alexandral (
alexandral) wrote2005-12-27 09:35 am
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Holidays and A Game of Thrones
Good morning and good day to everybody!
Two days of holidays were great and I am so much looking forward to talk to everybody! Hope everybody had nice time! We are going to Wales tomorrow early morning, because of it this post turned out to be LONG (apologise very much for this)
My holidays highlights:
Beautiful walks in Yorkshire Dales – 1
Freezing picnics -1
Russian pancake suppers- 1
Food eaten – without number
Cashmere top - 1
Books finished – A Game of Thrones
Summary
Loves:
1. Jon,
2. Sandor
3. On a road to love: Jaime
Major heartbreaks:
1. Bran’s fall
2. Death of Lady the cute direwolf
3. Sandor’s story
4. Ned’s death
5. Dany's loosing her husband and unborn child
Favourite scenes:
1. Hand’s tournament
2. Dany eating the horse's heart during some crazy Dothraki ritual
Sides taken: It is supposed to be the War of Roses, right? Starks as Yorks, Lannisters as Lancasters? I AM A YORKSHIRE girl, (well, Russian-Yorkshire really)!
This book is long and lovely in details; for me it is a book about characters – unforgettable and different. Usually I am quite bad with names and it takes me a while to remember who is who, but great thing about Martin’s book was that I seem to remember the characters and their names well – so vivid they are!
Ned: Three major types of fictional male characters make me go all week in my knees:
“man with principles”.
“arrogant but gorgeous and on a road to redemption”
“tortured and disfigured, but with the noble core”
There is a fine exemplar or even two of each in this book and first is Ned –“man with principles”, even if they cost everything to him and his family! Could he just NOT SPEAK to Cersei about his discovery that king’s children are really Jaime’s children? This is why while I admire Ned, I just can not love him really – because of unwise decisions. Why o why after King Robert’s death he refused Renly’s offer and entrusted himself to Littlefinger? And then was wandering why Renly left him after he already refused Renly’s offer? Of course, Renly didn’t want to die, that’s why! Littlefinger said right – that he worn his honour as armour, but in reality it was restricting him. Plus Eddard Stark seemed to be taking himself too seriously at times, for example when he was talking with King Robert about the instance when Jaime’s was sitting on the Iron Throne, well – what a BIG DEAL? But Ned was speaking and thinking about it as about something incredibly wicked.
Jon: He is so lovely. Truly, he seems to be the strongest among the Stark’s children and I just so unbelievably love him, and I am just dying to know who his mother was. It MUST be something special!
Update I just have read in one of the old
queenofthorns posts her theory about Jon’s parentage as Rhaegar’s and Lyanne’s child and it makes a lot of sense. But : 1.Robert the king was talking about Lyanne’s rape by Rhaegar; 2. Jorah Mormont was saying to Dany that Rhaegar was very much against rape; 3. Rhaegar had some feelings for Lyanna during the old time’s tournament as remembered by Eddard. It seems to me that because “there is not smoke without the fire”, Lyanna must have being raped, but definitely not by Rhaegar. And it seems reasonable to conclude that Jon is her child, but could the child be a product of rape? But it would be much more romantic in he was Rhaegar’s child, of course..
Nonetheless, Jon is definitely “man with principles”! And I love him! And he and Lord Mormont are ever so slightly like Horatio Hornblower and Capt. Sir Edward Pellew..
Cathlyn: I think her to be quite a silly kind of lady; but strangely she seems to be mentioned as resourceful in the book. Why? I find her actions more then silly and because of that her chapters quite missable. I think that going to King’s Landing to find the owner of the dagger is an extremely silly idea. If it was a rear dagger in the hands of a hired killer, seems obvious that somebody meant to frame somebody else? And believing Petyr Baelish was really-really silly too.
And an idea to abduct Tyrion counts as max on my scale of silly ideas. Plus, dragging him to her sister’s house is just an ice on a cake of silliness.
Everybody could be spared a lot of trouble, if not for her. I suppose Ned still would have found about Jaime fathering queen’s children and as noble man he is, he had to talk to Cersei and be killed, BUT – at least all the rest of Starks could be in one place!
Lysa and her son: – can be anything more disgusting as these two? In this beautiful Eyrie Castle fit for the elf kings?
