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A review by lookmairead
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
5.0
“You have to be a bit of a liar to tell a story the right way. Too much truth confuses the facts. Too much honesty makes you sound insincere.”
So many great quotes in this.
It’s been over a decade since I read this, and I basically forgot everything. Which is crazy because I credit Rothfuss for forever altering my reading habits to embrace fantasy wholeheartedly.
Hence, this series has been on my nerdy pedestal for favorite unfinished series. (Though, I remember book 2 being my favorite.) And with new world building novellas brewing, I knew it was time to fall in love with Kvothe again.
Rereads are sometimes funny.
One moment you are reading and you’re thinking, “Yes this -ish is brilliant and words are hitting the right notes.”
But if a note hits different or feels off, you start to wonder – did I evolve as a reader?
Yes. >sighs<
Here are a few examples:
- I’m relieved that Denna isn’t a flat character but I think Rothfuss simplifies her sad girl motivation. But I wasn’t buying that it was patron or bust theory. It just felt like she was born with wings vs roots. I’m not loving the “cruel” personality build. Like I’m delighted that Rothfuss talks/shows budding love in a way most male fantasy writers fail to– but we need to like both characters.
- I’m kinda surprised that our boy Kvothe didn’t have more permanent damage /injuries from all his fights/beatings/ rough street living. It just felt… convenient vs. realistic.
- The part where the professor says: “Rian, would you please cross your legs?” The request was made with such an earnest tone that not even a titter escaped the class. Looking puzzled, Rian crossed her legs. “Now that the gates of hell are closed,” Hemme said in his normal, rougher tones. “We can begin.” And so he did, ignoring her for the rest of the lecture. Which, as I see it, was an inadvertent kindness.”
I mean… what? How? The inequality between men and women is kinda head scratching because it just isn’t needed and falls flat. Like we’re over stupid sexist patriarchy ways- if you are going to make fake worlds for us to love, give women equal footing ground. Like we are in a post-Harry Potter world- make women equal players and make this fictional problem much more interesting by giving women a more equal playing ground.
Please don’t misread these examples, I don’t have less love for Rothfuss. The reason I love this series is because it appeals fantasy/ AND romantasy fans.
But where I used to refuse to hear criticism, I now can understand the tiffs better (after years of fantasy reading).
I’ll do a more thorough review after book two.
1st Read ♾️⭐️ (Pre-Goodreads life
So many great quotes in this.
It’s been over a decade since I read this, and I basically forgot everything. Which is crazy because I credit Rothfuss for forever altering my reading habits to embrace fantasy wholeheartedly.
Hence, this series has been on my nerdy pedestal for favorite unfinished series. (Though, I remember book 2 being my favorite.) And with new world building novellas brewing, I knew it was time to fall in love with Kvothe again.
Rereads are sometimes funny.
One moment you are reading and you’re thinking, “Yes this -ish is brilliant and words are hitting the right notes.”
But if a note hits different or feels off, you start to wonder – did I evolve as a reader?
Yes. >sighs<
Here are a few examples:
- I’m relieved that Denna isn’t a flat character but I think Rothfuss simplifies her sad girl motivation. But I wasn’t buying that it was patron or bust theory. It just felt like she was born with wings vs roots. I’m not loving the “cruel” personality build. Like I’m delighted that Rothfuss talks/shows budding love in a way most male fantasy writers fail to– but we need to like both characters.
- I’m kinda surprised that our boy Kvothe didn’t have more permanent damage /injuries from all his fights/beatings/ rough street living. It just felt… convenient vs. realistic.
- The part where the professor says: “Rian, would you please cross your legs?” The request was made with such an earnest tone that not even a titter escaped the class. Looking puzzled, Rian crossed her legs. “Now that the gates of hell are closed,” Hemme said in his normal, rougher tones. “We can begin.” And so he did, ignoring her for the rest of the lecture. Which, as I see it, was an inadvertent kindness.”
I mean… what? How? The inequality between men and women is kinda head scratching because it just isn’t needed and falls flat. Like we’re over stupid sexist patriarchy ways- if you are going to make fake worlds for us to love, give women equal footing ground. Like we are in a post-Harry Potter world- make women equal players and make this fictional problem much more interesting by giving women a more equal playing ground.
Please don’t misread these examples, I don’t have less love for Rothfuss. The reason I love this series is because it appeals fantasy/ AND romantasy fans.
But where I used to refuse to hear criticism, I now can understand the tiffs better (after years of fantasy reading).
I’ll do a more thorough review after book two.
1st Read ♾️⭐️ (Pre-Goodreads life