I thought this was an excellent historical novel; it was fairly well-written, a decent pace of action and interesting subject matter.
The story gets a I thought this was an excellent historical novel; it was fairly well-written, a decent pace of action and interesting subject matter.
The story gets a little chunky and abrupt at the end, but in reading the afterword it may just be because the author had a paucity of material to work from; and I found the afterward especially interesting in that it discussed the historical documentation supporting Pope Joan's two-year reign, and the subsequent 'wiping clean' of history books.
I'd been wanting to read this book for some time, but others got in the way; it's one I've put on my 50 to read for this year. It did not disappoint.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those about women who are atypical of the time....more
I enjoyed this book much more than I enjoyed The Red Tent. I don't think it's so much the early American vs Biblical history aspect, as I've enjoyed wI enjoyed this book much more than I enjoyed The Red Tent. I don't think it's so much the early American vs Biblical history aspect, as I've enjoyed writings of each era.
More, this book was shorter, more compact. The story had less embellishment, but the emotion and the plot were stronger. It seemed bleak, but I think it mirrored life back then, and yet it still left you with some form of hope.
All in all, not a bad book. Not a great one, but not a bad one, either....more
Well, he's gone and done it again! Another brilliant, engrossing true-life novel, completely with two independent yet seamlessly interwoven story lineWell, he's gone and done it again! Another brilliant, engrossing true-life novel, completely with two independent yet seamlessly interwoven story lines that he manages to treat equitably through and through.
This book is a compelling journey of one man into the annals of scientific history (Marconi) and another into the depths of criminality (Crippen). The stories tie together in the end, during Crippen's capture.
Neither story can be said to be particularly happy: Both men were irredeemably flawed in many ways and though Marconi chose to channel his discontent through science, his family suffered the ill-effects.
Crippen, on the other hand, was plagued by his family - his wife in particular, but professionally he was a well-respected doctor and neighbor.
This book is about balance (or lack thereof) in peoples' lives, their obsessions and loves that drive them sometimes beyond the brink - and if not into total madness, then close enough to do real damage to themselves and those they love.
It's an excellent read for any student of human nature, and the complicated relationships that are affected by it.
The only minor quibble I have is the subplot about the supernatural. It revolved around a man named Lodge who was a peer of Marconi's: Indeed, he may have actually beaten Marconi to the punch had it not been for his 'otherwordly' obsession. Yet, he was such a minor character for the most part that the subplot seems to offer distraction rather than insight. It does help somewhat to explain the rivalry between the two, but the elaboration seemed unecessary when maybe a paragraph would have done.
Other than that, an excellent, evenly-paced read that I managed to down in about 36 hours, all told. ...more
The subject was fascinating, but the writing was dull.
I have been trying to read this book for two weeks and only got to page 89 before realizing it The subject was fascinating, but the writing was dull.
I have been trying to read this book for two weeks and only got to page 89 before realizing it would be months before I finished. In fact, I finished two other (good) books in the space of time I've been mulling over trying to wrap up this one. That's a bad sign.
Still, when I could find a few quiet moments this book did have a compelling story behind it. Jack Hornby was a dashing, romantic figure of sorts - aristocratic, wealthy, eccentric. On this trip, which he undertakes with his nephew (an inexperienced outdoorsman fresh out of school) and an old friend (whose time in the armed forces made him a bit slightly more experienced candidate), it becomes clear early on that the expedition was ill-planned and foolhardy.
After many mistakes in judgment, a three men die. (This is no plot spoiler - much the same is said on the front flap and the back cover). Their frozen bodies were discovered two years later when a Mountie came across their cabin. Inside the cabin was a diary kept by Edgar, the nephew, that chronicled their decline. Passages from it represent the most interesting parts of this slow-paced book. In fact, I'd have much preferred they just publish the diary in toto.
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