Skip to main content

The Narrow Road Between Desires (The Kingkiller Chronicles #0.6) by Patrick Rothfuss

"We're given an interesting glimpse into a day in the life of Bast, Kvothe's student, who also just happens to be Fae. Some of it makes sense, some of it doesn't but through it all Bast shows that though he's powerful, he also has a heart and in the end, will do the right thing." 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pros: I do love Bast for the fact that he could easily kill all the people who come to him and yet he doesn’t. He has a heart, though he’s sly, dark and mysterious. 

Cons: I’m curious as to what happened between Rike and Bast that created such animosity but the lack of an explanation didn’t take away from the book as a whole.  

Full Review: ***Disclaimer***If you have not read The Name of the Wind or The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, please do so and then come back and read this at your leisure. That way you'll know what I'm talking about 🙌.***

Bast is sneaking out of the Waystone Inn early, for what purpose, we don't know but just before he makes it over the threshold, Kvothe catches him. He simply asks Bast if he can get some eggs and carrots in his travels. Ever the helpful assistant, Bast assures Kvothe that he'll get what he needs and then heads off on his business. 

His business to go a clearning where there's a tree. It was struck by lightning, long ago, bleached white by the sun and now, it's where Bast more or less, "holds business." He sits in the grass, against the tree and waits. His first "customer" is a young girl who needs a lie.

She was playing with her mother's knives when she cut her hand and she wants to avoid the inevitable beating if her mother finds out the truth. So, Bast gives her a convincing story and in return, he asks for a secret. The morning goes on, much in this way, children coming and going, some more curious than others, like Kostrel. Through it all though, Bast is his usual, flippant, casual self. That is, until he's inadvertently bound by a boy named Rike, who he's had dealings with before. 

When Rike finally appears and tells Bast that he needs his help in killing his father, well, Bast has quite the decision to make. 

This was a quick but entertaining and at its core, a genuine and thoughtful read about one of the least known characters in Rothfuss' series. Since we know next to nothing about Bast, that just makes me want to learn more. And though this book doesn't really give anything away, it shows sides of Bast that we already knew but are expounded upon. It shows that deep down, he is good, he has a heart and he does care for others. His dealings with Rike and the other children of Newarre is proof of that. 

I think Rothfuss said it best in his Author's Endnote when he said that "Bast is a good wolf." 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

“Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter who's on the trail of six "Andys" (Androids) who have come to Earth illegally. His job is to track them down and "retire" them. Something he found easy to do until he met her, Rachael Rosen. The Android that does the impossible, passes the "Voight-Kampff" test. The story quickly devolves into a slow, drawn out and frankly boring mystery that was putting me to sleep by the end."    ⭐⭐ Pros: I was more interested in comparing it to the film, "Bladerunner."/At first I kind of liked the drab, dreary atmostphere but it soon became soporific.  Cons: I had no real idea what was going on with Mercerism/The end there had me blinking in bewilderment, like with Herbert's 29th Dune Book/There was a lot of idle chit-chat while they were in murderous/intense situations, it just seemed odd.  Full Review:  Rick Deckard, a Bounty Hunter, contracted with the San Francisco Police Department hunts down and retires rogue ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

"Obviously targeted to writers but honestly, anyone could benefit from Bradbury's practical yet poetic advice, this was a collection of esasys by Bradbury about his writing process and reflections on some of his greatest works."   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pros: Bradbury, duh, though I'm biased, to me, the man's prose is pure poetry, every word beautiful/Since writing is not my career, it was an interesting way to view Bradbury's life. Writing was his job and he was the only income. If he did not produce material, he would not get paid. It help put things into perspective.  Cons: The man can go on for a bit 😂/Bradbury's insane work ethic and endless endurance to just produce story after story seems insane and overwhelming but then again, this was his livelihood, so I'm sure it was insane and overwhelming. If he didn't write and get paid, they'd starve, so, it was a life or death situation. Full Review:  This was essentially a collection of essays written by Bra...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore

"Though dark, disturbing and at times, truly disgusting, Blakemore has created an unforgettable character in Tarare and his sad, sordid tale. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time for many different reasons and to me, that's a sign of a great read."  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Pros: Tarare wasn't a monster, it just seemed that the world was against him/I liked Lozeau and his strange band of misfits/Dr. Dupuis seemed like a genuinely good person, or at least, he had his moments.  Cons: Some of the timeline/people of the French Revolution were just white noise to me/Courville was a despicable man.  Full Review:  The Bottomless man, the Glutton of Lyon, Tarare the Terrible. The man who has many titles but who's name is simply, Tarare, is dying in a hospital in Versailles. Citizen Doctor Tissier has written to his friend, Dupuis, in hopes that he'll be able to cure this mysterious illness that plagues Tarare. For now though, he lays, chained to his bed and waits for...
Post a Comment
Read more