No idea about the text, but I was so psyched to see this post! So much to say about these books...I never even finished discussing the first one with you. :)
Those visions in the House of the Undying (yeah I loved that part too) are hard to parse - there are some that the fandom is still arguing about. Actually, if you want a list of them, you might not have to compile them yourself, although I'd understand if that's the kind of thing you don't want to go Googling for. Probably tons of spoilers out there.
I adore Jaqen. Just his way of speaking. And Arya's choices for her first two deaths drove me crazy, but I had to keep reminding myself that she's still a child. Really not cut out for this, in spite of her new status as killer.
Jojen and Meera's father has some insider info that nobody else knows, so it's unlikely we'll see the swamp culture up close and personal for a long while. Unless he dies or something. That would be terrible.
You passed the "Theon test" - if anyone doesn't start hating him during his first POV chapter, I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THEM. Ugh, I just want to give him and Joffrey a couple of rusty knives and make them fight to the death.
Yeah, Tyrion is brilliant. The time that he's acting as King's Hand is the only part of the series where I find myself rooting for the Lannisters, even subconsciously. Varys is really one of my favorite characters too, and Littlefinger is fascinating even though he gives me serious wiggins.
Glad you liked Sansa and Catelyn; they take a lot of crap from fandom but I think they're both awesome women. I especially loved the Maegor's Holdfast scene for Sansa, and Catelyn telling off Stannis and Renly.
Cersei's definitely a victim, which is one thing I love about these books - they make you think about whether it's okay to sympathize with the bad guys sometimes, and whether someone like Cersei deserves what she gets. My opinion is that no woman ever deserves that, but she's also not excused for her own crimes. She needs to be stopped, not hurt.
On the other hand, Joffrey, as you say, should just die.
The gods of the North are wonderful; we learn about them very slowly but it's worth it. GRRM didn't quite put in the research for his Catholicism parallel with the Seven, but it's still pretty nifty, very intricate.
Good thought, chaos being the major theme. It's astonishing the way control just slips out of everyone's hands, no matter who they are, and before they know it they're just fighting for survival.
About the visions, I suppose I’ll Google it once I finish reading all the books that are out. I don’t want to risk spoilers, so I’ve been avoiding the fandom for the most part and staying away from any articles. So far, so good on the non-spoilage part.
I hope we get to see Jaqen again. He’s such a fantastic character. And yeah, I kept wanting Arya to whisper Joffrey’s name or at least Tywin’s, but she didn’t and like you, it drove me crazy too. It’s understandable given her age. At least she used that last choice wisely… Although I have to wonder if Tywin would’ve been a smarter choice there anyway in the large scale of things.
Jojen and Meera's father has some insider info that nobody else knows, so it's unlikely we'll see the swamp culture up close and personal for a long while.
Damn… That’s disappointing. Ah well, I don’t want their father to die. At least I’ll get to see both Jojen and Meera in the next book.
I approve of that fight. Theon would probably win, given his experience, but hopefully Joffrey would have inflicted some wound on him that’ll get infected and then he’ll die and we’ll party. Also, I can’t imagine who wouldn’t hate Theon after that chapter. Having said that, I’m sure there are people out there.
As much as I want the Lannisters to lose, I still want Tyrion to succeed or at the very least, not be killed off. Which I realize is an opposing set of hopes. Varys amuses me greatly though I’m never certain of his agenda. Same with Littlefinger. Tyrion’s chapters are some of my favorites, partly because of Tyrion and his wonderfulness but also partly because of the witty interactions he has with other characters, such as Varys.
That sucks about fandom giving them crap, but then I’ve rarely cared what the rest of fandom thinks. I imagine a lot of it comes from people claiming they’re not strong female characters. Because obviously being a strong woman means you need to be physically powerful in some way. *rolls eyes* I’m glad to hear you like Sansa and Catelyn too. And ah, how could I forget Catelyn telling off Stannis and Renly! That was such an amazing scene.
*nods* I love that these books make me feel sympathy for Cersei. And I agree with you; Cersei didn’t deserve what happened to her, but her crimes are still hers and we can’t ignore those.
I’m excited to hear that we’ll learn more about the Northern gods.
It’ll be a while before my next review since the third book is currently out of the library. I’ve placed a hold on it, so hopefully it won’t be too long.
The one name I was dying for Arya to pick was Ser Gregor Clegane - she listens to some nobody soldier telling a story about Gregor being both inhumanly evil and too powerful to stop, and she decides to kill the guy who told the story. SO much horror could have been avoided if the Mountain was taken out, soon as possible.
My dream for Tyrion was that he would renounce his family and join the Starks, but unfortunately, renouncing one's family apparently just isn't done in Westeros. Even if you hate your father and sister.
Sansa in particular is a fantastic example of a woman learning to find her own power in an oppressive society. She never picks up a weapon but her cunning just grows and grows.