Jaime: – There is not much about him, but call me unprincipled, I liked the scene were he punishes Ned for Tyrion’s abduction by killing Ned’s men, Jaime was so beautifully arrogant and had some real feelings for his brother Tyrion! Plus, Jaime’s men love him and Tyrion loves him. Soldier’s love is usually good indication of valour and Tyrion seems to be a very good judge to the characters. Yes, Jaime is my “arrogant but gorgeous and on a road to redemption” type! And I am on a road of loving him and I have read some books ahead and love him very much in the future books!
Dany: – She is brilliant, isn’t she? And fit to be a queen. Too brilliant for me to warm up to her just yet, but I like her very much! The scene of “eating of the horse’s raw heart” is just great – sink or swim! And the scene of the birth of THE DRAGONS is incredible too !!!!!!! I was totally hertbroken because of the maegi's betrayal! I suppose i understand what maegi did and i like the lesson of "life is more then just a life", but!!!!!!!!!!
Hound: I love him so much.. Really, I do! I must admit that this love developed during the reading-ahead of “A Clash of Kings” and there is not much of him in the “A Game of Thrones”, but nonetheless. I hope to see more of him, and though I know he is not POV character in the 4 books (and I have read ahead and know he is presumed to be dead later), I SO hope that he survived and we know more of him. Why? I just love people who “tell it as it is”, I just love that he says what he thinks. And that he doesn’t adhere to people’s code of conduct. And I loved when during the tournament he saved the life of the Flower Knight.
I suppose the fact that he is strong, tortured and disfigured helps my strange heart. He is an ensample of “tortured, disfigured, but with the noble core” man of my fancy!
I loved the tournament scene, and I love his feelings for “little bird” Sansa. “Beauty and the Beast” is just my favourite story of all and I will be very disappointed if nothing happened later.
Sansa: – she is 11 at the start of the book and this tells it all ! Hope she develops. She has a strong core, “I am Stark of Winterfell”. She is a survivor, though she must be greatly impaired by the death of her direwolf.
Arya: – I liked her very much at first, but thought her a little selfish later (well, she didn’t try to free her sister, did she?), but may be she is just a kid. She reminded me of Lyra at first, but later – no, she is no Lyra.
Tyrion: - he is really-really lovely and a good person, but there was two much of him in the middle of the book (the story about his abduction was far too long for me). I liked the “abduction” story, but I would prefer to read more about Jon instead, or what was happening in the King’s Landing or even about Dany.
Bran I totally ADORE Bran!
I like very much that Martin seems to make his amazing characters “walk through fire” – Bran and his fall and his rise to come; Jon and his difficult path; Dany and he story of loosing husband and unborn son, but breeding dragons; Sansa; Arya; and Jaime!!!
I guess it is my longest post up to date!
I have discovered some beautiful pictures of sunsets in Leeds area on flickr by sovietuk. The flickr license of photo sharing allows non-commercial use. I made few icons from sovietuk pictures.
PLEASE, IF YOU TAKE THESE ICONS, GIVE CREDIT TO sovietuk on flickr!!!!!!



Two days of holidays were great and I am so much looking forward to talk to everybody! Hope everybody had nice time! We are going to Wales tomorrow early morning, because of it this post turned out to be LONG (apologise very much for this)
My holidays highlights:
Beautiful walks in Yorkshire Dales – 1
Freezing picnics -1
Russian pancake suppers- 1
Food eaten – without number
Cashmere top - 1
Books finished – A Game of Thrones
Summary
Loves:
1. Jon,
2. Sandor
3. On a road to love: Jaime
Major heartbreaks:
1. Bran’s fall
2. Death of Lady the cute direwolf
3. Sandor’s story
4. Ned’s death
5. Dany's loosing her husband and unborn child
Favourite scenes:
1. Hand’s tournament
2. Dany eating the horse's heart during some crazy Dothraki ritual
Sides taken: It is supposed to be the War of Roses, right? Starks as Yorks, Lannisters as Lancasters? I AM A YORKSHIRE girl, (well, Russian-Yorkshire really)!
This book is long and lovely in details; for me it is a book about characters – unforgettable and different. Usually I am quite bad with names and it takes me a while to remember who is who, but great thing about Martin’s book was that I seem to remember the characters and their names well – so vivid they are!
