Here's my view from page 250.
Gareth-Michael Skarka says in comments that this is "THE MOMENT -- same for everybody. It's totally where Martin sets the hook. After that, he's got us and he knows it."
Be that as it may, an even more impressive sequence follows, that convinced me I might truly be reading something special--the buildup, delivery, and horrible aftermath of a scene that centers at first around a boy and a girl sparring with sticks.
It's tremendously revealing of everyone involved, on multiple levels. It's hard to even know where to begin in analyzing why it works so well to such powerful effect(s). Maybe we can hash it out in comments? I'll just toss this out there for now: "Put away your swords, all of you. The wolf is her little pet, that's all." Oof--how those words, sweet in the moment (and apparently sincere), only make the consequences that much more appalling, because they show that Joffrey gets it.
4 comments:
Man, can I just say I'm jealous that you get to experience this series through fresh eyes? There are just so many terrific moments, most of them-like the one you mention-are character beats and little insights into personality that pay off over and over again as the series goes on.
"Be that as it may, an even more impressive sequence follows, that convinced me I might truly be reading something special"
Believe, me my friend. You ARE reading something special. Something that is head and shoulders above just about everything in the cliché-ridden fantasy genre. I had given up on fantasy books until, out of sheer curiosity because of rave reviews, I picked up A Game of Thrones. It's one hell of a read.
I am 100% guaranteed to bawl like a goddamn baby when I watch the end of that whole sequence of events in the TV show. Christ.
God, if you think that's awful just you wait...
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