After seeing many recommendations for George RR Martin's "Song of Ice & Fire" series, I picked up the first book "A Game of Thrones". However despite my best efforts I couldn't make it beyond 1/5th of the story before giving up. There wasn't a single remotely likable character and in many cases someone is introduced and within no time at all is engaged in murder, rape or incest.
I'm not timid and have no problem with seeing the protagonists faced with the most dire of adversity, but there are limits. A Game of Thrones was simply full of despicable characters performing disgusting deeds for too damn long without any sign of anything fun, interesting, heroic, epic or worthwhile. Perhaps it really does live up to the sterling reviews it's garnered had I made it any further...but I'll never know
I'm not timid and have no problem with seeing the protagonists faced with the most dire of adversity, but there are limits. A Game of Thrones was simply full of despicable characters performing disgusting deeds for too damn long without any sign of anything fun, interesting, heroic, epic or worthwhile. Perhaps it really does live up to the sterling reviews it's garnered had I made it any further...but I'll never know