I need spoilers!

[essayel]

I've started reading "A Song of Ice and Fire", am about 150 pages into the first book, and I am a bit worried. Is this book like Vanity Fair - one with no heroes? Because I haven't found a single character I can warm to yet. Yes, I know it's horribly childish and shallow of me but I need at least one person I can like and respect in order to enjoy a story properly.

Is there ANYONE?

Comments

[britalone.livejournal.com]

I want to have a hero when I read a story, be it male or female. I agree that a story needs to provide someone that you can relate to, otherwise what's the point?
I don't think it's childish or shallow. It's a requirement for a good story, as far as I'm concerned anyway. :o)

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

No, it isn't horribly childish and shallow of you. I never got past the first book of "A Song of Ice and Fire" precisely for that reason. The whole world described in the book is a very cynical place, and whoever clings to more or less positive values is either converted away from them very soon or killed off in a violent manner.

Of course, some people claim that the lack of properly heroic characters is actually one of the strengths of Martin's books, but I didn't really like them, and personally, I think the guy who described the series as "Knights who say 'Fuck'" (http://mightygodking.com/index.php/2008/10/20/mgk-versus-his-adolescent-reading-habits/) is quite right.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Yes. I think you need at least a couple of genuinely benign characters - not goody goody, they can do bad stuff, but they have to mean well - in order for the bad ones to be shown up for what they are. If everyone is nasty then the story is just as one-note as a story is if there are no antagonists.

It's all about contrasts and changes of pace.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

*giggles*

I've read almost all of those [gave up on Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind] and I must admit those summaries are pretty much spot on.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I guess the moral is that power corrupts or something.

They are going to have fun cutting it for the HBO serial.

[siriusstar.livejournal.com]

I was never able to make it very far with them despite repeated attempts, but I don't recall any likable characters. I am always baffled when I hear all the praise directed to those books. When I want to read about a lot of nasty, unlikable royals or politicians I’ll read history or the news and at least feel like I'm learning something.

I have never understood the point in reading books with NO sympathetic characters.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Hmm. it depends. I fell heavily in love with Eddard Stark (I don't recommend you do this) in the first book, but it's not a tale with Good and Bad characters. Each character is realistic in as much as they are human, laden with pride, honour, hubris, self-interest... Keep on with it - every character changes as the story unfolds, some for the good, some for the bad. Characters you start out hating you will come to have a grudging respect for, Characters you will love to hate, characters your heart will bleed for - but no. There's no "hero" character in the entire book. Jon Snow is probably the nearest, and he takes several books to get that far. Ayra is my favourite because her story is amazing and just gets better.

[ceitfianna]

Some of the kids are nice. I somehow read my way through the first three or four before giving up. The plot's gripping but it just was so dark.

[skelody.livejournal.com]

I think it's a heavy Your Mileage May Vary zone. I have characters in which I'm deeply invested, and who I wish to see succeed either as people or as political players -- Sansa (who fandom has concluded becomes more likeable over time, due to her character arc), Arya, Dany, some characters who I'm not sure you've met yet... and of course for me there is also the horrified fascination with less palatable characters, but that's probably beside the point of your inquiry.

[aceofkittens.livejournal.com]

I had the same thing happen with Ned. Yeah.

I love Arya, Tyrion, and Jon Snow... but my advice is, don't get too attached to anyone.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying it more now I've made sure I'm emotionally detached. He has a good way with words and I admire someone who can write a good nasty. I'm not sure how far I'll get, though.

Thanks for the advice.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I figured poor Ned's not for keeps as soon as I read that "the man who passes sentence must carry it out" bit. That's a very powerful trope. Also Ned Stark = Sean Bean = Boromir

Thanks for the advice. I'm enjoying it more now that I'm mentally just sitting back and munching the popcorn while I play Guess the Plot. I don't normally do that, feeling that it's common courtesy to let the story unfold at the author's pace, but Martin tosses out such huge clues it'll be fun to guess and be proved wrong.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

The blurb on the book warns that the characters are as poisonous as the Borgias and Martin's certainly trotting out all the taboos.

Another good reason for not getting too attached is that I understand the story still isn't finished. I've been devastated several times by authors sadly leaving us untimely.

Thanks for the advice

[essayel.livejournal.com]

somehow read my way through the first three or four

Yes, exactly. They are so many and so thick! I'll see how gripped I am by the first one. I enjoyed the first of the Robert Jordan Marathon but by the end of book three found I couldn't care less who did what to whom so dropped it. Dark plot can be good but it's nice to have some alleviation, some changes of pace. I haven't noticed Martin doing anything else yet.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

That's the realy gorgeous part about it, once you get involved there's SO MUCH to start guessing about and getting involved in all the suppositions about [certain characters] and whether things are as they seem to be. There's a certain character who definitely has a big quesiton mark hanging over him, (in fact one of the trailers has given away a big fat clue about him that really shouldn't be exposed unti about book three or four. It's a roller coaster, so yes, get out the popcorn and have fun! You are reading at the right time too with a new book on the horizon. and the series!(oh and there are gay characters too, which is lovely)

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Oh, some of the nasty ones are already train wreck fascinating. But you're right. Grimly realistic is okay once in a while but if it goes on too long my attention wanders. It's as bad as a story where it's all puppies and rainbows.

Thanks for the advice.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

*lolz at the highly relevant icon*

I read quite slowly now so I reckon the series will last me most of the year, with time off to detoxify. One of Emma Collingwood's books was delivered today and I still have several of Charlie's to read so I can read those when all the nastiness gets too much.

Gay characters too - brilliant! It's great to see them cropping up in mainstream works, especially if they are there for plot reasons unrelated to gayness.