The Name of the Wind

It's been awhile! I've started a gaming only blog called the Semi-Amateur Gamer over on Board Game Geek, so I've been writing over there. However, I still want to keep this blog up, so I thought I'd write a book review. That is right, a good old fashioned book review. Not sure I've ever done that. So what's the book? It is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

First off, I listened to this on my drive out to Kansas and back, which was 20 hours in 2 days. That still left 7 hours worth of audio, which I finished throughout the week. This was the first time that I've ever listened to a whole audio book, I'm an avid podcast listener as you know, but books not so much. Unless I'm making such a long drive again, I don't think I'll ever do this again. It was great while driving, but I kept falling asleep if I just sat in bed and listened. Also, it felt weird.

Okay, now to the actual review. Kvothe is the main character from the story, first you meet him as an innkeeper in some no name town, then you hear as he tells his story. In fact, most of the book is him telling of his childhood, with the occasional pop back to present day. I really liked this format. In general, I like explanations of how someone got somewhere (super hero origin stories are the best!). He tells you about his parents, his hard times, his happy times, and his sad times. I think Rothfuss does a good job with analogies, really descriptive of how Kvothe feels, so the reader understands where he is coming from.

To be honest, some parts of the story were rather drug out, with an almost are we going to get there feeling. There are a whole lot of characters come in and out of Kvothe's life, but they are introduced slowly, so they don't really confuse you as in some books where 20 generic characters are thrown at you in the first chapter. The world that is built is one of fantasy, but really one where magic is more like science. 

*Side Note* How come in these fantasy worlds, yes even LotR, thousands of years go by and there about zero scientific advancements? It is like they are stuck in the middle ages for millenia. Is it because of the crutch of magic?*Side Note Over*

Anyways, Kvothe adventures throughout his childhood, making enemies, friends, learning, and having a few adventures. The book is the first in the Kingkiller Chronicle, so it doesn't get all the way back to the present, which is to be expected. Overall though, I'm excited about this series, perhaps more excited about a book series than I've been since Cornwell's Saxon Series.

Recommendations

Fantasy Fans - I think this is a good choice. It isn't extreme fantasy and almost feels a bit more like a book about Leonardo da Vinci with fantasy thrown in, but I'm still hooked.

Completists -  I made the mistake of starting this before the last book is out. The last time I did this was the Inheritence Cycle. I told myself then I'd never do that again, but now I've done it. I hate myself. Don't you hate yourself.

Light Readers - Stay away from this. I think 27 hours audio tranlates to nearly 700 pages, but these pages are not Harry Potter level reading, rather much deeper and more intricate.