I'm facing a bit of a conundrum atm in regards to whether to read the books or not.
As soon as I finished watching Season 1, I wanted more. And the wait between TV seasons is always going to be agonizing. So naturally reading the books would be a good way of filling the void.
On the other hand, from all the experiences I've had with books turned to movies, I've found that having read the books somewhat diminish my enjoyment of the on-screen format. The Harry Potter films and LOTR series are the best examples I can think of, although with HP a part of that was because I didn't think the movies were particularly good. But the LOTR movies were great, yet I spent alot of the time nit-picking at the stuff that was changed (or not included) from the book. Saruman was the best example. I hated how his character and motives were changed (albeit subtly) from the books to the movies. It's something that I just can't help doing. And I don't want that to happen to TV series since I enjoyed Season 1 so immensely.
For the time being, I've been able to restrain myself and have only ordered the first book. Although knowing me, after reading that, I'll probably order the rest of them :lol:.
Just a quick question for those that have read the books and watched the TV series. Is there anything significant that happens in the first book that wasn't in Season 1? Or are the major events that happen in the first book contained within Season 1?
Significant events are all there.
Differences that you will notice are typical for adaptations - merged characters, methods of explaining motive etc.
The main difference is that the chapters in each book are all written from specific character points-of-view(POV). We see the world and events through their eyes only. For example, neither Littlefinger or Varys are POV characters in the books. Their actions and motives are only seen from the POV characters. So whilst in the TV series we see private discussions between the two, in the book this never occurs. You don't get to see the relationship they have or learn what they are thinking. Similarly for Renly & Loras.
In the first book, A Game of Thrones, there are only 8 POV characters. Eddard, Catelyn, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Jon, Tyrion, Daenyrs.
In later books other POV's are introduced and often run parallel with each other. So rather than a narrated story arc you get everything from a third person point of view.
