Martin, George R.R: A Game of Thrones (buddy read revisit) Start Date: December 2, 2013 [A Song of Ice & Fire #1] - revisit Sep 12th, 2015 - revisit May 2017 **REVISIT** June 2018

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

*********THIS BUDDY READ IS BEING REVISITED!***********

Date to start reading TBC June 2018

[[deleted user]]

I will join in on this buddy read (Team Tonks). It’ll give me a chance to finally read my enhanced iBook copy of this book.

[Leah]

Woot!!!! I'll finally get to read it. I've never watched the show or anything because I've waited forever to read the books

[Cyn]

I’d like to join too, gives me a goal to actually make time to read it all.

[Leah]

Could we all do maybe June 15th to start?

[[deleted user]]

Leah wrote: "Could we all do maybe June 15th to start?"

Works for me.

[SandyL]

June 15th is great!

[Shannon]

This is my favorite series ever. Hope y'all enjoy it!!!

[Cyn]

June 15th sounds great!

[Kristina]

How do we participate in this buddy read if we want to reread the series?

[Kirsten]

I'd like to join but won't likely be able to start until sometime in July. :(

[SandyL]

Is anyone ready to get started?

[Leah]

I'm ready!

[SandyL]

Yay - I'm going to start this afternoon.

[[deleted user]]

I’m starting this today.

[Kristina]

Okay, I'll be reading this in conjunction with The Gulag Archipelago and Down and Out in Paris and London. This is going to screw with my head, isn't it?

[[deleted user]]

I just read the prologue and I enjoyed it so much more than the first time I read this book now that I already am familiar with this world. I was wondering why it was a prologue and not just chapter one, but now I think it’s because it doesn’t have one of the main characters in it since the regular chapters are named after characters. And that is one thing I don’t like about this series — no chapter numbers! Makes it hard to tell others where you are in the book. “Oh, I’m on the 5th Bran chapter!” :-P

Anyway, regarding the beginning of the story (view spoiler)[ that Waymar was a real jerk, but I will give him props for bravely facing the Other to fight. But the Night’s Watch totally needs to make the most experienced men the leaders and not go by class. Gared knew they were headed for trouble! Heck, even Will knew and he had only been at the Wall for four years! The Others are a scary way to start the story. And what makes them even more of a threat is that people aren’t going to believe they’re real because it just sounds like a bogeyman story. I really want to know what their motivation or goal is. (hide spoiler)]

I am enjoying the enhanced features of the iBook. It gives you tips on who the characters are, notes from the author, and there’s a map at the beginning of each chapter that shows where that chapter will take place and you can zoom in on the map and look around. So I might buy the others in the series in this format if I’m still enjoying it at the end of this book.

[SandyL]

I haven't watched the series, so I'm going into this blind. All the characters are somewhat confusing. I'm listening to the audio version, although I do have the book on my kindle so I'll probably both listen and read.

What a beginning! Yes, (view spoiler)[ Waymar seemed very self-important although he was brave - although a pretty gory end to his life! (hide spoiler)]

I love the direwolf pups!

Chapter 3 - Daenerys (my kindle has chapters in the table of contents, although not on the actual start to the chapter). Wow! (view spoiler)[I hate her brother!! And I can't believe she is given to a man at age 13. This is a brutal story! (hide spoiler)]

[Kristina]

This is definitely my second reading of the series; I can feel some spoilery thoughts crawling into my brain. Paying particular attention to what such a story will unfold based on the prologue, I think (view spoiler)[Waymar Royce cracking a joke about how dead men sing songs is very telling for tales of heroics in general. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Talia wrote: "I just read the prologue and I enjoyed it so much more than the first time I read this book now that I already am familiar with this world. I was wondering why it was a prologue and not just chapte..."

I think I need to look into this ibook version myself. That sounds cool. Although I've got physical copies, and kindle copies, so that may be a tad too much. lol

[Leah]

I love the way the prologue sets the tone for everything. The series as a whole (I've been given to understand) is a dark and twisted kind of fantasy. Probably a favorite bit for me (so far) is when we get to Bran's chapter. His perspective paints things in a light not really touched on by the other characters. (view spoiler)[I do feel so bad for him, and curse that Queen Cersei and her brother! (hide spoiler)]

[SandyL]

So wow - what a giant soap opera we have here!! So many secrets, plotting and planning and intrigue!

I've read through Bran (Chapter 8) and it is so (view spoiler)[ heartbreaking what happens to him. And so evil! I was really surprised to read the scene between Cierce and Jamie! I'm also sad that Lord Stark has to leave his family to work for the King. (hide spoiler)]

I love the wolves!

