Rothfussians discussion

I am reading a book online that is being written in real time www.alchemistgift.com It is the first draft and you can make suggestions to the writer, Mark Giglio. He used one of my suggestions.

You can add it to your vita!

@Speaker, that's one thing I can actually say was good about the Twilight Series. I don't consider the best of literature, but it encouraged a lot of people to start reading and get into it. Plus, it wasn't THAT awful of a story, hokey as hell, but there's something to be said for the perfect world where everything works out just right for your favorite characters LOL.

@Chris, never knew that about you, very interesting and cool!

Amber wrote: "@Speaker, that's one thing I can actually say was good about the Twilight Series. I don't consider the best of literature, but it encouraged a lot of people to start reading and get into it. Plus..."

You know, I have gone back and forth so much about that series. My husband still makes fun of me for reading it...maybe that is why I get so self-conscious. It's all in good fun though.

The Twilight series had the ability to capture the female reader from page1. I enjoyed her "changes" she made to her version of the vampire (minus the glitter) and this whole culture that was unknown to humans. It was an interesting story but the literature is what made me wince with every hiss and scowl.

I feel Harry Potter accompolished the same thing as Twilight, just a different audience. It captivated so many adults, teens, children to start reading again and that is the important part of both. :)

I agree with that. I try not to tell people I've read Twilight because it goes either one of two ways.

They thinks it's stupid and make fun of me.
or
They think it's the best series of books ever written.

Whereas, I thought it was definitely an easy read, decent story, a few things I disliked (glittery vamps are not my style either, after growing up on Anne Rice and Buffy) But it certainly was not a lot to analyze with simple pros and little to get the reader actually thinking.

But that's really the nature of a lot of Young Adult novels, thats why they're young adult. It's not overly difficult to get the story implanted in your brain, it's just enough to spur you to try something a little more difficult or spark an interest at least.

Harry Potter is pretty much the same, though I have to say, Rowling grew with her readers a lot better and gave the story a much more profound arch. The last book was pretty dark for Young Adult and I had a lot of respect for that. Still recommend the series to adults simply based on books 6 and 7 being so epic.

Jessica you said you felt embarrassed to admit reading twilight series. You know for one I'm a male. Another thing I have serious problems dealing with my ADHD, so for me my criteria for what makes a book good differs greatly from the thoughts of scholars and critics.

The main reason it took me so long to start getting into reading was I never found any literature that could grab and hold my attention. As far as I knew they didn't exist. So when it came to twilight or ender's saga it doesn't matter how corny they are the fact that they grab people's attention on an emotional level is what makes them good. That goes for all literature. You might write the most complex thought provoking work and if only a lit major or critic was able to get anything out of it then it failed where it matters IMO

Have you read Harry Potter yet Speaker? You should definitly give it a go if you havent, it's that sort of spur you forward, grab your attention book as well.

I'd also recommend Percy Jackson, I enjoyed it immensely, and it's very fast paced, without a lot of hidden meanings, gets straight to the point and keeps your interest. (Pass on the movie though) Plus, I just liked that Percy was pretty much a badass from square one...I know the author has really expanded that series since I finished his first one. Haven't been real into him since they made Percy Jackson a movie and basically stole my money...but still, I think you'd really enjoy this specific set.

And Hunger Games too, if you havent done that, do it asap. Fast read, you wont be able to put it down. It's not advanced literature or anything - none of these recommendations are, but they are all story focuesed and well driven novels that make you want to keep reading.

I do like really indepth crazy hard to analyze stories, but I agree, they are not for everyone. I don't like to read that kind of stuff on the weekend for instance, since it just gets me tense.

Speaker wrote: "Jessica you said you felt embarrassed to admit reading twilight series. You know for one I'm a male. Another thing I have serious problems dealing with my ADHD, so for me my criteria for what makes..."


I had a similar problem with reading, in general as a child. I kind of discovered my own genre and I guess luck might have had something to do with it. Neither of parents read a lot and I think that impacts what a child does especially as they get older (just my opinion based on things I have seen growing up and as an adult). My first real interest in reading was Goosebumps. I loved scary, creepy, and gross things and I still do. From there I went to Fearstreest novels and Christopher Pike.

