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itsaripotter's reviews
335 reviews
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
3.0
This novel started out as a mixed bag for me, but gradually grew more engrossing as I read further. The main character, Kvothe, was initially hard to put up with, because his interactions with Chronicler show him as proud and vain with nothing to back it up. It felt like what English teachers used to chide every student about: Telling, instead of showing. The reader is just expected to wait and receive confirmation of Kvothe's greatness as the story continues. Many characters in the present seem terrified or awestruck by who Kvothe is, but as the reader I was being told I should respect him without receiving a reason why. He shows he has skill, but the present day Kvothe has no qualities that endear him in some way to the reader. You could argue that this will develop as the books are written and we see more of his past, but I constantly found myself wanting to skip the present day moments to learn more about the Kvothe in the memories, who really feels like a different person altogether.
Because this novel is mostly comprised of memories being told to another person, there are many instances where the storytelling is interrupted for something that is happening in the present. I found these moments to be the novel's weakest times, because I didn't have any reason to care about them. We are shown that there is something sinister happening in the present world, but literally no explanation is given as to WHY. I continued reading because the Kvothe in the memories seems more tangible and developed than the man telling the story.
The memories are great, even though at times there are cliches that you've seen in every other fantasy novel. I rolled my eyes when Kvothe had the final confrontation with Ambrose near the end of the novel, because I could predict what happened as soon as Kvothe's lute was broken. Despite this, I did find myself curious as to what happens in the next novel.
Because this novel is mostly comprised of memories being told to another person, there are many instances where the storytelling is interrupted for something that is happening in the present. I found these moments to be the novel's weakest times, because I didn't have any reason to care about them. We are shown that there is something sinister happening in the present world, but literally no explanation is given as to WHY. I continued reading because the Kvothe in the memories seems more tangible and developed than the man telling the story.
The memories are great, even though at times there are cliches that you've seen in every other fantasy novel. I rolled my eyes when Kvothe had the final confrontation with Ambrose near the end of the novel, because I could predict what happened as soon as Kvothe's lute was broken. Despite this, I did find myself curious as to what happens in the next novel.
Catch by Will Leitch
3.0
A pleasant read, verging on cliché, but one that many near-college age kids will relate to. The characters seem to be built off of 90s stereotypes, but the story still manages to touch an honest vein of emotion as Tim gets closer to leaving for college. Leitch doesn't have the writing chops or character development of fellow YA sports novel writer Chris Crutcher, but he successfully captures the inner struggles that most high school graduates feel as they prepare to leave everything that is familiar to them.
The Summons by John Grisham
2.0
The narrative was smooth and well crafted. At times I was a little bored because the main character is rather unextraordinary, but thinking back it was an accurate depiction of your average man who probably is unextraordinary. Not a book I'd recommend for deep reading- more a plane/car ride sort of story.