The Name of the Wind

So, if you’re a total sci-fi/fantasy nerd like I am, and let’s face it, if you’re on here either that’s true or you’re one of the five people that actually sees my facebook posts (okay, based on traffic that’s not true. There might be twelve of you), then you’ve probably been hearing a lot about The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss for a few years now. Actually, you’ve probably already read it. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.

One of the last things I learned about in my Classroom Literacy Instruction class this semester is the difference between aesthetic and efferent reading. One is fun and the other isn’t. Okay, the difference might be more subtle than that, but that’s essentially what it boils down to. Reading a text book is for the most part efferent reading. It’s not terribly fun—though some textbooks are done well enough that for me they cross that line and become aesthetic—and it’s mostly a functional process. I’m reading this because I’m looking for some information. Aesthetic reading means the words, phrases, and sentences just have a sublime beauty that helps them float off the page. Waiting for the Barbarians is a good example of this. J.M. Coetze’s writing is incredible. It would help if his beautiful sentences made up a better story though.

That’s what I thought of when I first started reading The Name of the Wind. Rothfuss’ writing is simply sublime. He has a way of crafting his sentences that is just beautiful. And the story just rocks too. The short version is: after having finally picked up his book, likely after an Unshelved Book Club recommendation, I’m glad I did. And I’m really looking forward to Wise Man’s Fear.