Unpopular Opinion: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- The first in a new series titled "Unpopular Opinion," Mike talks about why he did not love The Name of the Wind unlike almost everyone else within the modern fantasy community.
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![The Name of the Wind [Animated]](/img/n.gif)
***note: the comments have gotten so out of hand I'm afraid I haven't been able to keep up & reply to each. But know I DO read them all.***
Hey guys! Remember, it's just an opinion and I know I'm in an extremely small minority here. Thanks for watching!
I figure most will understand that. First-time viewers will probably be like "fuck that guy" ha ha
Yes it’s a very small minority however it’s fascinating to see how different this book clicks with different people. I like how regardless of what you think of the book you still urge the viewers to read it and form their own opinions. This book is still in my TBR. Hoping to finish it before the end of the year.
Wow . . . . Rothfuss = Paolini? Dayam. I can understand if you don't love the story.
One of the things I like about the story is you have a seeming mary-sue character who has fallen on hard times. He's not the biggest bad a$$ anymore if he ever truly was. Anyway, love the honesty of your review regardless.
Every time it came to picking up this book i always ended up skipping it. Never read it and I'll probably do only when my library buys it .
I DNF The Name of the Wind. It was the only book that I have started and just gave up on 3/4 of the through, in at least 15 years !!!
It just wasn't going anywhere or doing Anything!!!!
So I totally understand your view on this ... Maybe it's our age bracket ??
I once saw a photoshopped cover of NOTW that said College Debt and A Little Magic lol
Brilliant!
Bahahahahaha. Throw in an over edited prose that makes it beautiful and that's truly all there is.
@@tarancehill8147 So true lmao. I still love it though xD
Yep, I can't stand Kvothe.
I can't even stand his name.
I see what you did there! ;D
He reads like a Reddit know it all post
I think what really keeps me interested in the story is the Mystery in the difference between seeing who he is at the Inn and who he is growing up in the story.
Why? Who is he at the Inn that made you even care? The story withholds anything significant about him. All you get are vague hints and uninteresting exposition where nothing is happening that I would care to read about. It's like someone took Harry Potter and removed all the magic and history and just gave you insurance and tax forms to read about.
What?
@DaneofHalves Honestly. I didn't really care about Kote at the beginning of the story until he started telling his story, but it has been 4 years since that opinion and it has changed. Rereading it again a few months ago and my taste for it has soured significantly.
I finished NOTW a few days ago and had to ask myself if I read the same book as everyone else because I don’t understand the hype. I thought it was fine, but the way people praise this book is unreal 😅 Great video, Mike!
I'm still curious as to what I missed that everyone loves about it.
In Dune, Paul is the universe’s super being where there are human super computers and space folding psychic mutants and yet paul still has a story arc and grows.
It feels like nothing happens to kvothe because he never develops as a character. He presents himself with skill, knowledge, and wisdom he never earned. The story reads like that guy who always has a better story and talks a big game about how bad ass they are. If Steven Segal wrote an autobiography about his childhood it would not be as grandiose as the story kvothe tells about himself in the name of the wind.
I recently found your channel and have finished this brutal book a few hours ago and immediately went looking to find out if there was anyone in the ether who agreed with me. I also didn't like lies of Locke Lenora. Validated dude, thank you.
My feelings EXACTLY
Yeah Mike is the best Book Tuber IMO. Always keeps it real. Even though I don't agree with all his views on books.. Doesn't get more genuine than this guy.
MEEEE
Couple years late but I just finished this book last week and it was truly brutal. I wish I could get my time back
The Name of the Wind was pitched to me as "Harry Potter for Adults". As someone who grew up on Harry Potter I was really excited. After reading The Name of the Wind, I thought the writing is beautiful and different but not for me. Nothing else struck me as amazing or made me rant an rave. You can have good prose and not tell a good story, it's possible.
I've seen that multiple times in these comments. I didn't Harry Potter at all out of this.
Hey guys, it is too hard to read the english version?, cus i want to compare it with the spanish version, i'm 25 years old and my conversational and reading english its like 7,5 out of 10
@@ignacioman1 I recommend reading the English version, with the translated version on kindle next to it. That's what I am doing and you will be surprised, how much is changed or gets lost in translation. Sometimes whole paragraphs are cut out completely!!
I don't read the translation sentence by sentence along with the original. I usually read the original, and translate words I am not familiar with, then cross check with the translation, if I feel the need. I am half way into the book, and my English has improved so much, thanks to this :)
Like "I can't really spoil it for you cause nothing freakin happens in this book" , haha, so true. Appreciate you speaking truth!
Holy crap am i glad to hear someone agree with me on this one. I thought i was going crazy.
1) My first issue isn't the books fault. A friend recommended it so i brought it on holidays. I didn't realise it was the first in a series though and it really doesn't stand alone.
2) If you are telling your story as a flashback it takes all the suspense out of it. We know the main character survives and does ok because.. you already told us. Completely robs any crisis of a sense of urgency.
3) This was the most Mary-Sue character i have ever seen in a book that wasn't a parody of Mary-Sues. The way it is told it seems like the main character is effortlessly insanely naturally talented at pretty much everything he tries.
4) Because of 3) any struggles the character go through seem artificial and manufactured. He's struggling to eat despite being one of the most talented entertainer and craftsmen ever to exist? Feels like it took a lot of weird maneuvering to make that an actual issue.
5) Nothing happens. The story seems to be about an extremely talented guy getting on with life. Because its all a flashback you get hints that there is something climactic in his future, and there is some dark background stuff hinted at but none of it ever really materializes. Its basically a story about a guy having a rough life but going to Uni and doing pretty well. Nice story, but not good literature
I'm 45 and I friggen LOOOOOOOOVE Name of The Wind & The Wise Man's Fear! Doesn't bother me in the least that you arent a fan. We're allowed to have different tastes. For the record - I love WoT, LOTR's and Dune too. :)
So glad there are some of us left that are okay with difference of opinions. I'm happy others love it so.
I like the first few Dune books, but the ones written by his son did not appeal to me.
@@jeremydanchuk1897 That's because they're trash.
@@mikesbookreviews What's WoT? I've got both in the name of the wind, the sequel and Dune.
@@Kira-nu5xm wheel of time
This is so funny! I had the exact same problem with this book!!! Unsympathetic protagonist and a story that went nowhere! So good to hear it wasn't just me!
Parents killed, and goes on a revenge quest. Except, he doesn't, just goes to school, then next book goes on random adventures. And random magic.
I do appreciate the prose, but without character and story, meh.
Yeah, goes to the school and takes a looot of crappy choices and unnecesary problems, which it could be acceptable cus the protagonist is an early teenage, but, sometimes its too much
The beginning of book 1 interested me, and then the following 3/4 bored me to death. I figured maybe book 2 would make up for it, since SO many people rave about the series. I didn't make it more than 1/2 of the way through the 2nd before giving up. It felt like I was promised a lot of things at the beginning of the story that never ended up happening. I remember thinking, "If there's only 1 and a half more books, when the hell is interesting stuff going to start happening?" right before I decided it would be in my DNF list.
I found myself really liking the books for some reason but when I tried to summarize it I struggled to come up with what happened. I appreciate your perspective, keep it up :)
I couldn't finish the first book and was so put off by it that I thought for years that I just straight up hated fantasy until a friend convinced me to read the Stormlight Archive.
Have you tried first law triology and the stand alone novels of that world , and if you like plot driven novels try malazan book of the series
I just finished the way of kings audiobook! I can’t wait to listen to the next one!
I got heavily disinterested after WoR after it just felt like it was becoming to convoluted, I think kvothe is my only real gripe with the story hahaha
It's funny. That was exactly what happened to me.
