George RR Martin Defends The Sexual Violence In "Game Of Thrones"

“If you portray a utopia, then you probably wrote a pretty boring book.”

George RR Martin has directly addressed the issue of sexual violence in the Game of Thrones books and TV series, arguing he's trying to "portray struggle" and that "if you portray a utopia, then you probably wrote a pretty boring book."

HBO

A debate about the violence against women in the Game of Thrones universe spilled over when Sansa Stark was raped by Ramsay Bolton in an episode of the TV show earlier this year.

Her TV storyline had diverged so far from the books, fans were pretty unimpressed.

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22 R.L. Stine Book Covers For Horrific Moments In Your Twenties

The Point Horror, Fear Street and Goosebumps author understands the terror that lurks everywhere in your life.

When you're thinking about that ex.

instagram.com

And every bad date you've ever had.

pointhorror.tumblr.com

For when you plot revenge after having your heart broken.

fearstreetfan.tumblr.com

This is how you nervously answer the door to a random hook-up.

pointhorror.tumblr.com

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20 Spectacular Pride Parades To Add To Your Bucket List

Lonely Planet’s Guide to Pride has the scoop on the cities with the greatest LGBTQ celebrations. Here’s a look inside.

São Paulo, Brazil

When: Early May
Where: Avenida Paulista and Rua da Consolação
Estimated attendance: Five million

Spectral-design / Shutterstock

San Francisco

When: Last Sunday in June
Where: Market Street, from the Embarcadero to Civic Center
Estimated attendance: 1.7 million

Kobby Dagan / Shutterstock

New York City

When: Last Sunday in June
Where: Fifth Avenue, 36th Street to Greenwich Street
Estimated attendance: 1.5 million

Erika Cross / Shutterstock

Madrid

When: First Saturday in July
Where: Puerta de Alcalá to Puerta del Sol
Estimated attendance: 1.5 million

Juan R. Velasco / Shutterstock

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If "Game Of Thrones" Characters Were On Shaadi.com

Occupation: M.D. (Mother of Dragons)

Karima Khan

Karima Khan

Karima Khan

Karima Khan

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12 Things That Will Give You Hope For The Future Of Book Publishing

“New readers are born everyday!”

Sarah Galo / BuzzFeed / Thinkstock

We asked attendees at the annual Book Expo America conference what gives them hope for the future of publishing. Here are their answers.

"All the amazing, brave young writers publishing their first books!"

—Kate Morgan Jackson

Sarah Galo / BuzzFeed

"So much amazing talent!"

—Donna Bray

Sarah Galo / BuzzFeed

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5 Bits Of Wisdom From Judy Blume

The iconic author stopped by BuzzFeed last week and discussed life and writing.

Dan Meth / Via BuzzFeed

Make sure to check out Judy’s new novel, In The Unlikely Event.

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Judy Blume On Writing, Twitter, And Vaginas

“People need stories, they want stories. They always will.”

Judy Blume

Evan Agostini / Getty Images

Jami Attenberg

Michael Sharkey

Words I never thought I'd type as a teenager: Judy Blume and I both have novels coming out the same day. Judy Blume, whose seminal young adult novels I grew up on, who everyone grew up on, all the girls and lots of the boys too, across America, around the world. Even today my 10-year-old niece is impressed that I know Judy Blume, even if it's only on Twitter. Because Blume has captured a way to write that transcends time.

And now I have an excuse to talk to her, email with her, because we share something in common, even if it is just one day in our lives. Her new adult novel, In the Unlikely Event, is irresistible, inspired by real life events in the early 1950s when a succession of airplanes crashed over a year period in Judy's hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey. It's a witty, wise, hooky book, about life and death and love, spilling from a multitude of voices. But what Judy and I talked about over email was business. (And, oddly enough, vaginas.)

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