“The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss
6 January 2023
“The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss
Synopsis (Back of the Book):
“My name is Kvothe.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me.
So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature—the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man’s search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.”
Sustain:
The author built an astonishingly detailed world that extended to culture, language, and myths / lore. I also love it when authors make up idioms and axioms that are unique to their worlds, and Rothfuss excelled at doing so. The map at the front of the book was a great reference, too.
The dialogue throughout was snappy, quippy, witty, and just FUN. I had several “laugh out loud” moments with much of the dialogue and the main character’s ability to see his predicaments in a humorous light. The dark humor was especially brilliant.
Improve:
The story read like an anthology of fantasy tropes. It probably didn’t help that I had just read A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. Some commonalities between the two (and similar works) include: a) the magic behind the power of the true naming of things b) transformative childhood trauma / loss, c) a difficult Magic U experience compounded by an arrogant, privileged competitor d) Dark wizard-like adversary / antagonist(s)
The book was too long. There were several spots where I found myself growing bored. Rothfuss could have significantly improved the pace of the by 1) reducing unnecessary descriptions 2) removing repeat scenarios (I mean, how many times does the main character need to be beaten nearly to death or flogged?) and 3) removing the “story within the story” where the tavern keeper (e.g. the main character) is experiencing a new story while telling his own backstory. The narrative would have been easier to follow and more fun if it stood on its own instead of being nested within a new narrative.
The main character, Kvothe, is uninteresting. He’s good at everything (including surviving brutal assaults on a regular basis), smarter than everyone else, and despite some questionable decision-making, manages to survive his own arrogance. He is barely human, and is difficult to connect with as a result.
Link to Book; https://www.amazon.com/Name-Wind-Patrick-Rothfuss/dp/0756404746
