Reading the Chunksters discussion
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A Game of Thrones
Archived 2012 Group Reads
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Game of Thrones 14: Arya, Bran, Sansa, Daenerys, Tyrion, Jon, Catelyn, Daenerys...END!
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I immensely enjoyed the book and I'm definitely up for reading the next one.But that said, I found the end extremely unsatisfying. I didn't really "believe" (even with suspended disbelief) that Dany would be suckling two dragons. It just didn't seem to go with the rest of the story or even her story, even with the dragon eggs.
So much for my prediction that the child would be a girl and so much for my thought that she was not so foolish as the men.
I also felt as though Sansa's and Aria's situations were left hanging.
As for Catelyn, although she still seems like a colorless person - and something of a cold fish - she came out looking like the smartest of the lot, so far.
Yeah I totally thought that the whole dragons thing was so random! Did not seem to match the rest of the fairly magic free book
I thought that the dragon ending was unexpected but kind of cool, since they will play a role in Dany's attempt to regain the throne.I agree, Ellen, that both Sansa and Aria were left hanging, really hanging, which disappointed me a bit.
I enjoyed how entertaining this book was and how well Martin was able to develop multiple characters and storylines.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will keep reading. I'm watching season 2 on HBO right now with my husband, who doesn't want me to get ahead of him in regard to the story so I'll likely bump Book II until late summer or early fall.
I think Martin wrote the books as one story rather than seperate books and that's why a few storylines feel unfinished. Book two continues those stories right where book one leaves them hanging. I'm currently 400 pages into book five and still enjoying the series very much! Hopefully book six The Winds of Winter comes out soon.
I hear that the cliffhangers get worse as the series goes on. I'm hoping the success of the tv series will pressure Martin to get the next books out a little faster, but they're so long and complicated. It's difficult to fathom how much work goes into writing and editing them!Sansa's story was well done, I thought. I disliked her immensely for all the obvious reasons, but found myself feeling bad for her by the end. She daydreamed of a life with Joffrey and that's what she got, but it was nowhere near as pleasant as she hoped. I thought it was interesting that she considered pushing him off and killing him after he made her look at her father's head, too. In the HBO series, I interpreted all her glancing over the edge as her contemplating suicide.
I loved the bit with Arya's "dancing instructor" and the way he protected her. Seems like his mentoring will carry her far, too. Can't wait to see what happens next for her.
I didn't mind the dragons -- I thought Martin laid the groundwork for that well, establishing the idea that there had been dragons in the world before. (That bit with Arya discovering the dragon skulls really stuck with me.) The dragons suckling at Dany was over the top, but I was able to shrug it off since I liked the rest of it so much. I was surprised at how intense her story was, too. She was very much separate from the rest, so I look forward to seeing how it all comes together.
The story I want to read the most though is Jon's... wowie. Going north of the wall? I want to go too and see all the scary stuff! :)
Anyway, my review is here -- 5 stars! I've already started the second book.
Glad you all seemed to enjoy this one! I'm on the 5th book in the series (after spending SIX MONTHS getting through the 4th... which is a bit of a slog considering the brilliance of the first 3). Hope you all continue to enjoy the series!
Arya is my favourite character and has been since the early stages of this book. I was so sad about Ned, I thought he was a good man and I was really surprised to see him be killed off so early.
I actually quite liked Sansa as a character by the end of this book. I feel really sorry for her and don't see what choice she has at the moment. She was prepared to make a public speech to save her father and even though this didn't work, I think she was brave if not a little naive.
I HATE Joffrey and Cersei. HATE HATE HATE
I actually quite liked Sansa as a character by the end of this book. I feel really sorry for her and don't see what choice she has at the moment. She was prepared to make a public speech to save her father and even though this didn't work, I think she was brave if not a little naive.
I HATE Joffrey and Cersei. HATE HATE HATE
Sandi wrote: "I think Martin wrote the books as one story rather than seperate books and that's why a few storylines feel unfinished."A few? I feel like all of the story lines were left unfinished! Did any of them really "end"?
Really enjoyed reading this book. I guess I am confused about the dragons ... I got that when she gave birth it was a ... well, I interpreted it as a dragon since it had wings and scales.. But it was dead, right? Or at least, Ser Jorah had it put to death? Or did I miss something...And then on Drogo's funeral pyre, she put in the eggs and I got that one hatched right there at the end (though it doesn't actually SAY that, just hints at it, right?). Where does it say anything about suckling? I guess I missed something very important!
Overall really enjoying the story, though. But it does annoy me when authors write a book that doesn't really have an ending, even when it IS part of a series! There was no closure to anything at all. But I'm definitely planning to continue with the next book in the series!
Eddard's story certainly ended!I felt like most of the characters had a discernible story arc. For example, Cersei wanted to get rid of Robert so her line could inherit the throne. She managed to do that, but then Joffrey turned out to be uncontrollable. Yikes! Obviously there's more story to come after, and the conclusion is a cliffhanger, but Cersei did get her wish. (Be careful what you wish for, eh? Martin seems to be fond of that theme. Sansa's story had the same one.)
I think Jorah did kill the dragon thing Dany gave birth to. As for the dragons that hatched from the eggs, the suckling was the very last paragraph, or at least that was my interpretation of it. One of the dragons hissed as she stood and "the other two pulled away from her breasts and added their voices to the call."
