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

Patrick Rothfuss

Start date: February 1, 2011

Finish date: February 28, 2011

Why we're reading this: We will read this in preparation for the March release of the sequel The Wise Man's Fear.…more
[close] We will read this in preparation for the March release of the sequel The Wise Man's Fear.

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Jan 01, 2011 Kevin Xu rated it did not like it · review of another edition

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

I heard a lot of hype and great things about this book from just about everyone and their mom in order to tell everyone else and their mom who has not read the book to read it so they can fall in love and rate it five stars. 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 wo I heard a lot of hype and great things about this book from just about everyone and their mom in order to tell everyone else and their mom who has not read the book to read it so they can fall in love and rate it five stars. 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, Soldier's Son's Nevare Burvelle or Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Thomas Covenant, which I know a lot of people hate these three characters to death by wanting to destroy those books, but I loved those three characters. I understood where and why Terry Goodkind, Robin Hobb, and Stephen R. Donaldson was coming from. Hey, at least the book is well written and readable, which made me actually finish the book.

Also many compare this book to The Lies of Locke Lamora, which even the two authors acknowledge that, and have become good friends, appearing together at signings with two of the highest ratings and loyal fan followings.
For me, The Lies of Locke Lamora is a book that I quite enjoyed after many tries of finally able to read the book.

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 or Terry Goodkind, but that is another story for another time.

P.S. I am also not a fan of John Scalzi personal or for his books as his books for me directly mimics well known books.

P.S.S. If anyone that knows me, two of my favorite characters are Drizzt and Ender, who are both the opposite as a character to Kvothe, even though the first time I heard of Kvothe, even though I had the seen the book when it came out in the bookstore, was really the first and best SUVUDU cage match 2010. It had all the top characters from Science Fiction and Fantasy up against each other. Kvothe and Drizzt was fighting it out for the third and fourth place, and I could not believe that Drizzt lost. I had to check him out. Personally I think Drizzt would have won just because he is over infinite times better of character than Kvothe ever will ever be. ...more

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Oct 19, 2009 Blodeuedd Finland rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I might be the only one since everyone keep raving about this book, but honestly I was bored, and I do not give books the chance I gave this one. I kind of felt obligated cos I told the library to buy it. So I read all 662 pages, and was not too happy about it.

Now what was wrong? 662 pages! But I have read longer books that I loved. I think it was the setting. It is just not my kind of fantasy. I want the epic, the big wars, the quest. This book was more about the man, and I could have cared les ...more

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Jul 08, 2008 Adam Shaeffer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: to-reread, favorites

A mere 2 hours or so after finishing this novel I picked it up and started reading it again. Now why in the world would I do this? I asked myself that question a few times and my answer is:

* It's dang good writing.
The language Rothfuss uses is beautiful, absolutely beautiful. I found myself rereading sections simply because they were so delightfully and beautifully written. He has a poetical turn of phrase, and there are passages that simply sing.

* But it's also a riveting story.
The story pulled ...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Caleigh Minshall rated it it was amazing

This is just so much more than your typical fantasy. Brilliant character, gorgeous writing, lots of intelligent play with storytelling ... Completely amazing. I felt like I was in the hands of a total expert -- no idea where Rothfuss was going with the book, but I always knew it would be excellent. One of my favourite books of all time. Can't wait to buy the hardcover set when the last one comes out :) (I'm waiting to read Wise Man's Fear until then ...!) ...more

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Oct 22, 2010 Benni rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sff-horror, novels

Loved it! More like Harry Potter than I had anticipated, though the world is much richer and darker. I didn't have a problem with the "Gary Stu" aspects of Kvothe, as enough worthy challenges are thrown his way.

My main qualm was in the all-in-all boring Denna, who accompanies Kvothe for the last leg of the recounted journey. It's hard for a character to describe a "perfect" love interest (even if Kvothe acknowledges her faults) without failing to some degree...the one recent instance where I tho ...more

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