The #readASOIAF Read-Along! discussion

This thread is for discussing A Game of Thrones, and will contain spoilers for the Prologue through Chapter 18!

Just started the first book before I went to bed and got through chapter 6. I love GRRM's world building and story telling. He's such a great writer with such a huge background on the fictional world that he created. I'm super excited for the rest of this read along so I can finally be caught up with all five books and not just say "Yeah, I've been wanting to read those." Happy reading, everyone! :D

Im a little late in starting this book, its 7pm in the uk im going to read this one on my kindle and the rest in paperback :) Hopefully with this challenge I can finally get passed half way through book 2

Evie wrote: "I have a question: does anyone knows what chapter 18 is (or on what page it is?). Not sure if every edition has it like that, but my book doesn't have chapter numbers. And I just don't really feel ..."
on my copy, it's page 159 and its Catelyn's POV.

There's a page table in the wiki of ice and fire that has different editions on it and where the chapters start and end for each edition. Awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/chapter...

I think I copied that link over wrong. http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/...

There. That's the right one lol

No problem :) And yes I am. I got extremely carried away reading this because I just can't put it down. I'm on chapter 18 now and no signs of slowing down lol

My copy doesn't have chapter numbers either... Which versions do? I've just been reading a hundred pages a day. So I'm on around page 200 right now.

I, personally, don't know of any copies that have the actual chapter numbers on there; They're all just the character's name. I usually use the page table that I linked earlier to find out which chapter number I end up on judging by the POV I just read or the page I'm on

Ohh ok that link is very helpful! When I first clicked on it, every time I would scroll down it would shoot back up.

Yeah, it is kinda buggy, but after it loads for a minute it's a lot better. Glad it helped :)

How do I already have questions about this book
*spoilers (kinda?) for chapter 1, Bran*

1. What does Robb mean when he says "The Others take his eyes"? They don't literally take them, right? Is that like a curse or a way to brush off what Jon said? p. 15 in my copy

2. If Bran will someday be Robb's bannerman, why would he have to carry out justice instead of Robb? Shouldn't Robb have to execute people if he's the king? (p.s. what's a keep?) p. 16 in my copy

@Arielle

What does Robb mean when he says "The Others take his eyes"?
The phrase "The Others take..." is a curse. You actually can change it with "Curse" and you'll get more comprehensible "curse this" or "curse that".

what's a keep?
Well, dictionary says it's a "main tower of a castle or fortress". Pretty much a place of residence, I think.

And there wasn't anything about carrying out justice instead of Robb. As a bannerman, Bran would have to owe military service to his lord (which would be Robb) for having land, "keep of his own" and people. So, he'll have to carry out justice both as a warrior and as a landlord of the people. At least I understood it like this.

Thank you Evie and Oksana! Those explanations cleared up a lot for me

I started this late - meaning last night and have only read the Prologue and chapters 1 and 2. I'm at work all day today but hoping to have a better reading night tonight! I'm excited to finally be reading this series!

I started this two days early and am on page 351 (Chapter 33 according to the link above).

Evie wrote: "For me the link works good enough, but it works better on the pc.

Ahh, I like the story so far! I have to admit that I like some POVs over the others and am tend to rush through some chapters lol..."

The ages always throw me off, especially after watching the show and what happens to these characters, just makes it all the more heartbreaking honestly. And I definitely agree, some POVs are much better than others. I know a lot of people hate Cat's chapters for example xD.

Also, sorry to everyone about the chapter confusion, I wasn't thinking about the lack of actual chapter numbers when I set up the discussion board. Thanks to Jesse for providing that link! :)

I've never read any of this series before and have started to read it for the first time today, only three chapters in but I'm loving the characters and the vocabulary used by GRRM already!
I look forward to updating you on my progress throughout the readathon :)

Kelsey wrote: "I started this two days early and am on page 351 (Chapter 33 according to the link above)."

Nice Job! I wish I was that far along. Last I checked, I was on Chapter 13. I'm loving it so far!

One of the things I really admire with Martin's writing and his different POVs is that you get the feel for each of the main characters right away. As far as first introductions of the characters go, it's really well done. And each POV also helps move the story along in some way or to provide context to some event or history between characters.

I really do love these characters as much as I did when I first read A Game of Thrones ages ago.

Kelsey wrote: "I started this two days early and am on page 351 (Chapter 33 according to the link above)."
Well done I just finished chapter 18 and am about to start chapter 19 (Page 170 UK paperback) although its like 11 pm in the Uk lol.

I know what you mean. I want to yell noooo Starks don't go to Kings Landing!!!

This book is so good so far! I did not think I would be reading this book as fast as I am. I can't seem to put it down.

I am so far behind at the moment.. Im only 5% in.. going to try and do some major catch up tonight :o

Probably didn't help that I started re watching the show from the beginning as well.

Don't worry Naomi. I'm only 9% in x

I'm behind too. I'm starting tonight though. :)

Oh at least I'm not the only one I need to read more tonight now I've caught up on sleep :)

Well, I've finished this section now. I read it much faster this time than the first time. It's much easier to follow along for me this time since I know the characters much better, and I find that's often true for me in reading a series. I enjoy the second read so much more than the first. Catelyn still bothers me, though.

Evie wrote: "What do you guys hate about Katelyn? Just really curious! I don't think she's annoying at all."

Personally I don't like the decisions that she is making, they sometimes seem completely ridiculous to me. And second thing that makes me dislike her is her treatment of Jon. It seems very cruel to me, for someone who talks about honor so much.

For me, it's all about how she treats Jon. I like her otherwise, but I hate the way she talks to him. I completely understand why she would be distant with her husband's bastard, but telling him it should have been him lying there broken and unconscious is cruel.

I, personally, don't hate her. She definitely, definitely isn't my favorite character, I like her character (for the most part) it's just her chapters are super dull and not too interesting (again, for the most part)

A little late to this discussion but I also wanted to say that I don't hate Catelyn (This could change as I read on). But I totally understand why she hates Jon. Her husband was gone and when he comes back he brings back a baby that's not hers.

I wouldn't exactly feel fond of a child that my husband had with another woman while we were still together. Yes, she treats him badly and she's very cruel but imagine how hard it must be for her to look at Jon? All she sees when she looks at him is her husband's betrayal.

BUT,

I can't believe it's taken me so long to start the books! I am loving this series so much. I'm really enjoying it and can't wait to finish the book so I can start on the next one.

(I had already posted this but in the intro thread and just realized it, so I'm posting it here ^_^)
I've just finished reading through these chapters and can't believe that I had waited so long to start this series. I just thought I'd read the series when the show was over. But I love fantasy and this just reminded me why and how much i do. I feel i haven't read much fantasy all year (I've been in a huge contemporary mood) but the writing flows so effortlessly, and enjoying just revisiting these stories that I already know.

My favorite character to read from so far is Arya.

I have to say I understand why people are hating on Catelyn, though I don't hate her myself (at least so far).

I love Catelyn on the show so I'm prone to love the book version of her, too, as will probably be the case with all the characters I'm already fond of. Which is fun, emotional-wreck-wise.

I was expecting the language to be more difficult? Like I'd been procrastinating on reading because I thought my English skills weren't good enough, and now, I find myself going through whole chapters without checking a word from the dictionary. I guess GRR's talent is not in -difficult- language but intricate plots. And description of things, I must say.

Reading or re-reading the books is also a great way to pass the time while the show is off season. I'm actually planning on reading and watching each corresponding season every month until October and then try to find something new to entertain me until we have Season 7 or (hopefully sooner, please, Gods, the Seven or the old, even the Drowned!) The Winds of Winter.