Discussing “A Game of Thrones”, Plus Announcing Our July Pick! [CC Book Club]

By Alex K.

Hello fellow book clubbers! I hope you enjoyed our June choice, A Game of Thrones, which is the origin of the hit HBO series. It’s a hefty book, and your typical fantasy novel in that there are dozens of characters and even more subtle plot lines to keep track of. However, I loved it and found myself wanting to read it all the time. Usually, I only crack open my books before bed. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading, but it’s not something I often make time for during the day. I was addicted to A Game of Thrones and spent a few afternoons just devouring it.

The main characters of the story are the Stark family of Winterfell. This includes the patriarch, Eddard (or Ned), mother Catelyn and a whole slew of children. I don’t want to give away much of the story, but when King Henry comes to pay a visit with his family and his wife’s family, the Lannisters, a wicked plan is unveiled. There is also another tale being woven with the Targaryen family, who once ruled the the Seven Kingdoms and are plotting to take them back.

The whole story is set in a supernatural world that is filled with medieval flair, but is also completely believable. Winters and summers last decades here and there is often talk of dragons and other beings, but they don’t seem out of place. Because of this different world, there is some language that takes getting used to, but that comes with little effort.

Overall, I was mesmerized by A Game of Thrones and plan to read the entire series. George RR Martin has truly written a classic that everyone, young or old, male or female, can enjoy. This is a great fantasy book for those who aren’t huge fantasy readers and expands the genre. What did you think of A Game of Thrones? If this was your first foray into fantasy, will you be going back?

And now for our July pick: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn! It’s a new suspense novel that explores what happen when a seemingly perfect marriage goes wrong. I hope you join in!