Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

The Slow Regard of Silent Things - Patrick Rothfuss

January 2, 2020.
Requested by Saar the Book Owl.

Starting somewhere today.

The author's foreword is interesting. I made it halfway last year into The Name of the Wind, but I didn't come across Auri or at least I didn't remember. The drawings are a interesting addition to this book.

For what I've read so far, is that (view spoiler)[Auri lives in some weird house (?) and because today is a finding's day, she's collecting things. I wonder why she is doing that and who this mysterious 'he' is that is coming in 7 days. (hide spoiler)]

I read the first two books and they were great. I wish the author would hurry up and finish book 3. I will give this a go though

I have read this, but I'm not sure I understood its meaning.

Well, that's my problem too, Julia, it's a bit to weird to get my head around, but I'm still reading.
@Brian: I don't know when the 3rd book comes out...

I'm 15 pages in, it's supposed to be confusing since Auri is a bit mad, bless her. Basically she was (minor spoilers for the main series) (view spoiler)[ a student at the university and ended up going a bit nuts (it's implied due to the magic she was studying) so now she lives in the tunnels underneath the university. She only trusts a few people and lives in her own little world basically. (hide spoiler)]

Charlie wrote: "I'm 15 pages in, it's supposed to be confusing since Auri is a bit mad, bless her. Basically she was (minor spoilers for the main series) [spoilers removed]" I have just completed this one.
Correct (view spoiler)[ and that's where she is when she is introduced in the second book, and meets Kvothe. In this book we get a great feel of the tunnels under the university and Auriu's thought process. (hide spoiler)]

@Frank So far it feels like (view spoiler)[ the university is huge. All of the different rooms, passages and tunnels Auri travels through, it gives the impression of being endless. (hide spoiler)]

Im 58 pages in, first two chapters complete. (view spoiler)[My heart is breaking for Auri. It must be incredibly lonely, living down there all alone. She seems happy enough though, she has her objects for company. I think Auri has OCD and extreme anxiety. The way she panicked when she thought people might come to fix the pipe was extremely sad.

i'm wondering what Foxen is. At first I thought he might be a firefly but I don't think he's actually alive. (hide spoiler)]

Charlie wrote: "@Frank So far it feels like [spoilers removed]

Im 58 pages in, first two chapters complete. My heart is breaking for Auri. It must be incredibly lonely, living down there all alone. She seems happ..."
Ah yes, what or who (view spoiler)[ is Foxen? A chemical put in it's dish to help light the way? Keep reading. I enjoyed Auri's character in book teo and wish I picked up this book when it was published to help connect her story. (hide spoiler)]

Charlie wrote: "I'm 15 pages in, it's supposed to be confusing since Auri is a bit mad, bless her. Basically she was (minor spoilers for the main series) [spoilers removed]"

Ah, that makes more sense now. Thanks, Charlie.

Frank wrote: "Charlie wrote: "I'm 15 pages in, it's supposed to be confusing since Auri is a bit mad, bless her. Basically she was (minor spoilers for the main series) [spoilers removed]" I have just completed t..."

The tunnels are really interesting. It's like a whole new world that is in there. It' sort of a labyrinth - feeling.

I will try to start this today or tomorrow. 😁

@Saar I get a labyrinth feeling too.

So far I think the writing is absolutely beautiful and really gives the story a sense of whimsy.

I'm finished!

(view spoiler)[

I can see why many people don't like this book but I thought it was beautiful! It was admittedly weird, and didn't really have any sort of plot, but it was whimsical and emotive and I just have so many feelings.

As usual, the writing was gorgeous. Patrick Rothfuss really does have a gift.

I love Auri. She's definitely different, but in all the best ways. I think she's an innately good person and she's been wronged by the world, so now she hides. That sentence that cut off about hands holding her down gave me chills.

I also loved that this was just a 'slice of life' type of story. Often I wish I could just follow a character around from one of my favourite books. No drama, just to see how they go about their day. I got that with this book so I really enjoyed it.

I do think that readers who have already met Auri will get more from this book. (hide spoiler)]

Charlie wrote: "I'm finished!

I can see why many people don't like this book but I thought it was beautiful! It was admittedly weird, and didn't really have any sort of plot, but it was whimsical and emotive an..."

Yeah, I read this way after reading TNOTW, so I couldn’t really remember who Auri was.
But I totally agree with what you say: it’s nice to just get a short story perspective into the lives of the character! You can learn so much about a character this way!

