Read Runners discussion

Zaara, can you answer that heart of stone in English rather than science? -_-"

Zaara - That's some good light on psychology. I'm going to sit on my sister's head till she feeds me more details, now that you mentioned it. :P

And here again Rothfuss creates a magical potion with science, basic sense, and psychology. :)

Ch 11 to 15
(view spoiler)[
1. What do you think of Heart of Stone?
It is well written, and something everyone should integrate into their daily lives. It doesn’t need magic. It needs the ability to take yourself out of current events/the world around you and look at it as a witness. Meditation isn’t sitting cross legged in front of burning inscense. It is the ability to detach at will. And it is extraordinarily hard to do when things like temper and emotions ride you hard. And yet, a prize worthy of winning…we mere mortals can try…hee :-)

2. What do you think of the conversation between Ben and Kvothe's parents about Chandrian? What do you think of Blue Flame?
Its background we need to know and therefore we hear it at a time when they’re talking openly because they think they’re alone. Its obviously important for later because of the way its presented. So these are creatures that EVERYONE fears, as Ani pointed out. Why are they writing a song about them, then? Given coming events it was foolhardy…and yet I would have liked to have heard their swan song in its entireity.

3. What do you think of Bast and Chronicler's first meeting?
Tempestuous. And with a history of blind hatred/fear for the ‘concept’ of who/what the other person is. But it is quickly settled, thanks to our Man Kvothe. And with familiarity/tolerance for difference comes understanding…I hope.

4. What do you thimk of Kvothe's first attempt to call the wind? Do you think Ben should not have taught him so much for his age and it was his faukt somewhere in this?
Well, he’s much to clever for himself sometimes, isn’t he? But no, I don’t think its Ben’s fault. He just didn’t expect Kvothe to go that far.

5. Kvothe and Abenthy or Bast and Kote, which pair do you like the most and why?
Cant choose. One is still ongoing…
As of now, I like both. How do you choose between friends? You like them all and you connect with them all, in different ways.

6. A lot of things happened in these 5 chapters..... Discussion on Chandrian, calling of wind by Kvothe and Ben's going away....

What do you think of all these events and the pace of the book? (hide spoiler)]
The image it evokes is that of the unraveling of a spool of red thread…I don’t know why. I’m happy with the pace. I don’t need to have my pulse pounding to be engaged…. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 16-20
(view spoiler)[
1. Kvothe lost everyone from his troupe and it happened after Ben left. Do you think Ben's going away and the attack on the troupe is connected?
Not at all. And I hope it stays that way. I would HATE to have the two events connected.

2. What do you think of Haliax and Cinder? Who/what do you think they were?
Pretty obvious cuz we just heard the eavesdropped converstation about the shadows and the Blue Flame. Plus Cinder specifically mentions the song that Kvothe’s parents were writing. These creatures are the Chandrian.

3. What do you think of four doors of mind?
Already answered in Comment 322.

4. The only thing which Kvothe have, is his father's lute. He plays it in the forests and all those tunes he plays shows his passion. Do you think his lute will play a big role in his life?
Yes. And that’s a big little word.

5. What do you think of Jake and Seth, and Pike?
Common street bullies surviving in the underbelly of a big city. They’re brutal because theyre been brutalized and they don’t know/have the moral texture to understand that it isn’t how they HAVE to be. The children with Trapis are also slum children and yet they aren’t vicious or savage. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 21 to 25
(view spoiler)[

[1. What do you think of Trapis and all of his help to orphan kids?
Compassionate. And the world always needs more of it.

2. Do you think Kvothe should live with Trapis under protectiom and not alone under that roof?
No. I like that he doesn’t let himself get domesticated or seek shelter. I like that he embraces his wildness because I think it will take him further along his own personal path.

3. What do you think of Tarbean and its people?
A city like all others…worlds within worlds. Reminds me of Mumbai, New York, London, uhhhh...like I said, a city like all cities...

4. What do you think of Encanis and Tehlu?
Well they’re well-known religious archetypes aren’t they…martyred god and vengeful demon. I enjoyed reading their story. But I liked Lanre’s more. A fallen angel… (hide spoiler)]

Ch26 to ch30
(view spoiler)[
1. What do you think of Skarpi, the storyteller and his advice to Kvothe?
I hope they meet again. I found the physicality of Scarpi the most compelling image so far in the book, even Kvothe with his vivid red hair isn’t as striking as the way Scapi is physically described. And the ways of his speech and storytelling.
An old man with eyes like diamonds and a voice like honey….
“He turned those diamond-blue eys on me and I stammered.
“Thank you. I wanted to thank you…..”
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, shivers!

2. What to you think of Lanre's story?
A terrible fate. Gave me a twisted gut. The why of a person is always so important. It’s the key to greater things…it’s the key to who he is and what he does and how that affects everyone else in the world.

3. Do you like these stories of Lanre & Selitos and Tehlu & Encanis in Kvothe's narration of his own story?
Yes. I always love stories inside stories. And as Scarpi says…its only one story. But sometimes small pieces seem to be stories themselves.
Skaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarpiiiiiii….want you back!

