Book review - The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

This book, which is part one of a three-part series is telling the story of Kvothe, the man, the legend. The story begins with the end, in present time. It is a clever way to set the stage and it is very well done.

The narrative alternates between first and third person. Kvothe is telling the story in his own words (first person) with “interruptions” bringing the narrative to third ominous voice.

The pacing of this book is phenomenal. I found no single page boring, I never wanted to skip. To best describe the writing, I would say it is extordinarily witty. Not only that, however, it is also beautiful, poetic at times without trying hard. There is music in the book, and music in the writing.

I have been guilty of finishing books for the sake of finishing them before, perhaps "guilty" isn't the right word, it is no crime after all. When I started my reading journey years ago, I used to feel satisfied by finishing a book, as I grew older and I dare say, wiser, I don’t hold onto books anymore. I lose the book once it loses me. With that mentality, I found lots of pleasure in this book, I got lost in the story I wouldn’t hear people around me.

I told my husband that I don’t want to finish the story, in fact, I am having too much fun reading, and he responded, “You won’t, because Patrick Rothfuss didn’t finish the last part yet”, a fact I had no particular feelings about until lately.

I read that Patrick Rothfuss took fifteen years to write this book, in his dedication he writes “And to my father, who taught me that if I was going to do something. I should take my time and do it right the first time.”. He did it right in my opinion, personally it doesn’t get much more right than this. There is a lesson to be learned here, the lesson is, no rush. I would like the author to take his time, as he is doing, because I want the third book to be as good as this one.