Game of Thrones - reading schedule

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I thought that as well. Ned Stark was pretty prominent. Robert named him Hand because of their long friendship and Ned would be fair.

[Meg]

One of the sentences I read keep coming back to me
"It is all about the climb"

Ned keeps climbing the social/prominent ladder, which, I believe the Starks are so prominent in the the first part of book one. The only higher place they can go is marrying their daughter to the king,or somehow one of his son's become king.

[Veronica]

I am so glad so many are enjoying this book. The questions and comments are amazing. I am halfway through the last book in the series and would love to see how everyone's thoughts change as the continue into the series. Enjoy

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Well Sansa and Joffrey are at this time betrothed. That was Robert's plan not Ned's.

[Madhavi]

Veronica wrote: "I am so glad so many are enjoying this book. The questions and comments are amazing. I am halfway through the last book in the series and would love to see how everyone's thoughts change as the con..."

I agree with you Veronica. I am also reading the fifth book of the series. And it will be interesting to see the change in thoughts.. as the plot line becomes more complex.

[Madhavi]

Irene wrote: "What do people think of Tyrion (the dwarf) and Petyr (Little Finger)? Martin has created more ambiguity in these characters at this point in the reading, than he has in all the other characters. ..."

I loved Tyrion's character. He is different from the rest of the Lannister family. Although he strives to be worthy of Lannister name; he knows that he is not Jamie and knows somewhere deep down that he can never please his father.
And I disliked Littlefinger from the page he was introduced. I felt that none of the characters should trust Littlefinger.

[Irene]

Tyrian, Jon Snow, Samwell and so on are outsiders due to circomstances beyond their control and they also seem to have developed a sensativity to others that more prominant characters are lacking. I wonder if Martin is trying to tell us something about the corrupting influence of proximity to power or the lure of power. I wonder if we will find a softer side to poor Sandor also. His story has captured my imagination.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I think you are in the minority was Sandor.

[Irene]

Probably, but all I have at this point is a terribly scarred young man whose horrible injury was caused by a deliberate and brutal act of senseless violence by his older brother and seems to be in a defensive posture at a world that he can not trust.

[Jenny]

The Hound is an interesting character. He has his good moments and bad. There is a big part of him that enjoys killing - perhaps because he never wants to ever feel powerless again. But there is also a protective side of him that comes through from time to time - perhaps another result of his being a helpless child who was ruthlessly attacked by someone bigger and stronger than he was. He is a character that I came to appreciate and maybe even like, at times. And the fact that so many of these characters can be and do both good and evil speaks to their humanity.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

There is very little good the Hound does,

[Jenny]

No, there really isn't. But I think that the times when he acts of his own will, rather than just following jerk face Joffrey's orders, his actions are at least more understandable/respectable and once in a while even admirable.

[Meg]

jerk face Joffrey's
lol Jenny

jerk face is evil

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

That's a new nickname I haven't heard for him yet.

[Irene]

OK, tomorrow we start the next section, so here are some thoughts.

I was struck by the jousting match between the brothers Sandor and Gregor. Sandor seems to display some integrity which is completely absent from his brother. What do we learn about Sandor in this scene?

Who are the two men that Arya over hears in the sub teranian passage? Is one the eunic, Varys??

I was surprised to see Robert and all the guards leave Bran alone. Thank goodness for wolves. I am 7 years older than my baby brother. Had I left him unsupervised like Robert did, my mother would have had my head and he was not parallyzed. Is that band simply a gang of highway robbers or do they pose a more serious threat?

Khal and his people remind me of the tribes that were the native inhabitants of the Asian Stepp country. I wonder if Martin is creating them with a specific people in mind.

Can I kill off Lysa and her whiny little boy? Really, breast feeding a 6 year old? Did I just wander into "Room" by accident? LOL. Uncle Brenyn better take over or that little kingdom is in big trouble.

What struck the rest of this group in this section?

[Jenny]

The two people that Arya overhears are Varys and Illyrio Mopatis.

I believe I saw something that said the Dothraki are inspired by a mix of the Mongols, Native American plains tribes, and some other peoples. I don't remember where I saw it so I'm not sure how accurate that info is, though it does make sense.

[Irene]

I definitely see the Mongol influence, Native American influence is not so obvious to me.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I thought the gang of highway robbers were some wildlings.

The Dorthraki definitely act tribal.

As for Lysa, she is a piece of work. I don't care for her much. Some mothers do breastfeed their children still at six years old. She spoils him rotten and it shows.

[Irene]

Yes, I think the term "wildlings" was used, but am not sure what sort of a role Wildlings play in the bigger picture. Will they turn out to be a nucence or a serious threat?

[Jenny]

Irene wrote: "Yes, I think the term "wildlings" was used, but am not sure what sort of a role Wildlings play in the bigger picture. Will they turn out to be a nucence or a serious threat?"

