The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)

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The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1)

by Patrick Rothfuss (Goodreads Author)

4.56 of 5 stars 4.56 · rating details · 106,116 ratings · 9,953 reviews

Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen. The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as...more

Hardcover, 672 pages

Published March 27th 2007 by DAW Hardcover (first published 2007)

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The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

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Jul 25, 2008 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone!

Shelves: fantasy, 2008, favourite

This is why I love fantasy so much. After a recent string of okay fantasy novels, a couple of good ones but nothing to get really excited about, I've rediscovered my passion thanks to this book. I'm so impressed, and so in love, I can't begin to describe it. But I can try to give you a feel for the book, if I can figure out where to start and how to do justice to this masterpiece.

Kvothe (pronounced like "Quothe") is a world-renowned figure of mystery with a disreputable reputation - a hero or a...more This is why I love fantasy so much. After a recent string of okay fantasy novels, a couple of good ones but nothing to get really excited about, I've rediscovered my passion thanks to this book. I'm so impressed, and so in love, I can't begin to describe it. But I can try to give you a feel for the book, if I can figure out where to start and how to do justice to this masterpiece.

Kvothe (pronounced like "Quothe") is a world-renowned figure of mystery with a disreputable reputation - a hero or a demon depending on which stories you hear. The real man has hidden himself away at an inn in the middle of nowhere with his apprentice Bast - we know not why - and it's not until the Chronicler discovers him there that he shows any interest in reliving his past life. Insisting that his story will take three days to tell, and that the famous chronicler must write it down exactly as he tells it, he begins to share his story: a child genius growing up with his parents' troupe, performing plays and tricks across the land while being taught "sympathy" (magic), history, chemistry etc. by a tinker, Abenthy, who had been to the University; to ending up homeless and penniless on the streets of Treban, a big port city. It's not until he's fifteen that he makes it to the University, and is accepted, though he's three years younger than is usual. Abenthy has taught him well, and combined with his impressive memory, natural talent, quick intelligence and training, he moves quickly up the ranks of the university.

There are many adventures and mishaps along the way, and while some plotlines come to a tidy end at the close of this novel, over-arching plotlines and themes have been given a solid foundation to continue on into the next books. It took a surprisingly long time for me to realise the connection between the number of days he will take to tell his story, and that this is "Day One" in the trilogy - it's told over the course of the first day. The only thing is, he's young yet (Chronicler judges him to be about 25, though at times he looks infintely older), and there are things happening in "real time" that intrude upon the story, that will need to be resolved I think - so while I have every confidence Rothfuss has excellent control over his creation, I would love more than three books :)

I can't think of the last time I was this impressed by any story, let alone a fantasy novel. I won't compare it to bloody George R.R. Martin like everyone else is doing because I don't see that they have anything in common, really - one is a work of pure genius and the other is utter crap. Comparing them only heightens my dislike of A Game of Thrones. In truth, it's simply a marketing strategy to compare new books to ones that are already really popular, in order to draw in a well-established audience.

This is an epic fantasy - epic in scope - but it's also a bildungsroman, a story of a person's life, a life journey (including the quiet moments), which I love. The character development is ludicrously good. The world-building is solid, believable and original - there're enough new elements to keep your interest, but not so many that you get confused and overwhelmed: a perfect balance. The design of "sympathy" is original and unique, and makes so much sense that I'm half-surprised it doesn't really work. It's complicated enough to not be trite, but one basic premise is the connection between things, the sympathy they have with each other - if you broke a branch in two, the two halves would still have a connection, like sharing the exact same DNA, and so if you control one half you affect the other half. Same with two pennies of the same metal, so that, if you were holding one and someone holding the other and they worked a "binding" on their half, and, say, lifted it in the air, then your penny would also lift. It's fabulous! It's an intellectual kind of magic, not a "wave the wand" type. It takes knowledge, concentration and effort, so in effect, anyone could learn.

As for the characters and their growth, I am so impressed and so in love I will no doubt do a bad job of expressing it. While Kvothe's story is told in his voice, first person, the present day interludes are told in third person omniscient, but usually from certain characters' points of view. You get a mix of other people's impressions of characters, and a gentle showing that tells us even more. The genius is in how Kvothe is portrayed: while telling the story, himself as a young boy, already having experienced tragedy and sorrow and despair, and already feeling the weight of worldly concerns, but still with a lot to learn, comes across strongly. This is counter-balanced with Kvothe as a man, having been through all that and more and had it shape him into something subtly different, yet still very much the same person. If it had been written poorly, there would have been discord between the two Kvothes, but there isn't. He has so much charisma, and is such a complex sort, that I really felt for him. I may even have a bit of crush, actually. He's not good or evil, but he's suffering from a conscience: he's very human, and lonely, despite the friendship of Bast. At the same time, he's a god-like figure, an amazing musician, a skilled fighter, and a powerful magician. One moment he's commanding and chillingly masterful, the next he's doing Bast's bidding and fetching food and cutting wood for others. I expect it's his contradictions and complexities that draw me to him.

The writing style is smooth, the pacing just right (though the first few chapters take a while to get you into the story, you still need to read them closely because there're a lot of details in them), and the prose isn't cluttered with boring, irrelevant descriptions or pointless details. It's a fat book and a long story, but it flies by. While it needed better proofreading - there were a lot of problems with dialogue punctuation; there were a few lazy typos; he never once used a semicolon when he should have; and he always used "lay" instead of "laid" (but hey, at least he was consistent) - the prose itself is engaging, often humorous, detailed but not overly so, and never boring. I also loved the little songs and ditties that are included, and the stories within Kvothe's story.

Likewise, the way he doles out the various plots, revealing and hinting at the right moments, building up tension and anticipation, giving clues that start to coalesce into a stunning picture, is, frankly, impressive. The supporting cast, while not as fully explored as Kvothe (it is his story, after all), are in their own ways vividly portrayed and gradually explored. There's no chunky exposition or a description of a character shoved at you all at once. It's more a show-not-tell kind of book, appreciating the intellect of its audience and our ability to figure things out for ourselves. Nicely done. There was a while there, when I was reading, that the prose gave me the same kind of thrill as reading a sex scene in a romance novel might - but it could have just been the excitment of the story.

