Webster’s Comments (group member since Jul 09, 2013)

Webster’s comments from the Webster Public Library Readers group.

I finished the book and the feelings I had for Molly continued through the book. I enjoyed the character of Niamh and would recommend the book solely on her story. If I had to read about Molly I wouldn't have enjoyed this book.

Just started reading this book. A lot of people have been saying that this is a great book discussion book. I like how the book is told from two peoples perspectives but I don't know how much I like the girl from the present, Molly. I'm not sure the author feels connected to this character. She really delves deeply into the character of Niamh. You feel like she has throughly researched this time period. The interactions between Molly and her foster parents feel really forced. What do you think?

This was another great book by Patricia Briggs. Did you think the story was predictable?

Ned is seeing a lot of problems lately with being ousted as the hand, breaking his leg and having all of his men killed, all because of his dignity and honor. As Littlefinger says honor gets you nowhere. If you want to survive you need to play the game and I see nothing but bad things for Ned. Being a leader and being able to listen to his subordinates. He should have taken more seriously the story that Arya told him. She is training to be a sword dancer and is learning a lot about the world around her. He should have noticed the truths in her story, the descriptions of the people are particularly close to the descriptions of the real people. He could have seen what was to come. He could have gotten out of Kings Landing before he broke his leg and his men were dead.

Catelyn has made a lot of trouble for Ned with her actions. She shouldn't have confronted Tyrion. I know she was angry because Bran almost got murdered but every action has an opposite reaction and Ned and Catelyn don't seem to be able to understand the immediate reactions to the things they do. Ned had to back up Catelyn when he talked to Jamie because what else could he do but Catelyn could have stopped it all from happening by not being rash. All the men she asked to help her are dead too and her second in command is sick. She lost a lot of lives because of her actions and now Ned might be next.

I enjoyed the description of the climb to Arryn's Castle. It was pretty amazing. I was surprised that they went so high up to get to the actual castle and imagining Catelyn in the basket was kind of amusing. I don't know if I like Lysa. Their interactions were interesting though. Lysa was right to yell at Catelyn for talking about war in front of her son but the way she treats her son is kind of bizarre. I don't think Lysa is going to be much help.

We'll see what happens next but things are looking bad for Ned.

I'm bundling several chapters together because I missed commenting last week. Lots of goings on at the capital, with the Hands Jousting tournament and the scandals of the death of John Arryn and the proposed murder of Robert Baratheon. Ned is getting into a nest of vipers with all the problems he's dealing with. He keeps unraveling more and more problems. If people killed John Arryn and are attempting to kill Robert what is to stop them from killing Ned himself? I think he's going to be up against a rock and a hard place when he finds out that Catelyn has taken Tyrion hostage for the attempted murder of Bran. I'm not sure if Tyrion really did anything though. He's very good and making plausible excuses for why he's innocent. Do you think he tried to kill Bran?

Sansa is a real ray of sunshine in this dungheap of a world. She only sees things in simple terms. I was surprised by her interactions with Joffery. I thought he was a jerk until this chapter. From her view I can see how he could be seen as a gentleman but she's not very good at picking her friends. She blames Arya for most of her problems but that is usual with sisters. I thought it was a pretty touching moment with Sandor Clegane. I feel he is showing his good side to Sansa. She doesn't really deserve his interest.

Jon is such a stand up guy. He is helping all the downtrodden. Out of all the people in this series he is one of the most honorable. He obviously takes this from his father. The Starks are an honorable sort. I'm super impressed, at age 15 he's got more honor than the king of his country. He helps the little guy and treats all his compatriots with respect, as brothers. I'm excited to see where his story goes.

Bran is another wonderful character. His interpretations of his dreams make me wonder about his future. Why did the Raven tell him he could fly? Is that going to be something he will become? I've seen a lot of the tv series and the book seems to be pretty slow (similar to the series) They keep on saying Winter is coming but who knows when that will be. I feel like it's a tease. We'll have to wait till book 5 to see what is really going on. I can wait but it makes me frustrated to see so many people do terrible things and not get their comeuppance. In the TV series it seemed like the story was told from many different points of view, in the books we only see a few people's views. I keep on thinking that Cersei is an awful person and what is going on in her head but we never know.

Who is your least favorite character and who is your most favorite? When will winter come and will it actually be winter or a metaphor for death?

Chapters: Ned, Tyrion, Arya and Daenerys

Sorry this post is a little late. What did you think of these last four chapters? I find it interesting how other chapter characters perceive chapter characters. We read about Tyrion through the eyes of Ned and Catelyn. They think that he tried to have Bran killed. Then when you read Tyrion's chapters it seems that he is not who they say he is. He is a person that has some good in him. It's hard to believe that he'd kill a little boy but he would do anything for his brother.