@@romanbatista3286Coming back to this comment because yes. This is easily one of my favorite fantasy series today :)
Ah, you're not alone on this, though I don't technically dislike either (I *did* read book two, and thought it the pace was even worse). One thing I really dislike that I don't hear often: the "romance" angle, between Kvothe and Denna. That shit is toxic as hell. Super annoying that both of them perpetuate it. Newbie enjoying perusing your back catalog, btw.
Thanks for coming on board! Hope you'll find something you like in the archives. And, yeah, that "romance" was...woof.
You're right, book 2 is worse because it didn't even have the good pacing and interesting story the beginning of Wind did. And the "romance"/obsession... felt gross.
The only reason I put up with reading Wise man's fear was because I bought the two books and I quit when he decided to go stalk her outside the pub.
I felt so weird when I finished it. Such a long book and like you said nothing happens I don't love any characters I didn't love the magic system. And when I fished I just though "that was boring but I liked it and I'm glad I read it"....strange?
I don't tend to like super hard magic systems, or magic systems that need 2/3 chapters to explain
I felt the exact same way! While reading it I thought it was fine, a bit boring sometimes and I didn't feel any connection to any of the characters. However, after finishing it I felt very melancholic and could not really explain why. I'm still thinking about this book sometimes in a completely positive way even though if someone asked me about NoTW I would probably still say "It was fine. Nothing special, though."
That's interesting. On the contrary I loved the shit out of kvothe and he's maybe my favourite fantasy character. I loved the magic system too
This is great!! As one of those people that has read NOTW many many times through and loves it, I don’t disagree with a single thing you said. I’ve drawn a lot of meaning from these books, but the fan base as a whole can be insufferable with their cultish comparisons and hero worship. You can enjoy a book without turning it into your personal bible and going on a Reddit conversion crusade.
Some Tolkien fans are like that. They dismiss other fantasy stories and treat Tolkien's work as their Bible and religion.
I absolutely love this series. It just clicks with me for some reason. The writing is so seamless to me that it feels like I'm just binge watching a great series on Netflix or something. I don't know how to explain it. But like you said, you're not going to bullshit us and that's why I respect you and your opinions even if they don't match mine. Keep up the great work.
Thats a great attitude!
Yeah I feel the same way. It really is seamless
This
I have really enjoyed this series.
But I'll take honesty over fluff. Means when you tell us you love something, we believe it.
Keep being you man.
Thanks! I'll never BS you guys.
Dang thanks for making this man. Agreed 100%. Name of the Wind felt like a bad fan-insert turned into boneless Harry Potter randomly. It was like doing all the random side quests of a bard RPG.
I'm cool with that in theory but when I got 600 pages into the story I realized I didn't connect with any of the characters, the world felt bland and lifeless, and the only thing that captivated me was the Chandrian and the implied plotline that came with it, but I didn't get a sense Rothfuss was going to explore that in depth anytime soon.
I have no desire to pick up the second book especially since I heard Kvothe's Gary Stu antics are ramped up a ton and the story itself still rambles on without moving forward much.
And the fact some people (not all) are saying you don't like the book because you have a low IQ or just don't get it are laughable, goes to show how mature they are.
Lol😂
"...t was like doing all the random side quests of a bard RPG. "
Perfect description.
The Name of the Wind is like cilantro. You either love it, or hate it. I loved it. I never understood why that just because people have different opinions, that they get criticized for it. I feel the same way with other authors too. Stephen King being one of them. You either like his stuff or you don't With him though, there's a million books to either like or hate.
I really liked Name of the Wind but when book 2 came out I was disappointed. My favorite part was when he played with the broken string. Wish there was more magic.
I just wish there was more...well, more.
Yep the first one was better. One if my favourites part is when Kvothe jumps from the roof :D
Yep. Played an incredibly hard piece and earned his pipes first time at the Eolian.
at least that part was well set up for the character
That was my favourite scene. I cry every time I read it.
I absolutely agree. I read it on the recommendation of friends. And I was SO BORED. At no point in either volume did I care about anything other than how far to the end I was.
You, Me and Daniel Greene all agree. Rothfuss is great with words, bad with story
I respectfully disagree. I think an author who tells you (right at the beginning) how the story is going to end and still be able to hook thousands of people into reading thousands of pages just to get to that ending is an extraordinary storyteller. Not something that any author can do.
@@nihad-m I disagree with this premise.
Normally cos I am a sucker for "I bet you're wondering how I got here" stories, Its a super common story telling devise to hook people into your story.
100% Accurate.
Finally some one said it. The story goes no where for two books and then theres no third. Mainly cause i suspect the writer cant live up to the hype job. Your are completly right on this book. And its nothing like the lord of the rings cause the lord of the rings is on a grande scale and this all happens in and around a school.
but why do so many great authors speak of it so highly? I swear i thought i was reading the next ASOIAF in terms of quality but I read 100 pages and wondered "where the hell is this going and why am i bored?"
@@ninjablack4347 That doesn't sound good, to be honest. At least with A Song Of Ice And Fire, things are happening. I only have heard of Patrick Rothfuss because of Table Top. And that was it.
I appreciate your review here, it's good to see someone giving a different opinion. That said, 'Name Of The Wind' is next up on my TBR for good reason. I read 'The Lightning Tree', last month and honestly it was incredible. It was a 76 page novella that had me in tears and I legitimately wrote, "I could read endless pages of Bast just explaining world lore to the kids", on Goodreads.
I get that the big criticism of this is that it's basically just someone sitting in a tavern spinning yarns for most of the book... and you know what, that sounds perfect. That sounds like it's exactly what I want from Rothfuss. Having read one novella, I already know his writing style and the way he sets a scene is something I find beautiful and breathtaking. I look forward to reading this book and honestly, all your review has done is convinced me that this is closer to what I'd hoped it would be. I already have epic fantasy adventure in a complex world where we see kings and armies etc. doing their thing with 'Stormlight Archive', and I've got the whole political intrigue gritty fantasy of 'A Song Of Ice & Fire' too. This sounds genuinely different and I'm excited to read it.
This was a DNF for me. I just couldn't get into it. You are not alone!
I'm a voracious reader, am 48 years old, and this was my first ever DNF. I read it at 42. I literally thought I was insane because it has an almost 5 star rating on Goodreads, or it did then and it was by far the highest rated book on my shelf. I tried for over half the book and said, nope.
This book compares to "Shadow of the Torturer" by Gene Wolfe. That thing was just "why?". DNF. Same with this book . DNF. (Very rare for me.)
@@nikkivenable3700Absolutely
So true! This book is a walking contradiction:
- It starts trying to be an epic story about a champion against the mythical Chandrian, and then it keeps hundreds of pages talking about the irrelevant days of a random teen talking about meaningless adventures and university stuff. We completely forget about the motivations and reasons the story is suposed to be based on.
- Kvothe as a legend is presented as a very powerful character in the beginning and then it tries to tell us that he built that reputation on cheating, luck and chance; but the guy is freaking good at everything from the beginning, whether it comes to memory, intelligence, musical talent or even charming girls.
So, at the end, I never knew what I was reading about. As a heroic tale it fails miserably and, as a sort of realistic story, is the most unreal thing ever. The plot never went anywhere and we kept wasting time reading how Kvothe is suposed to be the realistic guy that he's not and following hollow adventures - like the wedding one- and being tortured by that pain in the neck that Jenna is. At some point, quite before half of the book, you start wondering 'why am I here?', and you never got the answer.
The whole damned book feels like cheating. And it has so many supporters!
Maybe that's the exact reason why I love that series so much , 'cause it can't be pigeonholed.