One last thing (though I could go on forever): I loved what he did with dragons. I won't spoil it by saying more, just that it's original and delightful - this coming from someone who's been known to get a mite bored by dragons in fantasy.

I would easily recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, but also to people who enjoy great stories told wonderfully well. As many non-fantasy readers loved Harry Potter, they would also love this book.(less)

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Mar 05, 2009 Jacob rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008-2009, i-own, sci-fi-fantasy-etc

March 2009

I first read this about a year and a half ago, back in July 2007, while waiting for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to come out. I had re-read the first six books and July 21 was still a week away, so I picked this up to pass the time. Bad idea. When you're suffering from Potter Fatigue, it's not a good idea to check out a popular new work of fantasy and expect to fully enjoy it. I know I didn't. Oh, don't get me wrong; The Name of the Wind was good stuff, but my mind was still ad...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-it, other-adult-fantasy, loved-it, 2009

Originally posted here.

This is definitely one of my new favorite books, so if you're a friend of mine, prepare to have me brutally push it on you until you give in and give it a go.

One of the reviews I read compared it to The Song of Ice and Fire and Lord of the Rings, saying that the book was equal to the best of fantasy written thus far. Well let me tell you, this doesn't stand alongside the fantasy greats, it knocks them off the shelves.

It isn't just some fantastic epic that you read for fun...more Originally posted here.

This is definitely one of my new favorite books, so if you're a friend of mine, prepare to have me brutally push it on you until you give in and give it a go.

One of the reviews I read compared it to The Song of Ice and Fire and Lord of the Rings, saying that the book was equal to the best of fantasy written thus far. Well let me tell you, this doesn't stand alongside the fantasy greats, it knocks them off the shelves.

It isn't just some fantastic epic that you read for fun and adventure (although you'll get plenty of that too). It is story of a real life. Kvothe has known pain, despair, the feeling of being completely abandoned and alone, and he has also experienced joy, love, happiness and knowledge. One chapter he is beaten half to death, the next he is being shown some of the truest acts of kindness I could ever imagine.

I can't think of an emotion I didn't experience while reading. I snorted with laughter, gasped in outrage, choked back tears, shook with disbelief and trembled with anticipation. Seriously, the book has it all.

What a magnificent achievement to tell this story in a completely believable way-I mean sure there are dragons and magic (sympathy)...but I mean the "real life" stuff. Here you have a 15 year old boy, who early on, had fantastic parents and a happy life as a traveling performer. When that was taken away, he lived on the streets of a large city and raised himself to be tough and cunning. He knew how smart he was, and he got himself a place in the University. Now-before you start thinking that he is portrayed as being perfect-the author never hesitates to remind you that he is still a kid! He is constantly showing off and doing outrageously idiotic things that get him into heaps of trouble. I wanted to wring his neck more than once myself!

Anyway, I'm not going to try to summarize the book. I wouldn't be doing it any favors. I will say that the beginning was slow. It probably took me over a hundred pages to actually get really involved with the story. But, even that was all so mysterious and sinister that I knew sticking with it would pay off. I can't wait to read it again someday when I will be able to understand more of what was going on in the beginning.

The ending. I have read a ton of reviews and comments of people saying it ruined the book and so on. I don't get that. I thought Kvothe ended his story in a perfect place to set up anticipation for the next book, and the little scene with Bast and the Chronicler that closed the story was brilliant, set up interest in the current setting. Anyway...just my opinion.

Even after over 700 pages, I still don't "know" Kvothe. Isn't that the point? He isn't predictable, and he hardly ever did what I expected him to do. For that reason alone, I know the next installment will probably be even better then this one.

So...quit listening to me and go meet Kvothe for yourself.

Oh yeah--one more thing though. If you're a fan of the book...or really, even if you aren't, I recommend checking out Patrick Rothfuss' blog (it is posted on his website). He is hilarious, and regularly keeps me entertained. He is just the type of guy I would love hanging out with. Not in a creepy-I'm-looking-at-him-through-his-window way, more of a "hey lets eat something really unhealthy and talk about books."

Anyway, he comes off as a really nice, interesting guy. Its a pleasure to read such a fantastic book by a guy that actually seems to deserve the privilege of having come up with it.(less)

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Nov 15, 2012 Jonathan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-challenge, fantasy, favourite-series, want, favourites

Let me begin this in an unusual manner by noting how some of my opinions on fantasy books and stories in general have changed as of recent. Or rather they have not changed but have been defined and realized. You see I used to not be concerned with a book that seemed like a duplicate of Tolkien. If I liked the story and it was well written then I would enjoy it. Then I came to realize that a lot of fantasy was very similar to Tolkien. So I began to say: well maybe it can't be good. It mustn't be...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Rob rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have no interest in imagining I'm someone who is stronger, deadlier, smarter, sexier, etc. than myself - a famed hero in a milqtoast world little different from modern North America.

I read fantasy to immerse myself in strange worlds ripe with danger and conflict. To uncork primal wonders. And there is none of that in Rothfuss' book.