Littlefinger is a bit of a jerk. I didn't like him much after the Ned chapter. He seems to take a lot of joy in torturing Ned. Though Ned is a very proud man and isn't easy with humor. I am surprised that he made Catelyn meet Ned in a brothel. If he loves her like he says he does, why would he embarrass her like that, just for the sake of Ned. I definitely think Ned is over his head if he thinks he, one person can change anything in a corrupt government.

Tyrion's chapter made us clear on how he's able to get everything he needs. He plays people really well. I was surprised by the interactions with the rest of the men in black. It made me understand how he's able to stay alive for so long. Though he does tend to get the rise out of a lot of people. If he did try to kill Bran, I can't believe he is still being nice to John Snow. I think he sees someone kindred in him but again he's just playing opportunities.

Arya is having a hard time with life and I don't blame her. I can see that she is the apple of her fathers eye. I know he loves all his children but to let her learn sword play when she is a girl is surprising. I know that if he didn't she'd still do it so he's trying to keep her safe. I'll be interested to see where her story goes.

Daenerys is a bit of free soul. She doesn't understand the world around her but she is starting to. She is trying to make the best of what she has but it's difficult when her brother (the monster) blames her for everything, all the things she can't control. I worry that in her earnest attempts to control the little she can, it will just cause hardship and heartache for those around her.

Do you think that Dany's dreams are an omen of things to come. She seems to have dreams similar to those of Bran. Are these characters some how prophetic and key players in the future of the realm?

Chapters: Eddard, Bran, Catelyn, Jon

Definitely a lot of terrible things happening to Arya and Ned. I don't trust Joffery, he's going to be the next king and he doesn't seem to be honest or very caring. I couldn't believe that the Lannister's killed the butcher's son. All he was trying to do was defend himself. Arya is lucky that she's alive. I think there is a great difference between being Noble and being noble. The definition of noble is what Ned is. He cares about how his actions will effect other people. He has high morals, principals and ideals. That is what being noble is. But Joffery is just noble in title and not noble in acts. This bodes very badly for the future of the realm. It was so sad when Ned had to kill Lady. Killing one of his own. Do you think there was any other option for this?

Bran's chapter made me wonder what he will be in the future. The crow made it sound like he would be needed and that without him winter would take over the world. I'm excited to see what Bran's future holds. He seems almost like a prophet and while he is very young that doesn't mean his visions are not true. What do you think is in store for Bran?

Catelyn is in over her head. I don't know if I trust Littlefinger's word that Tyrion Lannister was behind the attempted murder of Bran. It might have been his knife but I was surprised that he would do that. I guess he would do anything to save his sister and brother because Lannister's always stand by each other but to kill a child. I'm not sure.

Jon's chapter was very exciting. I feel sorry for him that he is in a situation where it is less glamorous than was hoped. Young children always think it's fun to do what grown ups do but when it is not what you expected you can usually get out of it as a kid. In Jon's case he can do nothing but continue. He has made a rash decision based on honor and excitement only to find out that he is in for a lifetime of fear and death. At the end of the chapter I was feeling hopeful for him but he seems to take wrong turns wherever he goes. I can only assume he will make a mistake again and I'm just waiting for that time to happen.

Chapters: Eddard, Tyrion, Catelyn, Sansa

The intrigue continues! It's very hard not to like everyone even the people you are supposed to hate. I love Tyrion, he seems to have the largest character and understand all situations better than anyone. Ned, while a gallant knight is completely lost at times. He thinks he's playing the game but really he's just a cog in a great machine, a machine that is using him.

Catelyn is one of my least favorite characters. She pretends to be noble and mightier than everyone else. I still am irritated how she treated John Snow and now she is sacrificing the rest of her family for one child. Bran is a sweet boy but I can't believe she would completely dump a 3 year old and now care for him. I'm glad that Bran was almost killed so that Catelyn could get her mind back in the game but then two seconds later she is leaving to "take a message to Ned." Is it that or is she abandoning her responsibility.

Sansa is an interesting character because she is so naive. After everything that happened with Joffery trying to kill Arya I can't believe that Sansa would still love him. She is definitely showing her age. Except for Tyrion, the Lannisters are a bunch of monsters.

What did you think of the attempt to kill Bran and Catelyn's reaction to the events?

Wow! I can't believe what happened to Bran. He is only 7 years old and getting pushed off of a tower by Jamie Lannister. I was wondering if the direwolf knew that trouble was about and that's why he kept growling. Bran has such an innocent brain. I was surprised he couldn't tell who was talking based on what was being said. He is only seven so maybe that comes into play.