I thought it was beautiful writing but it almost felt just like a day in the life of her instead of a real story.

Yeah it was just a day in the life, I think it was supposed to be that way from the start.

I'm doing a reread of this little novella. Can't wait to be reintroduced to Auri's little world <3

It's so beautiful Katie!

Continuing now :D

I've started the chapter 'A quite uncommon pleasant place'. I find this little book one where you must wait a bit to like it. The writing is a bit different from the other 2 books, I think.(view spoiler)[It's really enjoyable to read and you ask yourself what Auri will find next on her journey. It's seems that every single day has a different purpose too. I'm curious on who she is waiting and I have the feeling that she is scared of something/someone. She has the power to set everything in place. To find the right place for every single object. Maybe all Auri is doing now will lead to one important event? (hide spoiler)]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I've started the chapter 'A quite uncommon pleasant place'. I find this little book one where you must wait a bit to like it. The writing is a bit different from the other 2 books, I think.[spoiler..."

You're right about that Saar! In many ways this is a polarizing book for people. They either love it or hate it. I personally adore it <3 Just seeing Auri handle the day by day. Getting to know her more as a person. To really see how much the incident at the college damaged/changed her. Her thoughts can be a little odd, but if one settles in and just lives in her little world, it's enough ^~^

Day One~A finding day
(view spoiler)[Everything must be done a certain way for our girl. Every day has its purpose, every item has its place...she's not one to get to greedy either. Making sure that the objects find their way home. <3

It makes me wonder...Auri studied naming as well? Did she not? I could very well be wrong. But we know her mind was damaged from the school...perhaps she still remembers a bit of it all. Perhaps there is more magic to it all...just a thought.

There were so many wonderous discoveries this day. All made possible with her dear foxen <3 I was nearly heartbroken when she had thought she lost him. (hide spoiler)]

Day Two~A turning day, a doing day
(view spoiler)[This day had me all on edge. She surely set about to get things done: to find a home for her beloved gear and to fix the water pipes as well...but she bore so much anxiety and fear after she saw those footsteps in the dust. What memories did she have? What scared her so? I'm truly glad she was able to pull herself back together...but I know it's only going to get tougher for our Auri >_< (hide spoiler)]

I gobbled up the story today. It was fun to listen to Rothfuss narrate. He does have a good voice/cadence/style for it. =)

I felt like I was listening & envisioning a quirky, slice of life anime. It's like an old school fairy tale with whimsy & darkness. It was fun.

I wondered if the story would make me want to re-read Name of the Wind and it does not. It's very different in tone. Happy to have finally read it!

I agree that this is a story that you have to turn off expectations and be willing to experience as it happens. An odd little world that makes the ordinary, not so ordinary.

Day Four~A tapering day, a burning day
(view spoiler)["Some days simply lay on you like stones." (pg79)
Such a poetic way to write an unbearable feeling. For that is what it truly feels like when you are suffering with depression. For Auri nothing seemed to go right that day. Her matches wouldn't light, her precious soap was eaten, the little skunk pup she had aimed to help bit her out of fear, and even her dress, the dress that Kvothe had given her didn't give her that warm glow, it didn't hang right. It's hard to read, how she suffers so. I'm just so grateful she found Kvothe. For he has been such a bright light in her life, and I think him being there for her has helped her heal a little. <3 People can mean the world to you when you feel at your lowest. (hide spoiler)]

I'm still reading this little novella. But since it is a reread for me I just wanted to comment on some things :D

I love your reviews for this Novella Charlie and Soo <3

You both enjoyed the little nuances that brought Auri to life. Enjoyed her daily adventures in the Underthing. For it is very much slice of life like you mentioned.

I very much agree though. This novella is best enjoyed after “Wise Man’s Fear”. And with no expectations of hints to the main story. Book three will come people. Just give the author some peace xp For the meantime I highly recommend checking out Rothfuss’s other short “The Lightening Tree” as featured in Rogues. Fair warning, if you don't like slice of life, it won't be your thing. It takes on Bast's story and is very much little adventure in their town <3

Soo wrote: "I gobbled up the story today.

I feel like I would have really enjoyed the narration, if I ever re-read I'll try the audio. It really is so different to The Name of the Wind, but I'm glad. I was very pleasantly surprised by this story.

Katie wrote: "Day Four~A tapering day, a burning day


This chapter just pulled on all my heart strings. I'm also so glad Auri has Kvothe, she deserves to be happy and she deserves a real friend.

