GAME OF THRONES By George R R Martin

Game of Thrones By George R R Martin

Categories: Fantasy, adventure

I am aware that this book (series) already has a cult following.

Having acknowledged that, this book is amazing! You get to experience the interlocking web of vast plot lines, stories, and histories.

We enter the realm of Winterfell, home to Lord Eddard (Ned) Stark and his brood of five children with wife Lady Stark, plus one bastard Jon Snow. His family has reigned over the North since the first men came to this part of the world. Winterfell is part of the Seven Kingdoms, ruled over absolutely by King Robert Baratheon, who happened to grow up with Ned Stark. His former Hand of the King has died suddenly and Robert asks his most trusted friend in all the Seven Kingdoms to fill the position of most trusted advisor, second in command.

So begins the start of an epic tale seen through the eyes of Ned Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Hand to the King. Lady Catelyn, wife to Ned, of the House Tully. Tyrion Lannister, brother of the Queen Cersei, an Imp who wields knowledge like a knight wields a sword. Jon Snow, Lord Stark’s bastard from his one dishonorable trist during the very beginning of his marriage to Catelyn , which happened while he was away at war and Catelyn was home pregnant with their first child Robb. Sansa, eldest Stark daughter, betrothed to King Robert’s son Prince Joffrey; a selfish and gullible girl. Arya, younger Stark daughter who is hot-headed and tomboyish; she and Sansa are about as opposite as any two sisters can be. Bran, second youngest Stark child, who happens upon a dark secret early in the book that sets off a chain of crushing consequences. And on the other side of the world (or across the sea) we encounter Daenerys, who was once of the reigning family of the Seven Kingdoms, and in a manner of ways entitled to the Iron Throne across the sea, were it not for her elder brother Viserys. However, Viserys arranges a marriage so Daenerys will be queen of the Dothraki nomads, a force with over a hundred thousand warriors at his command. The timid Daenerys turns into a Khaleesi (queen) and finds courage and power among the Dothraki, alongside her husband Khal Drogo.

This was an incredible book for a number of reasons. It was fantasy, magic lives in this world,  but that was not the focus of the story. It was entirely driven by these characters. Each chapter told in their voice was a window through their eyes, taking their reactions and motives and using them to propel the series of events that happen. It was also not a clear cut black and white picture of people. Sure, there are villains who come out and make you hate them, but the story flows in a way that makes you realize they are probably doing what is best for them, what they believe to be true. The only exception to this for me was the spoiled, loathsome Prince Joffrey. I found his actions to be revolting and cruel, which if that was the way you thought people would follow you and fear you, perhaps would work to a small selection of people. But his “antics” left little for me to empathize about. Another who could be a villain is Joffrey’s uncle, the Imp Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion, however, has none of the ruthless ambition of his family and is quite humorous. He won me over (and quite a few powerful people in the book as well) with his wit and cunning.

My favorite was Princess Daenerys across the sea. She transformed from a timid, submissive sister into a powerful, exceptional leader. There is only one Iron Throne that rules the Seven Kingdoms and it turns into a shuffle of who should be seated there ruling, who is best equipped, best suited, who has the most valid claim. Like actual life, this was no easy web to untangle. Several people end up having a legitimate argument as to whom the crown belongs to.

The novel was suspenseful, scary, delightful, sad, surprising and exciting. I grew attached to each narrator and even though I knew a lot of big spoilers beforehand, was close to tears during a particular death. It moved me, feeling this pain from the child who witnessed it. I embraced the growth of each person and cringed at the struggles they faced. The fantasy aspect, direwolves and white-walkers, dragons and tree-spirits, was speckled throughout the adventures. Dive into this book, live these stories like I did. It takes an effort to begin a 700+ page book, but this one will keep you guessing until the last page.

Memorable quote:

“The things I do for love.” -Ser Jaime Lannister (Kingslayer)

How do you feel about the Game of Thrones?

ANYA'S GHOST By Vera Brosgol

ANYA’S GHOST By Vera Brosgol


Categories: Graphic novel, paranormal fiction


High school is not easy for Anya. She’s not as skinny as the popular girls and her mother is an immigrant from Russia with little sympathy for the woes of an un-popular teenage girl. But everything changes when Anya falls into a pit and stumbles across a skeleton.  This is no ordinary pit though, a girl named Emily once fell in and died a long time ago and her ghost remains. Emily is bored and lonely in the pit and decides to follow Anya around. It goes well, but then a dark side of Emily comes out… 

This shadowy tale of a haunt gone awry is fun and humorous. Anya can’t catch a break until she meets Emily; and then it all goes wrong. Our heroine was witty and sympathetic. All illustrations were shades of purple and gray and black, a befitting color scheme for a ghost story. 


This was a fun read and Neil Gaiman hailed it “A Masterpiece.”  This should be enough encouragement to seek out this graphic novel. Happy hauntings!

SICKENED: A MEMOIR OF A MUNCHAUSEN BY PROXY CHILDHOOD By Julie Gregory

Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood

By Julie Gregory

Categories: Non-Fiction, medical conditions

A compelling first-hand account of the chilling disorder called Munchausen by Proxy (MBP). Originally published in 2003, it’s the first of its kind to depict the trauma caused when an adult, in this case Julie’s mother, intentionally misleads everyone into believing her child is sick. Julie is put through countless procedures, tests, examinations, and a variety of drugs to aid the symptoms her mother makes up. This book was gruesome, not only were this girl’s parents dismissive and abusive, they kept it going for years. 

The first half reads as a sort of “what more could they possibly do to this poor girl?” and it isn’t until Julie is about 30 that she breaks out of this cycle where she needs her parents. It was very well written, and there’s always this lingering question of “how does it end, why does she keep associating with her mother?” One thing I did not like, that stuck with me, was Julie likening her dependence on her mother (despite and even because of the abuse) to dragging around a placenta. It struck me as odd because Julie was never protected or nurtured by her mother, just manipulated and abused. The nature of their relationship is only brought to an end when a grown up Julie sees her mother doing the exact same thing to another helpless twelve year old girl. This was an absorbing read with a lot of insightful glimpses as to the destructive nature of MBP. Anyone interested in Psychology or social work would do well to read this book.