Book Log: A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

[grammargirl]

A Clash of Kings, the second book in the epic A Song of Ice and Fire series, is in some ways even more relentlessly addictive than the first (A Game of Thrones, discussed in this entry). Like the first book in the series, A Clash of Kings is narrated from a third person limited omniscient perspective, with the chapters alternating between different characters' points of view. The thing that really impresses me about the way the story progresses here is that we get the perspectives of everyone, not just the protagonists. That means that we get into the heads of characters who would otherwise be portrayed as flat-out evil, and in the process they actually become three-dimensional and even sympathetic.

I won't go into too many details here for the sake of those of you who will read this eventually, but there's a plot development that happens toward the end of this book that made me literally drop my jaw in consternation and write a distraught email to mary_wroth along the lines of "OMGWTFBBQ, I can't believe he just did that to me!" I actually felt personally betrayed. Everything was wrapped up by the end in a 2nd-book-in-a-huge-series kind of way, but still, I can't even remember the last time a book evoked such an extreme emotional reaction. Good times. I can't wait to read the next one.

Oh, and P.S. I have this weird compulsive thing wherein I always read the last page of books before I get to the end. This usually doesn't spoil me nearly as much as one might think; you'd be surprised how rarely anything significant gets revealed on the last page of books. A caution to anyone out there who might have the same compulsion: RESIST THE URGE for these books. That's... all I'm gonna say about that.

And now I go vacuum whilst Haley and Jeremy attempt to watch the superbowl, for I am an unpatriotic asshole and it's not like Haley can complain that I'm actually doing my cleaning for once. WHEEE!

Comments

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Dammit, I must read these.

[mariness.livejournal.com]

ESPECIALLY do not read the end of the third book first. I beg you.

[grammargirl.livejournal.com]

I DID! That's actually what made me write that warning. I am SO UPSET.

[iconoclam.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to read this.

Oh, and clueless little me -- I didn't even know this was superbowl weekend until I read your post. Not sure how that one passed me by.

[grammargirl.livejournal.com]

You really should. It's enormous and nerdy and made of awesome.

And I didn't know about the Superbowl until I read someone else's post a few days ago. No worries, I'm almost as clueless as you when it comes to these things. :)

[innocenteexpres.livejournal.com]

that's absolutely the way i felt when he killed off you-know-who (for those of you who haven't read these) in the first one. i almost called you to be all "if i'd known he was going to die, i wouldn't have gotten so attached." i'm going to b&n tomorrow to get the second and third ones. thank god for gift cards, because i'd be choosing this over food otherwise. this shit is magnificent.

almost related.

[mathforlovers.livejournal.com]

Hilary. I can't put Archangel down. Which is a bad thing when I'm on the subway on the way to work. :D

Re: almost related.

[grammargirl.livejournal.com]

I definitely want to borrow Archangel when you get done with it.

Re: almost related.

[innocenteexpres.livejournal.com]

it's yours. please have haley pass it along when she's done. man. nerd friends RULE.

Re: almost related.

[innocenteexpres.livejournal.com]

totally related! i'm so glad you love it! let me know when you're done and i'll lend you the rest in the series, and then the other novels that take place on samaria. yes! nerds unite!

Re: almost related.

[mathforlovers.livejournal.com]

*excited*

[grammargirl.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're enjoying the books as much as I am. We need to get together once you've caught up with me so we can nerd out. I can't wait to hear how you react to the Plot Development in the second book.

(and you totally should've called me!)

[mathforlovers.livejournal.com]

hell, you'll never hear me complain while you have a vacuum in your hands. The apartment now looks all happy and shit.