The Name of the Wind - 16 January

[Leigh]

@Ryan, Hope your girls have a safe trip!

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

I read the first chapter last night. So far I'm really digging the writing style.

[Ryan]

Leigh wrote: "@Ryan, Hope your girls have a safe trip!"

Thanks Leigh, they tell me they did.

Also, I just started the book.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I've had less time than I would have liked but I've gotten the first chapter read and I agree that he has a really good style. Also a nice set up fir mystery ahead ☺

[Joey]

Book started.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

11 chapters in and loving it. Rothfuss has a fantastic turn of phrase and I'm enjoying the style.

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Glad to hear! I bloody love that book ;)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Its actually a really nice read. So much detail but not taxxing at the sane time. I have a soft spot for any fantasy that starts at childhood with the training and education of the hero.

[Kevin]

Good stuff Paul. You'll have to pick up Wiseman's Fear so you can keep reading the series :)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Its definitely on the shopping list now. I might buy it along with Half a World towards the end of the month

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Meant Half the World there

[Leigh]

I seem to be trailing behind at ch. 5. Definitely intrigued by the characters. My reading has been high jacked by family movie night, a circus show and a ton of small projects!

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I thought I was going to lag but really got into it today ☺

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Well a hundred pages down and unless something drastically changes this will become a firm favourite. I'm really enjoying everything about it. Kvothes a very interesting character and carries the story well

[Whitney]

Kvothes an asshole lol. Can I say that here? if not then lets pretend I didn't say that.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Maybe I'm not far enough in but I'm not getting that yet. He has had his moments. I'll let you know if I agree as I get further in

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

He has his flaws, but that's what I like. It's nice not to have some perfect goody two shoes protagonist.

[Kevin]

He does have the whole (view spoiler)["I am effortlessly better than any of you hard-working scholars, suck it" (hide spoiler)] feel about him at times but I think the rest of the character's story overshadows it.

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

Unfortunately my book club book has slowed me down greatly. I plan to try to catch up in the next couple of days. Juggling books is not working well for me for once lol.

[Whitney]

Kevin wrote: "He does have the whole [spoilers removed] feel about him at times but I think the rest of the character's story overshadows it."

I think as readers we automatically want to see the good in our main characters we want to root for them but he does do somethings that are hateful and awful and he is also a compulsive liar almost bordering on con-artist type of thing. IMO everything that he is telling the chronicler is probably a lie or at the least fabricated to make him seem like the bad ass he wants to be. However I haven't read the second book yet but I will.

I really did like the book and I find Kvothe interesting but when people are like ' oh he's so great and powerful' I'm just like no, no. lol

[Leigh]

I agree that readers look for something they like in the protagonist. It's hard to stick with a book if you want to b*tch slap the guy the entire way. He doesn't have to be a good guy who runs around saving maidens, kingdoms and kittens; he just has to have something in his personality that readers can relate to.

Only on ch. 9 and Kvothe has just started telling his story. I'm still on the fence whether I like him or not.

[RachelvlehcaR]

I am currently on chapter 51. I was really excited when I read the first few chapters. I was like oh wow, things are kicking off real good. Then, (view spoiler)[ the time change. We are dealing in the past. It isn't bad but not what I was looking forward to. (hide spoiler)]

There is lots of build up which is fine but my view of the book has changed. I'm half way through the book. I'm thinking this is going to be a 3 star book for me.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I think a main character with a more varied character has become more common in fantast in the last few years. It makes them more interesting. I don't have to empathise with the lead to enjoy the book.

[Leigh]

Paul wrote: "I think a main character with a more varied character has become more common in fantast in the last few years. It makes them more interesting. I don't have to empathise with the lead to enjoy the b..."

Not even a little bit? Take the Flashman novels, if you are familiar with those. I hate that guy. With a passion. I know the stories are fascinating and historically sound, but I hate the main character. I cannot read those books. Personally, I have to connect on some level.

[Leigh]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I am currently on chapter 51. I was really excited when I read the first few chapters. I was like oh wow, things are kicking off real good. Then, [spoilers removed]

There is lots of build up wh..."

I fully agree with you on that! I knew the backstory was coming, but when it started, I was almost disappointed. I'm not nearly as far as you in the book, though, so I haven't formed any strong opinions yet.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I don't mean its ok if hes a complete a hole but they certainly don't gave to be the golden boy either. I don't think Kvothe is an a complete A hole anyway(so far)..He's arrogant and cocky yes but hes still interesting and has other sides to his character

[Leigh]

True, there are less and less 'golden boys' in fantasy (thank gawd), and a character with different sides is much more interesting....

