The Name of the Wind

This was one of the most thoroughly enjoyable books I have ever read, and I didn't want it to end.
The book is centered around Kvothe, who we first meet as an unassuming bartender in a small town. It is quickly discovered that he is actually a modern-day hero/myth gone in to hiding. When he tells his story, the real book begins.
This story is mostly in first-person which is a very unique style for Fantasy. The result is that a story that would usually be told in grandiose style is instead deeply personal. We witness his struggles with money and girls, as well as the mental process involved in creating magic (sympathy) and how one develops from a performer's son to a legend.
As he grows up, you can't help but love and admire this quick-witted character who, in spite of his brilliance and determination, seems to make every wrong decision possible. The depth of the world he lives in is created through mini-stories within the story. Through these mini-stories, Rothfuss hints at the full scale of the history of this world, but we only get a taste of. It begs the question of what else there is going on in this amazing land.
Finally, the sheer quality of writing is what separates this book from the rest. When I try to describe to friends why they should read this book, I always fall short because nothing about the story itself seems mind-blowing; it is the way his story is told that makes the book truly unique. The author can describe a sad song so vividly that it's as if you're listening. Without even giving the lyrics of the song, the implied emotions are enough to choke you up. Somehow when reading this, one feels everything Kvothe feels.
This book appeals to hardcore fantasy fans, dabblers of fantasy and non-fans alike. It is a great story, written fantastically. That's all there is to it.