Is a song of ice and fire ok to read or is it a sin

[PatriceA]

i was just wondering because of the sex parts i heard of in the book and couldnt it be a sin to read some books like 50 shades of gray

You could always skip the sex parts. The difference though between these books and something like 50 Shades is that sex IS THE PLOT in 50 Shades. There are many themes in Martin’s book as there are in the Old Testament. If we shunned every book that has sex in it, the bible would never be read.

 

[Baelor]

I’m not sure if it is sinful per se, but it is not like other more frequently recommended series such as The Lord of the Rings. I would say that there is a much greater chance for it to influence sinful behaviour perhaps? (there is pretty consistent gratuitous sex scenes, violence and very frequent swearing if I remember correctly throughout), so maybe think extra carefully about it before starting, and if you feel it is having a negative effect simply stop.

On an artistic level, there are better series out there.

All of those things are true, except the last sentence. While art is to some degree subjective, ASoIaF is a very good series.

 

[haedron]

All of those things are true, except the last sentence. While art is to some degree subjective, ASoIaF is a very good series.

Couldn’t agree more. If you start peeling back the layers you realize that “American Tolkein” isn’t just hyperbole. Then again, he’s got a few books left to write and I suppose Martin could still screw it up…

 

[Kamaduck]

I am LOLing at all this stuff about ASoIaF lately, because someone bought my friend the first three books when we were both eight or nine.

I was thinking of reading them (the covers looked pretty), but I never got around to it. They were just a bit too long for me to try. Now it’s popular and I’m left questioning who in their right mind would give them to an eight-year old.

Question: is it possible, as some have suggested, to read the books and skip the sex scenes? Will the story still make sense? :ehh:

If so, I might like to read them now. Or maybe in a few years.

 

[anp1215]

I am LOLing at all this stuff about ASoIaF lately, because someone bought my friend the first three books when we were both eight or nine.

I was thinking of reading them (the covers looked pretty), but I never got around to it. They were just a bit too long for me to try. Now it’s popular and I’m left questioning who in their right mind would give them to an eight-year old.

Question: is it possible, as some have suggested, to read the books and skip the sex scenes? Will the story still make sense? :ehh:

If so, I might like to read them now. Or maybe in a few years.

I think it would still make sense. They’re not that central to the plot. It might be an important detail in some cases that some characters have sex, but you can definitely figure that out from skimming or skipping the details.

 

[StudentMI]

I am LOLing at all this stuff about ASoIaF lately…

You and me both! It seems like heavy metal threads come about at the same time, as well.

I would say, as far as it being a sin, ask your priest and read up on the Church’s teaching regarding such things. If something makes you worry that much, though, why bother with it? I know some will respond, “because it’s great literature/art,” but it’s really not worth viewing a show or reading a book if it makes you worry, in my opinion. You can read lots of things that aren’t going to make you worry. Best bet is to talk with your priest.

 

[Kamaduck]

You and me both! It seems like heavy metal threads come about at the same time, as well.

I would say, as far as it being a sin, ask your priest and read up on the Church’s teaching regarding such things. If something makes you worry that much, though, why bother with it? I know some will respond, “because it’s great literature/art,” but it’s really not worth viewing a show or reading a book if it makes you worry, in my opinion. You can read lots of things that aren’t going to make you worry. Best bet is to talk with your priest.

I don’t think I’ll read them yet, way too much to do. If they don’t prove to be a passing fad, I think I’ll try them. I intend to become a speculative fiction writer one day, so it’s important to read lots of different kinds of stories, especially the various successful ones (provided they don’t cause me to sin, of course!).

If I do decide to read them, I guess I probably should consult my priest. Or at least my mother.

 

[dhalsim2]

Pardon me for resurrecting an old thread, but I was curious about the OP’s question as well.

I have conclusively decided that it would be a sin for me to watch the HBO show. (Note the emphasis on “for me.” I’m not trying to judge others.) But given how popular it is with everyone talking about how great it is, I’m tempted to read the books (or actually, listen to them as audio books).

I’m a 41-year-old man with seven kids, so I’m not offended that sex happens, nor will I be scandalized by mechanics, but if the text is designed to be titillating, as some of those trashy novels for women are, I should pass on the books. My real-life temptations do tend to be a wandering eye, lustful thoughts, etc. Though I’ve never been unfaithful to my wife in my actions, I don’t want expose myself to material that will cause me to be unfaithful in my mind.

