The Name of the Wind Comments
The Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)
In one of the most remarkable fantasy debuts ever, Patrick Rothfuss joins the celebrated ranks of Martin, Erikson, and Tolkien as one of the master tale-spinners. The biography of the legend, The Name of the Wind delves deep into the inner workings of Kovthe, a boy who dares to challenge destiny. The Name of the Wind is Patrick Rothfuss's debut novel, but oh what a powerful debut it is! This is one tale you do not want to miss. The sequel, which is now out, is also a very good read!
Feel free to rate The Name of the Wind on the Community Book Review section of the site.
Come On
I Know Everyone just sucks up reads where the hero can whip ads but Come On
Anybody see the Harry Potter Hogwarts-University resemblance?
Anybody?
Names? Really?
Old language(Eragon)
7 hell 7??
I could keep on going
Nevermind but if u dont care about originality
Try fan fiction
It's better
What did I just read...?
Does your mind work by spewing out a couple of words of drivel and then hitting the return key? Honestly, this comment is just incomprehensible.
If you didn't gather any information about the story by reading WMF's then you clearly are a idiot.
You learn who mr.ash probable is.
you learn who kvotes mothers is.
you learn gather information about the amur and the 7.
you learn... well you didnt learn anything realm because as you say you could have gotten that all from the back cover right?
No, its not an emotional disagreement. Saying you didn't like the book is an emotional argument. saying it didn't progress the story is provable false. Go read "a detailed re-read of name of the wind" if you want the back story spoon feed to you.
Out
hehe i got the 111th post 
and yes your right.....while the narrator does not tell all the information you can yourself learn a lot more about the world kvothe lives in.
and absolutely anyone who did not figure out who kvothe's mother is etc etc IS an idiot 
I though the series has been laid out masterfully so far. We don't know yet if the series will end up as a master work but I think it certainly has a lot of potential to be a contender with some of the best. I also agree it will be difficult to get there in 1 more book but I literally could not set these two books down for two weeks because they were so well written. I felt like I was sitting in Kote's inn listening to a master storyteller weave a story I could not break away from. The language is build really well and I would also recommend these books to folks that could not usually have the patience or interest for a epic fantasy series. I really hope Pat R. delivers a next book that brings all the weaves together and ties them off in a way that leaves the reader feeling the accomplishment that is just out of reach at this point. Fingers crossed....
I just recently started reading the WMF and have gotten through 300 pages and have strated to question if I should continue reading. I have an 8 month old baby that demands constant attention so my personal time is very limited and I want to spend it reading exceptional books but so far this story line is quite boring for me. Does anything else happen besides Kvothe going to the University and interacting with his friends on a daily basis and getting into some kind of predicament. Is there a bigger storyline here that I am not getting that propels this book into an intense page turner. Or is it more of the same daily life recollections (yawn) of a hereo telling his life story. I Understand why people like Rothfuss I actually like his writing style and the point of view of the main character but I am have a hard time with his substance.
Should I not waste my time with the last 700 pages?
I would like some advice on this topic, since there are so many other books that I can be reading.
Thanks
I am at the exact same point in the 2nd book as you are when you wrote this and yes, I would say to continue reading.
How can you not tell that there is a bigger story involved here? The whole main plot is that of him going to the University to find out more about the Chandrian and currently he is finding more information about them and the Amyr
Kvothe doesn't learn jack shit about the Chandrian or Amyr in Wise Man's Fear. The whole book was a waste of time.
I personally loved this series, I have to stop myself from re-reading this again because I want to wait until the third book is out so I can read all three in a row. But that's me, so I'll try and give you an idea of what you're getting into without spoiling anything.
The book does move slowly, especially the first one. It pretty much never leaves Kvothe's perspective which was a new and interesting choice. It is not a book that is full of action and constant swift movement.
Normally, a review like that means I won't like the book, but in this case it wasn't just an excuse for a boring story (IMHO). When movement does happen, it sweeps you out from under your feet and you become even more involved in the book. It is a seductive book, and its charms entranced me. The second book has a lot more fantasy and action, and does an even better job of drawing you in. Also the language and writing is very impressive and I found it as enjoyable as the story itself which is NOT standard in the fantasy genre.
However, you have a new baby, which is one job, and you work (because even if you don't work, keeping a home intact and functioning is a job itself!), and many other pressing things and I wouldn't blame you for needing to table a book like this for a beach vacation when you have the time to really savor it.
I actually listened to the audiobook version of this and highly recommend it. The reader is very capable and knew how to read the rhythm of the words which made the book even more enjoyable and impressive. I don't know if you've ever tried audiobooks, but they can be a great alternative for a busy schedule. My daily chores when I was staying at home became much less tiresome because I got to enjoy a good story while doing the dishes, weeding the garden, or folding laundry.
I hope this helps and good luck with the little one!