[SandyL]

Through Chapters 9 & 10 (Tyrion and Jon) - it's so sad (view spoiler)[ that Eddard still has to leave with the King despite Bran's injury, and that Jon has to leave as well. So far I think Arya is my favorite character and I like that Jon gave her the sword - I bet that's going to come in handy at some point! (hide spoiler)]

[Leah]

It is rough!

Chapter 16 Eddard- I can't believe this chapter! (view spoiler)[What he's forced to do as the King's Hand is beyond me, and the rift it puts between Arya and Sansa at such a dangerous time is frightening (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 Bran- I liked this perspective. (view spoiler)[ he wakes up so much...wiser, it seems. And then also sort of becoming a Seer? I think the crow was supposed to be opening his third eye (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19 Jon- (view spoiler)[ The relationship between Tyrion and Jon seems so strong and....maybe pure isn't the right word, but it makes me question the revelations of the previous chapters- that the dagger is Tyrion's, and that he may have some part to play in his siblings treachery. For my part, I don't think he knows of it (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 23 Daenerys- For the most part, I loved this chapter! To see (view spoiler)[ Daenerys come into her own is something special. It's still a shock that, though she is so young, she'll carry a child and act the part of a leading khaleesi, but that's not exactly uncommon in medieval style fantasy. Martin simply does not flinch from that. (hide spoiler)]

I hope my chapter numbers are right! Pardon me if they're a little wonky.

[SandyL]

I'll try and get caught up tonight Leah

[Leah]

I'm sorry, I don't know what kind of pace to go at. I have a lot of time on my hands is all. I can slow down if that's prwferred.

[SandyL]

No, don't worry!! Just please come back and chat if/when you finish before me. I'm playing quidditch which is taking away from my regular reading

[SandyL]

I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've commented - are you still reading it Leah or have you finished? I was playing quidditch and then went away for a short trip. I have been reading the book and here are some of my thoughts...

Chapters 16-23
Yes, it was horrible (view spoiler)[ what the girls went through and what Eddard had to do. I'm really disliking the Lannister family!

I was so happy Bran lived and awoke - it will be interesting to see what he does in the future without the use of his legs.

I was so surprised the Catelyn left her kids, even to get revenge!

I liked how Jon is showing leadership and getting some of the other boys behind him. And yes, his relationship with Tyrion is interesting! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 26 Jon - (view spoiler)[ I like how he continues to work with the underdogs. I'm sure this will help him in the future that he has so many people who are loyal to him! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 26 Eddard (view spoiler)[ I still feel so sorry for Eddard being stuck in a role he doesn't want, dealing with so many problems he doesn't care about (hide spoiler)]

Ch 27 Catelyn (view spoiler)[ Oops! What are the odds running into Tyrion Lannister? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 31 Tyrion - (view spoiler)[ I'm really starting to like Tyrion - it seems nothing gets him down! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 32 Arya - (view spoiler)[ It's so frustrating that her father doesn't believe what she heard!! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 36 Danerys - (view spoiler)[ I'm so glad she's finally standing up to her evil brother! (hide spoiler)]

[SandyL]

Ch 37 Catelyn - (view spoiler)[ I can't believe how spoiled Lord Robert is by Lysa!!! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 46 Danerys - (view spoiler)[ OK, just yuck with the horse heart! And I'm so glad her brother got what was coming to him in a most interesting way! (hide spoiler)]

OMG this book is so long and violent! Parts of it I'm enjoying, others not so much.

[SandyL]

I'm feeling so bad for the Stark family (view spoiler)[ - it's one thing after another. Ned never wanted to be the King's hand, and now with Robert dead and Ned accused of treason things are looking more and more grim. I'm glad Arya got away and I keep losing more and more respect for Sansa! And poor Bran - he's been left alone at Winterfell. (hide spoiler)]

Jon (view spoiler)[ Wow - I was just thinking about how I thought there would be more fantasy stuff in this book, and then the dead man tries to kill Mormont and then Jon. I love the dire wolves!! (hide spoiler)]

I wish there were more chapters about Danerys - I like her character so far!

I'm up to Chapter 59 (Catelyn)

[SandyL]

I finally finished this book and I can't believe it! (view spoiler)[After 800+ pages it's a cliff hanger. Noooooooooo!! I knew there were other books and they continued on with the story, but I didn't expect it to just end like it did. Overall I really liked the book, but it did go up and down for me and I was wanting it to end. Until it did and then I didn't! (hide spoiler)]

[Leah]

I am still reading, I had to take a break from everything so I haven't been at it in awhile!!! I'll have to catch up and finish with you now lol