Yeah mate I'm not gonna invalidate your feelings but the things you didn't like are very different from the oppinions of the masses
@ cant even be pigeonholed into being a good story
100% Agree with everything you said. The book (and even more so it's follow-up).... just hot garbage
I thought the book started off great. Very beginning, very cool. Starts telling his story, excellent. Met his mentor, great character. His parents/family killed, good and interesting. His time lost in the woods and then homeless, well done, maybe dragged a little bit, but thats ok. He gets to the University... and everything just STOPS! Seriously! He turns from this likable character I was rooting for to a complete douche. I thought "ok, this is his unlikable teen years, I get it, he said he gets kicked out, when that happens I'm sure this will pick up again." BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS! Page after page of just him being a Mary Sue asshole! His whole story after him getting into the University is just "I'm so brilliant and nothing is my fault and everyone hates me for it." Not only does he not have an arch, he goes backwards! Hes less likable than when he started. Beautifully written, yes. I will be the first in line when he writes his next series, but this one is a dud.
My thoughts exactly exept i thankfully dropped it before he got kicked out
I agree 100%. We had the exact same experience. Enjoyed the beginning before he got the the University, hated the rest of the book. I can't even finish it and I'm a little over 3/4 of the way done.
The fact that u don’t like kvothe only shows how little you understand the book
lol the old "you don't like it because you don't understand it" argument
Next series 😂
THANK YOU, I wanted to cry when I finished it because it felt like a waste a waste of time and it makes me sad that there are AMAZING authors that don't get anywhere near as much attention as this...mm well not perfect novel.
The Name of the Wind is one of my favorite books in the genre. But I also agree with all your points. The main character is pompous, arrogant and egotistical. Which is almost made worse by his dishonesty, inclination towards mischief and worst of all his cleverness. The story does feel like there is no strong central narrative in the sense that you never know where it is going, or why it lingers in the places it does. These things are all true. It reads like the diary of a hyperintelligent 17 year old in a fantasy world with delusions of grandeur. And yet,... the author makes it work in a way that I think is fantastic.
For me, the central narrative of the book is actually in the details. They are the stories in the book that are told around the campfires, the hints dropped throughout the book of the way things may fit together, the lessons of some of the main character's teachers throughout the book. An attentive reader who asks himself "why is this relevant" can piece together more than is spelled out or even the main character realizes. I love that about this book. Kvothe may be a bastard but he is both an interesting and an entertaining one. You could say that the boy with the heart of gold who is trying to save the world is another big fantasy trope and I appreciate that this book doesn't just avoid that, it walks in the other direction.
Another thing I love is that the book is strangely intimate. You stick closer to this main character than you typically do in this genre. His biggest fears, his strongest feelings, or even how much exact money he has in his pocket at any time.
All in all I think it is both different and well-written enough that it does deserve the accolades it gets. But at the same time, I entirely understand that this is a story that not everyone will connect with for various reasons. Among the people I know that read fantasy, they are pretty much 50/50 with no one thinking it was "just ok". It is more like some love it and others are annoyed by it.
Regarding the comparison to other writers. You say it does not influence you but I can tell it does at least annoy you to some extent that some people put this author up there with the all time greats. In my opinion you should just avoid and let go of those comparisons. Despite what you said I get the feeling that you might have enjoyed the book more if you had just happened to bump into it not knowing what it was.
Book 2 shows you all those interesting camp fire mysteries are just jj Abrams mystery boxes designed to fool the reader with the illusion of depth to the world.
Interesting timing on the release of this video. I'm currently on the home stretch for my first read of The Name of the Wind myself, about 85% done. While the book is fine, and any individual part of the story works for me, and is entertaining, as a whole unit, I also find the story not exactly bad, but definitely unfullfilling. There is no real adversity or challenges for Kvoth to overcome or learn from, and that really detracts from the entire experience for me. Now I'll probably continue the series, but there's no real urgency as long as there are other things on my TBR that I want to get to.
The Lies of Locke Lamore (spelling?)... Haven't read it yet. I think I'll still check it out based on its cultural impact and Daniel Greene's enthusiastic recommendation, but I'm going to temper my expectations based on your feedback as well. This is one reason I like getting differing points of view on books I'm considering for my TBR.
Side note, I also initially had a hard time getting into Dune. This was in my early high school years. I recall my best friend urging me to keep giving it a go, and on my third attempt, I hit that magical moment in the story that changed my perception. It's now one of my favorite SF books ( the first one. While I've read the original series and like it, it's not up to the same level IMO).
You seem to have similar tastes in books to myself, at least as far as a UA-cam channel can inform me on the topic, so I'd like to recommend that you check out the Night's Dawn trilogy by Peter F Hamilton. Think the world building of Jordan without the somewhat excessive details at times, all the future tech you'd expect in the best far future space operas (neural nanonics! Living spacecraft and tech! An invasion of the dead possessing the living! Unique aliens and cultures!) All written extremely well. This is the only SF I've reread as often as the Wheel of Time that also affected me as much as Dune has as well. And I've read a TON of great SF and fantasy. Hope it makes it to your TBR and we all get to hear your take on it in the future!
That hope will keep me subscribed! (Lol, jk. I'm staying as long as you're providing.)
"Unfulfilling" is a perfect word to describe how this book made me feel. This Night Dawn thing sounds awesome. Going to add it to my Goodreads.
@@mikesbookreviews What's funny to me is that this comment resonates really well for me after I finished the first book. I kept going to see where it led and found that I really liked the second book more. Kvothe is really frustrating and often I have to remind myself that he was a teenager and thus some of his arrogance and obnoxiousness is forgivable but I loved the other characters, the world, and the puzzle throughout. I think on the surface the book is unsatisfying but has depth to it that is really intriguing.
Kvoth is insufferable. I really did not enjoy the book either. Rothfuss is an amazing writer, but I agree, the storytelling isnt the best.
Couldn't finish it, was bored out of my mind.
That's because it's boring.
Name of the wind is so bad, it makes the Wheels of Time seem like it's good
I DNFd it at first, then went ahead and finished it. I did read the second one... nothing happened. I have a love-hate relationship with it. I also think the author doesn't give AF about finishing the trilogy which I have a problem with. Nine years and no book 3... if the author doesn't care about the story then why should we?
I'm not a big fan of Name of the Wind. I was disappointed when I read it. To be honest, I'm over the 'complex and detailed magic system' thing. I don't care about that. I want a good fantasy story with good characters. I'm also not a huge Sanderson fan, though I did enjoy Way of Kings.
I ended up reading Wise Man's Fear, and found it a far superior book to Name. Idk. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the sequel. But there it is.
I'll also say, I don't see how Name of the Wind is as "important to the fantasy genre since Tolkien" as something like A Song of Ice and Fire. In my opinion, there's no comparison. ASOIAF is on another level. Lies of Locke Lamora is on another level. Abercrombie's First Law books are on another level.
All this to say that, yeah. I agree.
I've read the name of the wind but dropped book 2 midway when I found out we're still wasting time in his school years. I think the main reason that people kept reading besides the prose is the promise that the protagonist will get his comeuppance and learn the Name of the Wind eventually.
Still, I'm surprised people are saying that it's this age's lotr and THE book to read. I did like Name of the Wind but I never thought it was so amazing that it would get legendary status.
He hasn't even left the school yet?! Didn't he say he got kicked out at a younger age than most get let in?!
Thats about 17, right? OMG!
On top of that, he hasn't learned the name of the wind yet. Does he even learn anything about the chanrean?!
your opinion is spot on. I have the feeling there is such a larger story to be told but the author either can't tell it or he is trying to build to it. Obviously the build has failed due to there being no book in 9 yrs. The whole back story of Kvothe is being told so we come to realize why a return of his former self is needed.
More blown away that people think Kingkiller is better than WoT 🤯
Heh. It's crazy, right?
