Post by rickus on Jan 19, 2006 13:53:20 GMT -5
A while back Amanda started a thread entitled: Whatcha reading? In it I mentioned having heard an interview with Elizabeth Kostova about her new book The Historian. Amanda remembered this and for Christmas this year she and Justin surprised me with a copy of if.
One month to the day after they gave it to me, I have put all of it's 640 plus pages behind me. It's a fun read in the same genre as the DiVinci Codes. The story begins when a young girl discovers an old book in her fathers library. A book without any text, only a single engraving in the center of the book of a menacing looking dragon with a curling tail.
It's a multi generational thriller that has it charicters chasing all over Europe including some pre and post World War Two, Soviet States in search of the historic Vlad Tapas - Dracula.
I admit to being a bit of a fan of Vampire stories. I've read a few of Ann Rices tales, this book was much more appealing to me. Ann Rice writes from the perspective of the vampire with an almost Soprano-esq need for therapy. Vlad Tapas is more a device, while he is the driving force for much of the action in the story, most mentions of him are from a historical perspective. Ms. Kostova's characters are the sort of people we would find ourselves hanging around. They are well adjusted for the most part yet sadly alone with their noses buried in old books, and comfortable discussing heady topics.
Elizabeth Kostova puts such detail in the sights, sounds and even smells her story moves through, that I'm sure she mush have spent a fortune traveling to get the feel of the areas just right. That adherence to detail has rekindled my desire to see Turkey, and to travel to other east European countries as well.
In short it's a good fun read. The kind to curl up with in your favorite reading chair on a cold afternoon, with a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
Thanks Amanda & Justin!
One month to the day after they gave it to me, I have put all of it's 640 plus pages behind me. It's a fun read in the same genre as the DiVinci Codes. The story begins when a young girl discovers an old book in her fathers library. A book without any text, only a single engraving in the center of the book of a menacing looking dragon with a curling tail.
It's a multi generational thriller that has it charicters chasing all over Europe including some pre and post World War Two, Soviet States in search of the historic Vlad Tapas - Dracula.
I admit to being a bit of a fan of Vampire stories. I've read a few of Ann Rices tales, this book was much more appealing to me. Ann Rice writes from the perspective of the vampire with an almost Soprano-esq need for therapy. Vlad Tapas is more a device, while he is the driving force for much of the action in the story, most mentions of him are from a historical perspective. Ms. Kostova's characters are the sort of people we would find ourselves hanging around. They are well adjusted for the most part yet sadly alone with their noses buried in old books, and comfortable discussing heady topics.
Elizabeth Kostova puts such detail in the sights, sounds and even smells her story moves through, that I'm sure she mush have spent a fortune traveling to get the feel of the areas just right. That adherence to detail has rekindled my desire to see Turkey, and to travel to other east European countries as well.
In short it's a good fun read. The kind to curl up with in your favorite reading chair on a cold afternoon, with a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
Thanks Amanda & Justin!