I didn't get into literature until my Sophomore year of high school. I happened to have an amazing teacher that year, who truly changed my view of literature. I read every book that year. I didn't even touch Sparknotes that year.

I think the problem lies in finding that genre that grabs you. It's hard to sift through all of the books just to find something to read. It can be a bit daunting. Not to mention if you were not really reading before high school...then get forced into it to pass a class. Most people end up hating literature because of that and it breaks my heart.

Speaker, what books do you like? I agree with Amber...read Hunger Games and Harry Potter if you haven't. They grab the reader from the beginning like Twilight does. The Immortal Instruments is another series I have heard a lot of people getting into. If you like KKC and the fantasy genre...There are so many people in this group with amazing suggestions. I am pretty excited to read their suggestions. Ihave been burned in the fantasy genre a lot. KKC and ASOIAF could not have turned up at a better time.

@Amber Yeah I read Harry Potter. I really enjoyed it. The Hunger Games was quick and I enjoyed it tremendously. However Percy wrote serious of unfortunate events? If so I never could get into it. I have at least a hundred books that I've only made it 40 pages in. Lol
Depth isn't really the problem it's the voice and activity level. For instance I can't through the game of thrones. I've read 25 pages and it didnt capture me. Everyone says how great the series is and yet I can't get motivated to try it again.

I generally stick to Scifi and fantasy. But I've reached the point were I walk into BN and go through the covers of all the books and I can't find one that I try. I've wanted to give Jordan and Sanderson a try but bookstores never seem to have their beginning books except in large multi book sets.

Have you read the Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan trilogy? That was action-packed, vampire, gorey, sci fi fun.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, is what I think its called. It's by Rick Riordan. I think if you liked Hunger Games and Twilight, you'd enjoy it.

I liked it because something enjoyable happens in every chapter and yet, somehow it still didn't feel anticlimatic.

It's basically a retelling of Mythology for modern day. It's fun and a good read. (I couldn't get into the Series of Unfortunate Events either!)

I know what you mean about dropping some books, do it all the time. I generally have a five chapter rule. If it's not interesting me by chapter five, it's not going to be my style. Too many books on my reading list to stick with ones I'm not that into. (Though this has led to some regret, see Mistborn and Wheel of Time LOL)

Lol yeah amber I hear ya. I'm disappointed hearing u say that about mistborn and wot though. Those series I had hope would get me through the rothfuss drought. Lol I'd have bought them but I can't find the first books except in collections which I'm unwilling to risk, just incase i dont like them. I suppose I could by them online but I'm an impulsive buyer and that takes to long lol

I actually had to buy Mistborn that way because I was running into the same problem. So now I own the first trilogy of it and haven't been able to finish one of them.

I gave it up around page 200 though and one of my other friends said I needed to read 50 more pages and it picks up after that. So...thats back on the list.

I think I'm going to do WOT in audiobook though. I got the first one for christmas in novel format and have not been able to get into it at all. But with Audio's its easy to sit through because I can do other things at the same time.

I mostly purchase my books online, but then again, I pretty much buy everything online outside of groceries - so...it just feels normal for me to have to wait. LOL

Soon there will be no bookstores.

I just can't get into the idea of audiobooks/ebooks. I've bought a couple recently, just because they were throaway books I wanted to read but ended up enjoying. Note to y'all: Try the 'The Soulkeepers' by G.P. Ching, the first one's free on ebook and the others are a couple of pounds, really easy reads!

I love the smell of books and the feel and getting to keep and display them. I recently re-bought Robin Hobb's trilogies, just because my family had ruined my old copies and wanted the new spangly covers!

Back to the point. I've read twilight, it didn't blow my mind but I quite enjoyed it :)
p.s. The second book was awful!

I haven't been able to go e-book myself yet. I have been wanting to get a copy of Pat's books though, just so I can search them more easily.