His world is about as strange and dangerous as a mashed potato sandwich. His protagonist is comically overblown wish fullfillment for people who weren't popular i...more

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Becky Most fantasy is wish fulfillment, man. Sorry to burst your bubble. The writing style was real and interesting. I can't stand fantasy that is overly fl...more
Apr 09, 2013 07:31am

Rob Becky wrote: "Most fantasy is wish fulfillment, man. Sorry to burst your bubble. The writing style was real and interesting. I can't stand fantasy tha...more
updated Apr 09, 2013 08:00am

Jan 05, 2013 Kevin Xu rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: re-read, 35-until-becoming-an-aficionados

I heard a lot of hype and good things about this book from everyone and their moms to tells basically everyone else who has not read the book to read the book in order to fall in love with it so everyone can give it a five star. So I took a shot and check this book out of the library, ending up hating the book mostly because of the main character, Kovthe. Everything that he does to me might as well be a flaw, the flaw of being rational , not thinking of the consequences or the emotional effect i...more I heard a lot of hype and good things about this book from everyone and their moms to tells basically everyone else who has not read the book to read the book in order to fall in love with it so everyone can give it a five star. So I took a shot and check this book out of the library, ending up hating the book mostly because of the main character, Kovthe. Everything that he does to me might as well be a flaw, the flaw of being rational , not thinking of the consequences or the emotional effect it would have on others. I was wondering how many things that he does right then there is a flaw to follow right afterwards. I know he is still learning in this book, but where is his common sense or emotions (other than anger), I felt like he had it and throw it out the window. The main point is I felt that me as a reader does not fell sympathetic for his action, but hating it instead. He is like everything that a parent does not want their kid to become friends with or their daughters to even date. He is no gentleman. Overall, he is a very arrogant character that think he is better than everyone in everyone way possible, and he would do anything to get ahead, even if means killing you. So he is not a person to be trusted.

He is my version of Sword of Truth's Richard Rahl or Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Thomas Covenant, which I know a lot of people hate those two characters to death by wanting to destroy those books, but I loved those two characters. I understood where and why Terry Goodkind and Stephen R. Donaldson was coming from. Hey, at least the book is well written and readable that I actually finished the book, unlike The Lies of Locke Lamora, which is the most similar book with many giving and loving both books by giving them a high rating.

Also the book is like Lev Grossman's The Magicians. One is Kvothe is a mixed character just like the main character of The Magicians, Quentin, where both characters are in a love or hate relationship. Also both of those books are really hyped, but the difference is that The Magician is hyped up by all the literature crowd, while The Name of the Wind is more of fans/readers of fantasy all time favorite. The biggest difference between the two books is that The Magicians is not as well like, having an almost a star less in the ratings.

Lastly, this book has the highest rating of any book I have ever seen on Goodreads. It has even a higher rating and likes than any of the Song of Ice and Fire books, which is saying something, even though it is a lot more popular. It makes me feel like I am not ever going to understand the what is so great about the book, and Partick Rothfuss. I'm not a big fan of Partick Rothfuss himself as a person just like many who hate Orson Scott Card, but that is another story for another time.(less)

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Jul 25, 2007 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars

They say writers should write what they love, what they're passionate about, and Patrick Rothfuss loves stories. The Name of the Wind introduces us to Kvothe, a legendary figure now living a quiet life as an innkeeper. This is the first book in a trilogy, and takes us through the first day of Kvothe telling his story to The Chronicler, a wandering scribe and collector of stories. Rothfuss also shows us the power of stories. Kvothe is shaped both by the stories others tell about him as he grows u...more They say writers should write what they love, what they're passionate about, and Patrick Rothfuss loves stories. The Name of the Wind introduces us to Kvothe, a legendary figure now living a quiet life as an innkeeper. This is the first book in a trilogy, and takes us through the first day of Kvothe telling his story to The Chronicler, a wandering scribe and collector of stories. Rothfuss also shows us the power of stories. Kvothe is shaped both by the stories others tell about him as he grows up, and eventually by the stories he tells about himself. Stories define us, just as they define the world around us. Kvothe spends much of his time seeking stories of the Chandrian. It's quite clear that Rothfuss loves this stuff. If the book isn't evidence enough for his love of story, check out the many interviews he's done and notice how often he responds by saying, "Let me tell you a story about that...."

On many levels, the story of Kvothe is a familiar one. Gifted orphan goes off to magical school and becomes a hero. I know I've heard that plotline before. And some of the events of the book were a bit predictable as a result. But it doesn't matter. This isn't a book you read to discover what's going to happen; you read to discover how things will happen, and to appreciate Rothfuss' storytelling. This is both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand, though this book doesn't end so much as it simply stops, I don't feel a powerful urge to run out and grab the second book. Oh, I plan to read it, but there isn't the same urgency with which I've awaited other books. Action and plot aren't used as a blatant hook to force you to keep reading.*

But when you read this book, you're immersed in Kvothe's world. The cultures and geography and characters and details, everything is amazingly well developed. According to one interview, Rothfuss spent 14 years working on this trilogy, and it shows. He knows his society, every detail from the exchange rates for various coins to the mathematical formula for calculating the power of different kinds of magic to the exact level of medical skill Kvothe receives from both your average townsperson and from the University medic. If you're a worldbuilding junkie, you should enjoy this one.

While the book is basically one big flashback, we do get bits of an approaching crisis in the present day. (Rothfuss seems to enjoy this layering of stories. Fortunately, so do I.) These glimpses, brief though they are, help show us how much Kvothe has changed, how different he is from the young Kvothe of his own story. I wish I had seen a little more of the present, but I'm assuming I'll get more answers in the next books.

While there's a fair amount of action, at it's heart The Name of the Wind is simply the story of Kvothe. And it's a good story.

It's also a long story -- 600+ pages in book one, and we've got two more on the way. While some reviewers have complained of slow pacing, I had no problem at all. If I had to point to a weakness, it would be that some of Rothfuss' antagonists feel a bit two-dimensional. Kvothe's foes at the University are nasty, petty, and often a little dim. The Chandrian are a more interesting antagonist, but we don't really see enough of them in this book for them to feel completely real yet. (Which is appropriate, since they're creatures of legend.)

Overall, this is a very good book. The fact that it's Rothfuss' first novel is even more impressive. ARCs** of The Name of the Wind included a note from Rothfuss' editor, describing the book as the best first fantasy novel she's seen in 30 years as an editor. I haven't read enough first fantasies to say the same, but for me, the book is definitely worth picking up, reading, and assuming you have time, reading again.

---
*Not that there's anything wrong with that, Jim said self-consciously.
**Advance Review Copy. Being a DAW author does have the occasional advantage :-)(less)

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Mar 31, 2013 Jon added it · review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: Shannon (Giraffe Days)

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, read-in-my-40s, my-favorites, award-winners, favorites, loved-it, five-star-favorites

5 stars. Due to the acquisition of GoodReads by Amazon on March 28, 2013 and my existing and continuing boycott of all things Amazon, the review I wrote after reading this book has been relocated to my blog and can be found in its entirety by following this link: http://bit.ly/16qce7b

I would recommend this book to all fantasy readers. Be prepared to wait for the rest of the story, though, as the rest of the trilogy is not published yet. This was the best book I read in 2008, by far.