Does anyone have any (name removed by moderator)ut on specifically how titillating these books are? Maybe a sample passage you can point out to me in a book or on the net so I can decide whether it’s too much for me?

 

[Luvz2travel]

If you love history with a dash of fantasy you will like it. If not then it’s probably not your thing. It’s very complicated with lots of charactors and there is racy stuff in into to be sure like there is in history. I prefer the tv show myself though the books are good in themselves but like I said there are a lot of charactors and it can be hard to follow. I recommend renting or streaming the first episode from season one. It’s pretty much by the book. If you like it then you can read the books or better yet watch the series. Note that while the first book was the better book season six in my opinion was far better and keep in mind no one is safe in either. Charactors die when you least expect (not saying who just makes it more fun to what when you never know what’s going to happen). Best or luck.

 

[ToeInTheWater]

I’m a 41-year-old man with seven kids, so I’m not offended that sex happens, nor will I be scandalized by mechanics, but if the text is designed to be titillating, as some of those trashy novels for women are, I should pass on the books. My real-life temptations do tend to be a wandering eye, lustful thoughts, etc. Though I’ve never been unfaithful to my wife in my actions, I don’t want expose myself to material that will cause me to be unfaithful in my mind.

Does anyone have any (name removed by moderator)ut on specifically how titillating these books are? Maybe a sample passage you can point out to me in a book or on the net so I can decide whether it’s too much for me?

If you want to read excerpts from the books a quick Google search will uncover many. However of course this could expose you to “spoilers” and considering the story is not yet finished this may be a problem.

I watched the HBO show through Season 4 but not since then as I do find the show itself to be an occasion for sin, and because the show has now overtaken the books as well as made many changes, and I’d rather find out the ending from the books before the show. Surprisingly, although many people I know watch the show, though I did get spoiled for most of S5, I managed to avoid finding anything out about S6.

As for the books, yes, sex happens in the books but most of the scenes are not at all meant to be titillating, and can be easily skipped over. The story is told though many third person POVs and many of the characters are either not sexually active at all (such as the Stark kids who are still kids), or do not have their sex lives described in detail. Daenerys Targarayen (Aka “Khaleesi”) as well as Tyrion, the other Lannisters, and the Dornish POVs do mention a lot of sex, though. So guess if someone has a particular issue with sins of lust then I suppose the books could be problematic.

Now (unlike the show version, as the show created a prostitute character mostly to provide opportunity for “sexposition”), the first book, Game of Thrones, did not have much sex in it as the other books, as most of the POVs are not sexually active or do not describe their sex lives. Sex does happen in the Dany POV and Tyrion POVs but the scenes are quite short. Cat’s POV has one very short “post-sex” scene.

So, perhaps you could start with the first book, and decide if you find it problematic or not? If you do, then it’s probably best not to read the latter books, as there are more sex scenes than in the first book.

 

[Kit15]

Pardon me for resurrecting an old thread, but I was curious about the OP’s question as well.

I have conclusively decided that it would be a sin for me to watch the HBO show. (Note the emphasis on “for me.” I’m not trying to judge others.) But given how popular it is with everyone talking about how great it is, I’m tempted to read the books (or actually, listen to them as audio books).

I’m a 41-year-old man with seven kids, so I’m not offended that sex happens, nor will I be scandalized by mechanics, but if the text is designed to be titillating, as some of those trashy novels for women are, I should pass on the books. My real-life temptations do tend to be a wandering eye, lustful thoughts, etc. Though I’ve never been unfaithful to my wife in my actions, I don’t want expose myself to material that will cause me to be unfaithful in my mind.

Does anyone have any (name removed by moderator)ut on specifically how titillating these books are? Maybe a sample passage you can point out to me in a book or on the net so I can decide whether it’s too much for me?

The scenes are…raw might be the word for it. I think much of it could be titillating if it weren’t for this one detail in the mix that makes the whole thing disturbing instead. It’s hard to paint it all with the same brush.

ASOIAF is one of the few examples I can think off where the sex, while very present, does not feel gratuitous most of the time because it also tells you something about the participants. Character A may be a barbarian but he’s not a complete savage (the comparable scene in the show completely went in another direction…). Character B puts up a tough front but is always trying to bury his hurt with booze and whores. Characters C and D are both pretty awful when introduced and as one gets better, the other goes more off the deep end. And so on.

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

Reading it itself is not a sin. As long as you bear in mind that’s just a fictional story and not a model for behavior, it’s probably fine.