Ned: Three major types of fictional male characters make me go all week in my knees:
“man with principles”.
“arrogant but gorgeous and on a road to redemption”
“tortured and disfigured, but with the noble core”
There is a fine exemplar or even two of each in this book and first is Ned –“man with principles”, even if they cost everything to him and his family! Could he just NOT SPEAK to Cersei about his discovery that king’s children are really Jaime’s children? This is why while I admire Ned, I just can not love him really – because of unwise decisions. Why o why after King Robert’s death he refused Renly’s offer and entrusted himself to Littlefinger? And then was wandering why Renly left him after he already refused Renly’s offer? Of course, Renly didn’t want to die, that’s why! Littlefinger said right – that he worn his honour as armour, but in reality it was restricting him. Plus Eddard Stark seemed to be taking himself too seriously at times, for example when he was talking with King Robert about the instance when Jaime’s was sitting on the Iron Throne, well – what a BIG DEAL? But Ned was speaking and thinking about it as about something incredibly wicked.
Jon: He is so lovely. Truly, he seems to be the strongest among the Stark’s children and I just so unbelievably love him, and I am just dying to know who his mother was. It MUST be something special!
Update I just have read in one of the old
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Nonetheless, Jon is definitely “man with principles”! And I love him! And he and Lord Mormont are ever so slightly like Horatio Hornblower and Capt. Sir Edward Pellew..
Cathlyn: I think her to be quite a silly kind of lady; but strangely she seems to be mentioned as resourceful in the book. Why? I find her actions more then silly and because of that her chapters quite missable. I think that going to King’s Landing to find the owner of the dagger is an extremely silly idea. If it was a rear dagger in the hands of a hired killer, seems obvious that somebody meant to frame somebody else? And believing Petyr Baelish was really-really silly too.
And an idea to abduct Tyrion counts as max on my scale of silly ideas. Plus, dragging him to her sister’s house is just an ice on a cake of silliness.
Everybody could be spared a lot of trouble, if not for her. I suppose Ned still would have found about Jaime fathering queen’s children and as noble man he is, he had to talk to Cersei and be killed, BUT – at least all the rest of Starks could be in one place!
Lysa and her son: – can be anything more disgusting as these two? In this beautiful Eyrie Castle fit for the elf kings?
Jaime: – There is not much about him, but call me unprincipled, I liked the scene were he punishes Ned for Tyrion’s abduction by killing Ned’s men, Jaime was so beautifully arrogant and had some real feelings for his brother Tyrion! Plus, Jaime’s men love him and Tyrion loves him. Soldier’s love is usually good indication of valour and Tyrion seems to be a very good judge to the characters. Yes, Jaime is my “arrogant but gorgeous and on a road to redemption” type! And I am on a road of loving him and I have read some books ahead and love him very much in the future books!
Dany: – She is brilliant, isn’t she? And fit to be a queen. Too brilliant for me to warm up to her just yet, but I like her very much! The scene of “eating of the horse’s raw heart” is just great – sink or swim! And the scene of the birth of THE DRAGONS is incredible too !!!!!!! I was totally hertbroken because of the maegi's betrayal! I suppose i understand what maegi did and i like the lesson of "life is more then just a life", but!!!!!!!!!!
Hound: I love him so much.. Really, I do! I must admit that this love developed during the reading-ahead of “A Clash of Kings” and there is not much of him in the “A Game of Thrones”, but nonetheless. I hope to see more of him, and though I know he is not POV character in the 4 books (and I have read ahead and know he is presumed to be dead later), I SO hope that he survived and we know more of him. Why? I just love people who “tell it as it is”, I just love that he says what he thinks. And that he doesn’t adhere to people’s code of conduct. And I loved when during the tournament he saved the life of the Flower Knight.
I suppose the fact that he is strong, tortured and disfigured helps my strange heart. He is an ensample of “tortured, disfigured, but with the noble core” man of my fancy!
I loved the tournament scene, and I love his feelings for “little bird” Sansa. “Beauty and the Beast” is just my favourite story of all and I will be very disappointed if nothing happened later.
Sansa: – she is 11 at the start of the book and this tells it all ! Hope she develops. She has a strong core, “I am Stark of Winterfell”. She is a survivor, though she must be greatly impaired by the death of her direwolf.
