10 things I learnt from reading 'A Game of Thrones'

I finally caved and read A Game of Thrones, the first in the series of books that the TV show of the same name is based on. I've been putting this off for just about forever because it's an intimidating book, but once I got started I remembered how much I love being utterly absorbed in the world of a long book, and now I've even bought the second in the series to get cracking with. 
There were some absolute shockers that I was completely unprepared for, so I thought I'd share ten things I learnt from reading the book (instead of watching the series):
1.) A lot of the 'teenage' characters are a lot younger than I ever thought they were. Daenerys is only thirteen when she's married off to Khal Drogo, and the Stark siblings have at least a couple of years shaved off each of the ages I imagined. This changed my perspective on a whole lot of characters.
2.) I really really like Ned Stark. I mean, Joffrey is an absolute shite, but Ned has won my heart. He's so true to everything he believes in when everyone else is sucking up to whoever's in power and it's admirable. I think I need to learn my lesson from liking characters in George R. R. Martin's books before I get my heart completely broken.
3.) I really really REALLY don't like Sansa. I love a character that you can well and truly hate, and that's exactly what Sansa offers. She's naive and vain and consistently sides with the wrong people to get what she wants. Where's her loyalty???
4.) The nightwalkers are scary, and confusing. I'm still not entirely sure what these blue-eyed undead creatures are, but I'd like it if they stopped trying to kill off Jon Snow.
5.) There's a whole lot of incest going on. Martin could have made any kind of society in his fantasy world, so naturally he goes with one that has a massive history of incest. Good.
6.) I love reading long books. I love the intricate detail that goes into every scene in a lengthy book, and the world of GOT was set up so well in this novel in terms of the setting and the history and character progression. It's made me want to read more long books, rather than shying away from them.
7.) I prefer the book to the series. I never got hooked on GOT, but the first book is something that I really became obsessed with.
8.) I kinda want a direwolf. Imagine having a massive beast that heeds your bidding to take care of you when you're at risk, or alone, or when you need them. I mean, it wouldn't be the most practical idea but it'd be pretty cute.
9.) Daenerys doesn't just walk out 'carrying' the baby dragons from the fire at the end. Nah, two of them are suckling on her post-loss-of-baby titties. It's weird and nasty and seems to have even been a little *too* out there for the TV series.
10.) The most shocking thing is that there aren't beautiful covers of the book series out there. Why are fantasy books so ugly? Can someone just start making fantasy book covers that make you want to read them rather than running away with boredom on your mind? Please?
Have you read A Game of Thrones? What did you think?
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