I just finished Robin Hobb’s latest book ‘The Dragon Keeper’. I am still experiencing mixed feelings about this particular book after reading it. I confess myself surprised because, from the start, I was looking forward to the usual intro - climax plot. That was not what I got at all. Instead, she took a whole book to introduce us to the characters in her story. A whole book. O_O I don’t think any new author would even think about doing that. Granted, she isn’t an unknown in her genre. Robin Hobb is known for her fantastical trilogies such as The Farseer, The Liveship Traders, The Soldier Son and The Tawny Man. My first exposure to her books was The Shaman’s Crossing from her Soldier Son trilogy. I read an excerpt sent out by Harper Collin’s and I was immediately sold. I kept my eye out for the book release and got myself a copy as soon as I could. I practically devoured her book. Since then, I have read all her works and they were all really epic and enjoyable reads.

What drew me to her works were the characters that she created. They were extremely convincing, people whom it is possible to empathise with. She never had any clear cut ‘villains’ in her story. Rather, we see how people acted / made the choices they had to because of circumstances, and beliefs and their own personal principles. There were no brave and noble heroes, born to save the world / humanity. None of all this black and white, good versus evil picture. We get annoyed and angry and frustrated at the characters, but we never hate them / blame them outright. This is because she led us in to their innermost thoughts and fears and uncertainties so we understand that, even the ‘bad people’ sometimes have no control and no choices of their own. That given the chance to change things, they would have taken a completely different route. That even when we meant to do the right thing, sometimes we end up making a bigger mess. You read about them failing again and again, sometimes it even hurts you. But each one realises the need to keep going, making the best of things. That is what I see in Robin Hobb’s works. Her characters are her greatest strength, not the made up fantastical landscapes or the out of this world magic. These were just her props, the blurred backgrounds in which her characters move in. Although she never entirely omits the chance to make things epic. Not in the form of battles or fights, but just big revelations or achievements. Some milestone reached, or a kind of acceptance to their fate, an understanding of sorts.

Therefore, I confess I was very excited to read her latest book. This is supposedly a continuation of her Liveship Trader trilogy. There were a few people in that series who were ‘late bloomers’, didn’t really caught my attention until it was almost at an end so I was anticipating picking up things from where it was left off. Reconnecting with them. No such luck though, I was surprised when a completely new set of characters were introduced. And that was practically the mood of the book, consolidating the characters. It wasn’t fast - paced, there were no breathless waiting for what would happen next etc. The Dragon Keeper is very character driven. She didn’t even have to describe the setting or explain the natural laws of the place. No words were wasted on explaining a new culture / geography because all that was done in the previous trilogy. I kind of like that whole interconnected-ness of things. The brief mention of familiar locations, appearances of old characters. It reminds that they have played their part and that their actions would have no weight in this new game but they would undoubtedly still be affected by the outcome. Some part of me still hope that she will give a second chance to some of these people. I felt as if I didn’t get to know them as well as I would have liked.

*Is it just me who gets excited when I meet a character that I recognise from somewhere else?? I mean, sometimes authors write is brief mentions about other characters from their previous works, or even works of other authors!!! I love it when I can spot them. Although it does mean that I have been reading too many of the similar books in the same circle of authors and it probably time for me to move on and get a change of scenery. Like how the hobbit and the faun in both Tolkien and C. S. Lewis’ story are similar (not the same person but you can see they got the same idea probably from their group discussions in their Cambridge days). So yeah, imagine Harry Potter making a guest appearance in one of the books you’re reading. I reckon that would be a pleasant interruption. Just to know that they are doing well after whatever catastrophe they’ve been to. (omg, I sound like I’m losing the lines between reality and fiction)

So yeah, back to the book. We see that the restrictions and boundaries were already set up, all we have to do this time is to get to know the players. And as much as I know how important it is for us to connect with them, a little part of me was still disappointed at the calm, even pace of the book and the lacklustre ending. This is probably one of the most (okay, ‘most’ is a pretty strong word) un - epic cliffhanger I have ever encountered. Oh, it definitely left me wishing for more but not because I want to read about their next adventure but more so that this ending is as abrupt as a slap in the face. Tell me, who ends a story in the middle of the conversation??? And I don’t even know who the other person in the conversation is!!! This is so unlike her previous works. Usually, there is a huge build - up and the anticipations always feels like it could kill you. I was fillping through the pages, waiting for the bomb to drop all the time when there wasn’t one in the first place. O_O I have come to expect a certain uniformity when reading. Once recognises the ‘patterns’ seen in different genres of works. So yeah, this was a big jolt in an otherwise smooth running vehicle, like accidentally running over a pothole on the road. =P

However, I have much faith in Robin Hobb. I trust that she knows what she is doing, and I am confident that her next book will deliver what her other books promised. Again, I recommend starting with The assasin’s apprentice from the Farseer trilogy.

*I just recently watched Gran Torino as well. I’ve been meaning to watch it ever since I read about it in TIME magazine. I’m glad I finally got down to it. The movie was a very good potrayal. I do not know about accuracy since I am not familiar with the american culture (the part that is not blown out of proportion by the mass media anyway) but it was still an entertaining hour and a half. It managed to convey its message without any dreariness and with just the right amount of humour to spice things up. Clint Eastwood directed, produced, and stared in this (almost like a one man show).