OFFICIAL Game of Thrones Thread - Page 29

"Making a ripple" generally refers to making some lasting, significant contribution to the history and understanding of the particular art form. I think your conception of the canon conflates books notable for their role in, say, political or social history (Fenimore Cooper, Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Jungle, etc) than those that are considered classics primarily because of their artistic merit. Sent from my DROID PRO using Tapatalk

Robb is badass indeed.

I haven't read the books, but I have a feeling Jon Snow isn't Ned's bastard, but that he does have Stark blood in him (Ned won't lie to him about that, as it would be dishonorable). I half expect him to end up marrying Daenerys.

Actually, I just remember Ned's sister, which probably explains the acceptance he receives from both brother's. Which also would make him Robert's son.

Ned just keeps getting screwed over and over in this show

Ease up, chief. Don't want to spoil anything for anyone.

don't fucking spoil anything!!!!

That would wrap it all in a nice bow but I wonder if GRM is really interested in nice bow. Worth speculation though.

..

I guess I just don't get many of the books that are of great artistic merit. As an example, James Joyce's Ulysses no doubt pushed the boundaries of the art form, but reading it just gives me a serious migraine. It's like eating something really nasty because it's supposed to be good for me. Has anyone who read Ulysses actually enjoyed reading it?

I guess I expect a "good" book to have characters I care about, plot elements that are interesting, and prose that doesn't make me feel like banging my head against a wall. Some of the classics manage to have amazing prose, serious and complex themes, and still manage to be engaging to read (most anything by Hemingway, for example.)

I guess that much of the "great" literature is just lost on me (and I was one class away from graduating with a major in English, so I've read a lot of the great books.)

you should edit and let people enjoy the ride.

R+L=J

Jon Snow real identity is the greatest mystery of the Books. And the reason with the 5th book is so expected.

One of my favourites after Tyrion.

Yes, lots of people enjoy Ulysses. Personally, I found some of it tough going and probably just didn't get a lot, but parts of it I really enjoyed. But again, one's subjective experience of reading a particular work is a different matter entirely. The same is true for music, visual arts, etc. There's plenty of stuff out there where I completely understand why it's revered, but for whatever personal reason just don't connect with it.
That's not to say that everything that's considered a "great book" inarguably does adhere to some abstract ideal established by the Gods of Literature. Professors and critics are lame human beings like the rest of us. Reasonable minds can differ on the merits of various works. But at some point -- again, unless one holds the view that all that "counts" is one's own subjective reading experience, which is certainly one way of looking at it -- the broad consensus of opinion over a significant period of time and a diversity of perspectives usually has some foundation.

Are the seasons of the show intended to track the books? Will the first season wrap up with the same timeframe as Book 1?