It is the flat characters in YA (mostly girls who can't wait to get into a fluffy dress and have their major make-over so the boys will take notice) that is driving me away from those books. Give me someone with grit and attitude, any day!

[RachelvlehcaR]

Leigh, I totally agree. That is why I can't stand YA books right now. Those horrible YA Fantasy Romance is a genre I can't get into. I just want to throw the book across the room.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

It really does make a character more interesting for the reader. My favourite book of last year was Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence and the lead is as self centred an a hole(self confessed as well) as I've come across but such a good character for it.

[Leigh]

Exactly, except that would be my kindle smashing into the wall, and then I'd have to buy a new one....

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

YA can be mixed. I have quite enjoyed Gaimans, Sandersons and Abercrombies various forays into the area but some of the characters of other authors can be painful

[Joey]

Started the book. Now that is one long drawn out intro to the 1st person perspective. Kote is a lair, but I get at feeling there is a hint of truth about what he talks about. He seems to break his "I'm perfect" character enough for me to feel he's honestly trying to tell the reader his life's story. (With a few omissions/alterations.)

[Ryan]

A few of you have said he's a liar. Have I missed something? At what point did you decide he wasn't being entirely truthful?

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I haven't reached that point anyway

[Joey]

He comes up with false backstories for himself on the fly. "Listen to me three times."

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Thats when hes covering who he is though

[Matt]

I just started this yesterday!

[Joey]

Keep reading. He's telling his story, but I think he's padding it a bit. Some friends have told me to keep an eye out for inconsistencies in the novels. I guess the author puts a few easter eggs in between the 1st and 3rd person segments.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Interesting. I'll keep an eye out. Padded out or not its still intriguing ☺

[Leigh]

Matt wrote: "I just started this yesterday!"

Great, tell us what you think!

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

A third i and I still like Kvothe . Not falling in with the a hole description at all.

[Joey]

Ya. It seems his setting up a trap to me. Drawing attention to the location and letting rumors slip out because he's leaving behind a new 'story'.

[Whitney]

Okay so I have a lot to respond to. What I love about this book besides the writing, the world and the side characters are that the writer doesn't lead us by the hand he doesn't come right out in our faces and show us that Kvothe is a liar in fact Kvothe doesn't even seem to look at it as a liar if you have made it to the part where he talks about how he grew up and what his family did. It was their lifestyle to weave stories and to entertain. It's just one of the many things he's good at.
I certainly love to hate him as a character for everything he is good at, basically being a child prodigy he has something negative that balances it out.
Don't get me started on the YA aka Romance hidden behind everything else. YA SCIFI= ROMANCE YA FANTASY= ROMANCE ETC.

I really can't stand it and I am always so happy when I find a youtuber that reads something other than YA. Who isn't afraid to stand out side of the lil click that has risen in that genre.

I read adult and YA although I am usually disappointed but a lot of people now days refuse to read anything but YA.

However I have found that a lot of the newer adult Fantasy has great crossover ability. This being one of them along with Brandon Sanderson and similar.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I do agree that Kvothe has many negative qualities but these are whst make him a better character. If he was great at everything and had no negative qualities I'd be bored by now to be honest but hes easier to read as a more balanced character. I dob't think it makes him an asshole , just a bit more human.

YA is like any other genre /sungroup . It has its good and bad. I'm not a fan of romance to be honest but I have read some fantastic YA books in the last while.

[Joey]

Romance is a great plot. But it doesn't always have to happen, at least happen in every scene.

[Sam]

I always found Kvothe to be an exceptionally round character and respected his faults as a necessary part of him. I'm not made of 100% sunshine either, people who pretend to be are suspicious imo.
Maybe in the end this is why I ended up loving the first two books like I did: Because I feel like the story is being told by a real person.
Is he lying about one thing or the other? I expect him to be. But that only enriches the character for me. And it definitely pushes book three on top of my wishlist.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Romance is great as a subplot but not a genre for me

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Well said Iselin.
Sums up my feelings so far. He's a very accesible character for all his faults.

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

You know, it's funny, I never ever really considered that Kvothe might be lying! I just took everything at face value. That's definitely something to think about...

[Kevin]

I agree with you completely Iselin. His negative traits add a third dimension to his character.

By the way, love the picture of Pangur Bán from the Book of Kells as your profile pic!