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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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Aug 13, 2011 Chuck rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Name of the Wind was definitely one of the better, if not best, books I've read so far this year. While some books have kept me up much later at night than I planned, very few are good enough to keep me up late night after night. The story has good pacing and does not bog down in places forcing you to plod along reading just to get to another interesting part. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is fond of Fantasy, especially if you like the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan ...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Ashley Schroeder rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, sexy-wordsmithing

How in the heck is this a debut novel?

In the high fantasy genre, it is rare to find an author who so deliberately and delicately crafts a character to whom the reader can connect as Patrick Rothfuss has done with Kvothe. His protagonist's reckless-but-bright, wise beyond his years persona is relatable, or at least admirable, and drew me into his plights and flights of fancy. The reader suffers with him, feels joy with him, yearns with him, aches with him. His realness, alongside the holistic dev How in the heck is this a debut novel?

In the high fantasy genre, it is rare to find an author who so deliberately and delicately crafts a character to whom the reader can connect as Patrick Rothfuss has done with Kvothe. His protagonist's reckless-but-bright, wise beyond his years persona is relatable, or at least admirable, and drew me into his plights and flights of fancy. The reader suffers with him, feels joy with him, yearns with him, aches with him. His realness, alongside the holistic development of other characters, is what makes this series absolute fantasy gold, since in all honesty a lot of it is derivative (magic-centered educational institution, physics-based magic, a friggen world map -- I hate maps; they assume I have no imagination! -- etc.). But, such is the way with the genre, and that doesn't at all detract from the brilliance of this story. In fact, I'd argue it almost makes it more believable, more familiar, in some strange way.

For me, though, the icing on the cake for is the beautiful wordsmithing skill Rothfuss exhibits, with an intent to solicit even the harshest critic ready to cry "pulp pedestrianism" at the slightest whiff of swordplay or magic. Subtle rhyming schemes in the prose, lots of clever alliteration and word play. For a language- and fantasy-lover like myself, this incorporation was refreshing and, let's be honest, a little erotic. I tire so easily of the "and then...and then..." style of many modern fantasy writers who take their cue from Tolkien. This could perhaps be in part due to the first-person telling in Name of the Wind, but that, too, is another rarity in the genre and does nothing but add to the high literary standard of the novel. And let's not forget the not-quite-unique but tactfully employed backward storytelling method, and the curiosity this instills in the reader. A story that preaches on the importance (and power) of stories? Yes, please!

This is easily a fantasy book for non-fantasy readers and die-hards alike, and one that will always be on the top of my "reread again and again" list. ...more

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