Book Meme

[afrozenflower]

1. What was your favourite book during childhood?

I loved reading since I was a child but I didn't really read books back then. I used to read just magazines with stories for children. But in my early teens (12 or 13 years) I read the Harry Potter and I instantly became addicted. I reread the last two book three times before deciding to read other books.

2.What is your favourite book now?

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin. I have read a lot books since then, but it is still on my mind. It is simply brilliant and I can't wait to read the fourth book.

3. What is your favourite movie adaptation of a book?

I loved the Harry Potter adaption (except for maybe the 5th and 6th book because no. They cut off too many things) but my favourite would have to be Pride and Prejudice. I just love the movie, and every time I think about it, I want to re-watch it.

4. Do you prefer checking out books from the library or buying them?

I prefer to buy books that were highly recommended to me or were written by one of my favourite authors, but other than, I usually check out books from the library.

5. Have you ever been let down by a book that was highly recommended to you?

Unfortunately, yes. The Hunger Games.

It isn't that it was bad. It was just... not good enough. Nothing special. I really don't see why everyone is so in love with it.

So far, I read the first two and wasn't really impressed. And someone spoiled for me some things in book 3, so let's just say that I'm not looking forward to reading it.

Comments

[star_swan]

I love the Song of Ice & Fire series! I love how that tournament at Harrenhal from many years ago keeps popping up from various characters' points of view throughout the series like GRRM is pointing a big fat arrow at it.

I am really curious to learn more about Jon Snow. Ned died before he could spill the beans about his mother. :S

Feast For Crows can be a little depressing owing to the consequences of war on the land but it has some really brilliant moments! You'll like it! Not sure how I feel about how the show departs from the books a tad. The violence can be a little over the top so I am sticking to the books mainly.

Do you mean the Keira Knightley one? It's on my mental list of films I watch when I need cheering up or just to treat myself. It's so gorgeous!

I was warned off HG by a family member who got to the second book, stopped and realized that they were only continuing out of curiosity. He is very discerning so I trust his judgement.

[afrozenflower]

John Snow is one of my favourite characters. I'm really curious about him as well. It is really frustrating to me when I remember when Ned told Jon that they will talk about his mother when he gets back. I really wanted him to just visit John even for one day, just to answer that question. I know the most popular theories about who might be his mother but really I want proof from GRRM himself. (You know, if he ever gets to finish this series..)

I'm used to depressive stories from GRRM. It wouldn't be harsher than the death of Ned and Robb. Book one and three absolutely ruined me. Especially since we found out about their deaths from the POV of someone really close to them. And they were both beheaded as well!
Almost no one dies a normal death in this series. :/

Yeah, I'm not used to watching a lot of violence as well. I'm used to it in books but my imagination isn't the best in fight scenes so even though I knew what was going to happen, the TV show still shocked me in how brutal it was. Especially when a favourite character of mine died. I only watched the first season so far (I'm planning to continue once I'm done reading the whole series) and the scene where Ned gets stabbed or beheaded really gets to me, even now.

Yes, that one. I usually don't watch a lot of romantic films but this one is just amazing. I think I re-watched more times that I can remember.

Yeah, HG is okay, mostly. But there are tons of better dystopian stories out there. I would recommend it for someone who wants to start reading anything in the genre, but overall not in my favourite list.

What tournament were you talking about? My memory is rusty.

[star_swan]

I saw a few clips from Season 4. Believe it or not it has gotten even more graphically violent. I was pondering checking some of it out but, no way. Not even for Brienne.

I have thought about the theories and what I have read and to me there are two rather conflicting things in the text that GRRM mentions that support two different theories. He is probably trying to throw us off on purpose. :P

Dance with Dragons ends on a serious cliffhanger. You will like it, I think.

Yeah, the red wedding was ridiculous. I loathed the Freys even before that business.

I wandered over to my bookshelf and was rereading bits of of the third book near the end. Littlefinger, you evil genius ! I need to reread the entire thing!


It was a tournament that took place years ago that shaped the lives of many of the characters. It's where Jamie decided to join the Kingsguard, and Rhaegar Targaryen made Lyanna Stark his queen of love and beauty when he won a jousting competition. There is more to it but they are spoiler for Dance with Dragons.