Ok, re-reading it again, it does actually talk about suckling directly (the cream-and-gold dragon was suckling at her left breast, the green-and-bronze at her right.)I can't imagine how I missed that part. Guess I knew I was soooo close to the end I started reading too quickly!
Oh you're right! It's back there a few paragraphs, too. I was worried for a second that I might have imagined it, hehe...
Oh, and I wanted to say ... you said "Eddard's story certainly ended!", but I'm not sure I agree!For sure EDDARD ended (heh) but I feel like there is a lot left hanging in his story (especially the discovery of Joffrey's birth) and now that he is dead I wonder what will come of it. It's clear he didn't tell his wife of son of his discovery, since they were unsure who to follow as king at the end... There are other people who do know, but they have their reasons for keeping it secret (for now). I wonder if someone in Joffrey's court will eventually discover it and come out with it (or meet the same fate as the previous two "King's Hands".
Suzanne wrote: "I hear that the cliffhangers get worse as the series goes on."I didn't even feel like most of the loose strands were cliffhangers. It was like the book just ended mid-stream. It made me reluctant to read the next one because I don't want it to happen again. However, I enjoyed the book so much, I'm willing to give Book 2 a try.
I haven't been participating because I'd already read the series, and I was too afraid I'd give something away.But, Dany's child was born dead. Jorah didn't have to kill it. It was born all demonlike, and poofed into ash when they touched it. As for her suckling the dragons, it never really hit me as odd, rather more dramatic. I suppose they were hungry after being in an egg for a century or so?
And the dragons are no more magical than The Others, and we know that they are real, and the world is shifting. Winter is coming, and magic is starting to awaken again.
And all the books end somewhat cliff hangerish like that, which I suppose would have annoyed me if I had to wait 7 years for each to come out, but I read them all last year :D.
I think that my favorite part about the show is that Martin writes the scripts for it. And there are a lot of conversations etc that happen in the show that don't happen in the book. His explanation for that was perfect, if you read the books, you already knew what Ned was off doing, but what was Cersei doing? I actually think that the show has made her a much more complex character, though, she is still totally hateworthy.
Does anyone know if Martin has ever mentioned how many books he wants to write? I saw an interview where he said that he has the storylines and endings of the major characters already thought out. I guess that indicates that the series will not go on infinitely, but he didn't mention a specific number of books.
I thought I heard at this point he is shooting for 8? But could be wrong. I think eventually it was supposed to be 5, and then one of the books got waaaay too long, so he split it into 2, making 6, and then that kept happening so now he's up to 8. Something like that anyway.
Oh I thought it was 7. Haha. I'd be happy with 8. He really needs to cut down the time between books though if he wants to manage that... he isnt exactly young.
It's supposed to be 7, but as Deana said, it was originally supposed to be 5, and then got extended to 7. So I wouldn't be surprised if it increases again.
Fair enough, I could have misheard! 7 would be nice, then we are close to complete :DI am sooo hoping the series will be done by the time I get there. I hate reading partway through a series and then having to wait forever for the next book to come out. Mostly because I don't like re-reading books... and if it's too long between books, I feel like I HAVE to or I will have forgotten some important detail.
Who would have thought that there might be a benefit to being so far behind in a series like I am?
Haha exactly Sera! And we still might get through these before the last book comes out :P
I was talking about the series with someone at the library this week. She told me she's on Book 5 and some of the story lines have still not been resolved.
Deana wrote: "Haha exactly Sera! And we still might get through these before the last book comes out :P"Indeed!
I finally finished the book. I loved it and can't wait to start book two. I'm sorry that I couldn't stay on schedule and participate in the discussion more.
I'll have to check the other threads to see if the series is continued in side reads. I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts on the rest of the series.
This is one of my favorite series, i actually have to stop myself from reading these too fast--so as to coincide with the show, yes, i am a nerd and also because Martin hasn't gotten around to finishing #6 and #7 which i don't know what is the hold up :)I love the rich characters and the fluidity of the story, i mean, i am astounded at how George r.r. Martin handles such a wide range of characters and so diverse, in personality and story arcs. One thing i adore about his talent for characters, is his ability to write such strong and fierce women-- true women--not wallflowers or damsels in distress waiting for their white knight to save them. I mean, even Sansa is a lot stronger than she appears. Daenerys is one of my favorites, along with Arya and John and Tyrion--But when a particular character dies, i swear i yelled out "WHAT?! are you f-ing kidding me! Noooooo!!!" much like i did when i saw it happen on the TV show<-- that was worse!
I hope there is a chance to continue with the series (in this group that is)
Delmy, I've read all five, but I don't think I'll re-read them (just finished last year, too soon, too soon) but if you want to talk about them in lieu of the new season coming up we can start a separate thread!
Becky wrote: "Delmy, I've read all five, but I don't think I'll re-read them (just finished last year, too soon, too soon) but if you want to talk about them in lieu of the new season coming up we can start a se..."I am reading #4 right now, no, i couldn't re-read them either, i know something happens in #5 that i do not want to happen and i am going to be heartbroken about it but i just love this series. I don't know about starting a new thread to talk about them, i wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read them yet.
Delmy =^.^= wrote: "Becky wrote: "Delmy, I've read all five, but I don't think I'll re-read them (just finished last year, too soon, too soon) but if you want to talk about them in lieu of the new season coming up we ..."I'm about to start book 4, as soon as I finish up The Goldfinch, with hopes of finishing it this month to count for SRC.
Do I hear people clambering to read the next one??