This review made me laugh so much. I enjoyed reading it and kept going into the second book purely because I was curious as to how he got to where he was at the start of the story...second read and I feel like I'm nowhere near closer to knowing what went wrong 🤣
The 2 things I found most frustrating (aside from the story giving you tantalising glimpses of interesting magic but not expanding on it) was 1. Kvothe's obsession with Denna (just don't get it) ; and 2. the fact that Kvothe is brilliant at everything even if he's never done it before (you think the first book is college kid wish fulfillment...your opinion would be cemented by a situation in the second book). I don't usually roll my eyes but they nearly popped out of my head I rolled them so hard.
All of that said I will be reading the third book when it's finally finished...because of my curiosity about what happens.
I’ll give you a spoiler: Kvothe will do everything better than everyone before him and we just have to accept that because “unreliable narrator.”
I fall into the category of “reader who is baffled that this book is so beloved, but did not abhor my reading experience of both NOTW or WMF.” The stories are a great example of a writer who writes masterful prose but highly struggles with plot and character. Kvothe feels like wish fulfillment incarnate and most other characters are just stereotypes. I had troubles with how Denna would appear out of nowhere to renter the story in the most coincidental ways possible. Made the world feel tiny. I have the oddest mix of emotions about these books that I’ve ever felt while reading…well, anything.
what does "renter" mean in this context? I am not English native and my dictionary says it means "sb who rents"
By the time you finish reading the Felurian poppycock, you should have realized that Kvothe is basically Rothfuss' idealized teenage self - It's Rothfuss' fantasy. He doesn't want to grow up. He wants to be like Kvothe. He wants to be forever a teenager. He wants to be smart, clever, good with music, good with science, good with girls. It's a self-insert wish fulfilment fantasy, with a dash of a DnD campaign. Once you realize all that, the whole story becomes pretty pathetic, really.
Probably the most overrated book I've ever read. The protagonist is too perfect and often times comes off as pretentious (not to mention his age makes his accomplishments all the more unbelievable and unrelatable). Neither the setting nor the characters have much originality to them. The pacing is slower than a slug on drugs. The prose is actually quite good but I wouldn't call it the best. Both of the books in the series (especially the second one) feel like a power fantasy rather than a well-written story with depth. And after reading about KvotheDenna nonsense for hundreds of pages, I'm convinced that its only function in the story is cheap titillation for the reader. Unless Rothfuss pulls a rabbit out of the hat and gives some sense to the first two books in his third book (if it ever comes out), I don't think this series will be remembered after 50 years from now.
Glad it's not just me. I bought TNoTW on Audible probably two years ago, and quit after about chapter 8 out of 92. I'm trying to pick it up again, but just like my first time reading it the protagonist seems fairly pretentious as does the writing style in general. Maybe it's just the narrator's voice (should have gone with the Rupert Degas narration instead) but the prose doesn't seem to my liking either(unless by prose people refer moreso to word choice). And none of the blatantly laid out plot hooks really hook my investment.
Thanks for your honesty, I feel exactly the same way, and it's beyond frustrating. When I discuss this with friends who loved the book, they don't wanna hear any reasoning, they just take it to heart so much
I'm with you on this one. I kept waiting for it to get good, but it never did.
I read a good 150+ pages of it a few years back and then quit. I found the story boring, I didn’t find myself caring about what would happen next, and every time I picked it up to read it just felt like “ugh.”
Exactly! It felt like a chore. Usually when I finish a book I close it and sit and reflect about what I just read for a few minutes. With this one I read the last line, slammed it closed, and gave a big fat 'uhh!" out loud.
I agree with you on NOTW I couldn’t finish it 🤣🤣
It was a chore for me to finish it.
I couldn't finish it either by the time he got to this University I was done
I couldn't finish it either.
As a 46 year old author and booktuber about to launch, and a big fan of Rohfuss’ work I ain’t mad at ya. I do think you should get to the next book, I don’t think it’s worse and the complex writing seems even more effortless. Ultimately not everyone will love everything. I couldn’t agree more about how revisiting a novel years later can change one’s opinion. One of my channel features is going to be an origin of the genre series and as I’ve revisited some of the things I loved, I now wonder what I was smoking, while at the same time finding new love for books I had put down back in the day. I think if you’re a reader for long enough, you can’t help but be flummoxed about why some people worship at the alter of false literary idols and won’t give some really quality work a chance. Keep on keep in’ brother I look forward to your next Dresden and WOT reviews.
When/If he announces the 3rd book has a release date, I will read this one again and WMF. I like the idea of looking back on things you loved and wonder WTF you were thinking. I could do that with music, for sure.
I had never heard of The Name of the Wind until a friend suggested it. I struggled, at first, to the point that I restarted the book 3 or 4 times before getting all the way through it. I enjoyed the mysteries that it set up and the world Rothfuss built, but wasn’t that invested immediately. Something about it stuck with me, though, and thoughts would nag me. I read through it start to finish again and it felt like everything clicked. I reread it a couple more times finding things I missed the last time and the time before that. All told, I’ve read both books about ten times and cannot wait for book three. If you enjoy audio books, Nick Podehl does a great job both Kingkiller books.
what did you like about the book (without giving spoilers)?
I have not read any new fantasy in 20 years or so (Yes I'm past 40 as well :). Besides ASOIAF as I just recall.
Last year I was in the mood for some fantasy. So I did some research. Turned out Name of the Wind is one of the most loved fantasy book of the time.
With high expectation I started reading it. Big mistake! I could not even finish the first book. I share your criticism plus I could not stand how the protagonist is so full of himself!
He is telling the story! And he can't stop going on about what a great guy he is!
And I thought this is one of the best modern fantasy. I did not touch a fantasy book for a year. Then luckily I picked up Mistborn (first triology) this year and quite liked it. So my hope, that I find some good entertaining books in this genre is restored! :)
Anyway, I'm glad I found your channel! I have the feeling our taste is similar and that your reviews and recommendations are a good source for me to find new books to read!
Thanks for watching and commenting! The hype around the book certainly did it no favors with me but I don't feel that truly influenced my opinion at all. I just couldn't get behind the main character at all and felt like I was reading the book form of "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen after listening to Kvothe talk about how amazing he used to be.
@@mikesbookreviews i think the hype hurt the book, even though I really enjoyed the book, the hype surrounding it did it no favours, as it may not be what people expect going in.
Honestly, I think they are unique books where they shine on their 3rd or 4th read through. I put it in top 5 of any fantasy book I've read, and I've pretty much read it all lol
@@corystadman9089 what did you like about the book (without giving spoilers)?
1) Boring characters, check 2) dull generic plot, check 3) a bunch of people that respect the body but not whats under the hood, check.
Btw, the Thieve's World series was recently released on kindle after waiting 15+ years. I wish they did this sort of series now. Fun distinct characters, all located in the same interesting city, written by a bunch of talented writers and released in 1979 = Win! Also arguably the best tabletop RPG environment ever created.
The most important book of our time? Please, our society is doomed if this is the case. People should wake up and read/listen to Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. You will be glad you did.....unless you don't care about reality. The audio book is also pretty darn nifty.
I have the Dr. Tyson book but haven't read it yet. Saw him in a seminar about 2 years ago and it was great. Yeah, folks tend to overrate things as THE BEST EVER without considering legacy and how something will age. There's lots of things I thought were revolutionary when I was younger and I don't even think about them now. Hype and overreaction is a killer.
Following kvothe through his struggles, love of music, romantic interest, and the truth behind a legend really made the story something special to me.
I wish I had experienced this. Maybe next time.
You know what would've made that story worth reading?
Tell it from the bard's perspective. Trying to suss through the legend to find the truth. Call bull on his unreliability at times. But having the story be Kvothe and 2 fanboys is just meh.
You know what would've made that story worth reading?
Tell it from the bard's perspective. Trying to suss through the legend to find the truth. Call bull on his unreliability at times. But having the story be Kvothe and 2 fanboys is just meh. It's so overrated a concept. And it's not inventive, video games did this before Rothfuss.
