The Name of the Wind-Review by Lisa

Well we were only a group of 4 but we managed to discuss our book, Name the Wind, go to lunch, and still have plenty to talk about!! We missed those that couldn't join us. 

Name the Wind, was written by Patrick Rothfuss who was born in Madison, Wisconsin to parents who encouraged him to read and create through reading to him.During his formative years, he read extensively and wrote terrible short stories and poetry to teach himself what not to do.Patrick attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, initially studying chemical engineering.He then spent the next nine years jumping from major to major.All this time Patrick was working on “The Book,” as he and his friends lovingly titled it.He eventually graduated with an English major, and began teaching half-time while trying to sell The Book to publishers.  In the process, he disguised a chapter of The Book as a short story and won the Writers of the Future competition in 2002.  This put him into contact with all the right people, and after deciding to split The Book into three installments, DAW agreed to publish it.  In March 2007, The Name of the Wind was published to great acclaim, winning the Quill Award and making the New York Times Bestseller list.

The book, Name the Wind, is a tale about the legendary underdog, Kvothe, as he grows up in a traveling troupe, an orphan in a crime-riddled city, a student at dangerous school of magic and as a result becomes a notorious magician, thief, master musician and an infamous assassin.The story as it unfolds reveals the truth behind his legend for it is told by Kvothe to the Chronicler.(someone like our modern day newspaper writer.. I think..).As with all fantasy tales it is the battle between good and evil or light and dark and set during medieval times...or at least we think it is medieval..

For the most part, many of us enjoyed the book. It earned an overall score of 3.5. With 5 being the highest score and 1.5 the lowest.The book has a "dark" feeling but not in "a real life" disturbing way.. it is fantasy.

A few of us had no difficulty visualizing the characters, understanding the magic terms and thought the author did a great job"world building." Finishing the book led them on to read the second and third book. The rest of us felt the many names for the same characters and words about magic were vague and confusing. The length of the book too long. It was compelling until he went to school and then his circumstances became harder to understand and we were tired about hearing how "poor" he was....he made some bad choices with his money. We all have and thought enough of beating a dead horse. For the majority, we were interested/engaged enough to finish the lengthy book.