Martin, George R.R. - A Game of Thrones (buddy read/1st in group series read) Start date June 9th 2011

[Lisa Kay]

Responses to Carol's Answerst to Questions for Chapter 56 (Tyrion) - Chapter 59 (Catelyn)

#1 - They are all pretty puffed up, aren't they?

#4 & 5 - So I take it you don't like either Tyrion or Sansa? LOL!


Responces to Carol's Answers to Questions for Chapter 60 (Jon) – Chapter 63 (Catelyn)

#2 - Yes! All big wows in Chapter 60.

#3 - Good point about Jorah and the sword; he might not be too pleased.

#4 - Yes, for as evil as I thought Prince Rhaegar (b/c of King Robert's comments), I am really thinking he was a pretty neat guy.

#5 - My lips are sealed!

#6 - I'm trying to figure out if you like Tyrion or not! ??

#10 - You nailed this one, Carol. Theon not seeing the big picture continues on into the next book.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)]

Questions for Chapter 64 (Daenerys) – Chapter 67 (Sansa)

1. Wow! So much going on. Do you think Daenerys' husband will survive and if so will he still be human? This whole blood magic sounds a little scary. I can't believe so much could happen in one Chapter.

I believe Drogo is a dead man and that’s a shame. I think Dany was also a bit dumb not to have everything spelled out about the ritual. I don’t think the horse’s death was the one that the maegi meant. Plus, there’s always a hundred layers to everything in this book. NOTHING in this book is straight forward. I’m actually getting tired of it.

2. Eddard did die after securing his daughter's place. I frankly, wouldn't have believed they would have kept her safe. I figured once he was gone she would be exterminated (Sorry Doctor Who going on in the background). What did you think? Surprised she's still engaged? (I sound like a broken record, huh?)

I can’t believe they didn’t kill her. But it’s early days yet.

3. Sansa finally gets it, and you called it Lisa Kay, she's getting smacked around. Anyone surprised? Apparently Joffrey sees heads as appropriate tokens of affection - how romantic NOT!

I saw that coming, too. I’m hoping she finally finds her Stark backbone and starts plotting. I find it interesting that The Hound is actually being covertly nice to her. I wonder how that will work to her advantage. See, layers and layers to everything. It gets hard to keep track.

4. Has anyone taken notice of all the Sigils being presented? There are unicorns, bears, fish, lions, deer, wolves, golden roses, Falcons, dragons, kraken, etc Which would you want for your Sigil? Which is the least appealing? Which would you like to see come to life in the book? I hope this mean more of the sigils will come to life in the book. I want to see kraken and unicorns.

I don’t understand this question about sigils. Can you give me some examples for reference?

5. Okay not that I've taken a slight road trip I'll get back on track. Ayra has been surviving on the streets around the castle. Do you think Yoren from the wall will harm her? He seemed a little rough with her.

I don’t think he’s going to hurt her. He had opportunity but kept emphasizing that she was a boy AND gave her back Needle, so he wants her to stay hidden. I think he was getting ready to cut off her hair, to make her look more boyish.

6. Anyone else think they'd find something on Jon's parentage in the family crypts? Were we totally wrong?

No, we would have seen something when Eddard took Robert there if there was something to see. I want to know what Bran and Eddard talked about in his dream! And I find it interesting that Rickon knew about their father’s death, too. I think since they both have direwolves they were forewarned of Eddard’s death. I’d be interested in knowing if Robb & Jon also had dreams sent to them.

7. Osha looks like she may play a more key role than I previously would have thought. Anyone else surprised?

I am surprised. I’m leaning towards her serving Bran.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)]

Lisa Kay wrote: "Responses to Carol's Answerst to Questions for Chapter 56 (Tyrion) - Chapter 59 (Catelyn)

#1 - They are all pretty puffed up, aren't they?

#4 & 5 - So I take it you don't like either Tyrion or S..."

Hahahaha! Ok, here's what a think about Tyrion...I respect him, but I'm still not sure if I like him. How's that? LOL

As for Prince Rhaeger, I don't think him a saint, but I think he's been painted blacker than he deserves in the book. Only time will tell.

I'm not a fan of Theon. He's young, foolhardy, impetuous, hot-headed and arrogant. I haven't liked him, haven't changed my opinion and I don't trust him, not one little bit. What's that old saying? Something about nursing a viper at your breast? That's how I see Theon.

[Lisarenee]

The question was, "4. Has anyone taken notice of all the Sigils being presented? There are unicorns, bears, fish, lions, deer, wolves, golden roses, Falcons, dragons, kraken, etc Which would you want for your Sigil? Which is the least appealing? Which would you like to see come to life in the book? I hope this mean more of the sigils will come to life in the book. I want to see kraken and unicorns."

Carol asked, "I don’t understand this question about sigils. Can you give me some examples for reference?

The sigils were mentioned in one of the fight scenes. I can't remember where any more. Hubby has my book and went camping with my son. It's a boyscout thing. Anyway, Sigils are the symbols associated with different families. The Starks have the direwolf, King Robert's family has the stag, Dany's family is the Dragon, and now we are finding out that other families have other animals for their family sigils as well. In the next book at least one Sigil will become important to solving a riddle like statement. My question was did you take note of them and which one is your favorite and least favorite. Some are listed in the back of the book while others were only mentioned in the main story. The other thing to note is at least 2 of these sigils will or have become real live breathing beings. So if you had your choice which would you like to see come to life or which would you like as your own personal sigil. Does that make it clearer or did I just make things more confusing?

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)]

Ah...gotcha. With all the houses, both major and minor, going to war we've had a chance to see many sigils. Off the top of my head, my personal favorites are the direwolf and the bear. Those I'd like to see are the dragon, the kraken and the unicorn.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)]

Wow! A lot going on there at the end!

