A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings
By: George R.R. Martin
Copyright: 1998
Bantam Books

3 Bookmarks out of 5

I spent quite awhile trying to find somewhere to read this book due to its extreme popularity at this time. I finally ended up downloading it to my ipad from the library (I recommend considering e-books for borrow from your local library - super convenient). For those who don't know, the Song of Ice and Fire series is currently a tv series on HBO. While some people are probably in it for the nude scenes that HBO series are practically known for, I wanted to read it for the sake of it being a notable fantasy series. The first book was extremely long and the second book certainly wasn't any shorter. I mainly saw this book as less enjoyable than the last book because - personally - the plot still drags along at sometimes and you feel as if you read for hours and don't actually get anywhere. Luckily for Martin - and fantasy readers everywhere - there were some redeeming points to this particular book.

One of the very cool things about this entire series is it's complexity. There are multiple characters' story plots interweaving with each other. This creates a rich world which seems to be as real as real life itself. I think it's definitely one of the things that draws readers and fans to this particular series. However, its complexity can also be its greatest enemy. There is so much happening that it's up to the reader to remember the plot twists and turns from one chapter to the next. Since each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character, this can be a challenge for readers who have a bad memory. This was a personal detriment to my reading experience because it took me almost a month to read the book. I had to go back and re-read some parts just remember in order to continue on to the next chapter.

As I already mentioned in my review of A Game of Thrones, I am still disappointed with the portrayal of female characters in this book. However, I will say that the development of Sansa's character was much appreciated and shows how skilled Martin is as an author. Martin is a ruthless author - killing off much beloved characters in order to keep a touch of reality in this fantasy novel. In the middle of a war with multiple kings fighting for the throne, it's only realistic that not all the characters survive. Although, I will say Tyrion remains my favorite character to date in this saga series.

Since I'm not particularly good at reviewing books in series (as you may be able to tell in my Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay reviews), I'll leave the review where it stands. It's certainly a must-read if you've read the first one. The plot progresses in a way that will make you angry and make you laugh - which is the point of a good book in my opinion. On the other hand, the length and density of this book can make it difficult to read at times. There were some points during my reading time that I began to sympathize with fans who only watched the HBO series - they were able to digest the plot in a shorter format that was certainly more visually stimulating. Still, Martin manages to create a fantasy book that fans of all genres can enjoy because he keeps his novel focused on the things that matter - namely characters and how they interact with each other.

John Dies at the End

John Dies at the End
By: David Wong
Copyright: 2009
Thomas Dunne Books

3 Bookmarks out of 5

I received this book for my birthday this past year after requesting it from a recommendation from some former co-workers - the same co-workers that recommended House of Leaves, actually. After reading House of Leaves, it probably shouldn't have surprised me how dark this book ended up being. I thought it would be more along the lines of a conspiracy book that met with science-fiction. Instead, this book ended up being more along the lines of horror and gore. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out how humorous it was. I definitely love when books don't take themselves too seriously - especially considering how dark this book could have turned out to be.

This book is about a drug that is called 'soy sauce' on the streets. This drug lets you see into a different dimension which over-laps with our own. What you see, though, is not necessarily good. It lets you see the things that could definitely be classified under the category of 'evil.' This sauce was overwhelmingly my favorite part of the book. I loved how David (the main character) tried to adjust to the effects of the sauce and how it drove the plot along. I also disliked how the sauce was brought up in the beginning and then was never really used at the end again. It was also disappointing to not really know where the sauce came from and who created it.

The book thrives on the mantra 'things are not always as they seem.' Now, you all might know by now that I'm not a huge fan of suspense. However, for this book there was no suspense because I didn't realize things were happening until after they actually happened. I promise this will make sense if you read it - I'm afraid of giving away too much of the plot because some things are extremely enjoyable with the way they roll out. Even though some reviews of this book tout it as ground-breaking, it really just reminded me of psychological thrillers like The Sixth Sense.

What I think ultimately turned me off to the book was that the overall plot seemed very disjointed. There appears to be three separate stories - each with different characters coming and going. There were some points in the plot that the author seemed more concerned with inserting witty comments over writing that propelled the plot or tried to link anything together for the reader's sake. The author (whose real name is Jason Pargin) seemed to start off just jotting things down about him and his best friend getting into weird situations and then tried to link them all together to create one, single story.

This book is a must read for those who enjoy stories about alternate dimensions and are okay with suspending disbelief. If you're not a fan of books which raise more questions than are adequately answered, then I would steer clear of this book. If you love humor, then I would recommend this book despite its sometimes gory scenes. I found myself laughing out loud at certain parts (which was sort of awkward since I started reading this on a train back from Boston). I really did enjoy reading this book and I hope that the sequel does well to answer some of the questions that were brought up.