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One Book People Should Read
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
I got asked recently in an interview: if you would recommend ONE book, what would it be and why?
My first thought was: One book?!? Wow, that’s tough. So I gave it some consideration and I'd thought I'd share and expand on my ruminations here. One book that’s left an indelible mark and a novel that I strive to someday write is Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I've been reading Mr. Martin's books for going on three decades (from Armageddon Rag and Fevre Dream up to the present). Then he vanished into Hollywood for about a decade and wrote and produced the short-run series, Beauty and the Beast, a modern retelling of that old fairy tale, which I also enjoyed.
Then he returned--almost out of the blue with Game of Thrones. I actually didn't read this book until about a year after its release. It sat on my shelf until, while on vacation, I finally lugged that monstrous volume with me (all 700-plus pages). I was working on my third novel during that vacation--why this detail is important will become clear in a moment.
But let me digress. I'm a huge fan of Mr. Martin. How much of a fanboy am I? At the World Science Fiction and Fantasy convention a few years ago, I paid extra to sit and hear him speak in an intimate setting called a coffee-klatsch. It was Mr. Martin and about 7 people. I barely said a word and never acknowledged that I was a writer myself. I just wanted to hear what he had to say. He certainly didn't know who I was. Later I was approached by Mr. Martin to write a short story for an anthology he was editing called Warriors. While short story writing is a challenge to me (my mind is wired for long fiction), how could I say no? The result is my short story The Pit, which tells the tale of a dog (from the dog's point of view) in a pitbull-fighting ring. I still think it's some of my best writing--and that's because I knew who would be reading it: George. R.R. Martin.
So back to that vacation: I'm in my hotel room, reading after spending about an hour working on that third novel. Then I came across a a scene so brilliantly rendered (both in prose and plot) that I knew I’d never in my life be capable of writing such a scene (and I still can't). In frustration, I ended up throwing the book across the room. I ended up breaking the spine of the hardback (I've since gone back and bought a first edition for my library). That's the power of great writing.
As many of you probably well know, the book is now an HBO series and getting a lot of attention, so I thought I'd share what I think about the television adaptation While I’m certainly glued to my TV on Sunday night for each episode--the casting is superb, as is the acting--the screen adaptation is still a pale and poor rendition of what’s on the written page. I’ve gone back and re-read sections of the book that have been dramatized on the screen--and what’s in the book is a hundredfold richer and more stirring.
But what about the scene that so moved me, so frustrated me that I threw the book across the room? It has already aired--it deals with the discovery of the dire wolf pups. On the screen, it had almost no impact, seemed almost a throwaway scene, especially when compared to its rendering in the book. When I first read it in the book, it was a powerful, pivotal, character-illuminating bit of writing--and over a decade later it still is.
So pick up a copy, read it, and watch the TV series. It is a wonderful lesson on the power of the written word over the flickering screen.
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Comments
Name: Jason Phillips Date: 2011-05-04
I, too am a big fan of the new HBO series. I was on the fence about buying the book and embarking on such a journey, especially while watching the show. To add to that, I'm now knee deep in Steve Berry after finishing all of your books. Perhaps I'll give it a shot, although I just ordered Warriors so I can read your story. Brgds, Jason Phillips
Name: Elaine Manzanilla Date: 2011-05-04
Wow! so glad you chose Game of Thrones... we are simpatico! I resisted these books for years, seeing them on the shelf at B&N. I finally got the audiobooks and they were awesome, I could hardly stop listening. They are my faves now and I am regretting getting rid of my television recently because I want to see the series so bad. Thanks for a great blog post Jim, Have a great day, Elaine \o/
Name: L Date: 2011-05-04
New to me. Will look into it. Thanks for the suggestion. I don't get HBO either Elaine, unfortunately, but maybe one-day the library or Netflix will come through with it. Based on this review, perhaps the book is the way to start anyways.
Name: Jan Petersen Date: 2011-05-05
I started watching the HBO series and loved it. But as with James Rollins, I too wanted more. I started to read the parts in the book that correspond with the episodes. There is so much detail in the book that I have to force myself to put it down so I can work on other things. Definitely worth the time.
Name: Mark Towsley Date: 2011-05-05
Hmmmm. Submitted a comment and it did not pop up. Anyway, I am reading Book #3 "A Storm of Swords" (1000+pages) right now while I await your next books. I have to read something in the meantime. I only have the energy to read one of these a year as I have so many other authors I enjoy as well. I have never found a TV show or movie to match the expanse of description in a novel--especially yours! (Hope 2 comments from me do not pop up)
Name: Vila Date: 2011-05-08
Thanks for the reviewI am definitely putting Game of Thrones on my list of "must have" and will also be looking for Warriors.
Name: M Bick Date: 2011-05-11
I'm really excited to see a book recommendation from an author that's inspired my love for this whole genre of fiction. Can't wait to read what my favourite author considers as a great book and can't wait for the next Sigma novel.
Name: veronica Date: 2011-05-16
is sechan the woman waiting for gray in is bed at the end of doomsday key?