Arya: – I liked her very much at first, but thought her a little selfish later (well, she didn’t try to free her sister, did she?), but may be she is just a kid. She reminded me of Lyra at first, but later – no, she is no Lyra.
Tyrion: - he is really-really lovely and a good person, but there was two much of him in the middle of the book (the story about his abduction was far too long for me). I liked the “abduction” story, but I would prefer to read more about Jon instead, or what was happening in the King’s Landing or even about Dany.
Bran I totally ADORE Bran!
I like very much that Martin seems to make his amazing characters “walk through fire” – Bran and his fall and his rise to come; Jon and his difficult path; Dany and he story of loosing husband and unborn son, but breeding dragons; Sansa; Arya; and Jaime!!!
I guess it is my longest post up to date!
I have discovered some beautiful pictures of sunsets in Leeds area on flickr by sovietuk. The flickr license of photo sharing allows non-commercial use. I made few icons from sovietuk pictures.
PLEASE, IF YOU TAKE THESE ICONS, GIVE CREDIT TO sovietuk on flickr!!!!!!









no subject
It's great to read all your thoughts about A Game of Thrones - it reminds me of the reaction that I had to the book, when I first read it a few years ago. It's quite breathtaking in its depth, both in terms of plot and character.
Just one comment, though...what if Lyanna wasn't raped? What if it was...consensual? There's possibly more going on with Lyanna than we might suspect, at least according to one theory. :)
Lyssa and her son always turn my stomach - Lyssa is scary, and so is her kid! It's so sad to see how twisted they both have become.
Those icons are stunning,
no subject
I could not work it all out just from "A GAme of Thrones" alone. It is so great if she wasn't. It would be very romantic story between her and Rhaegar!!!!! I am looking forward so much to read about it!
I remember, you told me to watch out for old tournament's scene - i thought it was one of the most beautiful and mysterious bits in the book, how Eddard was remembering about Rhaegar giving Lyanna Winter Roses!
Thank you!
Part 1
It starts off that way, but not REALLY. Like, Tyrion is more Richard III than any of the Starks and he’d be a Lannister of course; and Dany is, if you like, Henry Tudor, but I hate him in history ;) So it’s only a jumping off point, not something that exactly maps onto the story. I refer to the series sometimes facetiously as “the Wars of the Roses, but with dragons” ;)
This book is long and lovely in details; for me it is a book about characters – unforgettable and different
Yes – this series is ALL about the characters; it’s why I love these books above all other fantasy stories I have ever read with the exception of Tolkien and Lewis, and there my love is all mixed up with my memories of childhood, I think.
Eddard Stark seemed to be taking himself too seriously at times, for example when he was talking with King Robert about the instance when Jaime’s was sitting on the Iron Throne, well – what a BIG DEAL? But Ned was speaking and thinking about it as about something incredibly wicked.
And later? Knowing why Jaime did what he did? That makes that scene somehow almost tragic – this complete misreading of each other’s intentions (well, Ned misreads Jaime’s, anyway; Jaime quite rightly only reads scorn in Ned and his own pride gets involved so he offers no explanation) that leads inexorably to their hatred of each other forever more, when in fact, Ned might have actually approved of WHY Jaime killed Aerys.
And it seems reasonable to conclude that Jon is her child, but could the child be a product of rape? But it would be much more romantic in he was Rhaegar’s child, of course..
Lyanna was never raped; that was something Robert told himself for his pride’s sake. If you read carefully, the only person who ever says Lyanna was raped is Robert. Her own brother, who was with her when she died, certainly never thinks it and he just sort of stays silent when Robert goes off on that topic (for Jon’s sake, I believe!) And no, Rhaegar was no rapist – set against Robert’s thinking this is everyone else who ever thinks of Rhaegar (Ned, Jaime, Barristan Selmy) thinking of him as a damn good guy ;) I just wish he and Lyanna had left a note for her family!!
And he and Lord Mormont are ever so slightly like Horatio Hornblower and Capt. Sir Edward Pellew..
Ooooh, yes! And do you know, in my head Jon is the young, young Ioan Gruffudd of the first Hornblower film.
I suppose Ned still would have found about Jaime fathering queen’s children and as noble man he is, he had to talk to Cersei and be killed, BUT – at least all the rest of Starks could be in one place!
