r/books discussion

Ever have a book that the world throws praise at that you just simply didn't find all that great? Let's discuss it here.

Now, it is important to mention that I do not mean this to be a, "this book was bad and the majority that says otherwise is wrong." This is for those times that you genuinely want someone on the other side to explain to you all those great points in a book that you might have missed, and maybe help convince you to give the book another shot.

For me, that book(s) are the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. Specifically, The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear. I have had a few ventures into the fantasy genre. My experience includes the First Law trilogy, Ryira Chronicles, Broken Empire, ASOIAF and now the Gentlemen Bastard series, but none of these have left me feeling as lukewarm as the KKC.

I'll attempt, now, to discuss what I liked and disliked about the books in this series without spoiling anything.

Here is what I liked about the series: I really do like the way Mr. Rothfuss uses and explains the way magic (sympathy) exists in his world. It's new, it's cool and it develops the fantasy world well. I also like the strange secondary characters a lot. Auri and Elodin are great characters, even if their sections can be all together much too short for my likings.

Now on to what I do not like. The two main things I'll talk about are the main character Kvothe, and the pacing of the story. *Ahem*

Consider it a personal pet peeve of mine, but I like my books to have a plot with a beginning where the story develops, a middle, a climax and an end. I don't know if I really get that from these books. It is just Kvothe going to school until about half way through the second book. Now, we all know what Kvothe is set to become by way of knowing about Kote and his abilities, but he is NOWHERE near that by the end of the second book. Here is an example (and a slight spoiler, I suppose): I do not think it a stretch to call Kote a master namer, what with all of his rings, but where is Kvothe at by the second book? Sure, he calls the wind a few more times, but he is just sitting on the precipice of mastering that one name. I know there are some people out there that do not believe as I do and actually think that the third book won't have to be jam packed in order to connect all of the strings, and to those people I say this: The series is called "The Kingkiller Chronicles" and I don't think I've heard more than 5 sentences about a king...

Next to Kvothe. He is one of the most boring fantasy protagonists.
Why?
Because he is perfect.
Perfect?
Yup.
He can be brash!
If being a little brash at times was someone's only flaw, I'd still say they are practically perfect. His only other flaw was being poor... Seriously. He is the best at everything he does. He learns new things like a natural. Everyone loves him, and those that don't do not grow to not like him, they simply start out not liking him. That is how perfect he is. People don't stop liking him. They need to already be predisposed to hating him.
SPOILER ALERT 3 LINES DOWN!



He is so perfect at everything that he even impressed an immortal sex goddess with his love making... as a virgin. Yeah, I didn't make that up.




If anyone loves the series, please, tell me what I am missing from it. I really want to be excited for the last book. I want to like this series like everyone else!

And for everyone else, please feel free to talk a little bit about why you disliked a popular book and we can see if there is anyone that may be able to convince you to give it another shot. Just be sure to actually have an open mind about the books you are looking for a better outlook on!

Well, I do love the KKC, although I was sorely disappointed by the second installment. I think that for me, reading fantasy is different than reading other works of fiction. What I mean to say is that I judge it based on different criteria than an Erdrich novel or an Atwood novel, for example.
With fantasy I can more easily look over some plot holes and shortcomings, but I do need there to be a vast amount of creativity. I think the KKC has that going, as you mentioned. The magic system is interesting and unique, the school setting (while obviously not a new idea) is not often used and adds a nice backdrop and opportunity for intrigue and conflict.
Kvothe's character isn't the most rounded, I'll give you that, but I enjoy him regardless. I rarely enjoy a book whose characters don't move me, and I found Kvothe to be fun and clever while still having those broken bits that make me love a character. He is altogether too naturally smart, but I think he falls into enough scrapes due to ill luck and his big mouth to keep things interesting. And I would say his know-it-all personality is a big flaw in his character. He can be extremely cocky and has trouble sitting down to learn because he thinks he either knows everything or will figure it out himself. That could be very off-putting. As for the phenomenal lover-- I won't even touch that. That entire part of the book should have been wiped out. Waste of my time and brain space.

I agree on the title for the series... I'm not sure where that is going. I don't necessarily think, though, that we need to see Kvothe develop into his full power in the final installment. If we get a few more ah-ha! moments and perhaps a sudden click of insight for Kvothe, we will see him on the road to what we will one day become. SPOILERS FOLLOW! I think we will see him find a sudden clarity on the true nature of the world and how things are named (and didn't something sort of like that happen with the sex goddess part of the book?). This will allow him to overcome the whatchamacallit guys who are like the White Walkers in ASOIAF. King killing, still undetermined.

I want someone to tell me what the deal with A Hundred Years of Solitude is. I hated it. And I quit Love in the Time of Cholera when I had barely begun it.

I agree with a few things you said, Jennifer. Kvothe can be a bit arrogant, but then he always seems to bust out the humble-ness and win everyone back, just as he did during his final test with his fighting in the second book.

And I agree that we probably won't see Kvothe finish up and become Kote in the final book. Hell, I think I remember them still talking about the Chandrean in the present tense in the second book. No idea where that is going... And I think that is the better way to think about the last book instead of weighing it down with all these expectations.