Faye's comments (member since Feb 16, 2009)

Faye's comments from the Fantasy Book Club group.

I'm at the last book of Tawny Man and I'll say this; no book(series) ever took this much time for me to finish! plot of the all series are so hard core heart wrenching that I occasionally quit reading and after a time keep reading again.

Especially after first book of farseer series, I hoped some sort of compensation for the Fizt in any way but when I finised second book I felt like an emotional wreck and I couldn't go on book three, was afraid Hobb decided to make the plot an epic tragedy. After reading lots of spoilers for book three, I convinced myself to give it a go.

When I read the series, I feel the need to watch a lot of "feel good" movies :D

I'll admit I have a crush on Howl too... All his womanising and carefree ways turned out to be a way to deal with hard tasks, he did what was expected of him in the end but deceiving, above all, himself as not doing anything of the task. He even has a Ph.D on something I forgot.

Sophie can affect things with her words. Even though Howl broke the spell, she kept saying "..I'm an old woman..." thus, she kept refreshing her own "old age" spell almost at every page. And I agree previous comments, she is not the type to do things for her own sake and what seemed to be a curse at first was what liberated her.

I read this book after movie and I have found book more delightful than movie. I'm looking forward to discuss it with everyone.

(haha Kathy, I was singing and dancing when I noticed no one wrote it yet :D )

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Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones: After reading Princess Bride, it reminded me this one; humorous storytelling, only more lighthearted plot. An easy and fun read with more intricate storyline than the animation.

After finishing Robin Hobb's Farseer triology last month, I decided (and started) to read sequel triologies; Liveship Traders and Tawny Man triologies.

The contrast between humorous storytelling of the book and severity of some of the events. I liked the characters but humorous , lighthearted telling made me feel like author is mocking of their struggle, pain and desperation.

I was totally fooled by the claim of the abridged version of some unknown book, not a new book. And this was an immediate turn off for me, I left the book aside. When I checked out the comments at GoodReads, I couldn't understand what is so good about the book that so many people adores it (then I learned there is no unabridged version and all thing is fiction). I decided to give it another chance since it was March reading of the group. Well, I can't say I enjoyed the book so much but I had pages I enjoyed.

I met Hobb's series via GoodReads recommendation and the first series I picked up was Farseer Triology. Farseer books are one of the best fantasy writings I have ever read since Tolkien and LeGuin, so far. So, JG, you may want to give her another chance for Farseer this time before a final opinion.

When I was looking for LeGuin's Earthsea to read in the library, I saw translated editions had very uncharming cover art, whereas Eartsea Quartet edition of Penguin Books had very attractive cover. I read the Penguin edition and the cover is still one of my favorites:

1.Lord of the Rings
2.The Dark Tower
3.Harry Potter
4.The Malazan Book of the Fallen
5.The Wheel of Time
6.Narnia
7.The Magic of Recluce
8.The Mage Wars
9.The Bartimaeus Trilogy
10. The Prince of Nothing
11. Darkover (by Marion Zimmer Bradley, not the ones written by others).
12. Fionavar Tapestry
13. The Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman
14, Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey
15. A Song of Ice and Fire, George R.R Martin
16. Nine Princes in Amber, Roger Zelazny
17. The Belgariad, David Eddings
18. The Book of the Kencyrath by P.C. Hodgell (starts with God Stalk)
19. The Sevenwaters Triology by Juliet Marillier
20. Abarat series by Clive Barker
21. The Symphony of Ages by Elizabeth Haydon
22. The kingdoms of Thorn and Bone by Greg Keye
23. The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
24. Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
25. Earthsea Cycle by Ursula LeGuin

I had no idea His Dark Materials series got a prequel. IMO it is an unnecessary addition to the series. I doubt I would want to read.

Just finished the book. I've yet to see the movie. Sadly, "Abridged" trick didn't work for me and contrast between humorous storytelling and seriousness of action and events put a barrier between me and book. I enjoyed reading it half of the time nevertheless.