A Song Of Ice And Fire: book discussion thread

[Guynemer]

That theory actually makes a lot of sense; definitely would explain Ned's reluctance in talking about Jon's origin; it could have brought Robert's wrath down upon him.

Only ~200 pages into AFFC, definitely not as quickly-paced and interesting as the previous two books. All the same, it doesn't feel like I've already read 200 pages.

[Guynemer]

Sansa is the least impressive Stark, but she's more a product of unrealistic upbringing than anything else. She was isolated from the realities of the world, and raised to be a model princess. She's an example of how heroic characters like the Starks have no place in a grittier more realistic story.

I don't buy it. None of the other Stark children are so blind, so willfully stupid. I honestly don't understand how she turned out the way she did; she is definitely NOT a child of the North.

[Lord Avalon]

Blame Septa Mordane. And perhaps Catelyn, who isn't of the north, either.

[Bosh]

Sansa's basically a fantasy fan, she got her head lost in stories. Also, while Ned is a grim dude he can be naive as well and he never really taught Sansa to be grim, he always assumed that he men would do all the grim stuff for her and she's basically acting like how she thinks a lady should act.

Also she finally steps up a bit and become enjoyable to read in AFfCs, same with Jaime...

For Rhaegar, look at the bit where Jojen talks about his dad at the Harrenhall Tourney. That's as close to an unbiased look at Rhaegar and Lyanna as we get.

[joncha]

Sansa takes after the Tully side of the family, and all Tullys are idiots.

[Guynemer]

Catelyn is a hard woman; the Blackfish seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

[Bosh]

Catelyn is a hard woman; the Blackfish seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

The rest of them on the other hand...

[Guynemer]

Fair enough. Apparently, the Stark seed isn't so strong.

[Krill]

One thing that I've found interesting is that in the show they don't portray the sheer loathing Catelyn has for Jon, but in the book she would happily see him dead.

[Guynemer]

Yes, Catelyn is a bit more likable in the show, predominantly for that that specific reason.

I suppose, given that the top two billed actors are already dead, they had to make #3 more likable. One wonders what will happen come the Red Wedding; "and Peter Dinklage" may get moved up to top billing.

[Arrian]

I hate Sansa. Almost as much as I like Arya, but not as much as I hate Cersei. There is a tiny bit of hope that Sansa, having had the veil of BS torn away, will grow into something of a badass, but I'm not holding my breath.

I think it's pretty clear that Rhaegar didn't rape Ned's sister, but rather they had an affair (Rhaegar was married, wasn't he?). Helen of Troy - not kidnapped but rather swept off her feet. The next step, theoretically, is that Jon Snow is the product of said affair.

I didn't hate Catelyn in the books, though her conduct towards Jon is terrible. She's also kind of an idiot. WTF was she thinking, taking the Imp like she did? Thinking her sister would actually help was pretty dumb too. Zombie Catelyn, ugh.

I think the spin the show put on Littlefinger (his "I'm going to **** them" speech during Lesbo sex) is basically right: he's carrying a chip on his shoulder from way back when he wanted Catelyn and couldn't have her 'cause he wasn't of noble enough stock. He's gonna SHOW THEM. The random people he gets killed, eh, whatever.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

One thing that I've found interesting is that in the show they don't portray the sheer loathing Catelyn has for Jon, but in the book she would happily see him dead.

Not entirely sure about that. Saw the 2nd episode (um... through torrent) and Catelyn really doesn't want Jon there when he says goodbye to Bran. She barks at him to leave in fact.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I suppose, given that the top two billed actors are already dead, they had to make #3 more likable. One wonders what will happen come the Red Wedding; "and Peter Dinklage" may get moved up to top billing.

Nikolas Coster-Waldau (is that how you spell it?) will likely get top billing. And, of course, Lena Hedley is already somewhat known for 300 and Sarah Conner Chronicles. By that point, I figure the actors playing Jon Snow and Dany will be more well known as well and thus be elevated.

[Carreidas]

I suppose, given that the top two billed actors are already dead, they had to make #3 more likable. One wonders what will happen come the Red Wedding; "and Peter Dinklage" may get moved up to top billing.

By second season already he should be the highest pay in the show. He is the main (and basically the only) protagonist of "A Clash of Kings".

[Guynemer]

Most of the way through book four, I can see why Jaime has become a favorite character of many. He's not exactly what one might call a good person, even less so than Tyrion, but he does have some sense of honor.

Cersei's slow decent into paranoid madness is also rather enjoyable.

Still, I can see why this is the least liked of the series so far. It's still quite good, but not a whole lot of significance has happened in spite of 700+ pages.