This link is not spoilery. :)

[afrozenflower]

I can imagine it being more violent, especially after what happened in the third book. But overall though, the show is really good. The cast is brilliant and the setting is awesome. If you don't have tolerance for graphic violence, I wouldn't recommend it.

Maybe. Even though I love being right (who doesn't?) I hope that when GRRM tells us who is the mother, it would be someone no one ever thought of. (Okay, probably some people must have thought of them, but I still want it to be a surprise with a perfect explanation.)

I can't wait to read them. I have no idea what is going to happen next. GRRM always manages to surprise me. (Most times in unpleasant ways, but still.)

Littlefinger is one of those characters that I love to hate. He is brilliant, I must admit. But he was still a part of the reason why Ned was murdered. (Not to mention the whole creepy thing with Sansa.)

Oh yeah I remember that one. I forgot it happened in Harenhall. I only knew about it when Jaime talked about it in the third book, so it would interesting to see why would it be mentioned again.

Who are your favourite characters?

[star_swan]

I binge watched Season 1 (what the hell was up with that random pornoriffic scene at the end with Littlefinger in the brothel??), watched some of Season 2 (or all of it?) Wanted to watch S3, but didn't. Mainly I wanted to see Jamie and Brienne times.

oh yes. No doubt. Littlefinger is a badass of the creepiest order! In the books, he is even more scheming. I did not like that they detracted from some of his crazy cunning in the show. They attributed other people to some of the things that he planned behind the scenes. I think that I hate to love him. *hides face in shame* :)

There are so many good ones.

I really like Arya, Tyrion, Dany, Jon, and Bran, (and gods help me frickin Littlefinger though perhaps "like" isn't the write word) among the living. I love the Martells. They seem like a less judgmental, open-minded, less terrifically sexist house. They have strong women, paramours, a sense of loyalty. I would totally visit Dorne if I lived in Westeros and had the means. Brienne and Jamie are cool as well. I feel like Jamie becomes more interesting with each book. I loathed him in the first book!
Ser Barristan Selmy has my ultimate respect for leaving Kings Landing after practically giving everybody the finger when Joffrey?Cersei fired him.

[afrozenflower]

I know right? The books are pretty explicit but every sex scene was there for a reason, but I think the show pushed a little further to gain more viewers.

In my opinion, every character is better in the books than the show. It is because they simply have more time in books than the show which has a limited time to each episode.

Littlefinger is definitely scheming. It is complicated when it comes to him. I loved him in book one but then hated him when Ned died. Then slowly forgave him in book 2 because hey, he was just making sure he lived to see the day, which is really what everyone is doing. And when I found out that he was the one who was helping Sansa, I was delighted, but then he started getting really creepy and I started to dislike him.
I don't know, I might like again in book 4 or 5. I seem to change my mind a lot when it comes to those characters.

My favourites are Arys, Tyrion and Jon. (My absolute favourite depends depends on which book we are talking about. Tyrion kicked ass in the second one but Arya really shined in the third one.) My favourite thing about them is the raw vulnerability in each other. It makes me understand and relate to them more than the rest.

I also love Bran, and Dany. (Despite having a problem with her at the second half of the third book, when she kicked the only person who truly cared about her out)

I like the Martells. I don't know a lot about them yet, but the Viper was awesome (I think that's what they call him? The bisexual man who wanted to avenge his sister?)

I absolutely hated Jaime as well in the first book, and was shocked when I heard that people liked him in the later books. How can anyone like someone who did what he did? But after reading the third book, my opinion changed. (As always.) I think when it comes to this series, you just learn to stop hating or loving any character (except for maybe your favourites) and just enjoy as a story on a whole. It would definitely hurt less. (I.E Robb and the Freys.)

Brienne is amazing. I heard she gets a POV in the next books and I can't wait. I would love to enter her mind for a while.

My respect Ser Barristan really deepened as well when he did that. He is one of the few truly honourable men in Westeros. Too bad most of them end up dying horribly.