Third book is pretty long, too, so...see you on the other side, when you get there. :)
Ah, Gregor Clegane slipped my mind, but you're right. The story was about Gregor being cruel.. I suppose she chose the man telling the story because he was taking such amusement from telling the tale (also he's right there in front of her), but augh, that's so frustrating.
That is a beautiful dream. I want Daenerys to join forces with the Starks though I'm sure that won't happen.
Those visions in the House of the Undying (yeah I loved that part too) are hard to parse - there are some that the fandom is still arguing about. Actually, if you want a list of them, you might not have to compile them yourself, although I'd understand if that's the kind of thing you don't want to go Googling for. Probably tons of spoilers out there.
I adore Jaqen. Just his way of speaking. And Arya's choices for her first two deaths drove me crazy, but I had to keep reminding myself that she's still a child. Really not cut out for this, in spite of her new status as killer.
Jojen and Meera's father has some insider info that nobody else knows, so it's unlikely we'll see the swamp culture up close and personal for a long while. Unless he dies or something. That would be terrible.
You passed the "Theon test" - if anyone doesn't start hating him during his first POV chapter, I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THEM. Ugh, I just want to give him and Joffrey a couple of rusty knives and make them fight to the death.
Yeah, Tyrion is brilliant. The time that he's acting as King's Hand is the only part of the series where I find myself rooting for the Lannisters, even subconsciously. Varys is really one of my favorite characters too, and Littlefinger is fascinating even though he gives me serious wiggins.
Glad you liked Sansa and Catelyn; they take a lot of crap from fandom but I think they're both awesome women. I especially loved the Maegor's Holdfast scene for Sansa, and Catelyn telling off Stannis and Renly.
Cersei's definitely a victim, which is one thing I love about these books - they make you think about whether it's okay to sympathize with the bad guys sometimes, and whether someone like Cersei deserves what she gets. My opinion is that no woman ever deserves that, but she's also not excused for her own crimes. She needs to be stopped, not hurt.
On the other hand, Joffrey, as you say, should just die.
The gods of the North are wonderful; we learn about them very slowly but it's worth it. GRRM didn't quite put in the research for his Catholicism parallel with the Seven, but it's still pretty nifty, very intricate.
Good thought, chaos being the major theme. It's astonishing the way control just slips out of everyone's hands, no matter who they are, and before they know it they're just fighting for survival.
Glad you liked it! Keep telling us! :)
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I hope we get to see Jaqen again. He’s such a fantastic character. And yeah, I kept wanting Arya to whisper Joffrey’s name or at least Tywin’s, but she didn’t and like you, it drove me crazy too. It’s understandable given her age. At least she used that last choice wisely… Although I have to wonder if Tywin would’ve been a smarter choice there anyway in the large scale of things.
Jojen and Meera's father has some insider info that nobody else knows, so it's unlikely we'll see the swamp culture up close and personal for a long while.
Damn… That’s disappointing. Ah well, I don’t want their father to die. At least I’ll get to see both Jojen and Meera in the next book.
I approve of that fight. Theon would probably win, given his experience, but hopefully Joffrey would have inflicted some wound on him that’ll get infected and then he’ll die and we’ll party. Also, I can’t imagine who wouldn’t hate Theon after that chapter. Having said that, I’m sure there are people out there.
As much as I want the Lannisters to lose, I still want Tyrion to succeed or at the very least, not be killed off. Which I realize is an opposing set of hopes. Varys amuses me greatly though I’m never certain of his agenda. Same with Littlefinger. Tyrion’s chapters are some of my favorites, partly because of Tyrion and his wonderfulness but also partly because of the witty interactions he has with other characters, such as Varys.
That sucks about fandom giving them crap, but then I’ve rarely cared what the rest of fandom thinks. I imagine a lot of it comes from people claiming they’re not strong female characters. Because obviously being a strong woman means you need to be physically powerful in some way. *rolls eyes* I’m glad to hear you like Sansa and Catelyn too. And ah, how could I forget Catelyn telling off Stannis and Renly! That was such an amazing scene.
*nods* I love that these books make me feel sympathy for Cersei. And I agree with you; Cersei didn’t deserve what happened to her, but her crimes are still hers and we can’t ignore those.
I’m excited to hear that we’ll learn more about the Northern gods.
It’ll be a while before my next review since the third book is currently out of the library. I’ve placed a hold on it, so hopefully it won’t be too long.
Reply
My dream for Tyrion was that he would renounce his family and join the Starks, but unfortunately, renouncing one's family apparently just isn't done in Westeros. Even if you hate your father and sister.
Sansa in particular is a fantastic example of a woman learning to find her own power in an oppressive society. She never picks up a weapon but her cunning just grows and grows.
Third book is pretty long, too, so...see you on the other side, when you get there. :)
Reply
That is a beautiful dream. I want Daenerys to join forces with the Starks though I'm sure that won't happen.
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