They're definitely better with food on hand! I usually listen to those audiobooks while cooking--you get entertainment and then something (hopefully) delicious at the end by the time you've listened to a feast or three.

Martin the Warrior was so devastating the first time I read it! I really like it, from a writing and story perspective, but I think it's the one I've read least because of That One Scene. Of course, I had that reaction every time something like that happened--I got so attached to those characters.