4. Do you think Kvothe should not have risked his copy of Rhetoric and Logic for 2 talents, after all it was the only thing he had from his happy past.
Absolutely not! I’m glad he did took the risk. And I think there’s a lesson in it…the road to the future only opens when you let go of everything you’re holding on to in the past. Dreams have wings, how can you run after them when you’re carrying baggage? Drop it all and go.
And Kvothe did! (hide spoiler)]

Apols to all for the moralistic-sounding stuff and the pathetically blah answers. This book….well…this book…
@Deej...thoughts on A River Flows in You...shall I PM you?

@Zaara.... PM me... :)

@Smith...regarding your last answer in Comment 318...the part where you say
(view spoiler)[
PSmith wrote: "Do you think Kvothe should not have risked his copy of Rhetoric and Logic for 2 talents, after all it was the only thing he had from his happy past
He should not have risked. He had become a street child learning to pick pocket and steal. I don't think he needed to risk his copy for 2 talents. He could very well have stolen. Of course, I am limited by my inability to understand exactly how much is 2 talents, is it thousands or lakhs or crores. If it is lakhs, I agree it is difficult to pickpocket.
But Kvothe had to be portrayed as a daredevil who liked to take risks."
(hide spoiler)]
Its funny, I had the exact opposite view. I'm so horribly impractical. My mother would have totally agree with you, in theory.

Gehna wrote: "Zaara, can you answer that heart of stone in English rather than science? -_-""

@Deej, I think its something everyone can do. Without magic.

@Zaara, also PM me the meaning of "I think its something everyone can do. Without magic" ....

Gehna wrote: "Ah.... and what's happening in the story? :)"

Im now 55% thru... and in the story...
(view spoiler)[
end of chapter 54...he is playing for Auri in the middle of the night on the roof of the Uni buildings...and he is about to go to the Eolian or whatever and perform... (hide spoiler)]

Gehna wrote: "@Zaara, also PM me the meaning of "I think its something everyone can do. Without magic" ...."

Oh come on...you're a smart girl...what word in that sentence don't you understand???
;-)

Zaara wrote: "Gehna wrote: "@Zaara, also PM me the meaning of "I think its something everyone can do. Without magic" ...."

Oh come on...you're a smart girl...what word in that sentence don't you understand???
;-)"

Ok come to think of it, its a fair enough question, like a complete idiot i seem to have gone on about taxonomies...apols to you too Polo...pls dont bug your sister...read this instead...
(view spoiler)[
Ok Deej, in simplest terms a taxonomy is a classification system. Any system used to sort any kind of thing. SO over here, the four doors of the mind is just a way (or classification) Rothfuss uses to explain the emotional state of Kvothe after the abrupt end of his safe and happy childhood.
Is this better? (hide spoiler)]

@Zaara... I didn't understand any word of that sentence... :/

Don't worry about me, Zaara. I incessantly bug my sister with these trifles, one of my amusing hobbies or so. :P

And I'm someone thoroughly fascinated with psychology and psychiatry. So I like hearing thoughts on those lines. :)

Zaara, PM me first.... about that song.... I am waiting.
Sorry fir Being moody today... I am like this only, I think....

Gehna wrote: "Zaara, PM me first.... about that song.... I am waiting.
Sorry fir Being moody today... I am like this only, I think...."

No...not at all...glad you asked...I replied once more in message 337...did you see?
And PM sent.

@Polo...cool!

@Deej,@Polo,@lurkers...bye gtg now.

Bye :)

@Zaara, nice to know that your mom would have agreed with me. I am mostly practical :)

@Zaara... reply to your answers from ch16 to ch20
(view spoiler)[ I loved your answer 2.... someone BRing this book was not able to guess that :) (hide spoiler)]

And I love last answer in ch26 to 30 as well! :D

Zaara wrote: "Gehna wrote: "Ah.... and what's happening in the story? :)"

Im now 55% thru... and in the story...

end of chapter 54...he is playing for Auri in the middle of the night on the roof of the Uni bui..."

Auri is cute, na? ^_^

@Zaara... reply to comment 337... yeah, that was English :P

I am embarrassingly lagging behind with discussion points! :/
Will add Ques from ch 31 to 35 in some time...

You're doing a great job, Gehna. Was shocked (rather pleasantly surprised ) to know your age..
Wish I were this bright at that age :)

Sharing an impressive allusion which for a moment I thought was directed at me :D
(view spoiler)[ Whatever the season that I'm on the road,I look for a reason loden or laystone to lay down my load (hide spoiler)]

@Gehna, you're doing a great job.. If I had even one tenth of ur energy, I'd've tried to answer some of ur questions:D Will do so after I complete

@Vimal.... Where were you all this while?? :O People were searching for you for discussion.... :-)

Thank you, Smitha :)

Discussion Points :
Ch 31 to 35

(view spoiler)[1. What do you think of Kvothe's acting and wisdom when he bought clothes for himself?