It's interesting to see Jamie and Cersei's perspective about what they think is going on in Eddard Stark's head. They think he wants in-to become a king in the south and what they don't realize is that he doesn't even want to leave Winterfell. Everyone's perspective is completely different than in reality what is going on.

I also was surprised by Tyrion. He is a great player in this game. He is able to take information and use it to the best of his ability. I love how he makes Jamie and Cersei dance.

The wedding from Dany's perspective is pretty depressing. She's a young girl being forced into marriage but her fear for her own brother is stronger than her fear of a "barbarian." It was interesting to see that the only common language Dany and Drogo is Yes and No. She surprised me when she said yes to Drogo. Their experience seemed more beautiful than shown in the tv show. She is treated like a princess by Drogo and he treats her body like something to be explored. A barbarian would have just taken her and thrown her aside. He seems more like a gentleman than shown in the show. I was surprised by this.

What did you think of these chapters. How do you feel about John and Catelyn. Do you think he deserves to be treated the way he does by her?

It's interesting to see what the characters show and what they tell. A lot of things go on in the heads of characters that if you were in conversation with them, you would never really see. Eddard Stark is very good at playing the game. He says things that make other characters believe he is completely with them but in his head is turmoil.

So many of the characters make foolish decisions but I believe this is because they are so young and naive. Many of the characters are starting out with rose colored glasses. It's people like Robert and Eddard that see the corruption and roll with it.

I like how each chapter is told from one characters point of view. Different characters see life in a completely new way. I think Martin is able to get into the heads of different people very easily. I've read so many books from different view points and usually I don't like the way woman are portrayed from a male voice. Martin does this expertly.

I am excited to see how their story unfolds. I am already getting wrapped up in these peoples lives. Who is your favorite character so far? Have you watched the TV series? Are you comparing interactions to the TV series? How does it stack up for you?

I've recently finished the first four chapters. What did you think of Bran's perspective of the beheading. He's a seven year old boy and watching a man get decapitated. It seemed like a non event. I was surprised by how young many of the characters are. If you watch the tv series I would never have guessed that John Snow was 14 or Bran 7. This seemed to make the trials they go through even more thrilling and terrifying. Later in chapter four you find out that Dany is 13. I can't imagine being forced into marriage at that age.

It was interesting to see the inner thought processes that people have. Scenes in the tv series that are two seconds long take on a new meaning when you can see into the head of the character.

What did you think about the meaning behind the death of the mother direwolf. That seemed to be of significance to many characters but they don't really say what the meaning could be. What is the bad omen?

Tell me what you think...

I haven't started reading yet and realized that the chapter format might be a little difficult. You live and learn. Let's start with a discussion of the first few sections. I'll change the end section in a day or so.

I was totally surprised by the reveal of who Aech was. Do you think this was a let down? Just a turn of events used to completely throw the reader or did you feel that there was some importance to the usage of making Aech be nothing Wade expected?

What do You think of the First Chapter?

I'm still having a hard time getting into this book. Every time I start to like it, the main character gets whiney and I want to just give up. I'm reading this for another book discussion group so I feel I have to continue but I the characters are so vapid and annoying.

I love books about the future and where we will be in 40 years. They always seem so horrible. The world is not a great place and people are scraping the bottom of the barrel to get by. In this regard Ready Player One is no different but it has a great hook. It's similar to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where people are trying to find an ultimate prize and possibly win the factory. Except in the case of "Player" they are going to inherit the fortune of a rich eccentric billionaire who has no heir. Totally unique story. I can't say I love the characters and the writing is starting out kind of juvenile but it's got lots of heart.

What an epic story. I wanted to find out what happened with the ending, it was hard to put down. I loved the Red Tent but this was different. It felt more modern and yet also accurate to the time period. I definitely will read her again. For a more detailed review see our goodreads page.

I have almost finished this book. It has gone in so many different directions than i thought it would. It is one of those epic stories that you can't put down. I read the back of the book cover and supposedly only 5 children and 2 women survive at the end of the book. It makes me keep on thinking which of the main characters will make it in the end. It is dramatically written and I feel connected with all of the characters. I don't want to get to the end and see my favorites die.

I just started reading this book. It is an interesting view into the lives of biblical times. It reminds me of the Red Tent by Anita Diamont. I like the feel of the book but it tends to be a lot of internal dialogue.

Just finished this book! Wow what an amazing book. I loved the story of the small community and how they pulled together. It really shows how one person can make a big difference in another's life. Elizabeth and then in turn Juliet helped people in ways that made lives better. I loved them both. I would have loved to meet them. The author wrote them with some love and care that they were such memorable characters. What a great book!