Well, I feel quite awful for Catelyn by the time we get to books 2 & 3 (and she is the first person we see being kind to Brienne, so I love her for that); I agree that kidnapping Tyrion was utter folly, but Baelysh is, don’t forget, a master manipulator. And Ned trusted him too. As for the killing of Ned … well, wait and see who was really responsible for that!
Re: Part 1
Lyanna was never raped I am so glad she wasn’t! Thank you! I could not quite work out the whole truth about it from “A Game of Thrones” alone, but the question about it rose in my mind when Jorah Mormont was saying all the nice things about Rhaegar to Dany. I think I am in love with Rhaegar and Lyanna’s story already!
And the old tournament scene! **sigh** WINTER ROSES! I just love the tournament scenes, I used to love Sir Walter Scott!
in my head Jon is the young, young Ioan Gruffudd Definitely!
but Baelysh is, don’t forget, a master manipulator O, he is so creepy! And all the kisses with Sansa (further in the books) – just disgusting! And pretending to be a father to her! **shrugs in disgust ** Poor Sansa – it is so sad, she is very beautiful, but WHERE ALL THE GOOD MEN GONE? I was so heartbroken later when she thinks “nobody will like me for my own sake”.
As for the killing of Ned … well, wait and see who was really responsible for that! So, it was not just crazy Joffrey’s fault! O, well, it must be Baelish's intrigues then! (PLEASE TELL ME WHO IS IT IF I AM WRONG!!!!!!!!!)
I wanted to ask – when Arya was in the dragon skull cellar she saw two men talking. Was it Varys with some magician or was it somebody else?
My friend adjrun has this theory that the ‘good’ Lannisters love Tyrion and the ‘bad’ ones don’t It doesn’t seem to be many “good” Lannisters just now.. ** sighs**
The maegi’s revenge was not unjustified; especially if Dany’s son was supposed to become the UeberDothraki, the Stallion Who Mounted the World. Perhaps it was better he died before he could become that fearsome figure, you know? And the maegi paid with HER life and of course Dany would not have had the dragons if her child had lived I know. But it came as a complete surprise to me that baby has died, because of the prophecy. I just was thinking prophecy will come to pass. I am still not completely sure. DO you think if there is any possibility for the baby to survive somehow? The strangest thing does not give me rest : when Jorah Mormont is saying about the baby he says :”he has been dead for years” What years?
Re: Part 1
Hee! What an adorable picture you paint ;) When ARE you going away? Probably you have already left, but anyway, you’ll see this when you come back…
I think I am in love with Rhaegar and Lyanna’s story already!
I’m definitely a little in love with Rhaegar and I’m dying to know what the whole story is about.
And the old tournament scene! **sigh** WINTER ROSES! I just love the tournament scenes, I used to love Sir Walter Scott!
I have this very strong feeling that we haven’t seen the end of Harrenhal YET – it’s where they had the tournament where Rhaegar met Lyanna; the same tournament in which Jaime was made a Kingsguard knight and not allowed to compete. It’s where Jaime loses his hand (or anyway it’s the culmination of that journey of pain) and where he starts to regain his honor by rescuing Brienne. I think there is a prophecy that is referring to Harrenhal as well.
So, it was not just crazy Joffrey’s fault! O, well, it must be Baelish's intrigues then! (PLEASE TELL ME WHO IS IT IF I AM WRONG!!!!!!!!!)
I think Baelish manipulated Joffrey into killing Ned – he really always wanted Ned dead for “taking Cat away from him” and when Jaime wouldn’t kill Ned, Baelish made sure that Joffrey DID.
I wanted to ask – when Arya was in the dragon skull cellar she saw two men talking. Was it Varys with some magician or was it somebody else?
Varys and Illyrio :p Make of THAT what you will …
There doesn’t seem to be many “good” Lannisters just now.. ** sighs**
Uncle Kevan’s pretty cool; and you’ll meet Genna and Daven in Feast - I loved both of them. They have very similar senses of humor to Jaime and Tyrion.
I just was thinking prophecy will come to pass. I am still not completely sure. DO you think if there is any possibility for the baby to survive somehow?
