The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – Review

I am a big fan of fantasy writing, and Patrick Rothfuss knocks it out of the park with The Name of the Wind, his first novel. Do not let the words “first novel” fool you, this story is no tentative toe in the pool of writing, it is a cannonball landing squarely in the deep end, and you may still be hearing tales of the splash it made. But then, if you can get George R.R. Martin, Ursula K. Le Guin, Terry Brooks, Robin Hobb and Orson Scott Card all singing praises for the first book you write, you probably deserve it. So, any discerning fantasy reader pretty much has to see what all the noise is about.

“It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

In broad strokes, so as to limit the damage of the evil spoiler, The Name of the Wind is an epic coming of age tale. Sure, there is a bit of magic here, but it goes much beyond the typical stuff found in the realm of fantastical writing. The story immerses you in the life of Kvothe as a child, and as we follow his journey, we see how his experiences shape him towards the man he will become.

“When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

One of the things I like most about this book is that it’s so smart. Kvothe is not ever going to be mistaken for stupid, but his actions always ring true based on his experiences. The action is well paced and keeps you turning pages, but it’s also filled with language that catches the light like gems, and sparkle with colours of hidden depth. You don’t have to be a fantasy fan to appreciate the story telling, which can make this a rare treat for those who just like good fiction, and the story itself isn’t soft, it puts you through the paces, just like real life would.

“There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

If you believe that in order to be a good writer, you have to read, well, quite frankly, this is probably the kind of thing you should be reading. And if you just like to read, try this!! 🙂

So, have you read it? Did you like it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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This weeks challenge er challenge update:

• Blog post 26/52 – 26 to go…I spy the half way mark!
• Writing in the screenplay – Check!
• Drawing – Check.
• Feet writing & drawing – Check.

Until next time!

~Liv