@@annaborbon5425 not true. a lot of people like crap, and that's sometimes okay. but let's not kid ourselves and say that popular = good. McDonald's resonates with a lot of eaters, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's good. pop music has millions if not billions of listeners, but that doesn't mean it's good
I read the Shannara books in high school in the 90s. I stopped reading because reasons. I was reacquainted with Fantasy again circa 2011. My tastes had changed and Shannara didn't do it for me anymore. Enter Name of the Wind & Rothfuss. I thought this was much more my speed in comparison to Terry Brooks & Shannara. I inhaled Rothfuss 2 books and was delighted and intrigued and searching for more. Enter the likes of Abercrombie, Lynch, and Sanderson in 2012. The rest as they say, is history. Looking back, I now see Rothfuss material as a gateway to content I liked even more. Fast forward 8 years to present and my thoughts and emotions have difficulty unraveling what is the cozy nostalgia of that first experience and the actual experience itself and the critical details of the story & characters.
The more I simmer in the varied personalities within booktube, I can see more and more intensely glaring defects in many of my dearest reads, yet I treasure the experience all the same.
Standing upon my past experiences is how I got up this high.
Very well said. I think most of us can relate with that.
I enjoyed Shannara as a pre-teen. I'm sure it would be painful now. Nostalgia is a huge factor though. I think that's why nothing will ever top LotR for me in this genre. So, yeah, if NotW is something that was your gateway back to the genre, that makes perfect sense why it matters to you.
I really enjoy Kvothe as a protagonist precisely because he's almost insufferable. Here we have a person that is a natural prodigy, good at pretty much everything he tries, and yet due to several circumstances along his life he simply can't catch a break, at first due to truly bad luck and later on because he can't keep his mouth shut and his temper cool. He is arrogant, dishonest, and as the book itself put it, too clever by half. His is a story about Icarus flying too close to the sun, as we know that in the present everything has taken a turn for the worse, all thanks to him.
I'd say what really enthralled me was all the minuscule details, the foreshadowing, and the fact the story itself is presented as a myth coming to life. Kvothe's lineage is an interesting case, because we've been getting small details that point to his nature not being truly human; his affinity to magic just doesn't make sense, until you trace his lineage, which you can only do upon re-reading the first book and picking up on innocuous comments on the first chapters.
Then there's the parallels and eventual fusion of the characters and the myths of old, like Tarborlin the Great and the Fall of Lanre, the theme of recursion and how their stories are repeating, just with different actors.
All in all, I love this series for the reason some people don't: as a story, it's not that interesting, but the worldbuilding captivates the mind. You shouldn't have to dig in like I and other fans did in order to enjoy a story. It feels more it's setting up other books rather than trying to tell a standalone story, and if Rothfuss' comments are to be believed, this appears to be the case. I wholeheartedly believe that "The Kingkiller Chronicles" is a trilogy designed to set up the world and future books, an explanation as to how this world became ravaged by civil war and magical creatures now roam the land.
Maybe that's why people who haven't read plenty of fantasy compare Rothfuss to Tolkien, the sheer scope of the world written, and how believeable it feels. It's a shame it's no Lord of the Rings, though, we could use another series that completely changes fantasy.
This. Couldn't articulate why I like this series, you explain it perfectly.
Yes, thanks for the first comment that starts to dig into the meat of the books. There is a lot there, though it’s subtler than Wheel of Time or any Sanderson novel. Most fantasy comes straight out and hits you with the action, and it seems like that is what you prefer, though LotR and Dune are both somewhat of an exception in their own way, both with very dense and beautiful writing. My main issues with Rothfus are that he goes on for too long or spends too long in some sections. I’m sure that his books have been edited down a ton, but I do still believe they could have been edited down further. That said, both Kingkiller books have many great moments of action that I love to read over and over: the survival in the woods, the description of the attack by the seven on his parents, winning his pipes and the broken string, the climax of the dracus story, the initial battle with Felurian, the testing under the sword tree... there are more, and most of these scenes hint heavily at the deeper mysteries of the series. Rothfus is truly excellent at building subtle mystery, and those mysteries are so engaging. There are so many mysteries starting with Kvothe himself and how his eyes and hair change color subtly. I personally can’t wait to learn more about this world.
Yeah... but all of his character flaws are not really flaws - you can basiclly sum him up by saying "he's a wild card that plays by his own rules"
I picked this book up and I couldn't even finish it its like reading about paint drying
Hey, I'm late to the party here, I know, but I just wanted to add my voice in agreement. Kvothe is quite possibly the least likable protagonist I think I've ever come across in fantasy. My Goodreads review stated that "it's like Joffrey Baratheon self-inserted into a fantasy novel" which - in retrospect - might have been a little harsh.
Wise Man's Fear went from bad to worse, especially with the Felurian interlude (least said about that, the better). That said, when Doors of Stone finally drops (if it ever does), I'll probably give them another look.
ETA: 30yo here, for demographic purposes.
Very true, Patrick Roufuss writing is suitable for toliet paper.
“Read poetry?!” 🤣
I respect your opinion even though I disagree. Thanks for your honesty.
Years ago I read 80% of Name of the Wind and then gave up reading.
A few things I really hated about it:
1) Garty Stu
2) Super genius Garty Stu, except when the plot needs him to be really stupid
3) Yeah, nothing happens, Gary Stu goes off to college. A bully picks on him and works to destroy his life for no reason.
4) Gary Stu goes to the library, Gary Stu goes to class. Gary Stu needs more money. Gary Stu goes to the bathroom.
Maybe if Gary Stu, with all his awesomeness goes off and slays a dragon, leads the army to victory, does something! But it really is Gary Stu goes to college, except it's some fantasy book, but not very fantastical.
Patrick Rothfuss can write well. I just wish his skill at crafting well written sentences went to a good story.
Definitely keep going with this if you feel like it - just like how you talk about things you both like and dislike for individual characters it's nice to hear about what you like/dislike for books/series.
I think my opinion towards Name of the Wind is sort of ambivalent, which actually seems to be an even rarer opinion. I thought it was enjoyable and fun enough to read (I mean, maybe the wish fulfillment gets me more, no denying that part), but it didn't blow me away or anything.
The praise for his prose I think is pretty deserved, but I wouldn't say that he's in a tier above everyone else - having to first define what makes prose "great" aside (efficiency? poeticness? evocativeness? wit? creativity?), I group him in my head with authors like Guy Gavriel Kay or Ursula Le Guin. To me the impressions that have lingered years after reading is of the lyrical, poetic, emotional nature of their writing (his "to love something despite" quote is great) - the mental image is of pastels rather than the super detailed mosaics (like those people that go on a helicopter ride and then draw the entire city afterwards) of someone like Robert Jordan or Steven Erikson (I feel like Tolkien was sort of a blend).
One thought about Kvothe - you mentioned that you "want a good protagonist that has a character arc and has growth over time". I think that's still to come. I might've heard this first in one of Sanderson's writing lectures (if you haven't checked those out yet it's a youtube series of a class Sanderson teaches where he breaks down some of his processes and principles for writing) (I looked it up - ua-cam.com/video/zVXFNw-xz3Y/v-deo.html - 48:15 to 51:35), but the point was that the present-day narrator Kvothe is "beaten down, depressed, and has given up", while young Kvothe is "optimistic and excited and gonna take on the world", and so one of the hooks is/will be in finding out how that happens and where the change happens, and it seems like it just happened that Rothfuss is backloading a lot of that actual change lol. If the third book ever comes out it's probably gonna be huge, there's so much ground to cover.
Anyways. If you like good character progression I'd recommend the Inda quartet by Sherwood Smith or any of Robin Hobb's series (where there's character progression not just within a series but throughout the entire Realm of the Elderling's meta-series).