I don’t think ALL the prophecies come true – when Dany sees the big prophecy/vision thing in ACoK, she’s told that some things are the past, some are the future and some will never be… And I think the child of her body is the sacrifice Dany had to make for the dragons to be born – I don’t think her kid is alive any more than all the speculation that Rhaegar’s baby son Aegon survived somehow can be true either.
The strangest thing does not give me rest : when Jorah Mormont is saying about the baby he says :”he has been dead for years” What years?
Hmmm! I might have to reread that – I don’t remember the passages that don’t deal with Jaime with QUITE the same crystal clarity :p
Re: Part 1
Varys and Illyrio : That what I thought at first, but the mentioning of magic confused me..So Varys is magician! How interesting, but not surprising!
And I think the child of her body is the sacrifice Dany had to make for the dragons to be born This makes a lot of sense. Even the prophesy about the baby which says “stallion that mounts the world” can be interpreted differently. I thought of it as some strange choice of words (even before I new that Dany’s son died) for a human, like it is speaking about something more powerful, a dragon, perhaps. And Dany is the mother of dragons after all..
Hmmm! I might have to reread that – I don’t remember the passages that don’t deal with Jaime with QUITE the same crystal clarity I know the feeling!
I have this very strong feeling that we haven’t seen the end of Harrenhal YET – it’s where they had the tournament where Rhaegar met Lyanna; the same tournament in which Jaime was made a Kingsguard knight and not allowed to compete. It’s where Jaime loses his hand (or anyway it’s the culmination of that journey of pain) and where he starts to regain his honor by rescuing Brienne. I think there is a prophecy that is referring to Harrenhal as well. Wow ! I didn’t realize yet it was the same place! How very interesting!
Something what you said before – I love how interesting minor characters are in Martin’s books. Many “fantasy” writers just make up some cardboard figures and thing that if they throw in dragons, goblins and so on they are just going to be good as Tolkien! NNNNNNNOOOOOOO!
Re: Part 1
Hee! YAY! Have a great trip!
Varys and Illyrio : That what I thought at first, but the mentioning of magic confused me..So Varys is magician! How interesting, but not surprising!
Oh, that’s another something I’m going to have to read again. Varys is DEFINITELY not a magician – he hates magic (which you’ll find out from a conversation he has later on in Clash of Kings, I think), but perhaps this is just Arya’s perception of him? He’s in disguise of course, which is why she has no idea who it really is; the fat guy is pretty definitely Illyrio, I think, which means Varys is keeping an eye on Dany and Viserys.
like it is speaking about something more powerful, a dragon, perhaps. And Dany is the mother of dragons after all.
Yes, I think the dragons are going to do what the baby was supposedly destined to do ;) Only, of course, Dany’s destiny is not to conquer the world, I think, but to save it from the Others.
Wow ! I didn’t realize yet it was the same place! How very interesting!
I know! I kept thinking that this dream of Bran’s in AGoT is about Winterfell, but then I thought what if it is about HARRENHAL instead. I will have to think about this some more, but I think it fits.
Something what you said before – I love how interesting minor characters are in Martin’s books. Many “fantasy” writers just make up some cardboard figures and thing that if they throw in dragons, goblins and so on they are just going to be good as Tolkien! NNNNNNNOOOOOOO!
Oh, yeah. People have these favorite non-POV characters – not even as important as Sandor, people like Syrio Forel or Pia, whom you’ll meet later. It’s so great!
Re: Part 1
I have read it now, it could be just a joke of sorts; Illyrio says something like “You are more then a juggler, my friend. You are a true sorcerer. I ask you to work you magic a bit longer”, seems like a joke to me now.
I kept thinking that this dream of Bran’s in AGoT is about Winterfell, but then I thought what if it is about HARRENHAL instead. I will have to think about this some more, but I think it fits. Do you mean a dream about “a giant in armor maid of stone”? I don’t know what to make of it yet, I need to find your old post about it, I remember, you HAD A POST!
Re: Part 1
Heh! Yes, I mentioned it in a post - but I think it maybe more appropriately belongs in the post about all the different prophecies and trying to make some sense out of them at least in regards to events that have occurred so far.
