The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss, Tales from TemerantDeep 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.
Like many other readers I share the enthusiasm towards Patrick Rothfuss's books greatly. His Kingkiller Chronicle series is really cool and the way that the story is narrated through the eyes of Kvothe to Bast in his trusty inn. I devoured both books within a couple of hours when I had my hands on them but that was back in 2009, now 5 years ago and the waiting has been agonizing. Luckily, Patrick Rothfuss released this novella set in the universe of the Kingkiller chronicles just recently. There are a lot of warning both prior to and in the end of the story that this might not be for everyone as undoubtedly most of you have their own opinions of what they want to see, and I think this reflects a lot the current reviews of this book. There is also a lot of comments about not having seen the third as it was said when it would be originally published but guys. Everything good thing will come in due time. Meanwhile just pick up this novella without the pretense of what you want to see be let Patrick Rothfuss surprise you with his imagination and very beautiful almost fairy tale like story of one of the most obscure and shy characters that the Kingkiller chronicles knows. Auri. Yes this book is all about her and how she moves through the world. There is no mention of any other character except her. And its amazing.
Ok so Auri. She is a mysterious character and Patrick Rothfuss in showing her story doesn't avoid this subject at all. I am going to be honest and say that when I started reading that I was a bit confused because the world through Auri's eyes is something completely new and actually a bit weird. But very interesting. The essence of The Slow Regard of Silent Things is to show a short story and a brief glimpse as to how Auri's goes about her life in the Underthing. And this is everything but it is more than this. There is a lot of emotion hidden in the story of Auri's life. The first and foremost thing that you see is that Auri is alone and has no one to share the adventures with, so she finds friends in inanimate objects like Foxen a light that Auri carries with her at all times to help her move through the dark reaches of the Underthing. One day she finds a big brass gear that calls to her, she recovers this and sees it as a new friend as well. One part of Auri's story that really captivated me and struck something in my heart was the bit about the soap. This clearly represents something that Auri holds certain objects of her own with high regard. She looses her soap, well some animal grabs her soap and now she has nothing left. Some people might think this as a bit of well get over it is is just soap but what if you were just as lonely as Auri herself I think you would hold onto certain specific objects as well. (ever seen Cast Away with Tom Hanks and his coconut pal?). All in all this story is of a discovery and not showing hightend action in any way, its a journey into the Underthing and the trusted confines of Auri and this is what Patrick Rothfuss shows very, very nicely.
The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a short book with just about 200 pages to go through, if you are reading of have read his other two books you know they clock in well over 200 pages and I can safely say that The Slow Regard of Silent Things is definitely over to soon. The narration, this time not followed thought Kvothe but from Auri gave a nice new and fresh view upon the world of Temerant and definitely has got me fired up once more to the Kingkiller Chronicles, lets hope 2015 will see the release of the long anticipated conclusion to this outstanding series. The story might come of as weird or not feeling at all like a Kingkiller Chronicle story but just let the true beauty of Auri and the excellent writing of Patrick Rothfuss swep you away in the belly of the Underthing. Don't go into this book look what you want to read, then you will not be enjoying it.
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