I have to agree, I like physical books. I like holding a book and I like looking at them on my bookshelves. Plus, it encourages people who visit to ask me about them. Which in turn, encourages them to read something. I just got into Audiobooks about a year ago, I like listening to them when I drive places and when I'm working, since I have a pretty easy pencil pushing office job. Certainly beats the radio around these parts. LOL.

and @Robert, I can't argue you with you there. The only bookstores that are left around my parts are book super stores like Barnes and Noble. Our local library does a run a book thrift though, where you can get used books, it's pretty cool since nothing is more than a $1.50 but you also have to sort A LOT to find non-romance novels.
I'm not that into B&N since that's the closest bookstore to me, there isnt even a single bookstore in my town, I have to drive 30 miles to go to B&N, and they are overpriced. That's why I buy my books online, plus the money usually goes to an actual human since I buy mine on Ebay and the likes, vs going to some megamillion dollar establishment. Though it is sad. I always thought it would be cool to run a bookstore, but honestly, no one around my town reads, I've managed to scrounge up a total of two people to attend my real life bookclub supported by the library. *sigh* It's sad.

Anyway - yah...can I ramble much more than that?

About Twilight, I didn't mind the second book that much since I always liked Jacob better. But the whole Rennesme thing was just creepy as all hell. I'm not even talking about the her and jacob thing that happens, just the whole character seemed freakin' weird and stupid to me.

I love physically holding a book. However, I am currently using it to read Jane Eyre. I had bought a huge, nice version of it that would just be ridiculous to hold and read. In this case, I actually prefer the ebook. I am one to take a book everywhere I go in case I have time to read it, and it can be a little difficult when the book is bigger than my head. It took my husband a very long time to talk me into trying it though.

I actually like Barnes and Noble. They are overpriced but I could spend hours in there. I would rather go to a store or library to search for books than on the internet. Although Goodreads isn't really helping in that area. The Nashville area has one independent store and it's 45 minutes away from where I live. I try to shop there when I am out there but it doesn't happen often. I hope they stand the tests of time and ebooks.

LOL, Amber. I felt that way about book 4. Everything circling the child was just hokey. But to each and their own. I have always been more disturbed at the thought of a 18 year old girl deciding...I am going to sell my soul to the vampire I love and live happily ever after. What!? It just makes me laugh when I look back at it in those terms.

Oh I read Jane Eyre way back in the day, really liked it actually. But I agree, sometimes an ebook reader catches my eye because I have the same problem. (Lugging books all around every where I go LOL)
It sucks when you can't fit said book into your purse...

I'm pretty much obsessed with the library in my parts. I volunteer there so I have to agree, it's a great place to get involved with reading. Plus, free is awesome. I do like going into B&N, but with gas and the price of there hardcovers, it's hardly worth it vs ordering on the internet. Doesn't help that I pretty much try to get out of driving whenever possible LOL.

Anyway - I agree, the whole baby thing was just too much for me and yes, the whole becoming a vampire at 18 was a little much. I have to say the baby being born scene was epic though. However, it dissapointed me that Stephanie Meyer didn't shy away from writing a birth scene however couldn't bring herself to write a Bella and Edward sex scene...I'm not especially into romance novels, but fade to black is not what I consider a proper writing technique LOL. I liked her wolves though. That was cool with the whole indian thing behind it and how vampires connected in. That was interesting to me.

@jess whats the bookstore? Is it in Murfeesboro? Seems like that's where all the nice stuff is IME. Anyway ill have to check it out next time I'm in that area.

I live in Murfreesboro. The store is called Parnasus, it's in the Green Hills area. You live here?

I from Memphis but I got family in Chatt, so I used to make the trip a few times a yrs. Not so much since I joined but I'm always in the lookout for cool bookstores and I won't be in the army forever.

Amber wrote: "Oh I read Jane Eyre way back in the day, really liked it actually. But I agree, sometimes an ebook reader catches my eye because I have the same problem. (Lugging books all around every where I g..."

oh I loved the wolves, even more so on the big screen. You know I really need to go start getting involved in my library more often. I went to all the time as a child..No idea why I stopped. :(

@Twilight - My favorite was the 4th one. Just because of the kick ass power manifestations in some of the new vampires, elemental control = awesome.

