Summer Reading List: Fantasy

I've been loving writing these posts this summer. They're a consistent challenge to think creatively without having to wade through all the post ideas in my head. I know what I need to write about, and all I have to do is sit down and let the words flow...then edit them a lot. So here's the third installment in my summer reading series:

Game of Thrones by George R R Martin

I’m a huge proponent of reading the book before watching the movie/tv show based upon the book, which is why I have yet to enjoy the HBO series. When she moved into our dorm, Ally was reading Game of Thrones, and after lots of tumblr gifs, I decided I was interested in the show, but not until I’ve read the books. So after a particularly bad day at work, I wandered into Barnes and Noble and picked up the first novel. I thought it’d take me awhile to get into it, but it totally grabbed me from the first chapter. I’ll admit all the different narration took some getting used to, not to mention all. The. Characters., but it didn’t take me long to zip through in my spare time. When I wasn’t reading it, I found myself longing for Westeros. Since finishing it I’ve started watching the first season, but I won’t continue to the second season until I’ve read more of the books. I’ll probably do an entire post on A Song of Ice and Fire things later this summer once I’ve read more of the series (I'm working on Clash of Kings now).

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

I love Neil Gaiman’s books and the alternate worlds he creates within the existing well-known world (I’ve previously read Anansi Boys and Stardust; American Gods is next on my list). This book is about a Scot living in London who gets more than he bargained for. Richard Mayhew, the main character, finds himself going on an adventure in London Below, an entire civilization occupying the space below, and to some extent above, London in a Doctor Who-esque twist of reality. Having read this book, I've found myself thinking about subway stations, buskers, and pigeons in a whole new way. (What I wouldn't give to be able to speak to subway rats!)

This story has also been told in the format of a radio play and a tv mini-series. So far I enjoyed the radio play (a certain Benedict Cumberbatch makes an appearance), but I haven’t watched the mini-series yet.

If you read any of the books from my summer reading lists, let me know how you like them. And I'm always open to new recommendations from any genre.

Happy Reading,

KB

P.S.: You can keep up with my reading on goodreads even after the end of the summer reading list!