[quote=@Kassarock]

In defence of Rothfuss and Name of the Wind, I think a lot of people potentially misread Kvothe as a positive heroic archetype, when if anything I think he's meant to something of a negative one. Kvothe is brilliant and amazing etc. But it doesn't get him anywhere, he continually self sabotages and fucks things up through his arrogance and pride, he's literally his own worst enemy in a lot of the shit that happens to him. And we know he's gonna do something truly terrible by story's end.
[/quote]

This. I think the argument that Kvothe is a Mary Sue is overblown because for all his ridiculous skills and talents it doesn't help him what so ever. After two books he has made literally zero progress on his goal save for a couple of encounters that come apart by chance. If anything the fact that he is portrayed in his narrator role as a broken down loser is a cautionary tale about making sure you use your powers wisely rather than sticking your head up your own rear.


More seriously though, does anyone really have a single favorite book? I can probably produce a list of my favorite books plural, but does it make sense to look at one book and say this is my favorite?