The Eight
by Katherine Neville
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Book Summary Information
Author: Katherine NevilleEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1997-06-23
ISBN: 0345419081
Number of pages: 624
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Book Reviews of The Eight
Book Review: Truly incredible thriller
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is my favorite thriller of all time. I read fifty of 'em a year, and this is in my opinion the best
The book follows two groups of characters, one in the late 18th century and one in the 1970's. Both seek the same thing, the pieces of an ancient chess set dating to the time of Charlemagne. The chess set is said to influence those who possess it, for either good or evil. Soon, both groups of characters realize that they are caught up in an ancient quest for knowledge and power.
The first group of characters is anchored by two former nuns in France during the Revolution. Neville's descriptions of the period feel as authentic as the best historical fiction, but she never gets so bogged down in historical details that the pace suffers. We meet all kinds of famous people who have a role to play in the quest, including the poet William Blake, revolutionary Maximilian Robespierre, and Catherine the Great of Russia. Best of all, Neville never forces them into roles that don't match their history, seamlessly incorporating a mystical Blake and a soon-to-be emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, among others.
The modern group of characters also revolves around two women, Cat Velis, an IT analyst and Lily Rad, a chess grand-master. They, too, meet with many others who help or hinder them on their quest. The modern story contains fewer tie-ins to real events, although much of the action takes place in Algeria around the time of the first OPEC oil embargo. The path taken by these characters mirrors that of the historical group, but feels complementary rather than repetitive. You get the real sense of a single story, even though it spans multiple centuries.
The very end of the book is, if not predictable, at least not unique. But that honestly makes no difference at all. After such an incredible journey, it almost seems logical for the end to approach a cliche. I enjoyed it. I can't stress enough how great Neville is at weaving so many threads into a story you can't put down. I'm not sure I've ever read a book that makes me as jealous as a writer as this one does.
The writing itself is excellent as well. Neville breaks a number of "rules" of writing, including changing points of view in the middle or end of a section and doing a lot of telling of backstory. But that just makes the book better. She doesn't overdo either of these, and she seems to know just when and how to do it without taking the reader out of the story. Another thing she really does well is to make her characters' emotions seem real. Most thrillers either gloss over emotions for most characters, or tell you very directly what the character is feeling. And that usually works fine. Neville mostly takes a more literary approach of showing you the emotions with dialogue and situations where they become obvious. But as with the rest of the writing, her touch is light enough that it doesn't feel literary, it just feels real.
Normally, I try to mention at least something about the negatives in the books I review. However, I simply don't have any to mention for "The Eight." I imagine some people who really like thrillers with violence in every chapter (and I like those myself a lot of the time) wouldn't care for the book. It really is a "thriller," not an action novel. Imagine a book like the Da Vinci Code where the historical pieces came to life as a thriller in their own right and the writing was clearer, without as much superficial melodrama. That book would be "The Eight."
Summary of The Eight
New York City, 1972?A dabbler in mathematics and chess, Catherine Velis is also a computer expert for a Big Eight accounting firm. Before heading off to a new assignment in Algeria, Cat has her palm read by a fortune-teller. The woman warns Cat of danger. Then an antiques dealer approaches Cat with a mysterious offer: He has an anonymous client who is trying to collect the pieces of an ancient chess service, purported to be in Algeria. If Cat can bring the pieces back, there will be a generous reward.The South of France, 1790?Mireille de Remy and her cousin Valentine are young novices at the fortresslike Montglane Abbey. With France aflame in revolution, the two girls burn to rebel against constricted convent life?and their means of escape is at hand. Buried deep within the abbey are pieces of the Montglane Chess Service, once owned by Charlemagne. Whoever reassembles the pieces can play a game of unlimited power. But to keep the Game a secret from those who would abuse it, the two young women must scatter the pieces throughout the world. . . .
Katherine Neville's debut novel is a postmodern thriller set in 1972 ... and 1790. In the 20th century, Catherine Velis is a computer expert with a flair for music, painting, and chess who, on her way to Algeria at the behest of the accounting firm where she is employed, is invited to take a mysterious moonlighting assignment: recover the pieces of an old chess set missing for centuries.
In the midst of the French Revolution, a young novice discovers that her abbey is the hiding place of a chess set, once owned by the great Charlemagne, which allows those who play it to tap into incredible powers beyond the imagination. She eventually comes into contact with the major historical figures of the day, from Robespierre to Napoleon, each of whom has an agenda.
The Eight is a non-stop ride that recalls the swashbuckling adventures of Indiana Jones as well as the historical puzzles of Umberto Eco which, since its first publication in 1988, has gone on to acquire a substantial cult following.
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