I have personally re-read WMF about 4 times already and loved every minute of it!! I think I read it for the language Rothfuss uses as much as the story - I love the realness of all the characters, how things don't always go the way Kvothe wants them to. I love the eloquence and the amazing metaphors Rothfuss uses - he's so visionary and tactile with his descriptions. The world is so tight and well created that everything is believable. I think the difference for me between this book and other fantasy books is that I didn't want this one to end for the joy of reading it whereas with a lot of others I just want to find out what happens.
If you're looking for a series to pack a punch then maybe this one isn't for you???
Yes holy shit, keep reading. its gets amazing. i wont spoil it but it gets really really good. trust me. I loved it so much
I've just finished GRRM's and Robert Jordan's works. I love both series, but have thoroughly enjoyed reading an entire story set in one persons perspective. After finishing these 2 books I would put the quality right there with Jordan, and Martin. Not better, but not worse. Read it, you won't be dissapointed.
I wonder why this book is so devisive among raders. The disdain i see in some of you is to, qite shocking. I'm on the camp that absolutely loved both books, and cannot wait for the third one.
You really have to understand both novels are well written but is told and laid out extremely poor. As other have stated his main goal was to learn about the Chandarin and all but it takes forever to get there and then not completely. The first is mainly about him being dirt poor, going to school and being sherlock holmes at the end. There was NO more info about what he wanted to find out. There were little alchemy and what a disappointment that was considering the "going to school" portion took half of the book! Sure he's super smart but give more examples!
I can understand how some of you can come to love this work so much because I too adore his style of writing. I couldn't get enough and wanted to read on even though it dragged on and on. The storytelling has to be better and I feel many are giving way to much credit on his behalf (the author).
The way I see it there are two perspectives to be had, no more! You either love the book because you find Kvothe likable and maybe live vicariously a bit through his character. Or you find Kvothe incredibly patronizing and increasingly annoying, because his ish don't stink; because there are thousands of times where the plot goes in pointless loops where he struggles for money and then it all works out; because in 20 pages he goes from innocent 16yr old to full-on manwhore, not to mention the fact that every girl he bumps into all of a sudden is interested in him! But throughout the book the constant that is Pat.R's almost poetic writing style and his unquestionable sense of humor, keep you reading. Oh and I have to mention how annoyingly improbable and utterly pointless the whole Denna plot line is. She's the girl he loves that keeps showing up in whatever town he's in *yawn*, yet he will sleep with just about every other girl in the four corners!
I just want to take a moment and praise the book purely on the writing. I listened to it and the writing and reader came together to create one of the most lyrical books I've ever enjoyed. Its very different in style but the musicality of it reminded me of Toni Morrison. I won't bother arguing with those who hate the books, I am truly sorry for you because this series was literally a sensuous pleasure for me.
For the life of me, I cant understand why Rothfuss is being celebrated as this genius of a Fantasy novelist and being compared to the likes of Tolkien, Martin, Jordan, etc.. The hype and the reviews (read fallacies) grossly exaggerate and it was after reading a few of them that I picked up this book.
Kudos to rahien.din, for pointing out the flaws in plot although at times he was a bit harsh in his assessment. The book has its moments and also its dreary bits but make no mistake - this is not a Masterpiece!!!
Rothfuss seems to start with several interesting topics only to leave them all open ended. The series has you flipping page after page only to realise that at the end of every book you still know very little of the protagonist's supposed great feats! I have finished both books only to look back and wonder what the big deal is? There certainly isn't any need for Kvothe to keep mentioning that he added to the rumours or even play down his minor achievements! Also, Rothfuss doesn't seem to be drawing anywhere near a close (not even the subplots seem to have been dealt with in a remotely satisfactory manner). He sure is taking his time. Can he really wrap it up in his third book without touching the mind numbing 2000 page mark, I wonder....
Unlike the claims in the reviews, the story is not refreshingly new. There are several obvious inspirations to his characters from the Aiel in the WOT series to something as basic as Hogwarts. The magic system is refreshingly scientific and well explained, I will give him that! I also truly disliked the love interest Denna in the first book who came across as a total cocktease. The second book shows her in a more humane light. Either way for someone who is destined to be the most infamous and accomplished wizard of his age, the central character obsesses far too much with her!
The dual time frame angle is interesting and Kvothe seems to be the quintessential "coming of age" fantasy character -the tragic loss, initial struggle, gifted abilities, exceptional intellect, introspective, etc brimming with Hero potential. But that's the note both the books end on - the potential and nothing more. The prose at times has a definite poetic quality and his analogies are intriguing.
All in all, its not a bad book to read but in no way should it be third in the Best 25 fantasy book listing!! Ahead of the master Tolkien?? Are you kidding me?! 
could not agree more
Could not agree more... The book is good read but barely qualifies aseptic fantasy and at times is so incoherent that it barely qualifies as a single story. However that said once you get over the fact that Kvothe is undoubtedly a Mary Sue/Marty Stu character then u can just appreciate the great writing style.
I usually prefer sprawling epic fantasies like R. Scott Bakker or Steven Erikson, but it's refreshing to be able focus on a single character instead of hopping around among dozens of POVs. This tighter focus really helped speed up the pace of the novel, and Rothfuss's writing is very clean and crisp and is well-suited to the fast-paced story. The result? I've never read a fantasy book that was this much of a page-turner.