Katie wrote: "I'm still reading this little novella. But since it is a reread for me I just wanted to comment on some things :D

I love your reviews for this Novella Charlie and Soo <3

You both enjoyed the litt..."


That sounds amazing! I'd love to read about Bast! Can you get it separately, like on kindle?

The narraration can mean so much to a story <3 If I ever re-read this one again I'll have to find the audio version you mentioned Soo ^^

Charlie wrote: "This chapter just pulled on all my heart strings. I'm also so glad Auri has Kvothe, she deserves to be happy and she deserves a real friend."

She really does deserve the world <3 What Auri and Kvothe have is so precious~

Charlie wrote:"That sounds amazing! I'd love to read about Bast! Can you get it separately, like on kindle?"

Unfortunately I wasn't able to find his other short as a standalone when doing a quick kindle search. But You can find it in the collection of short stories in Rogues. Which I'm fairly certain is on kindle. Plus it has a lot of other great authors in there too :D

Katie wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "I've started the chapter 'A quite uncommon pleasant place'. I find this little book one where you must wait a bit to like it. The writing is a bit different from the other..."

I don't know what happened to Auri, because I'm reading the first book now, but she's indeed a bit damaged. People could wrongly think that she's crazy, but she isn't. I think she's trying to keep a grip on the world/her world by keeping everything in place, but when there's something out of place, she is too.

Katie wrote: "Day Four~A tapering day, a burning day
"Some days simply lay on you like stones." (pg79)
Such a poetic way to write an unbearable feeling. For that is what it truly feels like when you are sufferin..."

I think you meant day four: 'The angry dark' ;)

I'm reading now 'The angry dark': (view spoiler)[ I felt so sorry for Auri. On the third day: chapter 'Hollow' I wonder why she wept. The day before sounded like a lovely day full of discoveries outside. And maybe day 3 was a sign that day 4 would be a really bad day? We read about her as a really down person, as if she's trying to hold on to her things, but everything is stubborn and out of order and she looses her grasp on things. But maybe it began erlier when she discovered the (old) boodprints. Auri was so desperate to make it a good day, but everything went wrong. I think that this was a day that you can connect to your real life too. (hide spoiler)]

I think Auri is a bit like the brass gear she found: broken, out of place and a bit lost?

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I think Auri is a bit like the brass gear she found: broken, out of place and a bit lost?"

It is very much the angry dark Saar >_< That is a very appropriate comparison to her, the brass gear. Poor thing~

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I think she's trying to keep a grip on the world/her world by keeping everything in place, but when there's something out of place, she is too.."

I think that's very true.

I got the audio as an electronic library loan.

Totally agree about Auri trying to keep her idea of balance by doing things a certain way. (view spoiler)[Plus new stimuli/thoughts may take time for her to absorb. So dark days may always follow good ones. (hide spoiler)]

I've finished. It was weird, beautiful, intriguing...all in once...
'First set yourself to rights, then your house, then your corner of the sky...'These is one of the beautiful sentences that I've enjoyed.
At first, it's was a bit difficult to understand this story about a character of 'Wiseman's fear', but soon Auri stole my heart. I felt sorry for to be living alone in the Underthing, but she found comfort out of the things she found at the different places. She wanted the best spot for every single thing she found. It was interesting how each object had 'feelings', almost a personality.
The chapter 'The angry dark' was the one where I fully enjoyed the book and felt with Auri. Just like the brazen gear she found, she was also broken and alone, in search of compagny from a dear friend.
The afterword from the author touched me, especially where he said that one by one we're also a bit broken inside. The afterword was an important addition to understand the story.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I've finished. It was weird, beautiful, intriguing...all in once...
'First set yourself to rights, then your house, then your corner of the sky...'These is one of the beautiful sentences that I've ..."

Beautiful review Saar <3

Thanks, Katie :)

@Saar I loved that chapter too, it gave me so many feelings.

Yes, personally that was my favorit one too.

=)

Yup!

Author Note: I liked that we learned about how he was reminded to publish the piece because there would be those who enjoy it. Not because it would be loved by the masses. I personally think he does best when he writes what he loves and then edits vs writes what he thinks is expected of him.

I really liked how colorful (in description of things/etc) Auri's life was in the book. It seemed so plain at first but it's far from that. That's was the transition phase. We're put into the story the way we would normally perceive things and gradually start to see from Auri's POV. That was done very well.

