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Anthony's Reviews > Fool's Errand
Fool's Errand (Tawny Man, #1)
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Robin Hobb is one of a very small number of authors whose work resonates very deeply within the most raw and tender corners of my soul. Her ability to bring to vivid, believable life moments of compassion, complexity, hard-earned wisdom, grief, violence, and despair moves me to my core. And her gift at depicting the love and sorrow and pain that binds people to one another, even as it occasionally threatens to tear those binds apart, is unparalleled. Fitz and the Fool and Nighteyes and all the rest are among the most indelible characters I’ve ever had to pleasure to know through my years of reading.
It’s a bit of an understatement to say that I’m an avid reader, but it is exceedingly rare that I find myself wanting to submerge myself and luxuriate in and take my time with books the way I find myself wanting to do with Robin Hobb’s work. I count myself fortunate that she is prolific, and that I have many more of her books yet to read.
It’s a bit of an understatement to say that I’m an avid reader, but it is exceedingly rare that I find myself wanting to submerge myself and luxuriate in and take my time with books the way I find myself wanting to do with Robin Hobb’s work. I count myself fortunate that she is prolific, and that I have many more of her books yet to read.
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Reading Progress
July 29, 2018
– Shelved
July 29, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
August 15, 2018
– Shelved as:
fantasy
August 17, 2018
– Shelved as:
series
January 22, 2022
– Shelved as:
2022-sffbc-tbr-challenge
September 16, 2022
–
Started Reading
September 20, 2022
–
47.0%
"Hobb’s ability to bring to life the complex emotional ties between characters who’ve known each other for years is quite moving, and exceedingly rare in contemporary high fantasy literature."
September 21, 2022
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70.0%
"The chapter I just read (chapter 20) was one of the most powerfully upsetting and emotionally rich of any chapters in the Farseer books I’ve read so far. I simply adore how much Hobb trusts herself to lay the groundwork in her stories that then wonderfully earn these sorts of indelibly memorable scenes."
September 23, 2022
–
Finished Reading
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Alex
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Sep 23, 2022 07:17AM
Are you continuing on with this series?
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Absolutely. But not right away. I like to break up my reads of series.
I am so very happy that I recommended her work to you many moons ago. The saga is an astounding piece of work and truly a testament to how she creates and breathes life in to these characters and the world they inhabit. It gives me such a joy to know you fell in love with it as much too Anthony!
Beautifully put 💕 And complete agreement on all of it.The line that most got lingering in my mind from this particular book (because of the beautifully poignant moment it represented): "a morning this wondrous must be shared".
The richness of these books is indeed something to submerge and wallow in.
Thank you, Paddy.And yes, Jemppu, that line, and that dream… simply perfect in its heart-piercing truth.
MAAAAAYBE after my reading of Jo Nesbo and Unni Lindell then I’m starting on these books🤪
Anthony wrote: "...And yes, Jemppu, that line, and that dream… simply perfect in its heart-piercing truth."Vast agreement.
Spreading out the joy over time is a good plan. Your review makes me *almost* want to give Hobb a try. 😂
Alex, I also know folks who are allergic to her, so take that for what it’s worth. But her books just *work* for me in a very meaningful way.
Three years ago I spent much of Aug/Sept in the Six Duchies, marveling at her world. Read all 15.I felt like a kid again
Hobb is such an amazing writer. I sometimew wish I'd rationed her books more, but I mostly binged her series. One day, I will read all of them from the top. (My introduction to her work was Dragon Keeper - back than I had no idea all her books were connected.)
Hobb is such an amazing writer. In a world where G.R.R Martin dominates it pains me that she doesn't get as much praise as he does. This trilogy changes the world of the Six Dutchies and the future of Fitz and the Fool. Savor each book, because they will be over by the time you know it. I had caught up with the rest of the fandom when the final three books dropped and having no more to look forward to... Idk, to me, she is my queen of fantasy and I will always blame her for giving me a "type" regarding my expectations in fantasy.
Andi wrote: "... to me, she is my queen of fantasy and I will always blame her for giving me a "type" regarding my expectations in fantasy"What is the type? Please explain! 😀
I find myself wanting to submerge myself and luxuriate in and take my time with books the way I find myself wanting to do with Robin Hobb’s workI just started Assassin's Apprentice, but I already feel the same way. I'm reading at a slower pace, but I am not struggling. Instead I've found a partnering, a synchronicity with the pace and rhythm she sets. Very comfortable, very enjoyable.
Bonnie, I think her type is the way that she writes, the journal / reflection prose, the intermixing of several series with overlapping incidents or plot elements. I know someone people don't care for him, but Sanderson does that with his stories too and I latched onto him because how much I enjoyed what Hobb brought to the table.
@Matt I’m very glad to hear her writing is working for you. @Andi I see the comparison you’re making to Sanderson. While I admire his ambition, I wish he had a more deft and subtle hand when it comes to capturing human behavior, and that he had a more rigorous editor holding him to a higher standard in his sentence-to-sentence writing. He repeats descriptions a LOT.
Yes, @ Anthony, this is why I couldn’t continue with Stormlight. Too long winded.
That's fair @ Anthony. :) I guess the narrative format in how he and Hobb both write from is a weakness of mine - and unique magic and world building. Hobb does write stronger than Sanderson if I compare the two side by side. To me, I feel they both set different standards of what I'm looking for in books. I want an author who writes like she does, I want an author who creates magic / worlds like Sanderson. These days I feel most fantasy is a constant retread of the same ideas and it's hard to find new voices to latch onto.
I read The LiveShip trilogy first and then The Farseers, which I wouldn’t necessarily recommend, but I was hooked and even bought them next hardcovers as they came out. I have now read Assassin’s apprentice 3 times and Royal Assassin twice. I keep meaning to continue with rereading the series, but keep getting distracted by shiny, new things.
