Suvudu Universe

Let's do this! This post of the A Game of Thrones group read covers off Chapters 29-43. Take a look at the ASOIAF Book Club page to see all the participants in the book club and follow along!

Here are the questions from the book club this time around:

Heather: What do you think of Catelyn Stark's sudden capture of Tyrion Lannister and her trek to see her crazy sister? Was it a mothers reaction seeking revenge, or a strong woman trying to do her best for the Realm?

I really think that Cat reacted too quick and too harshly when she spotted Tyrion and had him captured. If she'd been thinking clearly, she would have done things differently, but I think her desperation to see justice and her grief at what had been done to Bran had made her see Tyrion as evil incarnate, causing her to summon her allies to apprehend him. The evidence against him was circumstantial at best.

Still, it made for a hell of a dramatic ending to the chapter when the Tully allies take him prisoner.

Ria: It seems that the author uses a good deal of archetypes as a base for his characters. Do you feel that this weakens the story when characters are models bordering on stereotypes, or does the large cast with a diverse number of archetypes balance that out?

I agree that the sizable cast allows for certain archetypes to play out without it becoming dull or stale. I also think that Martin is able to turn these archetypes around and turn them against the grain. For example. Ned Stark is your archetypal white knight - he is chivalrous, honour bound and keeps his promises no matter what.

In a traditional fantasy, he'd be the Prince Charming. In A Game of Thrones, he's a bit of an ass because his viewpoint doesn't work in the world they live in. His honour blinds him from doing what's right, and that's going to get him killed one day.

Allison: So far, I am generally pro-Stark and anti-Lannister, but in the case of Catelyn vs. Tyrion I am torn. Who do you feel allied with in their situation?

It's hard not to love Tyrion - his wit and his snark beat anything else that Westeros has to offer. He's a self made man, in that he's beaten any and all opposition that has come his way and still manages to crack a smile and wriggle out of most scrapes.

The scene where he 'confesses' his crimes to Lysa Tully is gold, and shows that although he's not the nicest egg in the basket, he could be a lot worse (I'm looking at you, Jaime and Cersei). My vote goes to Tyrion.

Jamie: Danaerys has grown quite bold since she was sold off to Khal Drogo, to the point where she has much less of a problem swinging for Viserys 'douchebag of the year' Targaryen. Do you think her development is down to her becoming stronger, the fact that she has a child to protect or is she getting comfortable in the safety of the khalasar?