It’s not every day that a book comes along that quite literally revitalizes a genre. We’ve had Harry Potter for Children’s Literature. We’ve had The Hunger Games for Young Adult Sci-Fi. And even titles like The Girl on the Train for Fiction & Thrillers. But this is quite a different title. Garnering a number of awards including the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror category in the 2007 Quill Awards, it is The Name of the Wind. I don’t think anyone expected The Name of the Wind by now best-selling author Patrick Rothfuss. But what it brought to the table of magic, creatures, and otherworldly immersion is something so atypical of the genre, that it is now a pillar example of what authors could begin to do differently within the Fantasy realm.
From the moment, I began reading Rothfuss’ first installment in The Kingkiller Chronicles, I was curious and invested on the enigmatic life of protagonist Kvothe. Through the retelling of his life, we see how folktales and legendary figures are formed from humble origins – and a few doses of imagination. One of the most intriguing components of the book, is how little action there is. Confused? I shall explain. Stemmed in a genre known for epic battles and dramatic sequences; I understand this is quite a surprise. Yet, there is so absence of tension or emotional turmoil as we see the upheaval of Kvothe’s childhood, his struggle to survive, and the even bigger struggle to discover just who he’s meant to be and what he’s capable of. Every phase of his life as he moves to each location, leaving everything behind, and starting anew with new characters to meet and connect with is something extremely relatable in our own lives albeit bittersweet. But these elements help to build Kvothe’s complexity of emotions and morality. The world of Temerant itself is enormous and so extraordinarily detailed that it is impossible to retain everything in one read. Worldbuilding is Rothfuss’ prime specialty; to the point where he has even confessed there are locations, people -- entire civilizations that we may never encounter in the books. But they still exist. That’s how in depth this setting is. Mix that with some high-quality technical writing ability, and you have a series that will be on the high ride of popularity and success for a long time to come. That being said, with the highs come the lows. While there are only a few criticisms I have on the series so far, one thing that does stand out to me is how Kvothe’s characterization compares to his supporting cast. Now of course, the protagonist should be fully fleshed out and center stage. They must carry the story after all. But there were moments where I felt I knew Kvothe so well – and everyone else so little. They may be temporary figures in Kvothe’s story, but that unclosed distance shouldn’t necessarily be affecting the reader as well. Whether it was characters like Sim, Fela, or even at times the unobtainable Denna, these characters are supposed to add richness and dimension to the world, and shouldn’t only serve the purpose of progressing the protagonist or filling an archetype. Who knows, hopefully with the consecutive books this will change and develop, but within the context of the initial book, it was something that could at times make other characters seem forgettable. The other major thing that could at times gripe me, was how invincible Kvothe appears to be when it comes to his abilities in sympathy, and general intelligence or skill. No one, not even his rivals, seem to be able to compete with him; often to their embarrassment or public defeat. The reader may want to see our protagonist overcome trials and tribulations, but when it feels like there’s no challenge, we know it’s only a matter of time before Kvothe or the character in question figures it out. Instead, I want to worry that they may not make it, and feel the relief when they do. They only times that Kvothe appears to be at a disadvantage is if it’s a matter of financial privilege or social authority; not actual ability. The one exception to this is obviously the malevolent and dangerous presence of the Chandrian. Kvothe’s lack of insight on what exactly this phenomenon is (combined with intense personal motives) results in the one physical thing in the world that terrifies him. Again, this might change as we continue, and none of these criticisms in capacity took away from my enjoyment. But they are observations nonetheless. So now I’m curious: What are your opinions on this already staple read within the Sci-Fi/Fantasy repertoire? What were moments that entranced you; scared you; angered you, even? This is a dense piece of literature, and only through discussion can we reveal its deeper meanings. Let us see the man behind the myth and discover just what is the name of the wind.
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Book ReviewsHere shall be a collection of reviews from my personal reads as well as those done for analysis and exploration. Occasionally, there may also be posts about book-related topics, people, and events. ArchivesCategories
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