Part 2
Jaime’s only real saving grace in AGoT, in my opinion, is his love for Tyrion; Tywin their father is offended by Tyrion’s kidnapping because it’s a blow to the Lannisters’ pride and Cersei is offended because Tyrion is her brother and she is the Queen and again, a blow to the pride thing. But JAIME genuinely loves his brother and fears for Tyrion’s life (and that is why he doesn’t, in the end, challenge Ned to single combat – he is quite certain he would win that match and then Tyrion might die if Ned dies!)
Plus, Jaime’s men love him and Tyrion loves him. Soldier’s love is usually good indication of valour and Tyrion seems to be a very good judge to the characters.
My friend
I was totally hertbroken because of the maegi's betrayal! I suppose i understand what maegi did and i like the lesson of "life is more then just a life", but!!!!!!!!!!
Well, I feel like this is another one of those things in the Martin’s book where there is no “right” or “wrong” – yes, I feel terrible for Dany that she lost her baby; but the Lamb Men were totally peaceful and the Dothraki came in and burned and destroyed them and raped the women and took them off to slavery. The maegi’s revenge was not unjustified; especially if Dany’s son was supposed to become the UeberDothraki, the Stallion Who Mounted the World. Perhaps it was better he died before he could become that fearsome figure, you know? And the maegi paid with HER life and of course Dany would not have had the dragons if her child had lived … So there is a little bit of right and a little bit of wrong … just like nearly everyone else
I like very much that Martin seems to make his amazing characters “walk through fire” – Bran and his fall and his rise to come; Jon and his difficult path; Dany and he story of loosing husband and unborn son, but breeding dragons; Sansa; Arya; and Jaime!!!
I’m SO glad you’re enjoying these books! Cannot wait to read your thoughts on Clash of Kings and especially Storm of Swords … I really do love more of the characters than Jaime ;) - even the ones who are weak and foolish often have my pity and I have found something to love in nearly all of the POV characters. Aren’t they brilliant?
no subject
I don't think the books parallel the War of the Roses so much as they take elements from history and transform them, and of course real history and politics are far more complex than what you see in most books, but Martin's really achieved that sense of complicated reality with his world-building.
I, too, don't think Rhaegar was in any way a rapist. I hope at some point - somehow - we'll get the full story of that romance (Rhaegar and Lyanne), because as tragic as it clearly was, I suspect it was also quite beautiful. And I totally buy into the theory that they're Jon's parents, so of course I want the history of my favorite character to have beauty and nobility in it.
I love Tyrion and I love the way he thinks, so I'm afraid there's never too much Tyrion for me. I think it's very neat that he learned firsthand the kind of exhiliration Jaime felt in battle and now Jaime's learning Tyrion's skill in thinking his way out of a tough spot, with the rush that comes from a victory by wit.
Sansa's still one of my least favorite of the "good guys," a phrase I put in quotes since most characters in the Martinverse are varying shades of gray. The death of Lady remains one of the most upsetting scenes in the series for me, though, as does the driving away of Nymeria. And I agree that both girls are impaired by the loss of their wolves.
Honestly, I just love these books so much, and every time I read or talk about them, I just love them more.
Hope you had a wonderful time in Wales. :-)
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It is really-really like a real life, isn’t it?
I love Tyrion and I love the way he thinks, so I'm afraid there's never too much Tyrion for me. I think it's very neat that he learned firsthand the kind of exhilaration Jaime felt in battle and now Jaime's learning Tyrion's skill in thinking his way out of a tough spot, with the rush that comes from a victory by wit.
I love their relationship and would love to see them together, they clearly love each other so much, for example when Sansa is lost in the revolt scene, Tyrion first thought is “Now Jaime is going to be killed”
Sansa's still one of my least favorite of the "good guys," a phrase I put in quotes since most characters in the Martinverse are varying shades of gray.
Why?
I like Sansa now, I think, and like her more during my sneak peaks into “ A Storm of Swords” and “A Feast for Crows”, though she is naïve and thinking about herself, I like that she survived Joffrey. I am not sure I would. And in a way I emphasize with her love for knights – I used to read and re-read “Ivenhoe” at about the same age of 12 ;)
The death of Lady remains one of the most upsetting scenes in the series for me, though, as does the driving away of Nymeria.
**sighs** I believe that Arya will find Nymeria and re-unite ;), I also believe that the death of Lady will make more sense; direwolves are terribly important I feel..
Honestly, I just love these books so much, and every time I read or talk about them, I just love them more.
SO TRUE!
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