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Nov 28, 2008 Patrick rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

I kinda liked this book. But my opinion on the matter probably shouldn't be trusted....

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Sep 08, 2009 Colleen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who like overwrought epics

Recommended to Colleen by: Those evil goodreads people

Shelves: fantasy, sword-and-sorcery

"I must confess myself... disappointed."

(For those who don't get the reference, it's a line that Voldemort uses in Goblet of Fire - the movie version at least. I am using a Harry Potter reference in retaliation to all those people who are somehow comparing this to that series, for the sole reason that there's a freaking magical university. Really, there's very little comparison aside from that. I mean, not even to get into how the whole tone and whatnot is different, but, really, the fact that t...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Joel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, audiobooks, 2010, series, here-there-be-dragons, vote-getters

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I must preface this review by stating that my experience with fantasy is somewhat limited: the Harry Potter books, George R.R. Martin, a dozen scattered other novels and series. The more of it I read, the more I realize traditional "epic" fantasy of the multi-book series tack is not quite for me.

Or maybe I am bad at choosing, since I really like some of it (Martin, Bujold). Some of it, not so much. Take, for instance, The Name of the Wind, one of the most celebrated fantasy debuts in years, with...more I must preface this review by stating that my experience with fantasy is somewhat limited: the Harry Potter books, George R.R. Martin, a dozen scattered other novels and series. The more of it I read, the more I realize traditional "epic" fantasy of the multi-book series tack is not quite for me.

Or maybe I am bad at choosing, since I really like some of it (Martin, Bujold). Some of it, not so much. Take, for instance, The Name of the Wind, one of the most celebrated fantasy debuts in years, with glowing praise from... just about everyone. In some ways, I can see why. It's very well written. The characters are engaging. There's good dialogue. Drama. Adventure.

But it's also very long. I'm not against a long book if I feel like I got something back for the time invested. But TNOTW doesn't tell an epic story to match its epic length. To be fair, it's the start of what promises to be an epic story, but that means I'll have to read the next two books in the series to be satisfied. This book is not a satisfying installment on its own. The episodic structure means large parts of the book are largely inconsequential when you get right down to it, so if they aren't interesting, well... they feel like a waste of pages. Which means while I really enjoyed the scene of Kvothe earning his silver pipes, I *really* could have done without the extended horse bartering/fevered riding/detective work/battling dragons section (which was about 150 pages I think), as it didn't advance the story... at all, really. Not even when you throw in the romance angle.

What I liked: The structure of the book is interesting. I like the idea of the narrator telling his story. In fact, because of this I can somewhat excuse the episodic feel (and the appallingly thin, idealized female characters, who have no substance and next to nothing to do), even if I don't always like it. It also does a great job of slowly revealing the mechanics of its world without too much exposition or too little explanation, and some elements, like the explanations for sympathy and "real magic," are very satisfying. The prose and dialogue are better than the narrative; I would read other books by this author (just, er, no more books like this one).

What I didn't like: Rothfuss is a little too satisfied with the ways he's working to break fantasy conventions even as he seemingly reinforces them (i.e. a unassuming boy is secretly a genius and a chosen one, goes off to a magic school, excels at everything he tries, etc. etc.). I can't even count the number of cute comments like, "If this were a story, X, Y, and Z would have happened. But this is not a story." This might be a revolutionary concept in fantasy writing, but considering much of post-modern literature is built on metafiction, it struck me as one one interesting element; certainly not enough to excuse 600 pages of narrative inaction. (less)

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Apr 07, 2011 mark monday rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantastickal

this is a really absorbing mixture of epic fantasy tropes and The Story of Kvothe: The Harry Potter Years. the novel, besides its framing story, is divided inequally between three parts of the protagonist's early journeys: a bucolic life on the road with romany-like entertainers, a hard-scrabble life on the streets in a typically hard city, and a life of mystery & romance & wonder in a sinister school for sorcerors. all three portions are nothing new; in fact a person could call out each...more this is a really absorbing mixture of epic fantasy tropes and The Story of Kvothe: The Harry Potter Years. the novel, besides its framing story, is divided inequally between three parts of the protagonist's early journeys: a bucolic life on the road with romany-like entertainers, a hard-scrabble life on the streets in a typically hard city, and a life of mystery & romance & wonder in a sinister school for sorcerors. all three portions are nothing new; in fact a person could call out each scenario as an obvious cliche of the genre. happily, nothing felt derivative to me and kvothe's adventures were a pleasure to read from beginning to end. it is hard for me to put a finger on why this is so, other than to state the obvious: the writing is excellent. now this is not especially lyrical or literary writing - i never felt the need to put the book down and savor a brilliant or haunting phrase. but what it is, well, is perhaps even more enjoyable: a truly well-crafted page-turner that escapes derivativeness by virtue of its straightforward humanism, its carefully constructed mysteries, its relaxed pacing, its many scenes of derring-do, its equally frequent scenes of contemplation & moodiness, and its splendid hero - one who manages to be both somewhat of an everyman and yet also a singular & highly individualistic oddball. sometimes a classic formula works perfectly, and this novel manages to take three classic situations (theatre types on the road, orphan child-thief, student mage) and breathe new life into them.

for me, there was one flaw: the portrayal of kvothe in the framing sequences and within the interludes. personally, i need to be shown how a character is an amazing icon, a fearful wizard, a terrifying power who moved history. i can't just be told that - or even have it implied - and then just accept that this is how i should view the character. so, although the framing sequences and interludes were definitely compelling - i really want to know what is going to happen next - i found myself rushing through them to get back to the boyhood adventures. all that said, this is truly a minor flaw in my opinion.

so back to the novel's virtues:

Kindness. how refreshing to have so much kindness displayed by various characters throughout all of kvothe's life situations. the kindness was never maudlin or forced, and was depicted side-by-side with cruelty and other forms of darkness. and so it was a pleasure to live in a world that felt real but was not all harsh edges, where some human beings didn't automatically want to fuck over other human beings.

