So my view of A Game of Thrones
So after about half a year I finally finished reading A Game of Thrones. And just in time since Swedish television is going to start showing it on Wednesday. For, I think, the first time I'm actually interested in following through with a fantasy series, and since I've heard that the characters will develope in the coming books I felt it might be interesting to write down my thoughts on them after every book.
If you, like me, is late into the whole A Song of Ice and Fire thing, then I don't want to spoil you so I've put the rest under a cut.
First of all I think it's interesting in catching up with a series that's quite old. That also unfortunately means that I have to tread carefully to avoid spoilers. About halfway into the book I had found out two things. Ned was going to die and Jon is the child of Lysanna and Rhaegar. The first one wasn't so much to do about, with the other one I'm interested to see if the characters themselves will find out.
I think I'll try and structure this a bit more.
The premise
A continent with a lot feuding families, some strange nature but not magic. I like it. I usually have a big problem reading fantasy, and I think one of the things I like with ASOIAF is the lack of wizards and magic. It's clear magic exists but it's not part of everyday life, and most people seem to think that it doesn't exist.
The characters
Ned - he was my favorite. Bohoo, for him dying. The h/c person in me was really excited when he was thrown into a dungeon with a broken leg, and had to face a moral dilemma though.
Catelyn - boring at first, but then she started to act like the powerful wife of a lord, and then I started to like her. So far I think she's the most interesting character.
Rob - quite the same as Catelyn. Had to grow up fast, and did well.
Sansa - didn't like her at all at first, she was too whimsical, but then she was taken hostage and now I really feel a lot of sympathy for her. I'm also curious on how her story will continue.
Arya - feels like a cliché
Bran - Had a good start, until he fell down and got crippled. I'm guessing he will find about magic later on and start using it somehow.
Jon - seems to be built up as one of the biggest characters. So far a bit too perfect, but we will see what happens. I like him, and I am curious about what goes on on the other side of the wall.
Cersei - the clichéd evil queen
Jaime - her brother, hasn't done much except sleeping with her and losing a battle
Tyrion - clearly the character that we will follow and not be sure on which side he is. At the moment it seems as if he will always choose Lannister, but he fights for his own position within the family.
Joffrey - ok, he's evil and quite as clichéd as his mother.
Dani - my favorite character. She's the one who's gone through quite an arch already in this book, while the others seems to be mostly set up for later character development. She's far off from the main plot, but I think her story so far weighs up for that.
Bunch of other people...These ones are the main ones that made an impression on me, we'll see if those impressions stay and I also guess that in such a big story other characters will get larger roles but so far they haven't contributed much, or they are dead like Khal Drogo.
My guess for the ending of the series is that Jon somehow will become the new king, since he's both a Stark and a Targaryen. I only wonder who knew about his parents, more than Ned and Ned can't tell anyone. The only shipping I would find interesting would be Dani and Jon (by this point I shouldn't understand that they are related). I can't really see how they will meet up though.
I must say though that the TV series was what kept my interest in the book, when I felt that it was quite slow. I generally prefer fantasy in film rather than in books, and I'm really interested in the TV series. I wanted to read the book before I saw the series though.
If you, like me, is late into the whole A Song of Ice and Fire thing, then I don't want to spoil you so I've put the rest under a cut.
First of all I think it's interesting in catching up with a series that's quite old. That also unfortunately means that I have to tread carefully to avoid spoilers. About halfway into the book I had found out two things. Ned was going to die and Jon is the child of Lysanna and Rhaegar. The first one wasn't so much to do about, with the other one I'm interested to see if the characters themselves will find out.
I think I'll try and structure this a bit more.
The premise
A continent with a lot feuding families, some strange nature but not magic. I like it. I usually have a big problem reading fantasy, and I think one of the things I like with ASOIAF is the lack of wizards and magic. It's clear magic exists but it's not part of everyday life, and most people seem to think that it doesn't exist.
The characters
Ned - he was my favorite. Bohoo, for him dying. The h/c person in me was really excited when he was thrown into a dungeon with a broken leg, and had to face a moral dilemma though.
Catelyn - boring at first, but then she started to act like the powerful wife of a lord, and then I started to like her. So far I think she's the most interesting character.
Rob - quite the same as Catelyn. Had to grow up fast, and did well.
Sansa - didn't like her at all at first, she was too whimsical, but then she was taken hostage and now I really feel a lot of sympathy for her. I'm also curious on how her story will continue.
Arya - feels like a cliché
Bran - Had a good start, until he fell down and got crippled. I'm guessing he will find about magic later on and start using it somehow.
Jon - seems to be built up as one of the biggest characters. So far a bit too perfect, but we will see what happens. I like him, and I am curious about what goes on on the other side of the wall.
Cersei - the clichéd evil queen
Jaime - her brother, hasn't done much except sleeping with her and losing a battle
Tyrion - clearly the character that we will follow and not be sure on which side he is. At the moment it seems as if he will always choose Lannister, but he fights for his own position within the family.
Joffrey - ok, he's evil and quite as clichéd as his mother.
Dani - my favorite character. She's the one who's gone through quite an arch already in this book, while the others seems to be mostly set up for later character development. She's far off from the main plot, but I think her story so far weighs up for that.
Bunch of other people...These ones are the main ones that made an impression on me, we'll see if those impressions stay and I also guess that in such a big story other characters will get larger roles but so far they haven't contributed much, or they are dead like Khal Drogo.
My guess for the ending of the series is that Jon somehow will become the new king, since he's both a Stark and a Targaryen. I only wonder who knew about his parents, more than Ned and Ned can't tell anyone. The only shipping I would find interesting would be Dani and Jon (by this point I shouldn't understand that they are related). I can't really see how they will meet up though.
I must say though that the TV series was what kept my interest in the book, when I felt that it was quite slow. I generally prefer fantasy in film rather than in books, and I'm really interested in the TV series. I wanted to read the book before I saw the series though.