I have a real urge to start reading the classics, I know there dry (compared to high fantasy anyway). Have a hankering for Moby Dick, Great Expectations, Little Women...just to broaden my horizens.

In England (you might have it in the U.S too) we have a bookstore called 'Waterstones' and it's lovely to visit. The staff are always really helpful, in every branch I've been to. And the smell of all the books... <3 It's so peaceful.

I used to think classics were dry until i got older. It is a much different experience now than when I was in high school. I guess it's all the wonderful life experience i was always told about. I have also found that i have to be in the mood for them/can't read too many back to back. Some can be as fast paced as a good fantasy novel, imo.
The Hobbit is a classic and most fantasy readers love it. Just have to find the right one...like a nice pair shoes. Also consider some modern classics are lots of fun!

I am untested in reading a classic called Carmilla. It was written before Dracula (I think) and is a gothic vampire novel. I have no idea how i missed out on this, but i have to read it.

I always encourage people to get involved with there local library, most can use the help. Our's is pretty small, but it gets used a lot since it has a computer lab as well.

@Chris - that was something I really liked about the Twilight Vampires, it was cool how she gave a lot of them abilities, but some didn't get any. I guess I just liked that it was based off there person before they changed, vs based off who changed them.

I enjoy classics novels a lot, thats primarily what I read before I got into reading fantasy. Great Gatsby has always been a favorite of mine, outside of Alexandre Dumas novels.

I don't think they have Waterstones in the US...if they do, I've never been to one or heard of it. (But that wouldn't be overly surprising, country bumpkin that I am an all...)

I like paper also, especially at the beach. I'd feel paranoid about maybe getting sand in a kindle, or too much sun, etc. It's plastic. A kindle would be great while overnight hiking.

I don't read old stuf redone, like vampires werewolfs, swords, or watch batman, spiderman, etc. movies. If that's the best our creative arts can come up with, I reread the older stuff.

@Robert

Try 'Sense, Sensibility & Sea Monsters'. It's bloody hilarious. Had an unfortunate incident with coffee spurting out of my nose in public due to it. The story stays faithful enough to the original, the twist is entirely meant to be fun rather than as some sort of intended improvement :)

Re. classics. I do like me a classic. Also UK based, we have a store called The Works, which is essentially a discount store. They had tonnes of classics for a £1 (50c ish).

Anyone want a challenge? 'The Hunchback of Notredame'. Good luck. I couldnt even get past the overly long, overly referential to too many (many!) random people, intro. Argh.

Twilight? *gag* Weirdly I remember Meyer posting about writing her book back on the LKHamilton boards way back in the day.

I haven't read Hunchback, but for some reason your opinion of it doesn't surprise me. I couldn't even make it through the disney version LOL.

I've seen that in the works Ashley, need to give it another gander. It's like 3 for a fiver or something like that. The works depresses me a bit, it's like a book graveyard :O

Books are heavy and they smell funny. They're difficult to search and they start to wear out with too much handling. Notes in them can fade or distract significantly during subsequent reads. They're difficult to move and they take up a lot of space. I guess I'm not about to go bury a kindle in the sand but mine have survived extreme temperatures, shock, and spills just fine.

Yes, note taking thats another reason I've thought of going the way of the ebook. Forgot about that.

Plus, I heard you can do fancy highlighting on them, and take it back later when you change your mind or don't care anymore about that section....something I certainly cannot do to my copy of NOTW.... *sad trombone*

I have to say, that Highlight feature is pretty fantastic. I can go back and read some favorite parts now. I am going to have to do the same with KKC books and ASOIF.

Yeah, but some paperbacks make much better toilet paper than if on kindle.

O_o

hallo! I'm Emma, a somewhat new college student, loving it but losing valuable reading time. I just read Name of the Wind and Wise Man's Fear within a span of two weeks, and they absolutely blew me away. I'd forgotten how much I love being captured by a series, and now I just want to talk about it constantly....

