From the Bookshelf of Club Drunk But Not Too Drunk To Read The Book…

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

Patrick Rothfuss

Finish date: February 7, 2017

Discussion leader: Inga

Why we're reading this: Inga's choice ^_^…more
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What Members Thought

Mar 11, 2017 Ying rated it really liked it

Shelves: recommended-to-me

I enjoyed how this was a story set in the present, but the main character is talking about his past. It made Kvothe all the more interesting because you wonder how he became the character we know in the "present".

I really liked the circumstances of how he grew up. His family (view spoiler) ...more

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Jun 19, 2016 Evan rated it liked it

The world was interesting and the magic was well conceived. I liked the story and much of the characters (although I'm not very attached to any of them).

The main problem is the style of the writing was almost unbearable at times. The author appears to enjoy throwing in tiny and unnecessary spoilers for events that could be happening very far away. Tiny details such as mentioning that he was (view spoiler) The world was interesting and the magic was well conceived. I liked the story and much of the characters (although I'm not very attached to any of them).

The main problem is the style of the writing was almost unbearable at times. The author appears to enjoy throwing in tiny and unnecessary spoilers for events that could be happening very far away. Tiny details such as mentioning that he was (view spoiler) Something we didn't need to know!!

He also does it in more subtle ways. By describing someone he's just met in a way that makes it obvious he knew that person incredibly well. So if they get into danger, or he/she looks likely to leave the story, you know they'll be safe/come back because otherwise how the hell does Kvothe know that person's character so well?

I found all this horribly frustrating. Completely ruining any potential for tension in the plot.

The other main gripe about writing style was that he often spent time explaining his writing choices. This was most annoying when describing women. Spending forever talking about how amazing some woman was in a horribly banal way. We've all had crushes. We know what you're talking about. The description of Skarpi's story was particularly grating. I didn't need an explanation (view spoiler) Let the readers come to the conclusion that this is 'no ordinary hero story'. Don't spend a chapter telling us the conclusion to make.

Also, the entire romance was blegh.

On the positive side of the writing style... Any time the author spoke about music was the most captivating parts of the book. I loved these scenes. Especially the fireside when he borrowed the lute and when he went to the bar to get his pipes (this scene was my favourite by far). Made me all the more disheartened when the Chronicler was told at the end of the book to avoid mention of music.

Some stupid gripes:

- Why would a tree evolve a highly addictive syrup in the presence of a massive herbivore that destroys its prey plants?
- Why would the blue lamps be so sought after when everyone is superstitious about blue flames? ...more

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