Hmm. I will say that the wildlings are currently the only active threat that the Night's Watch has to contend with, and that it's very rarely anything serious. But winter is coming.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

The wildlings will appear again. They aren't just a random people.

[Irene]

How is the reading coming for everyone? I have never facilitated a chunky read, so I know that I am lacking the skill to keep the conversation engaging. And, it must be tough for those of you who have already read through the series not to give spoilers. Thanks for your efforts and for your enthusiastic love of the book. I would love to hear from anyone else who is still with us in our chunky read. What are you enjoying or disliking about the book as we reach half way?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I think the length is daunting at first. The first time I tried to read it, other books got in the way. You need to devote time to reading this without reading any other books. It is a fast read for the most part in that there is a lot of action going on. I like that the characters are more like real people.

[Rebecca]

Well I was behind at over 300 pages. I started reading last night and today and quickly caught up. Irene I like the fact that you can put this book down and not get too lost.I am never bored although I look forward to reading about some characters more tha others.
Some are still getting hung up on keeping track of the names. I am just reading the book and it seems to be coming together. Sheila I think there will alway be characters that come and go mixed in with the main ones. I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think Martin does a lot like Ken Follet in that he will mention a character and there relationship several times. Over half way I think it is clear to see who will be main and who will not be. Jamie I love my books too much to read one at a time :)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I find it challenging to read two at a time.

[B.]

I did not realize how much I would get into the book. Like everyone else, keeping up with characters is hard. However I have the "main" characters down, but the recurring ones, I still unable to keep up with.

For instance, I do not know who the two men were that
Arya overheard. Who is Varys and Illyrio Mopatis?

As for characters I am not fond of: Lysa and her son; Catelyn (I cannot get past her treatment of Jon); Littlefinger (for some reason I want to trust him, but I know is he about trouble); all the Lannisters (except Tyrion); and Viserys.

[B.]

Also, I have come to realize that I CANNOT read any other fiction while I read this. Nonfiction is another story, but I was reading Wicked and had to put it down until I am finish with this one.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Varys is one of Robert's council men. He spies for Robert and for himself. Not many people in King's Landing like him.

Ilyrio I think spies for Varys.

[Jenny]

Illyrio is the guy who is housing Daenerys and Viserys at the beginning.

[Rebecca]

How did Visery's and Dany get involved with Drogo? I think the Dothraki have some strange rituals. They are my least favorite in my following.

[Jenny]

Rebecca wrote: "How did Visery's and Dany get involved with Drogo? I think the Dothraki have some strange rituals. They are my least favorite in my following."

Illyrio had it arranged.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Visery's needs an army so by marrying Dany to Drago, he will get his army and his crown to take over Westeros.

I like Drago. I found their culture interesting.

[Irene]

I forgot about Illyrio at the beginning. So is he on the side of the Lannister family or Dany's family? And is he friend or foe of Khal?

I would like to know more about the Dothraki people. They seem like a proud but just people (except for that wedding festival with the rape and killings which seems so out of character for everything else we have seen of them). I want to know more about the people of Dany and her brother. Do they still have a home land or are they all living in exile as Dany and her brother are? I wonder who they are modeled after.

[Irene]

I would love to read this book straight through because I am struggling to recall people when I return to it. But, I also know that if I did not stay with our reading schedule, I would be posting spoilers. The way it jumps from sceen to sceen means that I can not recall if we read something this week or in a previous week.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Dany and Visery family used to rule Westeros before Robert took it over and killed their father(I think). Their father went mad. They lived on Dragonstone but are really exiled since they don't have a kingdom. Visery's plan is to rule Westeros again but he needs an army. That's where the Dorthrakis come in.

[Irene]

Have we been told why Robert's father invaded and took over Westeros?

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

Was anyone else surprised that Cersei Lannister admitted to Ned that her children were fathered by her brother, and not her husband? That bit blew me away. Also, when Ned asked her about Bran, and he admitted "He saw us." why did Ned not blow up? Shouldn't he have become very angry knowing that was how Bran got hurt??

[Irene]

I have not read that part yet. I better check the reading assignment again. Maybe I stopped too early.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I shouldn't be surprised when I read that Cersei's children were fathered by Jamie. I just don't know how Robert could be that incredibly stupid. Then again, hew may not care. An heir is an heir.

What good would it do if Ned blew up at her? He was going to tell everyone the truth about Joffrey being illegitimate. Isn't that better pay back?

[Jenny]

Irene wrote: "I forgot about Illyrio at the beginning. So is he on the side of the Lannister family or Dany's family?"

What Illyrio and Varys are up to is something you're gonna have to wait to find out. You really don't even begin to get much information on that subject until book 5.


Irene wrote: "I would like to know more about the Dothraki people. They seem like a proud but just people (except for that wedding festival with the rape and killings which seems so out of character for everything else we have seen of them)."