My favorite book, despite my newfound love for Rothfuss, is Haruki Murakami's 1Q84.

My favorite game is Skyrim, although I haven't really gotten the hang of it yet.

I fancy the fae, although "alien" is a descriptor for anything living in a different realm than our own, ay? :)

Hi!

I just started reading Name of the Wind. I can't get over the gorgeous beginning about silence. It totally drew me in! It looks like the group started a long time ago, but better late to the discussion than never, right?

I'm a 45 year old woman, happily married to a software developer. We have a 2 year old mutt named Ralphie who is the light of my life. I act, teach Pilates, and write. I've also had careers as a dancer, both ballet and modern, and an academic with a PhD from UC Davis in a lovely frame gathering dust.

My favorite book. Ahh, that's a hard one. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving) has long been my favorite, but there are other contenders. I love Harry Potter and my favorite is The Order of the Phoenix--I love cranky Harry. I also like Jane Austen--Sense and Sensibility is currently my favorite, but that changes. Sometimes I prefer Persuasion.

Although my husband plays many video games, I have never really gotten the hang of them. For a while I was obsessed with Katamari Damacy, but I got over it eventually. Now I stick with Scrabble and Words with Friends on the Facebook.

And I'm partial to pixies.

I'm looking forward to joining the Rothfussian party!

Okay, I am a latecomer here. Anyways, I have read both books of Kingkiller Chronicles; and boy, what to say, both of them are my favourites especially the first one. Of the second one, I found some parts not of my taste.

Well I am a 17 year student who has passed high school and is waiting for college to open. After August, I can say that I am a student studying Mechanical Engineering.

My favourite book(ah, hard one)- The Great Hunt(WoT 2) was for a long my favourite. Then came "The Name of the Wind". Now "Gardens of the Moon" along with "The Way of Kings" is a strong contender( forgive my English, its my Third language after Punjabi and Hindi)

Last movie watched- When Harry Met Sally
Last game played- I only play PC games. So it is "Baldur's Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal" well currently I am on Shadows of Amn part.

Favourite games- BG2(as mentioned above), Rome Total War(especially along with Europa Barbarorum mod), Thief 3, Icewind Dale 1 and 2, Neverwinter Nights series, Civilization 4, Age of Empires 2 and 3 and TES 4: Oblivion.

I think about posting 10 times. I post once and still end up with my foot in my mouth. I try not to speak unless I can contribute something new. I'm a bit of a watcher rather than a speaker as a result. This is a great place to learn, though, and that is what counts. Thanks to all the speakers out there and cheers.

Hello Noobs :P

Glad to meet ya. Feel free to join in. If you find this forum daunting, Scott, one of our admins, also JUST started a forum dedicated to KKC.

kkc.boards.net

I think its going pretty good so far.
Also, you can always just chime in, you don't have to read EVERY post, most the times we get off on tangents anyway.

@Emma - I liked Skyrim alright, but I have felt it was pretty meh, compared to Oblivion. Oblivion was like a new definition to the console RPG and I guess I just had high hopes that Skyrim would also do that but it was bit same-y for my tastes. However, I'm crazy excited for Elder Scrolls Online. I signed up for the Beta and recieved the chances of "Excellent", but haven't heard if I actually made the rosters. *fingerscrossed* I've been playing The Secret World MMO in the mean time and I would say, it is to MMO's what Oblivion was to Console RPG's. Sadly though, the PVP system is totally broken, so I've had to get that fix playing Planetside2, which is a good game, but nothing overly special.

@Beth - I love Pixies too! I always play one in my Tabletop RPG's. I had to buy a special book just so I could start at lvl 1 to play them, but it has totally been worth it. In D&D 3.0/.5 if you are a Pixie Rogue, you can use this awesome ability called Sneak Attack, but because Pixie's are invisible (after monster lvl 4) you can use it EVERY SINGLE TIME!! It's freakin amazing!
Anywho, if you went to UC Davis, you must be a Cali native too. I live in the Northern part. It's been ridiculous hot the last couple weeks. I HATE IT. LOL. But I do love the area.
Also a big fan of Harry Potter, I'm torn between favorites though. I like Prisoner of Azkaban quite a lot, but when Deathly Hallows was published I kinda fell in love with it. The ending was really well done I thought.

