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Game of Thrones – Sansa I: The Stark sisters

(Using tv show screencap for a book post because, well, it fits.)

So, Game of Thrones, Sansa I. I have to say, I’m not actually planning to blog about every chapter as I read (I’d never finish!), but Sansa I in particular stood out to me, because I enjoyed it a lot more on reread than I did originally. In part I think it’s that now that after you’ve read all the books and know who Sansa is, who she was and who she is becoming and why, you appreciate that this initial chapter kind of encapsulates, in and of itself, her initial journey.

Just a warning, this post ended up being spoilery for the reminder of Game of Thrones (no specifics though), and is also very vaguely spoilery for Arya in general, although only in the most general of terms.

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Books

A Song of Ice and Fire reread

I finished A Dance With Dragons in May, went on to The Tales of Dunk and Egg in July, and have since read a few other books (including Robert Jordan’s New Spring, which I really enjoyed; it’s been years since I read a Wheel of Time book) but mostly I’ve fallen pretty deep into ASoIaF withdrawal.

So I decided to just start rereading!

In part it’s because Cast of Thrones (a great, wonderfully funny Game of Thrones podcast) is just starting their book club for Clash of Kings, so reading along seemed a good idea. It’s a nice slow pace, so I can read other stuff at the same time.

On the other hand, I wanted to reread Game of Thrones because I keep hearing about how much foreshadowing and clues you find in it once you’ve read all the books, and it seemed a little strange to skip the first book in a reread. The solution I came up with was to read them both at once!

It may not be the best idea I’ve ever had. In fact, it’s probably the same level of insane as watching most of the Heisei Kamen Rider series during Kamen Rider Decade‘s original run. I expect I’ll get things mixed up here and there, but oh well.

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Bronn in Blackwater
TV

Blackwater reactions

Staying with the Battle of Blackwater for the entire episode was a bold choice, considering the usual structure of most episodes of Game of Thrones, but it payed off, and seriously… they couldn’t really cut away to f*cking Qarth in the middle of the battle for a a round of WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS!!!1!, could they?

Anyway. Reaction time!
(Contains hints about events in books beyond A Clash of Kings)

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A Feast for Crows
Books

Finished “A Feast For Crows”

I read Game of Thrones last year, and then in the past month and a half tore through Clash of Kings, Storm of Swords and Feast for Crows. The trigger was the beginning of the second season, two hours after watching the first episode I was well into Clash of Kings.  Game of Thrones had left me with somewhat mixed feelings (I get the sense that occasionally having something of a love/hate relationship with these books is not that uncommon). My feelings about the series are no longer mixed, and Storm of Swords in particular was amazing. I could not put it down.

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Ygritte
TV

Game of Thrones: The Old Gods and the New

Well, that’s probably the most deviations from the books’ plot in a single episode of Game of Thrones.

Now, I’m not saying that’s bad. In general I’ve been fairly satisfied with the changes to the story (with one admittedly very subjective exception). It is an adaptation, and those books are long, the plot is very complicated, and in general I think the changes have been understandable and have made for a better TV series than if it had remained unchanged.

But seeing as there were quite a few changes, I thought it’d be interesting to dissect them. (Needless to say, spoilers! Although I do try to be vague about book stuff).

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Books

A Game of Thrones

Spent the weekend reading A Game of Thrones… no, I hadn’t before now, and yes, I decided to do it because I want to know the story before the HBO series rolls around in April. Like it a lot, actually. I’ve always liked fantasy that was more intrigue and politics than sorcery.

My favorite characters are Tyrion Lannister and Jon Snow. That’s probably extremely predictable of me. :D

And so, Operation OOO Catch-Up is on stand-by.