2025 Reading Challenge discussion

so, i've been watching the show game of thrones for almost all 4 seasons now and i really like the story line and the way it is told. my problem, however, is that i'm really struggling with the graphic violence. (like, i have to turn away from the screen and it constantly makes me feel vaguely sick while watching ... ) i have no idea why, because any other show/movie that has beheadings, torture etc. etc. i'm fine with. GOT apparently has something that my mind and body can't deal with ^^
i was wondering if anyone who read the books could tell me if i'd be better off reading the books instead of watching the show? or is the writing just as graphic? i'd love to continue following the story line, but i don't think i can keep watching the show.

it depends on your imagination doesn't it? how much can you imagine the details? the books are also graphic, maybe not as much but idk, it doesn't bother me at all because I know the violence isn't real, the blood is colored corn syrup and body parts are silicon. so if the graphic violence bothers you (TV show) maybe read the books but they are still graphic.

For me, graphic books are easier than graphic shows because I can skim over parts I don't want to really get into (or at least force myself to not imagine things in such detail), but it's tough to do that with a TV show without missing something.

thanks for your opinions :) i'll probably try reading instead of watching!

I haven't watched the show, but I'm currently reading the books. They are quite graphic at times, but other times not. So I'm ok with tve violence.

One thing that you should know is that the first season follows the first book on most things. (My sister told me this.) But after that, the show turns more and more away from the books, and it's more "based on" than it was. After season 5 they will continue the story as they think it should because they haven't got time to wait for George R. R. Martin to finish the next book.

I don't find the books as graphic as the TV Series. They describe what is happening but you don't "see" it. So it depends on if you can read the violence.

I have just started to read it got it from my local library and I can't say the voilence has really got to me yet but watching the tv show I had a little trouble with.

One thing I did have trouble with is almost all characters are younger than the tv show. for example Danerys is only 13.

I have watched all the seasons and just finished the last book. I don't mind the violence in the series that much but when I started watching the show I was 15 and I did mind a little back then. I absolutely prefer the book, first of all due to better characterisation. In the series they sometimes overdo it with graphic sex and violence. That's my opinion at least. In the books these elements are still there but they are usually related to the plot and there are so many more things that make them notable.
I agree that the characters'ages in the books are pretty disturbing but, unfortunately things where like that sometimes in the medieval ages.