@Akshay - You must have a technical mind. I completely failed Mechanical Drawing in highschool. It was just awful. My teacher actually suggested 'maybe this just isn't for you' LOL.
Since you seem to like some old school games, have you checked out the game that Pat is contributing too yet? It's supposed to be an offshoot of Planescape. It's called Torment: Tides of Numenera. I got in on the Kickstarter and am really looking forward to the release. Pat got to write a sidekick and he's going to do a comic based on it. So, might check it out.

Also - Civilization is the most evil game. Sit down for a round and suddenly 9 hours have passed...WTF??! LOL

@Joey - Don't be shy, we don't mind some blunders!

Amber wrote: "Hello Noobs :P

Glad to meet ya. Feel free to join in. If you find this forum daunting, Scott, one of our admins, also JUST started a forum dedicated to KKC.

kkc.boards.net

I think its going pr..."

I'm actually a transplant to California. I grew up in Southern Indiana, went to UCONN for undergrad then moved eastward for a few years--through Boston and to London. I came to California in 1998 for graduate school where I met the husband. Now we live in the bay area--just north of the GG bridge. And it was super hot last week!

I agree about the ending of the Deathly Hollows. That's the only one I haven't read more than once. I still can't bear the thought of living through all those deaths again. Some day I'll get the courage to do it. :-)

Amber wrote: "However, I'm crazy excited for Elder Scrolls Online."


OMG I am too! When it comes out we'll have to team up or something yeah?




And OMG I loved the ending she put for Deathly Hallows..

@Beth - Thats cool! Lots of travelling, sounds fun. (Probably funner if you didn't have all that homework though huh? LOL)

And yes, last week was RIDICULOUS. We actually got up to 116 degrees here!!!

@Scott - Totally, when it comes out we can cooridnate for sure. It's always cool to have a team, makes questing easier, and I'm sure they will have some form of dungeons that will require 3-5 man teams depending on gear and lvl.



Deathly Hollows was actually one of the first books I read where some good characters died in the end, so I was instantly like....WHAT? OMG?! (view spoiler)[ When Dobby died, I think I cried for at least 30 minutes (hide spoiler)]

Amber wrote: "@Beth - Thats cool! Lots of travelling, sounds fun. (Probably funner if you didn't have all that homework though huh? LOL)

And yes, last week was RIDICULOUS. We actually got up to 116 degrees h..."

It was fun! And the homework wasn't so bad. They were graduate degrees, so I got to decide a lot of what I wanted to do. The exams weren't so fun, though. :-)

(view spoiler)[Oh my God. Doby's death nearly undid me. And Fred Weasley. I still feel that one. (hide spoiler)]

I'm 15.
I'm somehow shy, but I like to think of myself as funny, and I might get quite annoying after some time. I'm more intelligente than most people and I think I'm much more mature than my fellow teenagers. I love drawing, singing and playing games. I also enjoy reading but I'm quite lazy so I don't read many books. I'm looking for friends xD
Fav color: any shade of blue;
Fav singers/band: Avril Lavigne, Christina Grimmie, Lana Del Rey, The Pretty Reckless;
Fav movie: Troy;
Fav games: Dota 2, Mass Effect, Warcraft 3, Skyrim;
Fav books: TNotW and WMF;
Fav animals: Martens and Owls.

Ack! That post up there that looks like its my husband joey's is actually mine! "Think 10 times, post once." Should have thought 11 times and checked whose profile was signed in! Ack!

LOL!!

I guess we can forgive you........this time!

:P

Hahahah rather funny Aryanne... Vitor not familiar with the abbrev. of your fav books? WMF? and TNotW? if you dont mind can you write those out?

Wise Man's Fear.

The Name of the Wind.

Tee hee!

This thread is just chalk full of those head-desk moments isn't it.

XD