@Soo, agreed, it was done really well and by the end I was fully immersed in Auri's world.

Day 6~ a waxing day, a day for making
(view spoiler)[I just love the process of it all. Auri making soap for her dear Kvothe. It was precious <3 But the making was interrupted by dark thoughts at times...

She knew. She should have moved more gently with the world. She knew the way of things. She knew if you weren't always stepping lightly as a bird the whole world came apart to crush you. Like a house of cards. Like a bottle against stones. Like a wrist pinned hard beneath a hand with the hot breath smell of want and wine...

...does that mean... was Auri raped? :'( (hide spoiler)]

And the important thing...is that she teaches us that being broken...it's okay...(view spoiler)[
Oh yes. Fulcrum had broken, but that wasn't wrong. Eggs break. Horses break. Waves break. Of course he broke. How else could someone so all certain-centered let his perfect answers out into the world? Some things were jut too true to stay. -pg 133 <3 (hide spoiler)]

On this oh so special making day I really liked the thought Auri put into his gifts~ (view spoiler)[

And just like that, she had a gift for him: a safe place he could stay. <3 A place to stay, a candle full of dreams and poetry, and perhaps a friend to share it all with? ^~^ (hide spoiler)]

And I really loved that Coda~
(view spoiler)[
Deep in the underthing, stones warm beneath her feet, Auri heard a faint, sweet strain of music I literally got chills ^~^ I love their friendship so much <3 (hide spoiler)]

Soo wrote: "Author Note: I liked that we learned about how he was reminded to publish the piece because there would be those who enjoy it. Not because it would be loved by the masses. I personally think he does best when he writes what he loves and then edits vs writes what he thinks is expected of him."

I really enjoyed the Author's Note too Soo <3 So many feels~

Ending Thoughts~
(view spoiler)[I think reading this novella the second time around really helped me all of what Auri went through. Her world is so intimate, it really is. And she has her fair share of struggles day to day. But this wirey girl carries on, and does things to better those around her. Helping to fix the pipes, or even to share a gift or two with her beloved friend. I just really enjoyed seeing Auri go through all of these emotions and feelings. Sure, some of them weren't exactly 'fun' to read, but it all builds up to the wonderful person she is. As Rothfuss says, this book is for the broken people, and you are not alone <3 (hide spoiler)]

Katie wrote: "Soo wrote: "Author Note: I liked that we learned about how he was reminded to publish the piece because there would be those who enjoy it. Not because it would be loved by the masses. I personally ..."

My dad wasn't a huge fan of this though he loves the main series. I don't think he understood Auri at all. I love that this book was published even though both the author and the publisher knew that many people just wouldn't like it, and that was okay.

Charlie wrote: "My dad wasn't a huge fan of this though he loves the main series. I don't think he understood Auri at all. I love that this book was published even though both the author and the publisher knew that many people just wouldn't like it, and that was okay."

Absolutely! They knew this piece wasn't going to be for everyone...but moved forward anyways ^^ In a world where everything is being tailor made for fans or rebooted....it's kinda nice to see. An artist trying something new and different, you know? <3

Soo wrote: "=)

Yup!

Author Note: I liked that we learned about how he was reminded to publish the piece because there would be those who enjoy it. Not because it would be loved by the masses. I personally ..."

Indeed, it was a book not for the average people, but for the onces a bit left behind. I found it really good that his friend convinced Rothfuss to write it. He was still struggling about it. It's like Stephen King mentioned in 'On writing': close the door of your attic and write for yourself, not for anyone else. Then open the door and start editing for the public'. There was certainly a transition point: first it seems like what Auri did had no meaning and was a bit weird, but slowly everything came together.

Katie wrote: "Day 6~ a waxing day, a day for making
I just love the process of it all. Auri making soap for her dear Kvothe. It was precious <3 But the making was interrupted by dark thoughts at times...

She k..."

I totally share your thoughts on that. (view spoiler)[ I also wonder if Auri was raped. reading between the lines it seems that way. It's touching how she finds comfort in taking care for her friend. Giving him a a safe place to stay, like she has one. (hide spoiler)]

Katie wrote: "Soo wrote: "Author Note: I liked that we learned about how he was reminded to publish the piece because there would be those who enjoy it. Not because it would be loved by the masses. I personally ..."

I agree on your review. (view spoiler)[Allthough Auri is broken because of her past, she finds the strength in caring on, in taking care of little but important things and that you can relate to the normal world. (hide spoiler)]