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| Hahaha...no really...the husband and I have done this (more than once)... |
A few days ago, I finally got around to finishing out season
three of Game of Thrones. When my husband and I heard about the show, and that
the show was going to star Sean Bean, we thought that it might be a good idea to
read the series of books. He and I are both pretty nerdy and love to read books
similar to the Game of Thrones series, so we bought our first paperback and
took turns reading it through.
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| I may have gently set that Kindle on my pillow...BUT THIS IS HOW I FELT DAMNYOU! |
We were both hooked, but for different reasons. The husband
seemed to really, truly enjoy the complex storylines and the complexity of the
characters. I had my favorites as well (….yes, *had*…thanks George...), but I
kept reading for the spite of it. I cannot even tell you how many times I threw
my book across the room only to begrudgingly pick it back up later and finish
the chapter. The later books in the series were bought in digital form and I
also, on several occasions, rage quit reading them as well…though I more or
less dropped my Kindle on the bed and flipped it off rather than threw it.
So why “for the spite of it?” Because Martin seems to work
his absolute hardest to make his readers stop reading, to make them hate the
books. He makes you care for the characters and then he takes them away in some
sick, sadistic way. The show reinforced this surprise by casting the first big surprise
death with one of the only actors I had heard of (Sean Bean.) As I read (before
the show aired), I felt assured that good old Eddard and the Starks were
generally safe, since Sean Bean was Eddard and surely they wouldn't
kill off one
of the major actors in the show early on. |
| In retrospect...it *is* Sean Bean so.... http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MsKyle08/news/?a=41776 |
This brings me to the infamous Red Wedding scene. I dreaded
the episode the entire TV series. I knew that it was coming and I hated it. I
hated looking at Joffrey’s stupid face every episode (though that slap was
DAMNED satisfying)! (you're welcome!)
The show (and books) is very much a love/hate paradox for
me. I hate all of the unending sad, terribleness of it – but love the
anticipation of “who’s going to die next?” I hate that I love some of the
characters – some of the real bastards in the books – as much as I do. Tyrion,
Jon Snow, Arya, and Davos are probably some of the least-evil people that I like;
but I find myself growing fond of Cersei of all people! The child-killing,
scheming, brother-shagger!
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| "Jamie and I are more than brother and sister. We are one person in two bodies. When he is in me I feel whole" ...really? Just...no. |
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| Seriously... |
I even have a sort of
sober respect for Tywin, Littlefinger, Jamie, and Varys. I love that Martin makes me question my own
moral standings. My one major complaint about the series is the rape thing. You
do not see it as much in the show, but in the books….good lord. Every woman is
apt to get raped at every moment – it is (very) ridiculous and pretty
disturbing. My theory is that Martin has a bit of a rape fetish that manifests
itself in his writing. I get that it happens (I really do) and that in the
world his books are set in there is a kind of raw ugliness in which bad things
happen really often… but do we really have to talk about how this person or
that person is going to get raped in every single book? Take a deep breath and
relax on the rape culture George, please.
Well, I do suppose that is about the extent of nerding out I
will allow myself for one blog post. I realize that this was pretty rambling
and nonsensical, and I thank you for your endurance! If nothing else I suppose
it proves what a complete and hopeless dork I am for GoT!
*Closing words of wisdom*
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