The Name of the Wind is one of the few books I would recommend to people who don't normally read fantasy.
I got The Name of the Wind on Audible, and have been listening to it in my car over the past few weeks. But I just can't tolerate it anymore.
This is obviously a first novel. The dialogue is stilted and manufactured. The emotional climaxes are sentimentally crafted. The setting is inadequately described, leaving almost all the details to the reader's imagination or reusing lackluster descriptors within a single sentence. And the characters are paper-thin and one-dimensional : either they're all immediately attracted to Kvothe or they're completely worthless as human beings.
Even Kvothe is shallowly written, either writhing in self-pity on the streets of Tarbean, or scintillatingly brilliant and devoid of self-doubt. The few instances in which Kvothe's true depth of character demonstrates itself show it to be uniquely awful. In Tarbean, he allows another boy to be stripped and beaten, merely so he can keep his own safe spot. Then, he sets all of Pike's possessions on fire - and then he sets Pike himself on fire, an action for which he is unremorseful. And not two or three days later, he is refusing not to pay for his shoes because "it's just the right thing to do" in a manner that Kvothe himself, decades later, finds inexplicable.
It's a jarring combination of confused morality : Kvothe is a Mary Sue except when he's a total psychopath.
This might make for an interesting reading if Rothfuss would bother to explore that in an actual plotline, or attempt to more meticulously characterize his protagonist, give him some motives. If Kvothe was altered by these events, or if he was presented to us as a flawed or conflicted hero, that wouldn't make for such a bad story. But he never changes. Instead, he merely repeats his behaviors at the university, victimized by Ambrose instead of Pike, setting another malefactor on fire and getting away with it, hiding behind medicines instead of on a rooftop, forging shallow relationships based primarily on cleverness and dissembling. And somehow, nothing is ever Kvothe's fault.
Here are some of the other recurrent tropes I picked up on, before I dropped this book :
1. Kvothe meets an older man, who instantly develops an affection for him (I'll teach you everything I know, come work at my farm, come eat food and do some work for my crippled children, come listen to a story, you don't have to pay for the bath because you're so nice, you're so clever I'll give you some extra money back for your book, here have some free shoes, come study in the archives.) Kvothe does something which tarnishes the relationship. He immediately regrets this. Nothing ever comes of this interaction.
2. Kvothe meets the most attractive girl in the whole traveling party / school / etc who is instantly attracted to him, but with whom he is awkward. Nothing ever comes of this interaction.
3. Kvothe meets an irredeemable bastard, who instantly hates him and tries to ruin his life. Or, similarly, Kvothe is a filthy urchin and gets beat up all the time and all his precious possessions get stolen or broken.
Up to the point at which I stopped listening (when Kvothe is banned from the archives) you could describe the book as such : 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, long series of 3's, 1, Kvothe sets a human being on fire, string of 1's, 2, 3, 1, 3, 2, 3, cowardice, 1, 1.
In short, it's an extremely adolescent book, focused purely on the devastating cleverness of the protagonist, rather than the actual story. It's not fantasy, it is a fantasy - one that might engross a fourteen-year-old male. It's not literature.
This makes the choice of first-person narrative even more glaringly incorrect. It's bad enough that Kvothe is presented as an unassailable ubermensch. But to listen to him relate all his various triumphs and tragic circumstances as "I did this..." and "I suffered that..." is galling. This is to say nothing of the fact that we are stuck with a single perspective the entire book, which stunts the development of all the supporting cast.
What's unfortunate is that there are all sorts of interesting avenues the book might explore, but are simply allowed to languish. What is the meaning of the appearance of the scrael? How does Kvothe's father's patron use the troupe he sponsors, and how does he react to the Chandrian's attack? Why, when he is perfectly able to survive in the forests during warmer months, does Kvothe choose to wallow in Tarbean year-round? What do we know of Tarbean, except that it is a massive, filthy, brutal port? What do we know of the countryside? Is it forested? Mountainous? Plains? What is the relationship of the town around the University to the University itself, and how do its residents interact with the Arcanists? What is the nature of the politics between the university masters? Why hasn't Kvothe even thought of contacting Abenthy once he's made it to the university?
Why is it that I seem to want to know more of Rothfuss' world than Rothfuss?
It's as though he isn't even curious about the lands he has created, preferring to pore over the invented genious of his hero rather than to explore what is likely a very fertile world. Incurious authors write very poor books.
The most accurate review I've read about these books. I have nothing more to add to this.
Agreed! I actually did find them entertaining while I was reading but I was completely blown away by the hype.
You're a complete idiot sir, and you've completely missed the point.
Before judging a novel, I would think that you would read it all the way through first, instead of reading many 20% and then saying it's filth. In fact most of what you mentioned regarding how Patrick Rothfuss never finishes his stories can be explained quite clearly if you ever bothered to finish the book.