And definitely don't worry about giving us your unpopular opinions. One I have is for Abercrombie - I feel like people overhype how gritty/cynical/violent/whatever his stuff is supposed to be. Granted it's been a while since I've read The First Law, and I did like it, but I didn't think it was anything special. If you want gritty realism there's also The Broken Empire, The Traitor Son Cycle, The Black Company, and your upcoming Prince of Nothing I feel is much bleaker.
As a devout follower of the Church of Abercrombie I am wounded, ha ha. I couldn't finish Broken Empire. About 1/3 through the final book and realized I didn't have one ounce of care for a single character. If you don't make your character likable in the least, like Kvothe, I have a hard time getting behind them. No, they don't have to be goody two shoes or anything (Glokta is probably my favorite fantasy character ever) but I want a reason to root for them or want them to succeed their goals. Kvothe could have gotten shot through the next with a crossbow at the end of his story and I would have shrugged and moved on. I plan to start reading Hobb for the first time next year.
@@mikesbookreviews Yeah definitely, especially if it's pretty character-driven like Name of the Wind is.
One note about Hobb, I had a friend give up on the first book because of how dumb Fitz can be sometimes, and I don't think that was unjustified - that's one problem with long-term character development, I guess, that you have to suffer through a lot of them pre-development :P But it was well worth it for me in the end.
Super impressed by how much you manage to reply to everyone, btw
@@josephlee9008 It's becoming hard. If I'm away from my desk for a half day or something it's over 100+ messages. But I'm going to keep trying to do it as long as I can (assuming the same growth rate keeps happening).
You have captured my opinion about this book perfectly.
Agree with your review wholeheartedly, almost everything you said about Name of the Wind was something that I agreed with, and I picked the book up around 2013 back when I was in 10th grade. I was talking to one of my co-workers at the bookstore where I work about the book and he was a huge fan and was about going on a reread and I straight up told him I did not care of Kavothe or what every his name was and felt the story was limited. And after his reread admitted to me that their were some things about Kavothe upon the reread he noticed and did not like and that if you did not like Kavothe the character their was not much int he Story for you as a reader. So I felt pretty vindicated in my opinion, but yeah while their was some interesting world building and nice scenes outside of that it was a pretty standard story nothing really great or original felt somewhat generic even at times.
I'm hoping to have the opposite feeling on a re-read, but I doubt it. I'll probably only notice those glaring problems even more.
After finishing Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, many people online said that I would love the Kingkiller Chronicles.
And for that I say, the Name of The Wind is not even on the same league.
I'm with you on The Lies of Locke Lamora, it was good but didn't blow me away. Name of the Wind though? If you read Kvothe as a magical precocious Mozart with a sad tale then sure, it's ridiculous but I don't think it's that at all. It is 1st ppov mythology, Kvothe is a young Hercules telling us his own origin story & in the classical Greek tradition he is tragically blind to his own glaring flaws. It is much more than Harry Potter with music, the stakes are way higher. But yeah, readers have very polarizing reactions to King Killer.
LOL @ Magical Mozart. I'll try to take your Greek mythology approach in the inevitable re-read.
It's weird, but I literally just added this book to my TBR just last night! I wonder if I'll think there same thing... I'm excited to see!
I'm sure you'll love it. Most seem to.
Did you read it yet?
I think as a booktuber all you can really do is give your honest opinion. A discerning reader will note your opinion, but also read the book for themselves and make up their own minds. Or, as you mention, we can evolve/devolve then pick up a book again and have a totally different experience with it. For example, the first time I read the Collected Fictions of Jorge Luis Borges, I was like nope not for me, but now I'm pretty certain that it's the best urban fantasy ever written -- or that will likely ever be written by human kind.
Tastes change with time. Maybe it will for this story in a re-read. Time will tell.
I'm late to the party. The thing that I liked most about the book is just how damn much I want to know more about the world in which it takes place. How did Kvothe get where he is now? That question haunts me. What is inside that mysterious chest? How does the magic really work? What's up with Denna? And the Chandrian? How the hell is Rothfuss going to pack ALL the action, events, twists that are missing from the two first books into one book? I think it's bound to be a disaster... But I really, really want to know.
I think it is that thirst that made me overlook and not realise all what you've pointed out. I kind of agree with you... But still, I love the feeling I got when I first read it, as much as I hate it for having me in the dark for so many years.
Thank you for your input, Mike. I really enjoy your videos.
I read 80% of the book (He bought a horse to go to a village where the evil entity was), stopped reading after my friends told me stop because I was clearly not enjoying it.
I liked the start-middle, but I was so bored during the school section.
Not to mention, every time this guy stops the story the story to say, “You may think I was gonna do x, but due to my blah blah blah, I actually did y.” yeah I GET IT DUDE! YOU’RE DIFFERENT!
THANK YOU so much for this video! I've said the same over and over - talented writer, but absolute garbage story teller. I never finished the book because it smacked me in the face with the Mary Sue, wish fulfillment trope from the jump. It boggles my mind that this book has gained such a rabid following. I would like for somebody to explain to me "why?" Because if this crap is what passes for top tier fantasy, then the fantasy genre is doomed.
Thanks for the good broadcast, for once someone agrees with us. Once again, I recommend reading Miles Cameron's Red Knight. The book is so addictive, I read through one sitting. Ps "Death is lighter than a feather. Duty, heavier than a mountain."
Can I assume from your quote at the end that Red Knight has something to do with Samurai or Japanese based fantasy? That might be interesting....
@@nemoonbekend2483 No. It's my favorite Quote Wheel Of Time.
@@thesmuli83 Ah. Didn't know that Jordan had used it. It originates from an unknown Japanese writer in the late nineteenth century. Commonly used there as an expression that best sums up the spirit of Bushido.
I have Cameron's series on my Kindle. Have heard nothing but great things about it.
Hey, thanks for the vid! I think it's gonna be super interesting to see if there's more of a character arc/development with the third book. So far he has some normal flaws and the first two books have been heavily invested in showing his strengths. But we must remember that when he's telling the story, he's basically a broken man, a ghost of the legend that's being described in his narration.
It's unexpected for sure, as the most obvious plot or character arc would involve a flawed character that goes through shit and becomes better/stronger/wiser etc. In KKC, Kvothe starts off naturally gifted but seems to have ended up the opposite - in the present day he can't seem to manage a simple form of Sympathy.
Perhaps the third book will provide for a more satisfying character arc overall - let us see where it takes us, so excited!! In the mean time, feel free to check out this song I made up using the lyrics from the second book 'The Wise Man's Fear'! ua-cam.com/video/jYOMlTvMe38/v-deo.html
It's not you, dude. And his prose is good -- in parts. Not everywhere. The protagonist didn't enrage me like it did many people who didn't like the book, the pacing and utter lack of story, did. At about 80% I started to panic and wonder how on earth he could wrap it up, then at 95% I realized -- "oh... there's no cohesive story here. It's just a bunch of stuff that happened."
I have read a lot of comments about this book and you have written the most accurate, succinct comment that I have read thus far. "It's just a bunch of stuff that happened." Perfect.
Just picked up the 10th anniversary HC mostly because its beautiful. Going to read it soon, hopefully I like it more than you lol
That edition is super nice
I hope you enjoy it. I truly do.
To me, this book was one of the best fantasy novels I’ve ever read. And I’ve read a fair share. I had the UK paperback but loved it so much i ordered the 10th anniversary edition! I hope you enjoy it man. My copy should reach any day now!!
I personally loved the book by the fact that I was able to clearly envision the world in my mind as an adventure that I(Qvothe) was taking, and it took no mental effort on my part. Kudos to you for giving an unpopular opinion. Not everybody has to like everything other people like. Some people like chocolate, others like vanilla. Nobody is wrong.
