I agree, the TV show is much better than the novels. I even think Shae's development in the show was much more compelling. Generally, they cut out useless crap and replace it with great character development. Arya's time spent as Tywin's servant was a particular favorite of mine.
Kworb has a point. Song of Ice and fire was originally meant to be a trilogy. Now it's a 7 book fiasco. Tbh the entire 4th book could have been skipped since it only had b level characters and Cerseis storyline in it. So many useless and unnecessary characters.
Thank Jane Fonda GoT became a show because those books.... Like I'd give a **** what that painting on the other side of the room lying on top of a very detailed shelf next to an antique vase looked like.
I have a feeling the writers of GOT are going to have a better ending than what George R. R. Martin is going to be writing two decades from now. He'll undoubtedly change the shared ending they both have confirmed.
Damn, I've only read A Game of Thrones (for my course) and was intending to continue the series someday but all this tea spilt is making me think otherwise.
Think I'll stick to the amazing TV series instead.
The show is better...so far but it will still retrogress. The fourth and fifth books have so many holes in them. It's impossible to just chop a piece here and add something here like they did the last seasons.
Probably already has WW.
(Large image) the inconsistencies
i get the symbolism tho 
Clueless.