They're proud but they're also quite savage. Just wouldn't be a word I'd use to describe them. They basically roam the countryside killing and sacking and taking spoils. That is not to say that they are evil, just uncivilized - they operate on base instincts. They value strength and victory in battle etc. They win the things they want by taking them by force.


Irene wrote: "I want to know more about the people of Dany and her brother. Do they still have a home land or are they all living in exile as Dany and her brother are?"

I'm not sure what you mean by their people? They were the ruling family in Westeros. Many of their supporters were killed in the rebellion and most of the rest bent the knee to Robert. The Targaryen family originated in Valyria, but Valyria has been gone for thousands of years. You do get tidbits of history here and there throughout the series and that helps paint a more complete picture of the things that happened long ago. It's probably all on the wiki.


Irene wrote: "Have we been told why Robert's father invaded and took over Westeros?"

Because Aerys was mad and unfit for rule, for one. And also because of Lyanna. You will continue to receive trickles of details about Robert's Rebellion and Aerys and the things he did.


Sheila wrote: "Was anyone else surprised that ..."

Well, to be fair, Ned already knew. I'm sure Ned was angry, but he also already suspected it. Ned isn't the sort of person to rage in anger. He's the quiet wolf.

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

Irene wrote: "I have not read that part yet. I better check the reading assignment again. Maybe I stopped too early."

Oops, I hope I didn't read to far. This bit was towards the end of what I had marked for this week's reading.

[B.]

Sheila wrote: "Was anyone else surprised that Cersei Lannister admitted to Ned that her children were fathered by her brother, and not her husband? That bit blew me away. Also, when Ned asked her about Bran, and ..."

OMG!! I that was not in the assigned pages.... Is there a way we can prevent spoilers like that?

[Jenny]

They can be tagged like (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)], but if someone gets confused on the assigned pages (which is gonna happen in this book because there are eleventy billion editions of it) then they're not going to realize that they're posting something that others haven't read yet, so they won't know to use the tags.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I am really trying not to give out too much because I read this book twice plus seen the series. I am trying not to spoil it for others. If I give out vague information it is because I don't want to give out any spoilers.

[Jenny]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I am really trying not to give out too much because I read this book twice plus seen the series. I am trying not to spoil it for others. If I give out vague information it is because I don't want t..."

Same here. I have been trying not to comment on something unless I see someone who's reading along mention it first. I can see how some of the exact stopping points can become confusing though, especially since the chapters don't display numbers. At least, as far as spoilers go, that one wasn't really a big one (as in a character death or some big twist that nobody saw coming).

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

B. wrote: "OMG!! I that was not in the assigned pages.... Is there a way we can prevent spoilers like that? "

Actually, I just checked and this was in the assigned section for this week. Here is the schedule again. The part I wrote about happens on page 405 and 406 in a chapter titled Eddard, and we are currently discussing up to page 418. Here is the schedule again for everyone.

READING SCHEDULE

Before May 5 read 115 pages up to Sansa
May 5 - discuss 115 pages read up to page 210 Eddard
May 12 - discuss up to page 210 read up to page 316
May 19 - discuss up to page 316 read up to page 418
May 26 - discuss up to page 418 read up to page 506
June 2 - discuss up to page 506 read up to page 610
June 9 - discuss up to page 610 finish book
June 16 - Discuss whole book

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

It does appear that there are multiple editions of this book though with a large variety of page numbers in them. It looks like this schedule is based on the paperback media-tie in version, which has 694 total pages in it. All of the page numbers listed in the reading schedule match with the end of a chapter in that version. The last page of the story in the paperback version is page 674, and then there is an appendix describing all of the houses.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85...

If someone is reading a different version than this, the page numbers for discussion would need to be adjusted.

Here is what was posted for the kindle version of the book, which may or may not match the hardcover edition (I have no way to verify, maybe someone else can).

Here is the Kindle reading schedule
Before May 5 read 138 pages up to Sansa (Loc 2612)
May 5 - discuss 138 pages read up to page 250 Eddard (Loc 4702)
May 12 - discuss up to page 250 read up to page 378 (Loc 7108)
May 19 - discuss up to page 378 read up to page 501 (Loc 9414)
May 26 - discuss up to page 501 read up to page 606 (Loc 11416)
June 2 - discuss up to page 606 read up to page 729 (Loc 13722)
June 9 - discuss up to page 729 finish book
June 16 - Discuss whole book

[Rebecca]

Maybe we can do spoilers at the start of the sections and then remove them when most people seem to be halfway through?

[B.]

I must be reading a different version from the majority of us because on page 405-406 Bran and Robb were being attacked by the deserter and his crew.

I do not know what version I am reading (its a paperback with HBO promotion on the top front), but the story ends on page 807.

I am currently on page 443 and it is where we determine if Bronn won the battle for Tyrion.

[Jenny]

It would probably help to list the characters to stop at for every week, like was done for the first two weeks. And maybe also mention what edition/ISBN the assigned pages are taken from so people will know if their edition is different.