The Name of the Wind

The Name of the Wind

performed by Rupert Degas

     I have never hidden the fact that I am a devourer for good books. In my opinion there is nothing in this world compared to a good story and when I get my hands on one I am pretty much lost to the world. When this happens people will start complaining that they can't reach me and make all kind of obnoxious threats about the things they will do with my phone because I don't answer messages. 

     But I guess there is nothing special about that, everyone who has ever read a good book knows what I am talking about, and for those who don't you might start thinking hard about it, you just might find something wrong with this world. 

     The last book that did that for me was The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Now I know many people call Patrick Rothfuss : FANTASY'S NEXT SUPERSTAR. This might be over reacted and it might not be, I guess we will just have to see how well he will live up to his name. American critics tend to come with all kind of great names for new fantasy superstars, for example they named George R.R. Martin the next Tolkien or the Tolkien of our time but in my opinion the only close resemblance so far was the two R. R. in their names. Then again I might be wrong and this should leave you with a simple question : why are you reading this ? 

     Well it just so happens that The Name of the Wind is as great as everyone says it is. And I know, everyone had already said something about it, an article or blog but as it goes somebody always has something to add up. My attention comes to the recent audiobook released by Orion Publishing Group. I have purchased this from Audible on the 6th of March, on the day of it's released and ever since I have been pinned to the story and can't get of the itch of saying my opinion of it. 

     This release features a performance by Rupert Degas and it is the Audible release for the United Kingdom and the rest of the world, as the American public have been enjoying the audiobook since 2009, performed by Nick Podehl. Due to publishing rights the version performed by Nick Podehl was not available to us, the rest of the world longing for a good story but I can say that all the waiting has not been in vain. I have listened to both versions of the book so far and even though I loved every bit of Nick Podehl's performance, I am inclined to say that Rupert Degas does justice to this book. This first book in the series is about the coming of age of our main character, Kvothe, and even though most of the book is about his childhood the boyish voice of Nick Podehl failed to deliver something most important : the spirit of Kvothe. He is the man that has stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings, burned down the town of Trebon and was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. He trooped, traveled, loved, lost and was betrayed. For all the boyish silliness that I feel from Podehl's reading I must say that sometimes I found it annoying and even though the performance itself was splendid, I must say I count myself among the few that it wasn't for. 

     In my opinion this book is an amazing read and I warmly recommend to everyone who is a fan of the genre and not just. Listening to the audiobook just adds up to the experience because of the performance and Rupert Degas does it in such a way that you feel the man that will inspire fear in his opponent with a look from his deep dark green eyes, the man who has become a legend and you may have heard off ...