>>> Nº 7 on My 2015 Reading Challenge – A book with non-human characters <<<
“Deep below the University, there is a dark place. Few people know of it: a broken web of ancient passageways and abandoned rooms. A young woman lives there, tucked among the sprawling tunnels of the Underthing, snug in the heart of this forgotten place.
Her name is Auri, and she is full of mysteries.
The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a brief, bittersweet glimpse of Auri’s life, a small adventure all her own. At once joyous and haunting, this story offers a chance to see the world through Auri’s eyes. And it gives the reader a chance to learn things that only Auri knows…
In this book, Patrick Rothfuss brings us into the world of one of The Kingkiller Chronicle’s most enigmatic characters. Full of secrets and mysteries, The Slow Regard of Silent Things is the story of a broken girl trying to live in a broken world.”
“AUTHOR’S FOREWORD
You might not want to buy this book.
I know, that’s not the sort of thing an author is supposed to say. The marketing people aren’t going to like this. My editor is going to have a fit. But I’d rather be honest with you right out of the gate.
First, if you haven’t read my other books, you don’t want to start here.
My first two books are The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear. If you’re curious to try my writing, start there. They’re the best introduction to my world. This book deals with Auri, one of the characters from that series. Without the context of those books, you’re probably going to feel pretty lost.
Second, even if you have read my other books, I think it’s only fair to warn you that this is a bit of a strange story. I don’t go in for spoilers, but suffice to say that this one is … different. It doesn’t do a lot of the things a classic story is supposed to do. And if you’re looking for a continuation of Kvothe’s storyline, you’re not going to find it here.
On the other hand, if you’d like to learn more about Auri, this story has a lot to offer. If you love words and mysteries and secrets. If you’re curious about the Underthing and alchemy. If you want to know more about the hidden turnings of my world…
Well, then this book might be for you.”
Weirdest book ever! Pretty cool though, but weird!
Let me be straight, I made exactly what the author advises against in the first page, I read this book before the previous two in the series… shame on me. My friend gave it to me at Christmas, she thought I would like the author (you were right), but she thought I would get scared with the first 2 because of their size. So, I gave it a go!
It probably one of the most beautiful written books I read so far, but let me warn you, there is no plot, no action and absolutely no line of dialog! That was a weird one.
Basically it’s a novella about Auri, who I don’t know who she is, but I’ll find out soon enough, and it follows her day to day for a week. See, the book is wonderfully written because Auri believes everything have needs, wants and personalities, objects, places, even the moon or the days, and as you read along, you fell yourself connecting to gears and rocks and blankets and staircases and it’s all quite disturbing.
I kind of loved it though… 🙂 And if you’re wondering about the non-human characters, just read the book and tell me if the blanket was not one of them…
Rating: 3.5 Stars
My Tiny Obsessions 