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MILAMBER · 08-16-2001, 01:35 PM

There used to be a thread about the farseer trilogy here and I have no idea where it went, so I am starting this thread.

Everybody was going on about how great these books were and how they were the best books they ever read and so on. On several peoples advice I went out and picked them up. I know I might catch some crap for this, but here is my opinion on them:

Robin Hobb is truly an excellent author who weaves a very coherent, and consistent story. In no way can I knock her writing ability. That said, for some reason after finishing the trilogy, I didn't enjoy them nearly as much as I thought I would. So I'm sitting here kind of wondering what aspect of the books did it for you.

When I read a book, the story line is very important to me, but what really does it for me is the characters. I like to fall in love with the characters. I like to feel like I'm tagging along for a ride with someone who I know and admire. This book didn't give me that. While very developed, the main character, FitzChivalry was an empty hero. I tried to like him. You don't understand how badly I wanted to like him, but for the majority of the story, he was somebody that I wouldn't like. I didn't admire him. He wasn't the type of character that got me excited when he fought some big villian or did some great deed. He had some potentially cool abilities but he never developed or particularly wanted to develop them. He was an emotional basket case as well. If they had prozac back then, he would have been a definate canditate for it's use. His emotional roller coaster would go up and down through emotions that didn't seem natural. By that I mean, I found it hard to understand why he felt the way he did in a lot of situations. This too made it difficult for me to relate to him.

All in all they were good books, and I did get some enjoyment out of them, but just not as much as I was expecting to. So, did you like these books? If so, why?

------------------
"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his."
-General George Patton (1885-1945)

Member of CLAN HADB

[This message has been edited by MILAMBER (edited 08-16-2001).]

08-16-2001, 01:35 PM	#1
MILAMBER Lord Soth Join Date: March 5, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,948	There used to be a thread about the farseer trilogy here and I have no idea where it went, so I am starting this thread. Everybody was going on about how great these books were and how they were the best books they ever read and so on. On several peoples advice I went out and picked them up. I know I might catch some crap for this, but here is my opinion on them: Robin Hobb is truly an excellent author who weaves a very coherent, and consistent story. In no way can I knock her writing ability. That said, for some reason after finishing the trilogy, I didn't enjoy them nearly as much as I thought I would. So I'm sitting here kind of wondering what aspect of the books did it for you. When I read a book, the story line is very important to me, but what really does it for me is the characters. I like to fall in love with the characters. I like to feel like I'm tagging along for a ride with someone who I know and admire. This book didn't give me that. While very developed, the main character, FitzChivalry was an empty hero. I tried to like him. You don't understand how badly I wanted to like him, but for the majority of the story, he was somebody that I wouldn't like. I didn't admire him. He wasn't the type of character that got me excited when he fought some big villian or did some great deed. He had some potentially cool abilities but he never developed or particularly wanted to develop them. He was an emotional basket case as well. If they had prozac back then, he would have been a definate canditate for it's use. His emotional roller coaster would go up and down through emotions that didn't seem natural. By that I mean, I found it hard to understand why he felt the way he did in a lot of situations. This too made it difficult for me to relate to him. All in all they were good books, and I did get some enjoyment out of them, but just not as much as I was expecting to. So, did you like these books? If so, why? ------------------ "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." -General George Patton (1885-1945) Member of CLAN HADB [This message has been edited by MILAMBER (edited 08-16-2001).]