of the most adept connivers in the series. However there are nuances that escape even her manipulations. She comes face to face with an enemy that she can neither comprehend nor vanquish. In this state she makes a seemingly innocent deal to neutralize an immediate crisis. However this might have unforeseen and unwanted consequences.

Once again Mr. Martin keeps us guessing which twist will lead us where and what character, main or insignificant, will survive to the next tale. However I felt a foreboding in this fourth book of the Fire and Ice series not felt in the earlier parts.

Book 5, 'Dance of the Dragons' is the next instalment I can hardly wait to consume. Then there are only two more books slated to complete the series. I don't know what i'll do waiting for them to be written and released!

THE LONG WALK

Subtitled ' The True Story of a Trek to Freedom' is a somewhat understated comment to what Slavomir Rawicz actually went through. After finally reaching his prison for the next '25' years he and friends embark on an escape. It takes him almost the equivalent distance as his trip from Moscow to Siberia.

Much of his recollection, is as he states, memorable because of their condition. It definitely is an extraordinary act of will completed only due to their group effort.

Well worth the read, especially if you think times are a bit tough lately.

What I got from this is that, to some, freedom, is well worth the effort. Any effort. At all times!

Purpose of posts

I'm in the process of this blog trying to present some of the books that are in my reading schedule. However I try not to give a running commentary of the plots with those readings.

I think I'll leave that to the publishing marketing departments. If it's a synopsis you want this is the wrong place. I think knowing those things might elevate your status around the water cooler but eviscerates the experience of actually reading the novel.

It's hard to experience things when you already know the characters, plots and outcome before they expand.

That has been readily evident in my reading of George RR Martin's SONG OF FIRE AND ICE. All former assumptions have been put to the test and have changed from beginning the series. I believe it would be an affront to the author to do otherwise. Isn't that the reason we read them after all?

storm of swords

I said this before, this series has more twists and turns than a pit full of vipers. Oh wait. That's exactly an apt metaphor explaining this third volume of the series! At the start of the series I made some assumptions that have been proven wrong many times! Characters assumed to be hateful and heartless have morphed into semi moral beings while others have not. Trying to figure out which has been, for me, useless and counterproductive. At 1100+ pages there is the usual fare of carnage while the nature of treachery has been cranked up to a newer level. How the author could orchestrate it into such a symphony is beyond my capabilities, but not my respect of his craft.

Rumour has it that the next volume, FEAST FOR CROWS, is the best of the series. I can hardly wait!

Game of Thrones addendum

Yesterday, Canada Day, I went to visit my son and grandchildren.

Much to my joy and luck there was a mini marathon, five episodes, of the HBO series playing. I was able while they were out watching fireworks to watch, uninterrupted, the first installments.

Good thing because they're of the age I wouldn't be able to if they were here. That's due to the content and language.

I loved it; especially with all the printed page now being presented visually, still fresh in my memory. I wonder how I would have coped though without it. It is especially tough to keep up with all the twists and turns without the lengthy explanations available in print.

But because of the vast reader audience already I imagine they're presenting mainly to the 'converted'. It was certainly a massive undertaking and I appreciate it. If just to deepen the impression in my mind's eye, visually.