Yeah. The name of the wind is my favorite book. I was a little late to the party I picked up an anthology by Gardner Dozois called Rogues and there was a short story in it from Patrick Rothfuss called the Lightning Tree. A day in the life of Bast. It was an absolutely great little story. It had these quotable sentences and philosophical points that stuck with me. I remember thinking" well the main character is some sort of a fairy but he doesn't do anything magical. .. I don't get what's happening here or what this is really about". I mean he teaches a kid to piss in his brother shoes and then dry them out by the fire so that everybody thinks he's the kid who smells like piss every time his feet get wet. He teaches a little girl how to guilt her parents into letting her keep a kitten. He gets a little boy to tell him where a teenage girl takes her bath in the river so he can spy on her. All by trading "help" for secrets with the village children. So ridiculous?! then the little boy came and asked him to help him get his paw to stop beating on him and his mom. "Do you want him dead? Or just gone?"
"..Gone"
By the time that story came together I had purchased the Name of the Wind on Kindle and Audible.
The kicker for me in the lightning tree is that the end Kvothe asked him about his day. What happened, what did you learn? Did you remember the carrots?
I am so glad someone else thinks this. I hated this book so much! Did not get why people love this book.
I haven't read this book yet, but my trusted booktubers like you, Daniel, don't like the book. It's not high on my list to read, but I'll probably read it someday. Thanks!
I thought Daniel had come around on it. Is he still fighting the good fight?
He’s actually come around-ish on book 1, but dislikes book 2. He’s actually going to give the whole thing a reread once book 3 comes out.
But I’m a guy who likes the book, but I wouldn’t class it on par with LotR, Brandon Sanderson, or Robert Jordan. And the reason I actually liked the book was that it was much lighter, and didn’t set a plot. So in that sense, your criticisms are very valid!
@@heraldofmorning3219 i think that's why i like KKC, there is no plot like a darklord threatening tje world. It is more realistic but not denying the fantasy elements
@@heraldofmorning3219 I, too, have promised a re-read of the book when/if book 3 is announced. So glad it isn't this year ha ha
@@heraldofmorning3219 As someone that's trying to get into Wheel of Time I think The Kingkiller Chronicles this far is far better than the first two books of WoT (especially since I could hardly believe my eyes what a Fellowship of the Ring ripoff the first one is).
I can't compare further than that, partially because it makes no sense, partially because I'm on a break after getting a bit into the third WoT book. I want to get into it but my interest keeps dropping. I will come back and try again though.
I love that series and i thought book 2 was better than book 1 (here's my unpopular opinion) but it is not for everyone, some readers needs to read it twice to appreciate it to it's value, it is slow sometimes it is stupid sometimes, but there's a story there, the struggle of a young man lacking education, love, self confidence that struggle in the real world and to find and kill the Chandrians... but it is not for everyone, i don't think Roftuss is the greatest writer (he's a good writer) and my only problem with this series is that in the spell of 2 books the plots doesn't move forward enough and i can't see how he will finish a story (that have not started yet in my opinion) in book 3, having said that, i love the lore, the world and the mysteries. But it's ok Mike people are different, i enjoyed the wheel of time and thnk Jordan is a good writer (not a great writer) but he can't develop a female character to save his life. Sanderson, Abercrombie Hobb and Erikson are th greatest in my opinion (but it's just an opinion)
I love opinions! You make some valid points for sure. That's why I say maybe it'll click on a second reading when I know what to expect.
@@lenna6013 Everyone give GRRM crap for it but they don't usually realize that A Dance With Dragons came out more recently than Wise Man's Fear. Who takes a decade to write one book when it's your full-time job? At lease GRRM can use the excuse of being so busy with TV projects and overnight worldwide fame.
@@lenna6013 apparently the book is finished and have been finish for a while (the structure) but Rothfuss is a perfectionist and keep on correcting an ajusting, he did the same with The name of the wind which he finished 15 years before releasing it (he perfected it for 15 years)
Lenna not the me knowing that that’s how he operates...
@@lenna6013 We don't know that and honestly i don't care, i'll read the book when/if it's out and if it doesn't come out i have plenty of books to read, for me it's the same at GRRM it's actually worse because a TV show gave me an ending before the book series that i started 20 years ago.... I honestly don't care if they give a crap or not, if it comes out ill read it because i started it if it doesnt they plenty more series to read...
I'm 29 and you're helping me transition into the genre
I just found your channel last week and I’ve been catching up on your WoT videos lately, I’m eager to check out your other offerings elsewhere. I’ve attempted this book several times, as I have with your favorite, Dune. I have to agree with you that this one isn’t for everybody, though there’s something about it that keeps me coming back to try it. Maybe stubbornness, maybe just being able to say I read it and can knowledgeably weigh in on it. Keep up the awesome videos and I’ll keep watching them.
Thanks for watching! I can see that. Everyone told me Dune was amazing and I didn't get it the first time. Now I live my life by it. A lot of these things depend on where you're at in life and your literary journey before they click.
Just wanted to say you're not alone - all my friends seem to love it and I just don't get it. Kvothe is insufferable and two books and thousands of pages in the main Chandrian story has barely progressed. I think I was willing to give it the benefit of doubt (surely, something MUST happen eventually) for NOTW, but the next book sent me over the edge. It's just BAD.
I'm surprised you even made it through the second one. I can't even get through the first one and I only have less than 1/4 of the book left.
Man, I'm soo agree with you. Only great thing in this book is narration of Nick Podhel well audiobook. I will re-read it before third and than I hooooope in last part of this story everybody dies all secondary characters are killed horribly, especially Denna I would rather read whole book about Elayne than one page about Denna. Unfortunately we know Kvothe is alive but there is still hope that he'll die as Kote.
Ps. Welcome to being banned on KKC Reddit club I joined years ago ;-)
They are quick with the banhammer over there. Saying "I didn't really care for the book" is considered "toxic" on that sub.
When I got it, it was just a random book in the book store, I never Heard about it, I had to start over two times, it was so boring, but on the 3ed time, it reallly got my attention, this is one of the best fantasy books I have read, but it’s more abit of a mix between slice of life and fantasy, it’s more a kin to the old classics in literature and that it stands out, I think the best standard fantasy you can read today is probably any book by Brandon Sanderson, storm light archive, amazing. And yet name of the wind is a completely different book, What makes that book great is Patrick’s way of writing and telling the story see the story is not important in his book it is the way that he tells it. That is what is so special about the name of the wind.
That seems to be what I'm hearing here. I truly wish I had felt those things while reading it. But I'll agree on Sanderson. I don't think he could write a bad story if he tried.
As a 40yr old someone who tore through and enjoyed the two books a few years ago I do understand your opinion. The real meat of the story for me is in and around the inn and the narration of his history is just a way (mostly effective imo) to info dump the rules and history. The mystery of how the world acquired some interesting differences to the present day kvothe/kote is what kept me reading outside of the prose. Like many I'm excited for this part of the series to end (some big mysteries to be solved) and for what happens in this setting post kvothe as main charactor.
I hope it meets the hype, should it come out.
I never read this book, but you are not the first one I hear talking like this about this book. So it might not be such an unpopular opinion after all 🙃
I've notice a couple of us have finally felt safe to "come out" on this book, ha ha
I like them but It is true that the pace is different than others books that I've read before.
Daniel Greene on his channel is also not a Name of the Wind fan.
I enjoy the book but I would not recommend it tho, the author is an asshole with his fan asking if he is going to release book 3. So dont waste time with the series.
Whats very funny is watching youtubers who love book 1 and then realize book 1 wasn't that good when looking at it from the point of view of after reading book 2. BECAUSE VERY LITTLE HAPPENS IN BOOK 2 ALSO!
