The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.00 You Save: $5.99 (60%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Historian
Book Review: I am breathless!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a rich, well-structured, detailed, and yet extremely exciting book that I could not put down for all of its 500-plus pages. Some reviewers have compared it to the DaVinci Code, but I think the writing is MUCH better than that, and the characters are better-drawn and more realistic. If I can compare Kostova's writing to anyone else's, it would be to Arturo Perez-Reverte, who writes equally intelligent mysteries that grip the reader by the throat (pun intended here) and don't let go until the last page.
There is almost nothing in this book that requires the reader to suspend disbelief -- and, in a book about vampires, that's pretty amazing. I found myself feeling that all of the characters in this book could have existed, and could exist now, in any city in the world.
There was only one small detail that bothered me, and maybe this shows how much of a nit-picker I can be when I read a book. Late in the novel, one character who has been known as "Rossi" throughout the book (Bartolomeo Rossi, the graduate advisor and historian) is suddenly referred to by another main character, his student, as "Ross." This happens in a critical part of the story, and at first I thought it was a typo, but then I saw it at least two more times, and it took me out of the story completely. Luckily, this book is so well-written otherwise that I was able to overlook this minor incongruity, and was soon caugh up in the mystery and magic again.
Not a quick read, certainly, but if you like your stories with some meat on them, and don't mind picking up some extremely interesting history along the way, then I heartily recommend "The Historian." And I hope Ms. Kostova has another novel coming out soon!
Book Review: One of the Best Books I've Read in AGES!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was gorgeous. It told the stories of three generations of historians who each receive a mysterious book that is entirely blank with the exception of a wood block print of a dragon in the center of the binding. Clasped in the claws of the dragon is a banner with a single word, "Drakulya." Driven by the insatiable need-to-know of true historians, each of the three follows historical clues like bread crumbs, hoping that each clue will be the key to unlocking the location of the tomb of Vlad Tepes. But, as they are searching backwards in history, history is staring back at them with unblinking eyes.
I loved this book. The writing is what first captured me. Ms. Kostova's style was clean and concise, and it was also ideally suited to the appropriate atmospherics needed to keep a horror story from slipping into the rhythms and cliches of a 'penny dreadful.' And let me tell you, some of the scenes in this book are CHILLING, but thankfully, she seems to prefer to gloss over most of the truly gruesome details.
The ONLY thing that I would say negative about this book is that the method she has employed to tell all three layers of this story causes some pacing problems in the early chapters. The story is told by a sixteen year old girl who is recounting a story of her father's life who is (often, although not always) recounting the story his mentor told him. It's a bit unwieldy, but there is never any confusion over whose story you are following.
I would highly recommend this book. It's fantasyish enough for the fantasy lovers. It's lovely prose for the lit readers and never heavy-handed with the supernatural.
Book Review: A glorious read
Summary: 5 Stars
This is hands down one of my absolute favorite novels. I should preface, though, that I can easily get sucked into historical topics of dubious historical credibility - i.e., dracula. If you're someone who cannot embrace the mere possibility of at least some of the dracula/vlad tepesh (sp?) stories, then this book is not for you. This book is entertaining only if you're willing to embrace those possibilities, at least insofar as they relate to the telling of a highly engaging piece of fiction. And it is all that. Its an immensely fast read, fast paced, great character development, well told with interesting snippets of history, etc. Well in the Da Vinci code vein, with a tour through some of the most famous historical places as the story unwinds. Rich use of english, with just enough writing sophistication to please the literary snobs, yet light enough to be an agile, fast read. I must say that my judgment may be a bit impaired, though; i read this while enjoying the views of waikiki beach where even weird al yankovic might have a passing chance of being interesting.Book Review: First Class Suspense!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was the perfect novel to read during the fall season, with Halloween slowly approaching. The book picks up right in the beginning when Professor Rossi tells Paul that Dracula is indeed alive and a vampire. That sentence freaked me out for a moment and I was hooked for the entire length of the book. The author keeps you entertained with the history of Vlad Tepes as the characters gradually discover for themselves the evil that lurks in the darkness, following them as they come closer and closer to the truth. The ending is expected yet entertaining, bringing about a relatively happy conclusion. I am looking forward for more from this author, and will definitely re-read this book in the future.Book Review: Intelligent vampire story
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't go for vampire stuff just becuz of all that stupid TWILIGHT garbage out there right now. But if you are a fairly smart person, then you'll like this.
This spooky story follows a young woman on a quest to find her father--see why I didn't think i'd like it. But it isn't like that. The writer must have traveled a lot especially to all of the places the characters go becuz it is written so clear and detailed. You follow her as she investigates all the places her father might have gone, and finally she starts running into mysterious people and happenings that get more and more complex until BAM all of a sudden this long book is over and you still want to read more.