2. What do you think of the cobbler and his favour to Kvothe? Thoughts about his generosity?

3. Kvothe stole money and pens, but later left copper jots for cobbler. What do you think of Kvothe's generosity?

4. The boy who tried to pickpocket Kvothe had been his friend, but was not able to recognize him, on the other hand, Trapis recognized he his new clothes and also treated his like he used to when he asked him to get soap. Thoughts on this? :) (hide spoiler)]

PSmith wrote: "You're doing a great job, Gehna. Was shocked (rather pleasantly surprised ) to know your age..
Wish I were this bright at that age :)"

I was shocked too when I learnt of it, Smitha. :P
My great Buddy can give you serious age delusions at times. :P

@Zarra that was quite detailed...but yeah, you went off topic. Still, it was nice having your thoughts on the matter.

(view spoiler)[ I think Four doors was a writers way of explaining how a person deals with trauma and grief. (hide spoiler)]

I am almost 70% done. Will finish it tomorrow, probably.
I am not liking the hype of Denna.

Chapters 31-35 Answers
(view spoiler)[
1. What do you think of Kvothe's acting and wisdom when he bought clothes for himself?
Kvothe's actor training came into great use. I never thought he will do what he did. Walking with dignity practically naked on the streets and bossing around the shopkeeper, and even talking about the prostitute who stole his clothes. I thought he would be too young to plausibly explain that he'd been to a prostitute. Moreover the shopkeeper believed and was deferential to him, to the extent that he got the clothes at a bargain price.
2. What do you think of the cobbler and his favour to Kvothe? Thoughts about his generosity?
Cobbler was a generous man, especially to people whom he thought needed generosity. Perhaps seeing the hardness and state of Kvothe's soles Cobbler knew that he was not one among the idle rich and would much benefit by shoes, and he would have felt happy to do a good turn, especially since his son was no more and the shoes were lying unused.

3. Kvothe stole money and pens, but later left copper jots for cobbler. What do you think of Kvothe's generosity?
Kvothe steals if he knows the person stolen from can afford the loss ( or that is what I thought) and as he had trained himself as a pickpocket to survive in the streets he must not have had much guilty conscience in stealing. But Kvothe was a man who valued kindness and empathy in others, and when the Cobbler was kind enough to gift him his son's excellent shoes, Kvothe must have felt he had to repay his kindness somehow. Or perhaps Kvothe did not want to feel obliged to anyone.
4. The boy who tried to pickpocket Kvothe had been his friend, but was not able to recognize him, on the other hand, Trapis recognized he his new clothes and also treated his like he used to when he asked him to get soap. Thoughts on this?
Some people notice beyond clothes and outer finery, some don't. The pickpocket friend must have been someone who does not delve into a person beyond a superficial level, whereas Travis was someone who was very empathetic, and who was used to take care of children. He must have studied Kvothe's face and mannerisms when he used to be in his cellar previously.
(hide spoiler)]

Utkarsh wrote: "@Zarra that was quite detailed...but yeah, you went off topic. Still, it was nice having your thoughts on the matter.

[spoilers removed]

I am almost 70% done. Will finish it tomorrow, probably. ..."

I too didnot get overtly fond of Denna. That character is written such a way as to seem superficial and not earning our sympathies or concern.

@Smitha I thought it was just me. She is unlikable and I can never understand kvothe infatuation with her. stupidity.

@Polo.... Really? :P

@Polo.... Really? :P

Gehna wrote: "@Polo.... Really? :P"

Yes, ma'am. You and Ishi. My mouth was turned into a big 'O' when I learnt of your respective ages'. :P

All of my gadgets are going crazy! -_-

@Polo.... Fake applause! Fake Applause! fake Applause! *bows* :D

@Polo.... Fake applause! Fake Applause! fake Applause! *bows* :D

You are getting two heads like me, Buddy! XD
Only to Ginny:
(view spoiler)[Let's not spam.XD
And yes, you do seem way more mature than your age! :P (hide spoiler)]

@Abhay... (view spoiler)[ And hating a woman is difficult for you, right? :P *hides* (hide spoiler)]

@Polo.... (view spoiler)[Chill, we are spamming behind spoiler tags, so that means we are sfae as along as no one opens them! *yikes* *runs away* (hide spoiler)]

@Abhay I was talking about her hype... the way kvothe stopped, saying he couldn't describe her. That seemed too much.
I have yet to learn about her.

And yes I know how infatuation works, but I said, I can never understand it. you get my point?

@Utkarsh.... I get you.... Denna didn't deserve all the praise she got from Kvothe..... she just had a face, and no brain..... I hate her..... :P

@Abhay.... Huh? :O I was trying to irritate you..... :-)

Gehna wrote: "@Vimal.... Where were you all this while?? :O People were searching for you for discussion.... :-)"

Hey,I've been reading through the thread all along.Zaara and Psmith r comprehensive with their answers, so I've been chiming in with the parts that haven't been discussed in the thread. Besides I'm already going quite slow with this book. Hope it speeds up after he goes to the university as everyone has been saying.