I love it. The prose is the best I've ever read in fantasy. I think that's the biggest thing. It's just beautifully told. Especially the way he describes music. I also love the plot and how he leaves so many little breadcrumbs and it's like a puzzle you have to figure out. I also enjoy the magic system and the characters are compelling, if not always likeable
Yeah, I didn't get any of that. To me it was comparable to reading poetry; well-written, but saying nothing.
@@mikesbookreviews I guess we'll have to agree to disagree, but that's the beauty of opinions! Lol
@@davids2735 Of course! Nothing wrong with disagreeing on something so subjective.
@@mikesbookreviews Are you saying good poetry says nothing?
@@nemoonbekend2483 Not always. Just most of the time. I always feel like most poetry shows off writing talent more than a message. Obviously this isn't always the case, just most of what I have read left me with that feeling.
I call this book "flatulence". The quality of this joke is a perfect match for the quality of the book. When I read it I utterly detested the main character and the clever sounding but completely superficial prose. It's a book written for narcissists, by a narcissist. This explains why it is so popular with so many under 30s who have grown up with social media being the dominant influence in their lives. Rothfuss has expertly tapped into that perfect style of writing and story that says F$#* all, but makes people feel incredibly smart just by reading it, and even smarter by telling others they love it. This is perfectly shown by so many comments here saying "can't actually say why, but I just liked it for some reason".
Teenage fantasy wish fulfillment.
Written by a man-child.
So what I'm getting is this is Patrick going here's 600+ pages of my Mary Sue's tragic backstory
I have read these books 3 times (which is a lot for me), and really liked them all three times. They were some of the first high fantasy I read, so maybe I'm a bit biased.
I've since read a lot of other stuff, including Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan, and learned to see the many mistakes of The name of the wind.
However I still enjoy the books a lot.
I definitely think when you read something matters. Like I said, I thought Dune was trash the first time I read it. A couple years later it melted my very existence.
I read this back 2015 along with the second one, and I re-read Name of the Wind last year around this time. I was also going to re-read the second one. Got about 50 pages in and said “nope”. I do think the second is more of the same but I’d actually say it’s slightly better from what I remember. But I just think this story isn’t for me. It’s also hard to invest in a series when you have to wait almost a decade for a sequel. Same reasons I won’t read Game of Thrones.
I feel like the wait for book 3 has begun to sour some folks on the original book.
Fair enough. I really enjoyed both books. Some of my favorite moments were in book two and I'm one of the ones that also enjoyed the Felurian stuff. But the cultural worldbuilding with Ademre was really great for me. I find Kvothe's personal failings interesting. Yes, he's great at a lot of stuff but he's also overly cocky and screws things up for himself constantly which to me makes sense for a 16 year old that thinks he's better than everyone else. He's also deeply compassionate at times and I love his interactions with Auri. I also enjoy so many of the other minor characters all throughout both books. I usually prefer a more hard magic system but I like the restrictions put on Sygaldry and Sympathy and I find naming to be fun. My last comment, as a musician myself, I absolutely love the way he writes about music. I think that alone made me adore these books. I will reread these books forever just to see him win his talent pipes again.
Ah. That might be it. Im also a musician and to be fair, as a kid i was the first of my class in many things physical and intellectual. So maybe i can relate more to the character.
Currently reading this book, although I am new to the fantasy genre. This is officially my first read. I must say for me its very welcoming. I was a bit intimidated by it at first, but I heard Rothfuss mention he wanted a fantasy book that everyone can read. I truly believe he executed it perfectly. I was instantly hooked. Hey everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You aren't right, and you aren't wrong. But I'm glad I picked this book up to introduce me to the genre. Any recommendations?? 👀
How did you like it?
Name of the Wind to me felt really hollow, never got invested into any of it.
OMFG i loved this video bc i have the same feeling toward The Name of Wind! And i really don't buy the unreliable narrator thing, in Brazil we have a book named Dom Casmurro by Machado de Assis that is unreliable narrator and i always has called bs the name of wind's fan saying that is that. Ohhh And TNW got worse for me in each reread
I feel like "unreliable narrator" has just become a crutch or, in more extreme cases, an excuse. I'm not expecting it to be any better in a re-read.
@@mikesbookreviews i kind of remember when this book was released and never was said a thing about unreliable narrator. This has came with the negative reviews.
@@kissia358 I agree, so we have an unreliable narrator....so what? How does that change things and make the story great? Just saying "unreliable narrator" doesn't mean anything unless at the end we see that Kvothe is simply the devil himself or something casting himself as a protagonist.
I am wholeheartedly in agreement.
I don't even get why people think the prose is good. It can been incredibly cringey purple. To wit:
”My heart is made of stronger stuff than glass. When she strikes she’ll find it strong as iron-bound brass, or gold and adamant together mixed. Don’t think I am unaware, some startled deer to stand transfixed by hunter’s horns. It’s she who should take care, for when she strikes, my heart will make a sound so beautiful and bright that it can’t help but bring her back to me in winged flight."
This is just overwritten nonsense. Jamming in as many adjectives and metaphors as humanly possible is not beautiful prose.
The best prose in fantasy is still Tolkien, and ironically he may peak in the very first chapter of the Hobbit.
The idea that a self-indulgent story about a Mary Sue is the most important work in fantasy in twenty years is either ridiculous or a condemnation of recent fantasy.
I think i love the mary sue characters..they really grow on me..i love that they can't be touched...alot of people hate that..so i understand...I love the name of the wind..but i noticed he's really REALLY bad at writing about romance and female companionship...i was gagging the whole time, its almost like he's never been with a woman and it shows.
Yo I just wrote this on another video
Name of the Wind was really the first fantasy book I got into and I loved it so much, I’ve re-read it multiple times (still holds a dear place in my heart for the nostalgia) but after reading Brando, RJ, Brent Weeks, Scott Lynch and a couple other authors I do see why it’s a hit or a miss with fantasy fans. I think it’s a really good intro to fantasy book, not to mention his writing style is just beautiful but after Stormlight and WOT it’s definitely not as high on my list.
Nostalgia can be a killer and makes it hard to see any criticism. I have books I enjoyed while younger and I thought they were well-written but like, I read other things that were done better and only then could I see the flaws. I'd agree that it's probably something easy for folks hitting the genre for the first time to digest.
what did you like about the book (without giving spoilers)?
It's always interesting when people who don't like a book still have something good to say about the writing. This review made me want to read it more than all the awards and people saying it's awesome. Thanks.
So I've been a subscriber for a while and we have similar taste most of the time, but this video has a few instances where our taste is in direct opposition. I loved The Hobbit and LOTR when I was 11, but the last time I tried reading LOTR, I didn't even finish Fellowship. I think my taste has become too modernized, and it hasn't aged well in that respect. As for Robert Jordan, I read The Eye of the World 4 or 5 years ago, maybe more, and it was a struggle to get through. I dropped WoT after that one book. Conversely, I absolutely love NoTW and have read it multiple times. Differences of opinion make the world a more interesting place, though! You keep making videos and I'll keep watching them, man, and they'll always get a like from me even if I don't agree with your opinion!
Like I said, I can understand if folks don't click with Tolkien, especially when they get older and more into modern fantasy. I read the trilogy again in 2018 and still love it. WoT is a different animal. I can see why folks love it so much but I also have a ton of criticism. In the end, if you write a beautifully worded story but I don't give a rats ass about your characters, it's going to fall flat for me. That was my biggest problem with NotW. The characters never clicked and I wasn't invested.
What did you like about the book NoTW (without giving spoilers)?
@@kingofthejungle2894 the prose, the structure of a story within a story, the magic system, the worldbuilding (history, lore, currency is incredibly detailed). It's one of the finest books of any genre I've ever read, and even if the trilogy remains forever unfinished, I'll never regret reading The Name of the Wind. Multiple times.