Explanatory apology/apologetic explanation
Okay, so it looks like we're not posting anymore. Or so infrequently that the whole point of the blog is lost. For both Nate and I this blog has become a bit problematic. So in answer to the commenters who are wondering where we've been and whether we're going to resume blogging, the answer is . . . um . . . I dunno. I haven't consulted with Nate on this, but I do know his access to the the Internet is limited these days. So: will we post again? Maybe. Probably. But when? Who knows. People did seem to like tracking with us through these books . . . as far as we got . . . for which I'm grateful. But I don't want to keep you all in suspense. Speaking for myself, posting is probably going to be quite infrequent for a while. But I'm still reading!
Arya Escapes
Arya's chapter in which Yoren's band is attacked had me truly saddened. Perhaps it's because I had grown to like the not so likable Black-Brothers-to-be, or maybe that I saw Yoren as a true hero. Anyway, this leaves Arya in her usual, vulnerable, frightened, unsupervised position of being on the run with only her wits and Needle to protect her. Thus far in the series, I feel like Arya has had a divine protection over her. Her innocence and her canniness make her someone that would be hard for Martin to knock off. She increasingly becomes one of my favorite characters, I think because she views the world so vividly in her innocence, and she...well...survives. I can't begin to imagine where the next leg of her journey will take her, but I know she won't be wandering around without a sharply determined aim. Quite an 8-year-old.
3 Chapters
Allright, it's high time I got back to at least semi-regular commenting on the book. I set it aside somewhere in the middle of the Theon Greyjoy's chapter, which I found kind of disgusting. Aside from the pornographic content, I just couldn't believe Martin was introducing yet another grumpy old power-hungry codger greedy for a kingdom. Not to mention the son, Theon, who harbors his own lust for power. Jeez, this makes the War of the Roses look like a game of checkers. And as much as Theon is a rather interesting character, I mean, just how many sides can one war have!? I just had to lay the book aside for a while, muttering a frustrated "oh c'mon..."
But getting through that chapter finally, we arrive at the Daenerys chapter, which seemed to me to have all the usual Martin brilliance with none of the tawdry excess that occasionally intrudes on his writing. I love this chapter. I love the way Daenerys seems to be growing before our eyes. I love the utterly believable description of the three young dragons, the vivid depiction of the endless desert, the deserted city, and finally the three strange characters that show up in the last paragraph. Fine writing throughout.
Jon's chapter, which follows, perhaps doesn't extend the story all that much, but it's interesting to note that Jon, in the far north, finds himself, along with his band of warriors, in an utterly deserted and fear-stricken land. And that Daenerys, in the far south, along with her own band of followers, finds herself in an equally deserted place. They are at the edges of the story, these two, while seemingly more powerful and influential combatants crowd to the center of the stage. Yet I have the feeling that Jon and Daenerys will wind up being far more influential to the outcome of things than their present condition would indicate.
[Ha! I just read your recent post, Deserted Cities, which draws the same parallels that I do, so I see now that I'm simply following in your footsteps, dude! But it's kind of interesting to see how we each expressed the same thought in different ways.]
Yeah!
Oh my, now that we've driven off all our kind readers (by means of a solid month of neglecting to post to this blog) Nate and I are back at it. Well, Nate is, anyway. Me, I haven't picked up the book in some time, but I promise to get back to it really really soon. The Blog of Ice and Fire LIVES!
Deserted Cities
to page 210
Daenerys' first chapter, followed by Jon's chapter having gone beyond the wall pose some striking similarities. The forlorn barrenness of their environments for one thing. The fear of unseen enemies. They travel to to a destination not yet discovered. They even stumble upon abandoned settlements, neither knowing why they've been abandoned. And there's a Mormont in each!
I enjoyed learning Ser Jorah's story. It picks up where his father left off with Jon, and gives us the prequel to his service to Dany. I guess I'm wondering for the Night's Watch, do the Others fear numbers? Oddly, the Black Brothers, even having watched two of the wights come to life and kill a dozen of them or so, are not articulating any fear of the Others specifically. Jon seems to be the only one, and he keeps it to himself. I guess this adds to the ominousness of it...the unspoken suggestion that the Others are the least of their worries. Even Mormont seems to overlook the obvious with his question: "the wildlings burn their dead...now I wish I'd asked them why."
I have a feeling Samwell Tarly will end up being a hero somehow.
Davos
I'm really liking Davos. A humane pirate, with a distinct sense of fealty to his lord. Already the character seems unlike anyone else we've yet encountered, and full of potential. Stannis seems quite mad, of course, and Davos will probably have his loyalty tested, and soon. Anyway, this chapter, the first to feature Davos, begins with a memorable sentence that I just have to honor by repeating: "The morning air was dark with the smoke of burning gods." Good stuff.
Catching Up
So it's about time we caught up with events in Clash of Kings, don't you think? I've read through the chapter where Tyrion disposes of Janos Slynt. Clearly Cersei is not going to tolerate this indefinitely. I anticipate a counter-move or two on her part.
Robb is holding together his warhost with difficulty. I anticipate trouble within his own ranks. He is, after all, like Joffrey, a boy king. Many of these men will not necessarily remain loyal through thick and thin. I suspect deep trouble for Robb ahead.
Arya is headed home, but she's definitely not going to make it there. The confrontation between the gold-cloaks and Yoren was really cool. Interesting that this gang of ne'er-do-wells banded together against the gold-cloaks. But they're not out of the woods yet either. I don't anticipate Arya getting through this challenge unscathed. And I don't see her cooling her heals in Winterfell either. I'm really curious to see what will happen in her next chapter, which happens to be coming right up!
Just south of Robert Jordan
Go to
Literature-Map.com and type in George R. R. Martin. Find Martin on an author-map. Pretty cool.