Music. i loved this novel's focus on music as a key component of life, and how it was central to kvothe's self-image.

A Single Perspective. since george rr martin, i will always appreciate the multiple-perspective epic fantasy. but it was really enjoyable looking through kvothe's eyes throughout the novel. he never bored me, he never alienated me; his motivations were clear and yet he also managed to surprise me on a regular basis. in general, i don't need to like a protagonist for a novel to succeed for me. that said, kvothe is a prickly cuss at times but was also genuinely likeable - in a very unforced way.

Scary Demonic Beings. the Chandrian! gosh i am intrigued. i can't wait to read more about them. a woman with a broken sword? a man by a dead tree? a naked temptress? a white-haired man with all-black eyes? a man with a dog biting his leg? a thoughtful man, wrapped in shadow? who are these enigmatic villains who slaughter groups of people for digging up the wrong treasure or for singing the wrong song?

A Dragon. perhaps the most realistic dragon i've ever read about. sorta deadly. sorta cute. an interesting animal. and also drug-addled!

okay, if you haven't read this already, you should. reading it is like a beautiful day in the park, you just want it to go on and on.(less)

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Aug 30, 2007 Wealhtheow rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Wealhtheow by: Pat Rothfuss (an excellent congoer)

Shelves: fantasy

I really disliked the main character, to the extent that I couldn't get more than 1/3rd through it. The other problem I had was the language: Kvothe's eyes are described as shards of ice just a sentence before his voice is likened to a sharp steel blade. Ah well--there's lots of other high fantasy in the world.

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Jan 19, 2013 Nermin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-that-make-us-cry, fantasy, owned, series, my-favorites

This book had been sitting on my dusty shelf for a while ( sure i would pick it up to admire its beautiful cover now and then) when I finally decided to give it a chance. To be perfectly frank I had my doubts about this book. Or rather about this series. Most of my GR friends seemed to enjoy the first book a lot but didn't think much of the second one. So I kept putting off reading this one. But finally after reading some very good and also some equally shitty novels my curiosity got the better...more This book had been sitting on my dusty shelf for a while ( sure i would pick it up to admire its beautiful cover now and then) when I finally decided to give it a chance. To be perfectly frank I had my doubts about this book. Or rather about this series. Most of my GR friends seemed to enjoy the first book a lot but didn't think much of the second one. So I kept putting off reading this one. But finally after reading some very good and also some equally shitty novels my curiosity got the better of me I decided to pick it up. I had some good reasons not to like this book, the font size of the book tortured eyes and it left me sleepless((thus late for work in the morning for some nights . But my money, my sleepness might and burning eyes, it was all worth it! I know some some peope would say "oh, come on!" if I claimed that I found this book very original. None of the things mentioned in this book seemed new ideas to me perhaps but it still was a breath of fresh air.

The Name of the wind reminded me of Harry Potter from time to time and I thought it was a bit Oliver Twistique. But boy I enjoyed every moment of it(except Kvothe's visit to Trebon and ensuing events which I think could be shortened by at least two dozen pages) I really enjoyed reading about Kvothe story, his adventures and struggles. I liked the story within story concept.

Some people find Kvothe irritating. I didn't. I found him quite believable and relatable. He didn't annoy me at all like the main the protagonists in some YA, fantasy books. Sure he was overly arrogant, careless or even stupid from time to time but hell, so what nobody is flawless. I don't know what I feel about Denna. She's mysterious, her past is secret. I don't know. There's a lot of things me and Kvothe need to learn about her;) Other characters such as Kvothe's university friends, masters, Bast, Chronicler were quite interesting as well.

I know many people have praised Rothfuss' prose before me and I can only agree with them. It was stunningly good. I simply loved reading Rothfuss. Especially the little poems in the book and that comes from someone who rarely reads or enjoys poetry. (less)

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Feb 19, 2011 Ian rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-sellers-that-suck, did-not-finish, unfulfilled-expectations, fantasy

I'm sorry, Mr. Rothfuss. For realz, actual sorry. Honestly. I tried giving your book two stars out of pity, since I so wanted to like it and I'd feel bad about giving it one star and dragging down your average rating. Though you don't appear to need my pity. Your book has the highest average GR rating (4.49) of any of the book I've read. I finally dropped my rating down to one star because it's just a steaming pile of crap and I couldn't take the embarrassment of having posted a two-star rating...more

123 likes · like · see review

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Colleen Magee-uhlik Ceridwen wrote: "I've had this book given to me TWICE now by people I trust, but I'm apprehensive - the reviews are ALL OVER the map. I'm sure I'll ge...more
Apr 29, 2013 10:20pm

Colleen Magee-uhlik Clickety wrote: "The idea of Kvothe and Bast as lovers is squicky for at least two reasons: (1) Bast is quite clearly immature; while he may be able t...more
Apr 29, 2013 10:22pm

Mar 12, 2012 Seak (Bryce L.) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, fantasy, 650-800-pagers, top-12-fantasy

WOW! Where have I been all these years? That's right, I'm actually really glad to have waited this long. I can't stand the couple month-long wait I have for a book that's already finished let alone a couple years.

Reading other books right now, I honestly feel like I need to get back to The Name of the Wind ... because it's not finished yet. Everything is stale in comparison because I'm still right in the middle. What's Ambrose going to do next and how's Kvothe going to get back at him, what abou...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Debbie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those who like badly plotted male wish fulfillment Gary Stus.

Shelves: fantasy, 2012, bookclub

ETA: I had to downgrade this from 2 stars to 1. I have a very visceral negative reaction whenever I am reminded of this book. I have blocked this book's existence from my mind and whenever someone mentions it, I want to foam at the mouth.

