Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
I loved this book, every page of it. It was 2050 pages on my ereader, and I wanted to read something different after I finished so that I could learn something new, but I just couldn't. I'm already 1/3 through the second book, and it's 3200 pages. (Though the real reason is me unable to move my back after the latest bike ride, but I'm always up for a whole day of reading. Or down, in this case.)
Despite the blurb, this book is not made of epic action and heroic scenes where every bad situation is solved in a chain of fortunate events and wrapped up with a nice pretty bow. It’s made of small everyday problems and a boy who has to deal with them on his own with a dangerous task on his mind. It’s not a book for those looking for a quick entertainment and constant action from page 5 till the end. If you’re looking for something the real world lacks, and read fantasy to feel like a part of something amazing, forget this one. Aside from the fact that it’s a real page-turner, beautifully written, witty, and realistic as hell, this book is for book perverts. It may not be the most accurate word, but I don’t know what else to call people who enjoy feeling frustrated, confused, irritated, and disappointed with a book. No, not the book, but every scene in the book. Because it’s never what you expect. As I read, I kept thinking What, more bad stuff?? When will the good stuff happen to this boy??. And even though something good does happen to him every now and then, it’s never a magic pill for all his problems, and it’s always unpredictable, the way it is in life. This book actually showed me how many cliché ideas I had, especially after all those Hollywood movies, where the character in trouble suddenly turns all superhero and unleashes his badassery on his enemies. It took me a while to stop expecting anything from this book, because it was very seldom that I could predict what would happen.
It’s a book for those who may enjoy fantasy and action, but will always value deeper things more. It’s absolutely amazing with all those small scenes that consist of hundreds precious moments, and unless you’re able to see them and this is what you look for in books, don’t waste your time. If after 50 pages you are bored, stop reading, because it won’t get any different. It’s a steady-paced book in the form of a memoir, and it’s exactly how it reads – with occasional fun and action. But even the action will be heart-wrenching. And there are no cliffhangers, not the way they're usually done. But most chapters end in a way that won't let you put it down.
The only problem (if I can even call it that) that I had with it was Kvothe’s love interest. I’ll leave out the name so I don’t spoil anything at all, but you’ll know who I mean easily, there are not many girls. I know it’s all about my expectations, really. I just didn’t see someone like her in this role. A boy like Kvothe deserves an actual love story, not a ghost of it. Someone as innocent and fascinating, someone like Auri (it’s not even a spoiler that she’s not his love interest. It’ll be clear before she even shows up.) I guess I just don’t buy that girl’s story. In a society like that, sure a girl would depend on her suitors, but so many of them, wouldn’t it result in a reputation that would leave her alone eventually? If there’s something worse than settling for someone without love just because they can take care of you, it’s jumping from man to man out of some misplaced sense of independence. Based on what Deoch said to Kvothe, she had a chance to settle down, but she chose to continue pretending someone she’s not, spending time with people she despised, knowing she wasn’t really interested in any of them and still continuing the game. I see it as frivolous and I just can’t respect and care about the main character’s love interest if she’s like that. I don’t mind characters that cause mixed feelings in me, but not if it’s the main love story in a book. It’s just not inspiring and.. I don’t know, tainted.
The second part of my disappointment was how it didn’t connect with Kvothe’s personality. The more I read about him, the more of myself I could see, up to the point when reading about his inner monologue was like looking in some twisted mirror. But when it comes to her… I just couldn’t see what he saw in her, aside from some wit and good looks. Maybe there just wasn’t enough of her for me to believe this. But Kvothe is also too proud to behave like that. He had huge problems and tasks on his mind all the time, and he spent hours sometimes searching for her? Bullshit. Even in my decade of failed relationships I’ve never seen anything that miserable. No matter how freaking interesting people may be, they’re not worth the chase if that’s what they make you do. If it was really the Kvothe I have read about in the previous chapters, he’d blacklist her after a couple of episodes like that and focus on his important tasks. However, if I remember that he’s only 15 there…… nah, still no, even at 15 I was already too proud for that :P
I like how I’ve grown fond of the University eventually, and the idea of him being forced to leave (nope, not a spoiler either, it’s in the very beginning of the first book) pains me already. Stepping into the second book a little, the company he found there is really sweet and well-developed. And Elodin…. you beautiful freak, how I adore your open craziness. I really hope he’ll play some awesome part in the story, but knowing Rothfuss, it may be it for the crazy master. Still, his character seems too detailed for simply being a part of the background.
