[Reading Group] May 2014: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Apparently I bought this almost exactly two years ago, and I haven't read a single page of it yet. I've just reached the end of the book I was reading on Kindle, so I can make a start a bit early.

 

Starting this today. I just finished reading I Am Legend for another reading group, so now I'll try to pace myself to read this in a month. I'll probably binge read it before then, though.

 

I've started reading, and discovered that I did in fact begin it. I stalled very early on, though, even before the proper story got going. I've got further this time, so I'll see how I go.

And I'm not seeing it as a flashback as such, although I'm not gone on the idea that the whole book is effectively Kvothe dictating his memoirs. I'm guessing that Rothfuss decided to do it this way because either the story continues in the present at some point, or the "flashback" would make the story stupidly long. So he can gloss over his family travelling around in a few pages, rather than devoting chapters to Kvothe's childhood. I guess I'll see. I'm prepared to go with it for now, though it's not my most favourite way of telling a story.

If you hate flashbacks, Ankari, do you not like the Stormlight Archive books? WoK had a lot of Kaladin flashback scenes, and WoR does the same with Shallan. I thought those worked really well. (Although I probably shouldn't divert discussion onto another series. Sorry.)

 

The story in the past isn't really as flashback in as much as the scenes in the present are a frame.

In my opinion, Rothfuss makes a lot of huge promises and fails to deliver on them. He promises that Kvothe is the most awesome and interesting person ever and then spends two books developing him as an arrogant teenager whose main problems are that he's poor and that he makes enemies at school. The mystery of his childhood, who exactly killed his parents and why, is barely touched on. In two books you learn nothing about it. That really bothered me. In addition, he doesn't, in two books, do anything really awesome or noteworthy. Kvothe as a character really disappointed me and Rothfuss did not earn any trust with me. I'll read the last book because I would like to know the answer to the mystery but I'll probably get it from the library and I won't bother to read anything he does in the future.

 

The Name of the Wind definitely has a framing device, in the form of people in the future telling the story of past events. The example that always comes to mind is One Thousand and One Nights, where the framing device is Scheherazade's story. Or for a fantasy example, The Princess Bride has a framing device in the form of the man reading the story to his grandson.

I don't mind it as a literary device, particularly when it is an in-universe framing device as opposed to a 'look at this fake story' kind like Princess Bride which frames the story as fantasy even within the context of the book. It works well enough in this book, I think. I don't know if it adds anything - I'll hold off on saying so until after I've finished reading it again - but it doesn't really bother me at all either.

 

So far into it I've had trouble relating to Kvothe with him being so brilliant and powerful, but I can't put the book down.
I've read books that have been a memoir type story, so I've had no problem with the framing device. One of the things I'm really enjoying is his style. I'm used to long-winded storytellers like Jordan and King, so it's refreshing to have the story move along at a bit faster pace.

 

I'm more or less up to target on this, I think. Maybe a chapter behind. I started a bit ahead, so I'm slipping back a bit. Need to get a move on.

1. What do you think of Kvothe/Kote so far?
I've heard a lot about what a compelling character he is, but I'm not seeing why so far. Hopefully it will start to kick in soon. But if you're trying to conceal who/what you are, then surely putting a honking great sword up on the wall isn't the best way to go about it?

2. Do you find the story engaging?
It's engaging without being compelling. I've got this one on Kindle and a Juliet McKenna novel in paperback on the go at the same time, and currently I'm more inclined to pick up the other one. I could happily leave it here and move to something else. Again, I'm hoping I'll get drawn in as the story progresses. Especially as I've already bought book 2!

3. How do you feel about the framing device of Kvothe telling his life story to Chronicler?
I've read other books with this sort of structure. One of the Robin Hobb series is done as memoirs or similar IIRC, although I could be thinking of someone else.

4. What do you think of the world so far?
Haven't seen much beyond the standard fantasy tavern type setting. Again, I'm assuming we'll see farther as Kvothe grows up and does more.

5. Do you like the style?
It's an easy enough read. I haven't found anything that's tripped me up yet.

 

I have to say that Bast is interesting me more than Kvothe at the moment. I have a feeling there's more to him than meets the eye.