So, I read the first book (the TV show is actually pretty close - Season 1 to Book 1). I'm most of the way through the second book and realized that there's a little more deviation between the series and the books starting in Book 2. The books give me more of a sense of depth of character, though. I read the 1st book after Season 1 and then patiently waited until after Season 2 to read Book 2.
Not that I'm not addicted to the series, too. But I can't wait until Season 3 starts to start reading Book 3. They are just too intriguing.
I found that, while they do have the archtypes that the Huffington posts list, the books and the series are pretty balanced as far as female characters go. I'll never forget reading "Stranger in a Strange Land" (Heinlein) and really relating to the female lead - she was strong and smart and a leader and then just turned into a simpering, idiot follower... that made me so mad.
I know there have been people who have real problems with the sex in the TV show, but the violence tends to bother me a lot more than the sex.
Somehow, oddly, my favorite character is actually Tyrion, not a female character. For whatever reason, I relate to him more than most of the female characters. Since everyone else is trying not to post spoilers, I won't launch into my feelings about Caitlyn Stark. Since I am a wife and mother, you'd think I'd identify most with her, but she doesn't seem too bright sometimes (the thing with Jaime). What the hell was she thinking?
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