Game of Thrones - reading schedule

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

For now he is, would you still like him if he say loses an arm and it is nothing but a disgusting stump? Just saying...

[Rebecca]

No, I guess not.I liked Tyrion in the book but not so much in the movie and I dont know why.

[Meg]

Well I did love the actors except, I didn't like Catelyn that much. I thought the little bits of magic made the viewing perfect. In fact, I think the magical pieces are my favorite things from book to visual.

[Rebecca]

When you say magic Meg what do you mean? I dont like Catelyn either and she doesnt look anything like I picture in my head.

[Sandi]

I love Tyrion in both the book and TV series. Arya and Dany are my favorites.

[B.]

Rebecca wrote: "B have you started Season 1 on HBO. OMG. I am so glad I read the book first."

I watch episode one a couple of nights ago and it was literally the book. Several times I could have sworn that they were saying the exact same thing as the book and I loved it!

[B.]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "So are any of the characters how you pictured them in the books? Now that you read the first book, anyone have a favorite house? Or anyone like any of the family mottos? My favorite house is the St..."

For some reason I pictured Ned just a little younger and more physically fit, the same for Robert (except the physically fit part). Since I already knew who played Tyrion and Dany on the show, they were the ones I thought of as I read the book. As for Sansa, I pictured her shorter and a little younger looking.

[Rebecca]

Sandi I am glad you mentioned Arya. I loved the scene when she got Needle. I didnt see Sansa as a readhead. I though she would be a blonde.

I also very much like the opening theme music and the 3D pop up style of Game of Thrones with the Houses and Kingdoms.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Sansa was exactly how I pictured. Sansa wouldn't be a blonde. Her mother has red hair and her father had dark brown so doubtful she would be blonde. Dany is how I pictured her too. Tyrion is just awesome.

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

I finished last night. Yay! :o)

And since you are all talking about the show and how the characters look, I had to get on Google images and look up photos of all the characters. Some of them were nothing like what I pictured! Daenerys was nothing like I expected, Ned seemed too old and worn out from what I imagined, Jon was nothing like the Jon in my mind. And Rebecca, I have to agree with you that Jaime is easy on the eyes! LOL. My mind's Jamie looked nothing like the show Jaime. :o)

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

So who is going to continue the series and read the 2nd one?

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

I think I need a break for now, but would consider reading book 2 in the future. :o)

[Rebecca]

same for me as far as a break and book 2 in the future.

[Rebecca]

Sheila what are is favorite characters? House?

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

My favorite house is the Starks. I love their direwolves, and I love most of their family. I was sad to see the tragedy they suffered. I really like Arya, Bran, and Jon. I was proud of Jon and the end of the book. And I think Arya is very brave.

[Meg]

I liked all the characters, even the ones I didn't like if you know what I mean. Joffrey was just evil, I would have liked more about his evilness though and maybe some hints as to why he was that way, other than his mean mother.

I also felt that Catelyn was really well developed which is probably why I didn't like her too much.

[Sandi]

I know it s a cliche to make fun of Sansa - and that she is a young woman trapped by the time in which she lives, but she really does get on my last nerve. Think of how smart and brave Arya is, and Sansa just seems a ninny.

[Jenny]

I don't think Sansa is a ninny at all. Her strength is just different than Arya's. Sansa wouldn't survive in Arya's situation, but Arya wouldn't survive in Sansa's situation either.

[Sandi]

Jenny, You are so right that Arya would never survive in Sansa's place. Given the constraints, Sansa is a survivor. I wish I could be more empathetic, but I found myself shouting at the book over her. It is an interesting thought - how well could women of modern times survive the horror of a medieval world. Maybe there are different types of bravery. Catelyn seemed to have both sorts of courage.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

@Sheila, ah a fellow Stark lover. As for Sansa, yes right now as she is in book 1, she is not the most desireable liked character and she falls short but if you read on in the next books, she does develop and she does get better.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I think Sansa being the oldest daughter was groomed to be a lady and it was expected of her to marry well. So she is going to act more regal than Arya. Arya wasn't brought up in the same manner as Sansa as far as what is expected of her. I think birth order plays a big part in how the Stark children are treated. Robb being the oldest male child would be brought up as heir. Bran is young still so they may not have started his education yet. Rickon is Cat's last baby so she would be inclined to hold on to him a little longer. Jon is n't hers so she wouldn't bring him up at all. Sansa, would expect to marry well and arya, there doesn't seem to be any expectations for her. She is free to do what she wants to a degree. I know they had their septa but the Septa seemed to pay more attention to Sansa than Arya.

I couldn't imagine that Arya being about 9, they should be starting her formal education. Yes, she had needlepoint lessons. It just seems that Arya didn't have more education. As nobility's children they should have had basics of reading and writing, some arthmatic, at least. Even if yo0u could argue that well they were girls and they didn't teach girls. It didn't come across to me in the book that Martin didn't put too much focus on that. Am I wrong in this? Did anyone else notice or not notice this aspect?

[Jenny]

Rebecca wrote: "Jenny did you watch the HBO series? I think they showed her more of one in the book."

I have read the books and watched the show.


I'm going to link to an article defending Sansa, because I basically agree with everything in it and I think that Sansa gets some unfair flak from people. This article does contain a spoiler from book one, and mentions the name of a battle and a couple of characters from book two but nothing specific or spoilery: http://feministfiction.com/2012/05/10...

[Meg]

I agree with you Jenny, I think Sansa's strength is different. And, as you read/watch, she is a survivor and flexible in her roles.