I slogged through the first 200 pages and kept wondering when the plot was going to show up. The early bits were interesting but had a tendency to drag (espcially after Kvothe was by himself). After he joined the University, the story picked up a bit and became...more ETA: I had to downgrade this from 2 stars to 1. I have a very visceral negative reaction whenever I am reminded of this book. I have blocked this book's existence from my mind and whenever someone mentions it, I want to foam at the mouth.

I slogged through the first 200 pages and kept wondering when the plot was going to show up. The early bits were interesting but had a tendency to drag (espcially after Kvothe was by himself). After he joined the University, the story picked up a bit and became more engaging -- but there was still no real point to the book... and after finishing it, there still wasn't. Rothfuss probably planned the story arc over the span of (presumably) three books, and broke up the story at what seemed like appropriate points. But my complaint is that they weren't - by focusing on the overall story arc, there were no arcs in the individual book, and no thread that connected everything together other than Kvothe was telling the story of his life.

Another irritant was Kvothe, the paragon of perfectness. He was beyond perfect. He had no flaws and after a while, it got annoying. Would it have killed the author to give his main character a zit or something? On a whim, I started filling out the Mary Sue litmust test for Kvothe but got tired of checking all the boxes. He was OSSIM at everything he tried, and not only awesome but better than people who were masters. Everyone LURVED him. If a character didn't love him, they were horrible, bad, not very good people. Women fawned over him and fell at his feet and had no other role in the story. This was an epic fail on the Bechdel test. Gag.

There were enough hints of a larger plot to intrigue. I just wish that Rothfuss compressed everything more. After finishing the 700+ pages, I didn't actually get much story. I did end up liking it enough to contemplate continuing on with the second book...until learning that The Wise Man's Fear was even more of a badly plotted mess of male wish-fulfillment than The Name of the Wind.

(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2011 Ron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ron by: Jon Moss

Shelves: fantasy, maps, signed

As soon as I finished page 722, I turned back and started reading page 1. By far the best fantasy I've read in years. Depth and richness unparalleled since Tolkien. Greatly superior to Rowlings and Jordan in creating a believable world, even down to the laws governing it's particular brand of magic.

Misleading title, though. Should have been "Set the Hook". ;-)

"There's no story that doesn't touch on the truth." p. 202

20 likes · like · see review

Nov 22, 2012 Kirstine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I feel dirty only giving this book 3 stars. So many of my favourite reviewers on Goodreads have praised it to high heaven, so obviously I jumped at it without a second thought, just to end up feeling "meh" about it.

It would seem, sadly, I expected too much. Something I'm not wont to do, but even the best slip up, I suppose.
Still, I really hate not loving this book.

To make matters worse, I just discovered Patrick Rothfuss is wearing a "Joss Whedon is my master now" t-shirt on his goodreads autho...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Ufuk Cem rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rüzgarın Adı bitti.. Tek kelimeyle muhteşemdi.. Nefes kesiciydi.. Heyecanlıydı.. Kurgusu insanı içine çekiyordu.. Ve en önemlisi, karakterler çok iyi yazılmıştı..

Gelelim konuya. Kvothe, adı sanı bilinmeyen bir kasabada basit bir hancı. Uzun yıllardır kasabada olmasına rağmen kasabalılar onu bir 'yabancı' olarak görüyorlar. Kvothe de bu kimliğe o kadar yapışmış ki. Neredeyse kendisinin basit bir hancı olduğunu düşünmeye, geçmişte yaşadıklarını unutmaya başlıyor.
Bu arada, bir katip yolda. Ona kısa...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Wesley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: series_favorites, 2012-reading-challenge

The reviews for this book seem to be a love/hate relationship. You’re either all in or you hated it or didn’t finish it. Given the investment it takes from an individual this isn’t so surprising. For myself though, I loved it.

It’s a great piece of fiction that I feel is really original. The amount of effort that went into this particular book from the research I’ve done was outstanding. The author really put it all into it and then some.

The structure of the university is pretty cool. The short...more The reviews for this book seem to be a love/hate relationship. You’re either all in or you hated it or didn’t finish it. Given the investment it takes from an individual this isn’t so surprising. For myself though, I loved it.

It’s a great piece of fiction that I feel is really original. The amount of effort that went into this particular book from the research I’ve done was outstanding. The author really put it all into it and then some.

The structure of the university is pretty cool. The short “terms” was an interesting take with the scale tuition. Something different, me likey. The extremely individual professor characteristics were pretty cool too. Very diversified, was surprised to not see a female professor though? Not to mention the lack of female students, maybe this gets addressed as the books go on.

The cleverness and wit of it all really sunk deep into me. That’s how I am. I’m the most logical person I know. Not to mention the connection with the lute. For instance,

“I moved my hands again and the lute made two chords whispering against each other. Then, without realizing what I was doing, I began to play.
The strings felt strange against my fingers, like reunited friends who have forgotten what they have in common. I played soft and slow, sending notes no farther than the circle of our firelight. Fingers and strings made a careful conversation, as if their dance described the lines of an infatuation.
Then I felt something inside me break and music began to pour out into the quiet. My fingers danced; intricate and quick they spun something gossamer and tremulous into the circle of light our fire had made. The music moved like a spider web stirred by a gentle breath, it changed like a leaf twisting as it falls to the ground, and it felt like three years Waterside in Tarbean, with a hollowness inside you and hands that ached from the bitter cold.
I don’t know how long I played. It could have been ten minutes or an hour. But my hands weren’t used to the strain. They slipped and the music fell to pieces like a dream on waking.
I looked up to see everyone perfectly motionless, their faces ranging from shock to amazement.”

Every time I pick up my guitar this is how it is for me, no questions asked, no variance in situation, the same. The music never gets old or dies. I re-read this a few times before moving on, at this point the book could have sucked and it wouldn’t mattered I still would have loved it. Fortunately for me the rest really held up. This isn’t for everybody but odds are you’ll love the hell out of this book or probably not finish it. Just give it a chance.

