Chapters 1 - 15

[leynes]

As the readalong starts today, I'm going to create threads for every 15 chapters, so that you guys can post your thoughts and questions here.

You can post whatever you want - every opinion is valid! - but NO SPOILERS meaning that everything in this thread (ch. 1-15) is exclusively about these chapters, if you wanna talk about something in chapter 16, you have to do that in the respective thread for ch. 16 - 30.

Secondly, beware that if for example you have only read up to ch. 8 you might get spoiled in this thread, therefore wait until you're finished with 15 chapters and then come here to discuss. :)

I hope this isn't too complicated!

Happy Reading!
Hélène

[Dirk]

As I am german my english is not like a nativ speaker. What impressed me most on the first 20 pages was the used english of Patrick Rothfuss. There were so much unknown word that I took out my pocket dictionary. Its realy good written.

[leynes]

I know I'm late to the party, but I've just now started reading this book and hells yeah, I already love it very much. I think the first 15 chapters work excellently as an introduction to this fantasy epos.

I'm getting quite the "Tolkien-vibe" from Pat Rothfuss, granted his language and narrative is much more accessible, but in terms of worldbuilding he's pretty Tolkien-esque. ;)

I loved learning about the creation myth and how everything was created out of words/music, it's pretty similar to Tolkien's "Ainulindalë".

In general I feel like after only 100 pages I'm already into Pat's world. He hinted at at least 4 different languages, multiple religious views, and overall it seems to be quite the medieval setting. I like how he leaves us in the dark about the "supernatural" aspect of the story (at least for now), so we only get hints for the demons, scrael and the Chandrian. I'm extremely intrigued.

Regarding the characters, I'm pretty much in love with all of them. Kvothe has the total potential to become one of my trash children. His snarky humour is right up my alley and I love that he's not all "sunshine and daisies". I diiggggg his realtionship with Bast. (*coughs*does anyone get a little bit of a gay vibe here? OR is it just me and me and my assumption that it's quite similar to Oscar Wilde and Bosie, or Socrates and Plato, in which one part is clearly superior and teaching the other one stuff - whatever, they seem to be just friends but I love their intimacy!)

Also, Kvothe's parents and their sexual tension? :D Daaaaaamn Gina! It's great!

It's a bit of a lazy narrative choice to go by flashbacks and recount one character's tale, but whatever, I think Pat executes it nicely. I like Kvothe's narrative voice and how he looks back on his childhood. I can sense an unreliable narrator, and I'm all here for it. :D His relationship with Ben was wonderful and heartwarming, and I'm super sad to see them separated at the end of chapter 15, but oh well I AM SOOO PUMPED FOR KVOTHE'S TIME AT THE UNIVERSITY. "Magical schools" are my thang and I'm just as curious as young Kvothe regarding learning more about "sympathy" etc.

And lastly, I love how much "music" is incorporated in the story, and how silence and sounds play a huge role!!

[leynes]

Dirk wrote: "As I am german my english is not like a nativ speaker. What impressed me most on the first 20 pages was the used english of Patrick Rothfuss. There were so much unknown word that I took out my pock..."

Ich denke es kommt immer darauf an, wie viel man schon in Englisch gelesen hat. Bisher finde ich Pats Sprache recht gut verständlich. Natürlich gibt es einige Wörter, die man eher nicht kennt, aber ich glaube das liegt eher am Genre "High Fantasy", da Autoren oft Wörter erfinden oder unübliche Gegenstände (Waffen etc.) mit in ihre Geschichten inkorporieren.

Ich hoffe, du hast weiterhin Spaß an dem Buch. :)

[Dirk]

leynes wrote: "Dirk wrote: "As I am german my english is not like a nativ speaker. What impressed me most on the first 20 pages was the used english of Patrick Rothfuss. There were so much unknown word that I too..."

Hallo Leynes, das habe ich. Ich habe auch den Herrn der Ringe in Englisch gelesen aber der kam mir nicht so "schwer" vor. MIr scheint, das Rohfuss einen sehr großen Wortschatz hat den er auch komplett verwendet. Tolkien hingegen hat viele Sachen erfunden, aber einen eher kleineren allgemeinen Wortschatz.

[sage]

leynes wrote: "I know I'm late to the party, but I've just now started reading this book and hells yeah, I already love it very much. I think the first 15 chapters work excellently as an introduction to this fant..."

Definitely one of my favorite things about this book and Kvothe is the music and silence aspects. I've found very few books that go into detail and describe in great lengths both the beauty and fear of silence. Yesss Kvothe became my child very early on with his smarts and music talents bundled into a snarky, sarcastic person. Also Kvothe is such a badass name, I was talking with a friend while reading and we claimed we'd adopt a red haired boy and name him Kvothe. xD

I love the musical aspect as well, Patrick goes to great lengths to help the readers understand and appreciate creating music, and that made me so terribly happy as a musician. I remember one of the quotes I scribbled down was where Kvothe hated not being able play, he wanted to be a on stage and playing if there was music, and I related a lot to that.

Pat's world building is A+, I'm so intrigued and can't wait to read the next. As far as the gay vibes go, I wonder if we'll learn more about Bast and Kvothe's relationship and how they met in the future heh.