The Slow Regard of Silent Things

Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 2.5

By: Patrick Rothfuss

Narrated by: Patrick Rothfuss

Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

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 listener 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.

©2014 Patrick Rothfuss (P)2014 Penguin Audio

A sweet story

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve always been curious about Ari. I loved hearing her backstory. My husband had cautioned me about it. I think that Patrick Rothfuss said it best in his author’s note. This story is not necessarily for all people. I am a somewhat broken person, and the story was right for me. Thank you Patrick for taking a chance on Ari. It has really been a sweet story.

Didn't add much to the Kingkiller universe for me.

Beautifully written in Auri's voice, however there's not much else going on here. She runs around in the dark and interacts with inanimate objects. The end.

Rothfuss' narration was very good.

different

wasn't a huge fan, but i loved the detail. the author was definitely able to convey the main characters state of mind. I appreciated the author explanation. I believe he hit that part on the nail.

Strange and Wonderful

This story is like a warm beverage on a cold night. It makes me feel seen in my neurodivergence and cared for as a person. It’s strange and as he says “it doesn’t do what most stories do” but it does something none have. It gives insight to an oddly shaped brain and a sweet heart finding her way through the world.

This book has many times helped me through hard days and challenging nights. I will thank him a thousand times over for this book.

a short tale

it's an unusual and beautiful story. It reminds me of a fairy tale in its structure.

Auri

I will admit, it took me at least the first chapter to begin to follow Auri's train of thought. No, train of thought isn't quite right, and ' follow' isn't right either. This read like a description of her ¿philosophy? How do you describe the the journey or thought process of a wisp?
Irregardless, I whole-heartedly enjoyed this book.

Great book!

Patrick has a warning at the beginning of this book saying it might not be for everyone... well that might be correct, but it is amazing story! If you like his writing,there is no way you can miss this book. I just can't wait for him to finish the third book!

Strange and wonderful

The author characterized this as strange, disjointed, and off-putting — a story that does not follow the usual “rules” for a story — that is exactly correct!
And I loved it!!

I love this one! I love Ari!

I feel like Ari is my sweet little soul sister! She is the sweet little broken me that is imperfectly perfect in an perfectly imperfect world.

Odd story about an odd character, and I love both!

What did you love best about The Slow Regard of Silent Things?

The character of Auri. Specifically, I loved learning more about her as well as more about the world she inhabits - both externally and internally.

What other book might you compare The Slow Regard of Silent Things to and why?

The author's other books - the Kingkiller Chronicals, and The Lightning Tree novella

What does Patrick Rothfuss bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really love the narration of the NOTW and WMF by Nick Poedhl, and I missed that here at first, but by the end I appreciated that we got to learn about Auri in the author's own voice. Patrick Rothfuss created her, and it was interesting to hear his delivery, even if he is not as masterful a voice actor as I am now accustomed to hearing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes - it's a short book, though...a novella, really. I plan to listen again a bit more closely so that I can hopefully pick up on some things I am sure I must have missed the first time.

Any additional comments?

I am as annoyed as anyone that we have not yet seen "Doors of Stone" - but this was book was a treat, and along with the recent Bast story - "The Lightning Tree" - has both sated and whetted my appetite for the next installment. I actually hope that the DOS is not the last book in this world - maybe PR will do another series in the Four Corners. Some of the bashing that TSROST has taken from other critics is silly - the book is what the author wanted and warned us it would be - a deeper look at one of the more mysterious characters in the larger story, and the atypical third person prose and narrative style is very reflective of the mind of that character.