The Dragon Keeper "Controversial?" Hobb and sexuality. *Major Spoilers up to RWC!

[Nuytsia]

Hmm, I'm guessing it's easier to spot that sort of thing in someone you don't know then in someone you know. You live together for many years... you form an image of someone and it's hard to chance that later.

I totally agree, I've done it myself! But I just felt that it only applies up to a point, and when she found the locket I felt she'd passed the point! That's just me and my reading of it though.

But then Alice was indeed thick to the point of being ridiculous.

I do see where you're coming from and I wavered between thinking it was good to have such a character with just terrible self esteem and just not liking her for being that way!
And I really liked Tats until his little tantrum about Thymara being a 'tease' or whatever.

Going back on topic, if there's one thing that this book has made me realise, it's how enormously difficult it must be for a homosexual to live in a society which condems their feelings, so that they are forced to take a partner of the opposite sex. Imagine for one dumb moment that we lived in a world where homosexuality was the norm, and we, as straight people, would be forced to live and sleep together with someone of the same sex. The idea is quite revolting to us and yet it's no different at all then what we are forcing homosexuals to do. That's something that I'd never grasped before this book, that for them it must be equally as hard as their preference would be for us. And in light of that I can understand Hest's disdain and revoltion for Alice... even if I still think he's a bastard.

I can't say the book really opened my eyes to anything new about being homosexual in our culture. (or a more repressive culture, as compared to my own the RoTE certainly seems worse). I actually felt more of an eye opener to read the Farseer books and imagine exactly how it might be to be homosexual and be in love with someone who isn't (although that may not be what's going on, but it still made me think about that!)

Mervi I love your thoughts on Fitz/Fool relationship, and it certainly makes a lot more sense to me having read your post. I think in general I did read it pretty well the way you did, but I must admit at times I questioned exactly WHAT was going on..