Fantasy Book Club discussion

I didn't see anywhere else to post this so I thought I'd start a topic. This is very good and very emotional book. I was flying back to Dallas yesterday and reading the chapter with the event involving Burrich and Smithy (trying not to include spoilers) - WOW. I really had a tough time not crying on the plane in front of a bunch of strangers! That is some pretty effective writing - to evoke such love of the characters. I then went back and re-read the passage where the events are foreshadowed by teh Fool's statement to Fitz when Smithy is named - very well done.

I think it is easy to write a sad tale, however, it's extremely difficult to keep enough love and hope alive that the reader still wants to continue with the story no matter what happens. The reader is invested. I think Hobb has effectively done that with this series.

Anyone else having a similar experience?

I have to agree. The author did a great job evoking emotions, both at the part that you mentioned as well as the very end with Nosy (well really throughout the book but these are the two moments that really stick out). I was on my daily commute on the train when I finished this book and was hard put not to let my tears go! Hopefully Fitz gets a happier ending at then end of this series which I'll most definitely be reading!

I agree. Hobb is really good at tugging at your emotions. Fitz goes through so much. Also I don't want to spoil anything, but I think what got to me the most was not so much about Fitz, but Molly's relationship with her father.

Yes, it is an emotional rollercoaster for the reader. But that's half the fun, I think. To evoke such emotion is a huge triumph for her.

I understand a difficulty in enjoying the constant rough treatment of Fitz and others in the book, but it seems fairly close to the luck that is real life. I mean, there are few miracle saves in this book. It follows a more true life scenario. This is not for everyone, but I think Hobb has a strong enough grip on the craft that she makes this more readable than others with a similar bleak outlook.

I'd agree, and also point out that Hobb accomplishes this in using first person. Many don't like that approach, but this was the perfect example of how that can work for a story. It just wouldn't pack the same emotional response in if it were written from an outside perspective...

Yes, definitely. Using first-person POV and still managing the emotional triggers that she finds was true art.

Very, very late for the discussion, but unearthing this thread I remembered how this nine books tortured me. I was so captivated by the storytelling, unable to put down the books but nevertheless feeling breath-taking pain for all the misfortunes my favorite characters had to live through. For the first time in my life, I had sought out spoilers deliberately to see what would happen in the third book of Farseer triology because I didn't think I could go on reading if there would be no solace for Fitz.

I sought out spoilers too when I got to Tawny Man. I didn't want to be disappointed. In hindsight I'm glad I did. This isn't really a spoiler because I can get emotional over good and bad endings, and middles. But reading Fool's Fate I was an emotional wreck. The most emotion a book has ever gotten out of me. Hobb is one of the best at this.