Format- audiobook/.mobi(less)

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May 12, 2011 Hirondelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, mary-sue-land

I do not know how to assign a numerical rating to this. As Sheryl Crow complained "if it makes you happy, it can´t be that bad". But it makes me happy and yes, I think it is bad, sorry. This was a good read, it made me keep turning the pages and wanting to just go sit down reading it till I finished it. But it is, for my taste and from my point of view, bad - the writing, the plotting, the characterization.

First the good. It´s a massive brick of a novel, seems to be designed to be one third of a...more

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Jeff Wells "It's all a chase, and when the race is done, I think I pity women chaste who run."

Oh come on, how do you not get this sentence? It's a play on words!...more
Mar 02, 2013 08:49am

Hirondelle I can not put down an open can of pringles after a sensible ammount either - it does not mean I think it is good cooking or healthy and I regret it as...more
Apr 01, 2013 10:23am

Nov 01, 2012 Eric Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Name of the Wind
By Patrick Rothfuss

A Retroview by Eric Allen

After reading The Wise Man's Fear, absolutely hating it in every way imaginable, and arguing almost non-stop with people about it for more than a year now, and being insulted repeatedly for simply saying I wasn't looking forward to the next book in the series, I thought I'd take a look back at the first book in the series to see if it still held up after seeing the racing skid on Patrick Rothfuss' jockey shorts that he tried to pa...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Vorwort
.................

An dieser Stelle möchte ich euch mein absolutes Lieblingsbuch vorstellen. In meinem gesamten Leben habe ich nichts gelesen, was mich auch nur annähernd vergleichbar verzaubern konnte. (Man halte sich vor Augen, das war bereits vor vier Jahren)

Nun ist endlich die Fortsetzung erschienen, die Die Furcht des Weisen 1 Die Furcht des Weisen 2 liegen beide hier vor mir. Ursprünglich wollte ich nur ein paar Kapitel des 1. Teils lesen um meine Erinnerung aufzufrischen - falsch ged...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Mags~CVAddikt~Chaos defies imagination! rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, 5-stars-2012, epic-fantasy, magic-n-stuff, heros-2-die-4, favorites-2011-2012, simply-perfection, pure-fantasy

THIS BOOK IS AWSOME!!!

MUST READ!!!

I'll show you how good this book is ... in two ways .. one way for the girls and one way for the boys ...

GIRLS ... this book is AS GOOD AS:

Christina Aguilera's Closet (and this photo shows only the shoes ... )

Chris Evans in a Tom Ford Suit

Black Friday at Macy's without the crowd and with thousands of dollars to spend without guilt!!!

.

BOYS ... this book is AS GOOD AS:

Watching your team win the super bowl... (GO PATRIOTS!!!)

Being on a deserted island with "_____...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I put starting this off for a long time...I bought it just after it came out, here we are 4 years later and still waiting for the 2nd in the trilogy (and oh how I hope it remains a trilogy). I must admit to being a bit "burned" by The Wheel of Time and A Song of Fire and Ice...

Still, I finally got to it. The book is one I've seen praised unrestrainedly by many readers. I to find it a fine book and enjoyed it. I don't however think it's a five star book... So with no spoilers...3.5 but I give it...more I put starting this off for a long time...I bought it just after it came out, here we are 4 years later and still waiting for the 2nd in the trilogy (and oh how I hope it remains a trilogy). I must admit to being a bit "burned" by The Wheel of Time and A Song of Fire and Ice...

Still, I finally got to it. The book is one I've seen praised unrestrainedly by many readers. I to find it a fine book and enjoyed it. I don't however think it's a five star book... So with no spoilers...3.5 but I give it 3 as it's not quite a high enough for a 4 stars. I mean most of my 4 star books I find better, I had to rethink this but, ya 3 stars.

************************** Possible minor spoilers below ***************

The book is an excellent to good read at times and drew me in, there are some minor annoyances however. The switching back and forth between the story within the story and the telling of said story isn't always what it might be. The world being constructed here is holding together but the "lore" it works by isn't the "lore" we know about... so far, it's not really been spelled out. Early on we're told that "they did all the right things for all the wrong reasons" , but we aren't told why or how the things were right for the wrong reasons... Iron seems to work, except when it doesn't etc. So, I suppose the details are just going to be part of the story.

I can't agree with the Harry Potter comparisons. There are a few minor surface similarities but few.

Also the Kvothe loves Denna story is in grave danger of becoming unbearable, I mean I was drifting off there as it stretched out for a while. It's badly in danger of developing into something like Harry Potter meets Great Expectations... Oh well.

In spite of my criticism I just hope I can do as well, mostly this is a good readable fantasy and has some amazing prose. It simply manages to run hot and cold a bit. I didn't care for the wind up of the book and I hope the story doesn't spin out of control. It seems to be moving a little slowly at times and that can always be worrisome. But over all a pretty good book. (less)

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Mar 10, 2013 Ian is currently reading it

Shelves: fantasy, post-quals

I first heard about this book from Greg Dean of "Real Life" fame. He sang its praises on his blog and I was intrigued. I bought a copy, along with a couple Terry Pratchett books I'd been waiting to read (since finishing High School, I have saved Terry Pratchett books for times when I am tremendously depressed or traveling). My engagement ended shortly thereafter, so i went to the Pratchett books first. As I slogged through my MA degree work -- commuting from beautiful Harlem down to the wretched...more

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Apr 16, 2009 Kat Hooper rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

You know how sometimes a book, or a movie, or a concert gets so hyped up in the press and you have such high expectations that when you finally get around to reading/seeing it, it disappoints? That's what I was worried might happen when I decided to read The Name of the Wind. I purposely came to it late, hoping to wait until Patrick Rothfuss was nearly finished with the trilogy before I starting it. But, the book has received so much attention that it beca...more ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

You know how sometimes a book, or a movie, or a concert gets so hyped up in the press and you have such high expectations that when you finally get around to reading/seeing it, it disappoints? That's what I was worried might happen when I decided to read The Name of the Wind. I purposely came to it late, hoping to wait until Patrick Rothfuss was nearly finished with the trilogy before I starting it. But, the book has received so much attention that it became inexcusable for me, as the editor of a fantasy review website, not to read it. So I did -- in two days. (It's a huge book.)