[Becky]

I've read all the books that are currently published in this series. Sometimes it's difficult to keep all the storylines straight, but in my opinion Martin is an extremely entertaining author. I think sometimes his female characters aren't as believable as one might hope but I cut him some slack...he is a MAN after all. If you've finished the first book, you'll understand Martin is brave in the destinies of his characters. Don't think that will end. It doesn't. Getting too attached to a certain character might cause you some pain later. :) The title of the series is A Song of Fire and Ice and I believe this is a great prediction of fire (Targeryon) and ice (Stark). I just joined this group and thanks for making it so easy to do so. Your comments are great. I look forward to being here.

[Irene]

I am back. Great to see how lively the discussion has been in the past 10 days.

So, what did people think of the ending? I have to admit that I found its lack of any real conclusion disappointing. Martin must have been planning the sequels since it felt more like the end of chapters, rather than that of a book.

As for Sansa and Ariel, I did not find one girl more courageous or admirable than the other. I found them as simply different as many sisters are. Both had strengths and both had flaws.

[Rebecca]

I felt the same as you Irene about the ending. Alhough I will read the series I don't think Martin made me feel I "just had to".

I am up to the episode where Ned dies at Jamie's hand. In the book I also really like Robert and Ceresi' " heart to heart" talk about their relationship and I really did enjoy seeing it too.

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

I agree with Irene and Rebecca about the ending. It wasn't an ending, it was just chapter endings. It seems obvious to me that Martin was planning this to be a series of books from the very beginning.

So since is the end of book 1, all discussion for Book 1 is allowed. No worry about spoilers from this point forward.

Does anyone have any comments about book 1 as a wrap up? Did anything shock you? Were you surprised at any characters' deaths? I admit that Ned's death surprised me. I would have expected them to keep him alive to use as a pawn or bargaining chip.

[Rebecca]

Agreed on Ned's death too. I didnt expect Khal Drogo to die either.

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

Agreed, Rebecca. Khal's death was surprising too.

The scene at the very end with Dany breast feeding the baby dragons that she hatched out made me roll my eyes though. Since she kept messing with the dragon eggs and putting them into the fire, I expected them to hatch, but did she need to breast feed them?? LOL

[Irene]

I was also not expecting Khal or Ned to be killed off, nor Dany's baby to die. So, I am expecting that Khal's people will play a far less significant role in future stories since they have practically been completely disbanded? I am predicting that the few who remained loyal to Dany will be co-opted into the service of Dany's efforts to regain her ancestral throne, but nothing more. I am going to have to accept the magical elements. They are generally so peripheral to the majority of the narrative, that when the dragons hatch, it feels weird.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I miss Ned and Khal Drago. I mostly miss Ned.
Irene, have faith. Btw, I love Dany's dragons. I wil;l say that Dany os still a major player in the "game".

[Irene]

With that dramatic final scene, I figured she would be a major figure in the future.

[Sandi]

I almost couldn't continue when Ned got killed. They say don't get attached to any characters in Fire and Ice, but he seemed so essential to the story in. He first book. Was surprised.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Ned was a good man

[Rebecca]

I was warned too Sandi but I am afraid I have. Anyone else get attached?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I got attached to Ned. I liked Robb and Cat too.

[Gemma]

Finished this last night, I didnt want the khal or ned to die, I was hoping to see alot more of drogo's character development and I liked how he was learning from dany, but wasn't to be. I havn't seen the tv show but will definitely order the box set over the next few days.

My OH read it the same time as me so it was good to share things with him, he's gone straight to the 2nd book and he was even talking about going to northern Ireland to see where they filmed some of the tv show on our next holiday.

Im going to take a little break before reading the 2nd book, but its near the top of my tbr pile.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I absolutely love this series. I haven't stopped talking about it with people since I started reading them in 5 years ago.

[Rebecca]

Tyrions confession. HILARIOUS!!. I am halfway through the series.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Is anyone playing Game of Thrones Ascent on Facebook. I need some help with it. I need help with sending my sworn sword into battle.

[Meg]

I will have to look at the game. Sounds like fun!

[Tina]

I have to say that I have rarely seen an adaptation of a book that was so well cast. The characters in the series have eclipsed my vision of them when I read the books. The only quibble I have is that Tyrion is disfigured (he loses most of his nose) in the battle of the Blackwater, while in the series they have only given him a rather fetching scar.

[Jenny]

Yeah.. but how would they accomplish that? I mean, they could've done some weird Voldemort type makeup/rubber mask thing to make him look noseless, but that probably would've ended up being kinda obnoxious because they'd have had to change the shape of his face somewhat to accomplish it and it would be noticeable since he doesn't start out without a hunk of his nose missing, not to mention the extra man hours (and therefore money) spent on makeup before every single filming. So I'm find with the way they handled it. It gets the point across.

[Tina]

I'm actually quite happy with the fetching scar Jenny.

[Sandi]

I like the scar too. I think Tyrion is more handsome on TV than he is suppose to be in the book. I love the series character so much. They capture the complexity of the book's Tyrion and make it come to life through the actor's remarkable charm. You'd have to root for him to be King, if he wasn't a Lannister.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I heard he is lending her voice in a video game. Also the actor who plays Hodor, is a DJ in his off time.

[Madhavi]

Anybody know.. when the next in series (book6) is coming?

I just hate the wait for the next book,when the last one ends in a cliffhanger

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Last I heard 2015

[Madhavi]

That is so far off. :(

[Jenny]

The Winds of Winter in 2015 would be nice considering it took six years for A Dance With Dragons. Not gonna hold my breath though either. 2015 is probably just a placeholder date.