A Song of Ice & Fire Fans discussion

What age do you think is appropriate to start reading this series? My son is 12 (but reads at a much higher age) and really wants to read them. Too much sex? What do you think? Thanks!

hmmm not age rated as such but definitely maturity rated. I'd let my 12 year old read it but she is very mature. It has some sex scenes in it and I'd say perhaps you need to have a look at it first. Then again I was smuggling Jackie Collins books into my house at 12.......;)

I agree that it's more maturity level than age when deciding weather these novels are for your child. But also remember that if you allow your child to read these novels you better be ready to answer a lot of questions. I'd hate to have to explain a "Lord's kiss" to a 12 year old.

I know someone who let their 12 year old read it, but I agree with the others - the maturity level is what really counts. As long as you trust them and they're sensible enough, I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

Personally I think if doesn't really matter what age you let a child read something as usually adult books take more imagination and understanding of the vocabulary to make this world in your head and the series of events. I personally don't think a child could comprehend something so vast however if they want to read it let them read it as it may make them understand vocab and influence them to be more creative at English.

That's my opinion anyway

I agree it has to do with maturity. I would say 13 but if your child is mature enough at 12 then I say yes, she can read them but it is ultimately up to you.

I started reading the series when I was 12. I'm 13 now. I think or depends on how mature your son is, if he understands what is going on in the books, etc.

I started reading the series in 2008(31yrs old). By the time I get done with the series it will be 2020 probably.

12 seems okay to me...though I will say I'd worry more about the violence than sex-scenes. It might be hard on him to lose characters after becoming attached to them.

IMO, the violence, the casual cruelty by even sympathetic characters, and the medieval attitudes towards gender and class are why the books are not suitable for a younger reader. Sure, there are sex scenes, but IMO, reading a (consensual) sex scene or two doesn't scar a kid for life or anything like that. But reading about people happily chopping off other people's limbs, or framing them for murder, or selling their (unwilling) female relatives into marriage in order to shore up political alliances ... all that is definitely disturbing for even adult readers, and a pre-teen reader, however mature, may not be able to process it correctly.

I think it does depend on the person, but I would fully recommend reading them yourself first before you decide. Some of the subject matter is certainly adult oriented.

It also kinda depends on what your kid reads regularly.

Well, when i was 11 my mom gave me to read a book that contained incest but that I really loved. And ASOIAF I read when I was 15, and it has become my favourite series of books. So, IMO, I would tell your son to wait one or two more years, but in the end, as others have mentioned, it ultimately depends on maturity, and if he can actually comprehend the vocabulary

I was teaching reading to students who needed to get their reading levels up. So I had this one student. He was 16. He said all the reading we were doing was babyish. So I said here, this is what I am reading. I pull out Game of Thrones. I said this is an adult level book. I opened it up to the epilogue. I said I bet you can read this. I will only require you to read two paragraphs. So he takes the book and I showed him where to start. He did read it. So I think that gave him the confidence to continue the reading program. At least, I hope it did.

Age is but a number...ita the maturity and experiences that tell the truth... If you ha r giggling 16 year old who is uncomfortable with them selves, insecure, squeamish,or overly sensitive, may not be the book for them. If you have a self assured 12 year old that is trustworthy and understands far more than most kids about loyalty,family,honor,fate,life and death than most youngsters do by 18, then yes.
too much to digest?
maybe these aren't even the books for You?
yeah I know...Eyehavenofilter!

It depends on the maturity of the child. I also think that the parent should talk about the book and the themes in it and discuss the characters' actions.

I don't have or wish for children but just want to say no.

Not so much for the sex as for the language and descriptions of violence. Don't know if you've read it yourself. But just read the one part in this link and think again...

http://www.today.com/books/red-weddin...

Any censorship lies with the parents, I you feel he's mature enough to handle these themes, then go ahead. It's violent, graphic but the story is worth it.

The big thing for me is, I think, that you should probably explain to anyone under the age of 18 that the concept of "adult" is a construct largely of the late-nineteenth century onward. Martin is accurate in portraying the marriages and consummations of pre-adolescents, but it can be real jarring for a teen to read that stuff.

Personally, I'd suggest waiting until the boy is at least 15 to let him read the books.

Nature vs. Nurture? I do believe there is a gene that can increase the chances of a humans traits, but it doesn't dictate it. That's why I HATE IT when gov't, congress, schools (this applies to book censorship not the game GTA on PC lol), any person(s) blames a particular part of multi-media = video game violence, TV/Movies, Books, etc... it comes down to how they are raised or lack of 'how'. I do believe that all these media outlets as a whole can desensitize but lets layoff the cherry picking, he news scares my wife & I more than most TV shows.

I think Jonathan has a great point, even now there are many places in the world that are not safe places, let alone a time period this book is suppose to take place. It takes little to point a gun & shoot, but it takes a special kind of mentality to bash in someone's head with a mace... on that friendly note; lol

My kids aren't quite as old as 12 yet, but I'd be fine with them reading these books, I'd actually be surprised they would be willing to tackle a 1,000+ page book to start with, I'd just read it with them so we could chat about parts because kids nowadays are already on these message boards way before any of us were on them...

With all the sex, violence, rape, talk about not lying when a character obviously is yet applauding they're cunning ability to 'pull this move' off (The 'GoT'), & perhaps one of the more stunning idea's that knights in human history were not the chivalrous, gallant figures made out to be, many being persons who grew up with family power & we all know what power has the ability to do to those wielding it. We still deal with it now, but instead of house Lannister its John Gotti's kids next door hahaha..

I picked up my first wheel of time when I was 10 intending to follow the entire series... There are kids that just like to read :-P My parents were and are still more amazed that I prefer English. haha! But I agree it depends a lot on the kid and it's situation. But still asoiaf is a particular harshly written series