A Song of Ice and Fire - A Chapter a day discussion

Tomorrow we will discuss the first chapter of Tyrion Lannister.

A few things I want to mention:

. Tyrion reads, and really likes it. I love how he tells Chayle to take care of the books, it makes me like him even more.

. Sandor Clegane is with Joffrey pretty much all the time, and mocks Tyrion when he is around apparently. And he mocks him back, which I love.

. When Tyrion bitch slapped Joffrey. The satisfaction I felt was high.

. Bran's direwolf won't stop howling, and I think that's important (it seems to keep Bran strong).

. Also, the look Cersei and Jaime shared when Tyrion said it looks like Bran will make it. I like how he notices so many details.

. Myrcella and Tommen seem to be nice people, and like Tyrion said "she had all of her mother’s beauty,
and none of her nature". Which makes me wonder why Jon described her as insipid, like Vicki said in a previous discussion.

. I love how the chapter ends."“Why, Jaime, my sweet brother,” he said, “you wound me. You know how much I love my family.”". Something we can tell when he talks about them.

He is one of my favourite characters. He makes me laugh so much, he is so down to earth, and sees so many things other characters don't. I just love him.

I have found that I don't have to say much about this chapter, not because it was boring or unimportant but somehow, it seems, I didn't miss much from the first two readings I had already given it.

But it's true, Tyrion is an amazing character and you can see here how he interacts with a lot of other different characters... Chayle, Sandor, Joffrey, Jaime, Cersei, Tommen, Myrcella, his first thoughts on Robert, Eddard, Bran's accident. It's really a very interesting chapter to read (as any other of these first ones) once you know what happens next.

Tyrion is on my top 5 favorite characters list for ASOIAF for much the same reasons as Clara stated. He is funny, down to earth, smart, AND has feelings (as we'll see more of down the line).

1. I love how my first impression of Tyrion is with him in the library, not at a brothel like in the show (I usually won't discuss the show but here I just had to make a point of it). It's interesting to note that the type of book he is reading is "a hundred-year-old discourse on the changing of the seasons by a long dead maester." Right away my impression of Tyrion is that of a scholar.

2. Tyrion wasn't much for sleeping, it's said. Wonder why.

3. I forgot about Chayle the septon. Did he come from King's Landing with the rest of the party or is he the septon of Winterfell? Not sure why he was with Tyrion at the library.

4. I'm surprised Sandor Clegane can get Joffrey to laugh at all, even if it's at the expense of his uncle. I didn't think of Sandor as particularly "funny" in the book.

5. I absolutely love the part where Tyrion slaps Joffrey around, too! Not only is Tyrion a scholar, but he shows (in a funny way) how kind and considerate he is by making sure his heartless nephew offers his condolences to Lord and Lady Stark. Even if it is only to save face for the houses Joffrey represents, Tyrion didn't have to *smack* sense into him at all. Really, his parents should have done that already.

6. Interesting how Tyrion was not invited to sit at the table with his family but he sits with them anyway. And here we see he is not welcome by his family, least of all by Cersei. "His sister peered at him with the same distate she had worn since the day he was born." Clearly not welcome.

7. The king was with Lord Eddard all night. "He has taken their sorrow deeply to heart." *SPOILER FOR UPCOMING CHAPTERS IN GAME OF THRONES*(view spoiler)[Well that's good; I was afraid he'd been out all night drinking and whoring again... Why does it seem King Robert cares about every single child in Westeros EXCEPT his "own"? I really don't know how I feel about this man. (hide spoiler)]

8. "There was very little that Jaime took seriously." Like the life of a 7-year-old... A$$.

9. Somehow I missed it my first reading that Jaime was the only one who had ever shown Tyrion the smallest measure of affection or respect. My opinion of him as a child killer at this stage in the series made me overlook this one positive character trait.

10. Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella care about Bran, at least. They do seem to be really good children.

11. The part where Jaime says that the name Brandon seems to be unlucky is rather rude, in my opinion. Especially when he had something to do with one of their fates.

12. "The glance that passed between Jaime and Cersei lasted no more than a second, but he did not miss it." Tyrion is very perceptive.

13. Of Myrcella: "She had all of her mother's beauty, and none of her nature." I quite like Myrcella. She is a sweet child, innocent and kind. Not at all insipid. I guess first impressions aren't everything, and also that Jon can be wrong about people sometimes. Not often, but sometimes.

14. I love the way Bran's wolf is somehow helping Bran pull through in his recovery, and how Tyrion notices this himself. Quite possibly, there is something more to the Stark kids' direwolves than at first meets the eye.

15. I think it's really awesome how Tyrion genuinely wants to check out this Wall he's heard so much of. And how he behaves like he's going to see Mount Rushmore, just another tourist stop for him!

"...I just want to stand on top of the Wall and piss off the edge of the world."

So he thinks the realm is "the world" then. Sounds a bit cocky there.

16. "Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities." I just love Tyrion's subtle hints that he knows what's going on here, while at the same time sounding joyfully naive. "...I hope the boy does wake. I would be most interested to hear what he might have to say." And, "...you wound me. You know how much I love my family" is just priceless.

Vicki about your point 3, I don't think the septon is ever mention again (at least I don't remember it at all) but don't you think it would be more logical that he was alredy in Winterfell? I mean, I don't believe a septon from the south would go and put the books in the bookshelves if he is not used to the library. I am not really sure, but I don't think it makes sense if he came with the king.

Clara, you're right, he's not come with the party of the King, he's the septon of Winterfell.

Yeah I thought it would be weird, thanks Ruben for confirming it! Is he ever mentioned again? I don't remember him at all!

He is mentioned again in ACOK, doesn't really have a huge story in the series but he's there.

http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/...

I just saw in the way back of the book that Chayle is Winterfell's "keeper of the castle sept and library." So Ruben is right. Thanks!