Game of Thrones: Page Versus Screen

First off, I apologize for neglecting this blog lately. But I assure you it was all for quite a productive reason: this past March I have been reading the third book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Storm of Swords. I have been reading as much as possible before the third season of Game of Thrones premiered on HBO.

I went into Game of Thrones' past two seasons ignorant of the events of the books. I watched the first season knowing absolutely nothing about the series. And I loved that first season. I loved the world and the characters and the intricate yet ballsy storytelling. Later that year I read the first book. By the time I finished and acquired A Clash of Kings, the second season was about to premiere and I thought it useless to read and watch simultaneously. So instead I watched. And later read the book. And honestly, I found reading these two books to be somewhat frustrating. Not because of the story or the writing style or the characters or the way the television series interpreted the written source. But because of how long it took for me to get through them.

Listen, I love to read. I read a lot. And I love to read book SERIES (for the same reasons why I love a quality television series). But having seen Game of Thrones first made reading the books feel more tedious than enjoyable. As I read I really enjoyed the series, but I simply wasn't eager enough to pick up the books. I didn't sit around wondering what was going to happen. I wasn't compelled to stay up late reading. Because I already knew everything that was going to happen (the differences between the second book and second season merely meant a more mild tedium). Instead I would actually put off reading. And in doing so, it literally took me months to get through each book. But I knew WHY this was happening: because I watched the show first.

So as spring approached, I promised myself that this time around things would be different. And I had this crazy notion to actually read the book first. (I was extra motivated to do so because multiple sources informed me that some crazy things happen in the third installment.) And while I'm still not done, I am about half way through. And I've gotta tell you, although it has only been one episode, it's making the show feel an itsy bit tedious...

More after the jump...



I have a feeling this is due to the fact that the events of ASoS are still very fresh in my mind. I see right through the machinations of the series now. The deliberate plotting is just as interesting, yet also transparent and at times distracting. I'm sure if I read the book months ago, this wouldn't be happening as details would be muddled. I started the book in early March and the constant comparisons and mental nitpicking is making it hard to just sit back and enjoy a weekly hour of television (an hour I once felt was never long enough). But alas, this is the bed I made for myself. And I plan on lying in it with a particular fantasy novel in my hands. Because old and new gods be damned, if I'm anything, I am a committed completist.

But this has all lead me to wonder which order is preferable: books before show or show before books? If it wasn't for HBO, I don't know if I would have read this series. But if I HAD read the books first, I know that incredible season of television that I still admire in many ways, would not have been nearly as enjoyable. Seeing the events unfold, being introduced to these characters, hearing the music, seeing the landscapes, staring slack-jawed at the screen, and nerding out over the opening credits wouldn't have been nearly as exciting. And while it was hard to get through the books, I DID enjoy them. And they absolutely enriched my viewing experience. As a fan of reading I'm aware of the steadfast rule that books are always better than their screen adaptations. But as a fan of television, it's actually hard for me to basically sabotage my own viewing experience. It's an interesting dilemma. And I'm hoping the next ten weeks will help me decide which order is personally preferable.

So essentially, this is all some sort of grand experiment for me. And it is the reason why I have been neglecting my updates (because believe me, I have LOTS of things I'd love to write about...namely The Americans, The Top of the Lake, The Walking Dead, Community, Happy Endings vs. ABC, and the return of Mad Men). So my sincerest apologies to you all. But this is just something I had to do. And I promise to update again in the very near future. This TV blogger always pays her debts. It is known.