Questions for Chapter 68 (Daenerys) - Chapter 72 (Daenerys)

Oh, My Gah! Sooooo much happened at the end. Must get next book NOW!

1) You called it Lisa Kay there were repercussions from burning down the temple. Mirri Maz Duur was a witch to do that to Dany. Dany tried to help in the only way she could and Mirri Maz Duur took everything away. Did you expect her to kill Dany's baby? I kind of wondered if that was the life she was referring to when she said there had to be a blood sacrifice. I kept hoping he was still alive. That maybe she just took him like Rumplestilskin wanted the princess' baby. Dang!

Well, that sucked a big fat sour pickle. Rhaego and Drogo dead. *sigh* I bet that old witch made Jorah think he saw a lizard whatsit. Stupid blood magic. We learned blood magic is bad juju in Maria V. Snyder’s books!


2) What did you think of the dragons suckling off Dany and her being unscathed by the fire? Why do you think her brother wasn't immune to the fire?

I KNEW it! I knew Dany was going to be a major player. I was wrong about her killing Robert since he’s dead, but I can’t wait to see her cross back to the Seven Kingdoms with an army and her dragons. *rubs hands gleefully* I can’t wait to get the next book. The dragons suckling off her was creepy, but she obviously has something the dragons needed. She’s at one with them in a way Viscious never would have been.
**Also interesting that the Targaryen banner has a three-headed dragon and now Dany has 3 dragons.

3) They want Robb to be king. Did you see that one coming? I still mourn for Eddard. *sniff* I still like Jon more than Robb.

Oh, boy, oh, boy! That was a surprise! Sweet heaven! A Northern King? Is the North planning on splitting from the rest of the Kingdoms and to hell with what they do? So very interesting!
***Also interesting, that Greatjon said, "It was the dragons we married, and the dragons are dead." Will Dany have support from the North when she returns with her dragons? Or will they support Robb? Will Robb support Dany? Will Robb live to even be King? Too many questions!


4) There appears to be no going back for Jon. He either stays at the wall or he dies. Anyone else disliking that? The way the Old Bear talked I thought there were times when they could leave.

I’ve said that the Wall is where he is needed and where he belongs. I don’t have to like it, but I think his being there is going to be very important.

5) Out of curiosity, those of you of the *cough* "weaker" *cough* sex like me, would you have sided with the peace that Catelyn proposed or are you of the "off with their heads" crew? Okay, I'm somewhere in between.

I don’t believe it is yet time for peace, so I don’t agree with Catelyn.

6) Tyrion finally is acknowledged by his father as his son. Jamie is being talked poorly of. The Lannister family secret (all of Cersei's children being Jamie's) has still yet to be revealed. Were any of these things surprising? How do you think Tyrion will act. What do you think of his thought of taking his whore (why do I always feel bad using that word?) with him? Do we know how old he is? I kept thinking it would be ironic if the "whore" turned out to be that long lost wife of his, but I don't think that would be possible. I'm guessing that happened a very long time ago and he'd recognize her.

I thought the secret would out, but apparently it’s not yet. I’m pretty sure he’ll act the way he always has. He seem pretty true to himself. I think he should take his whore and to hell with what his father said. He seems to like her and she seems to like him. Of course, he’s a Lannister and she could be hoping for something more. I keep thinking he’s in his late 20s, early 30s maybe? His whore is too young to be that long lost wife.

7) Thoughts overall on the book? Will you continue with the next book? Anyone up for reading it soon? Any thoughts as to whether we should read the series (as it won as our next series read) like this buddy read - 4 chapters at a time?

I’m going to read the next book, but you guys are way ahead of me. lol

8) A last minute add - Why have we not met Lord Stannis? I kept thinking we'd get to at least meet him in this book. He doesn't seem like he'd be that great of a King.

I was surprised we didn’t meet him. I think he’s on Dragonstone planning for when it’s time for him to take the throne. He may be one of the very few left who know that Robert’s heirs (Joffrey and gang) are not true born to Robert.

[Lisa Kay]

My Responses to Carol's Answers Questions for Chapter 64 (Daenerys) – Chapter 67 (Sansa)

#1 - "NOTHING in this book is straight forward. I’m actually getting tired of it."
Yeah, I really went hot and cold on that aspect of the book.

#3 - "The Hound is actually being covertly nice to her."
Good observation and a great way to put it!

#6 - "...since they both have direwolves they were forewarned of Eddard’s death."
And that's why Sansa didn't? I think you are right!

My Responses to Carol's Answers to Questions for Chapter 68 (Daenerys) - Chapter 72 (Daenerys)

#2 - LOL! **Lisa Kay gleefully rub her hands together with Carol**

#3 - Good reminder about Greatjon; must remember that for future consideration.

#6 - Ditto! To hell with his father.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol)]

Sansa and Ayra were both there for the beheading, so saw it happen. Rickon and Bran had Eddard come to them in a dream. No mention of Jon having a dream in his chapter, but he may have. No mention of Robb either, but we'd need to see it from Catelyn's perspective and there was no mention. Not to say it didn't happen, but if the dreams were connected to the direwolves then I would think a mention would be included. I hate all the 2nd guessing in this darn book!

Edit: Maybe Eddard came to Rickon and Bran because they were the only ones with direwolves at Winterfell.

[Lisarenee]

Carol, We second guess ourselves a lot in this series

[Lisa Kay]

A lot! What cracks me up and one of us with convince the other we're right and then that one changes their mind. Still, a group effort is well worth it. I think it has made me more watchful/insightful.