Nenhum 16/09/2018
Just read it!!!
Okay, wow. Sit down, people. This will be a long review.
If I actually sat down and took the time to write a full review, it means I really, really loved this book. In case you're not interested in reading this, just know that this book is amazing and worth its size. High fantasy fans, if you haven't read The Name of the Wind, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE??????
Right.
Before I go on praising this masterpiece, I'd like to tell how I came across my copy of The Name of the Wind.
I was randomly passing time and browsing through one of my favorite bookstores when I spotted two copies of the 10th anniversary deluxe edition of TNotW being proudly displayed among other foreign literature books. I had been planning on buying this title for a while then, since I have friends who worship this series, but I was thinking of getting a simple paperback copy. But then, how could I resist the lovely cover, the golden spine and the red-sprayed edges? I couldn't. And so I went over to the cashier, hands trembling, heart racing, to ask how much that particular edition cost. I knew the price would be high and completely out of my budget, but it wouldn't hurt to know.
"This book has a discount right now," said the cashier. "It costs 72 reais and 50 cents".
"What?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"Yeah, this book originally cost 150 bucks, but right now it's R$ 72,50."
Holy. Shit.
I grinned so openly that the cashier couldn't help but smile as well.
And this is how I acquired my beautiful edition of The Name of the Wind for half the original price, even if I shouldn't really have been buying more books at the time (much less an expensive one). When I found out that it has illustrations and extras, I squealed in the middle of my workplace.
It took me a while to actually pick up this book and another while to get into it. To be honest I thought the beginning was kind of boring, but I was interested enough to keep on reading.
And then began Kvothe's story.
My goodness. What a narrative, my friends!
I usually don't love first person narratives, but this story just had to be told from Kvothe's perspective. It definitely wouldn't have been the same if some distant narrator told us everything. As much as I want to know more about the other characters, Kvothe's narrative was smooth, interesting and absolutely beautiful. I daresay it was poetic, even, at least in some parts, but not hard to understand. The story flowed very nicely and didn't tire me at all.
Speaking of Kvothe, I. Fucking. Love him. Seriously. Think of an incredibly intelligent, clever, witty and charming main character. That's Kvothe! But he's my favorite thing about him: he's not invincible. Kvothe gets beaten up. He makes mistakes. He knows nothing about women, becuase he's just a child. He learns quickly and easily, sure, but he has flaws. He does stupid things and learns from them. He didn't know how to fight or seduce women since he came out of his mother's womb, and that's because guess what? HE'S HUMAN! Lo and behold, ladies and gentlemen, we have a main character that isn't indestructible!
I just loved the way Pat Rothfuss built his characters. Denna, Simmon, Wilem, Auri, Trapis - I love all the characters that Kvothe loves, and hate all the ones that are meant to be disliked. Oh, and here's something else: although there are lots of characters, I remember the vast majority of them. This is an ability that George R. R. Martin certainly doesn't have.
As for the world building, goddamnit. I loved it. The way Rothfuss slowly releases information had me so curious that I read the entire book with about a thousand questions burning in my mind. The world is very solid, though; it felt like it could've been real. The monetary system, the history, everything! Bravo, Pat, bravo! I would read an entire encyclopedia about this world.
Here's a list of other aspects I loved:
- The magic system. It's incredibly interesting to me;
- The importance of music in this story;
- Kvothe, Wil and Sim's friendship. They warmed my heart as if they were one of my OTPs;
- Trapis. Again. I want to know everything about him;
- The folklore.
Phew. I don't even know what else to say at this point. I can't point out any major flaws.
I did, however, get angry because of the ending. I finished The Name of the Wind and I still don't have The Wise Man's Fear to start reading it right away. That ending!!! I'm at a loss for words.
This being said, here's my final message: Pat Rothfuss, if you're reading this by any chance, I love you. But I also hate you.
(Just a little bit.)