Note – This is my first audio book review.
Author: Patrick Rothfuss
Title: Name of the Wind – Book 1 Kingkiller Chronicles
Genre: Fantasy
Type: Audio
Length: TOO LONG! 28 hours
Narrator: Rupert Degas
Blurb:
Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.
First Impressions:
I chose The Name of the Wind as my first audio book as I really wanted to read it, but couldn’t face a book of that magnitude for the few hours I have set aside for reading.
My husband dubbed the book ‘Long of the Wind’ this should have been an indication of what was to come.
Narration style:
For me it was hard listening to a man doing a woman’s voice, though so far there has only been one woman in the book – Kvothe’s mother. Rupert Degas softens his voice for this role, and also to make his voice sound younger for Kvothe as a child. It sort of worked, but as the story dragged on, I became annoyed listening to it.
Summary:
It is a very long book… but nothing happens. It is brilliantly written with lots of details, but I want a book to go somewhere and this did not. I guess Patrick Rothfuss’s slow writing style is not for me.
Final Thoughts:
I did not listen to the whole book, though I really tried. I stopped at chapter 19. It was so boring I kept leaving the room forgetting I was listening to it. I have no inclination to pick up the book to find out what happened. I’m sorry to say that I just didn’t care for the main character or what happened in his past.
Recommend to: Insomniacs and readers who enjoy slow building epics.
Rating: 2 stars.
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I really wanted to give audio books a try, maybe starting with this one was a mistake. Or maybe audio books are just not for me and I am being unfair to the author. I shall be listening to ‘Girl on a Train’ next and will post a review on that soon.
Has anyone got any suggestions for a good audio book?
Suzanne Rogerson Fantasy Author 
28 hours! Mind you, I’ve got the latest of the Outlander series waiting, that’s 40+ hours. I keep putting it off.
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Wow, that is a lot of listening to do! Am loving the TV series of Outlander, hadn’t thought of listening to it. How do they compare?
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I’ve just started watching the series. The book has a lot more detail, as they do, but the TV has kept very close to the book. I’ve only watched the first three episodes though. The problem with the books is they get longer and longer and more involved. The first two or three were the best and the narrator is excellent.
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Your review made me laugh a bit. It sounds perfect for a cross-country drive. I actually really loved the book and the second one in the serial too, which I read years ago. Unfortunately, years have passed and Rothfuss hasn’t finished the 3rd book. Now I’ve forgotten the first two. If readers like long epics at a modest pace, I would recommend that readers wait until the series is done before starting.
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Yes, I hate waiting years for books to come out. It makes sense to wait for the whole trilogy to be completed.
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My memory just can’t handle the wait. I lose all the details. The downside is that sometimes I have to wait 10 years!
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I’ve yet to try an audio book, perhaps I shall one day.
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I’m listening to Girl on a Train right now as I cook dinner. It’s a great distraction.
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Wow, 28 hours! I’m not a fan of audio books, I can’t concentrate on them and miss too much. I once fell asleep listening to one and woke up suddenly in the night – I thought someone was in the room with me!!
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That is so funny. I can just imagine it!
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Wow, I love the fact you kept leaving the room forgetting you were listening to it, lol. I haven’t listened to may audio books but the ones I have listened to have certainly sounded more interesting than this one!
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I’m trying out my second audio book at the moment and it is holding my attention, but I think I need to try a few more to see if audio books are for me.
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