And I'm very happy to report that The Name of the Wind did not disappoint -- I was completely enthralled. The pace was quick and never lagged. The plot was tight and had just the right amount of mystery -- I always understood what was going on, but Rothfuss regularly added new elements, twists, and layers to keep me wondering where this was going and what would happen next. In fact, by the end of the book, there are more unanswered questions than answered ones. Throughout, the writing style was smooth and pleasant, with enough wit, humor, foreshadowing, and artistry to be intellectually stimulating, but never pretentious. Furthermore, the magic system in Rothfuss's world is thoroughly explained to us, bit by bit, and it is complicated and makes sense.

Perhaps most important, Mr Rothfuss writes excellent characters. I especially appreciated what he did with his hero. Kvothe's circumstances are familiar; he's an exceptionally bright kid whose parents are killed by something evil, nobody cares for him, he manages to get into magic school on long odds, he has trouble fitting in with both students and teachers, he makes two close friends and one rich and handsome enemy from a powerful family, he's obsessed with finding out about the evil people who killed his parents, he regularly gets punished for his exploits at school, he has no clue about girls, and he actually meets one who lives in the pipes under the school .... Hmmm... This does sound familiar.

But I'll bet that most people who read The Name of the Wind never thought of Harry Potter, because Kvothe and his world are new and refreshing. Kvothe is a product of his liberal education and a lot of time spent trying to survive on his own as a beggar. Sometimes he is selfish, sometimes he is cruel, sometimes he does the right thing. At one point in the book, while Kvothe was living on the streets, he had an opportunity to help someone in distress (a particular distress that Kvothe himself had experienced). I was nervous -- worried that Rothfuss would ruin his careful characterization by having Kvothe perform a heroic deed too soon. But, no, Kvothe pulled a Kitty Genovese, which gave me a deeper respect for Mr Rothfuss. During Kvothe's maturation, we see him make more right choices and fewer wrong ones, but he is complex and inconsistent enough to make us lack confidence that he's going to turn out okay. And that makes for a very interesting story.

I'm very much looking forward to continuing this mystery; so much so that I'll pre-order the hardback of The Wise Man's Fear (something I rarely do). Patrick Rothfuss is a much-needed bright young star in the fantasy field. Let's hope that he can keep it up!

Read more Patrick Rothfuss book reviews at Fantasy Literature (less)

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Apr 15, 2008 Collin rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book came to me highly recommended by people I trust but ended up leaving me fairly cold. I had a hard time putting my finger on what bothered me, but I think it was the fact that I was tired of reading another fantasy involving a Mysterious Hero with a Mysterious Past being followed by Mysterious Mysteries. The Protagonist is another one of these "great at everything" kind of guys that's only fun if he's pitted against some equally daunting opposition. This guy (forget his name, sorry) is...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Roshio rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favourites, epic

I had my eye on this book for about 2 years and I couldn't decide if it was worth buying or not. In the end I decided against buying it and just got it from the library. I ended up half way through stroking my cheek against the book telling it how much i loved it. It was that good! I read a review here on goodreads with someone saying how much they couldn't stand the fact that Kvothe is so good at everything, but I really like that fact, Rothfuss handled that well.

Beyond that, I want moooorrrre...more

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About Patrick Rothfuss

It all began when Pat Rothfuss was born to a marvelous set of parents. Throughout his formative years they encouraged him to do his best, gave him good advice, and were no doubt appropriately dismayed when he failed to live up to his full potential.

In high-school Pat was something of a class clown. His hobbies included reading a novel or two a day and giving relationship advice to all of his femal...more It all began when Pat Rothfuss was born to a marvelous set of parents. Throughout his formative years they encouraged him to do his best, gave him good advice, and were no doubt appropriately dismayed when he failed to live up to his full potential.

In high-school Pat was something of a class clown. His hobbies included reading a novel or two a day and giving relationship advice to all of his female friends despite the fact that he had never so much as kissed a girl. He also role-played and wrote terrible stories about elves. He was pretty much a geek.

Most of Pat's adult life has been spent in the University Wisconsin Stevens Point. In 1991 he started college in order to pursue a career in chemical engineering, then he considered clinical psychology. In 1993 he quit pretending he knew what he wanted to do with his life, changed his major to "undecided," and proceeded to study whatever amused him. He also began writing a book....

For the next seven years Pat studied anthropology, philosophy, eastern religions, history, alchemy, parapsychology, literature, and writing. He studied six different martial arts, practiced improv comedy, learned how to pick locks, and became a skilled lover of women. He also began writing a satirical advice column which he continues to this day: The College Survivial Guide. Through all of this he continued to work on his novel.

In 2000 Pat went to grad school for English literature. Grad school sucked and Pat hated it. However, Pat learned that he loved to teach. He left in 2002 with his masters degree, shaking the dust from his feet and vowing never to return. During this period of time his novel was rejected by roughly every agent in the known universe.

Now Pat teaches half-time at his old school as an assistant-sub-lecturer. He is underpaid but generally left alone to do as he sees fit with his classes. He is advisor for the college feminists, the fencing club, and, oddly enough, a sorority. He still roll-plays occasionally, but now he does it in an extremely sophisticated, debonair way.

Through a series of lucky breaks, he has wound up with the best agent and editor imaginable, and the first book of his trilogy has been published under the title "The Name of the Wind."

Though it has only been out since April 2007, it has already been sold in 26 foreign countries and won several awards.

Pat has been described as "a rough, earthy iconoclast with a pipeline to the divine in everyone's subconscious." But honestly, that person was pretty drunk at the time, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt.(less)

More about Patrick Rothfuss...

Books by Patrick Rothfuss

The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2)

The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Beneath the Bed

The Doors of Stone (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #3)

O Medo do Homem Sábio (A Crónica do Regicida, Livro 2 - Parte 1)

O Medo do Homem Sábio (A Crónica do Regicida, Livro 2 - Parte 2)

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Quotes from The Name of the Wind

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.” — 949 people liked it

“It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.” — 847 people liked it

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The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1)

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