When J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer meet – A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Published on: December 27 2011

By: Viking Adult

Number of pages: 579

Reading attempt: 1

Reading time: 7 days

Rating: «««

Advice: The trilogy beginning of an adult “Twilight” mixed with “Harry Potter”

Also available in French as: Le Livre Perdu des Sortilèges

The context

If I remember correctly, I bought this book about 4 months after it was published, mainly because the abstract attracted me.  I had truly enjoyed the “Harry Potter” series and I must admit that I had (and still have) a soft spot for the “Twilight” saga.  There I said it: I sometimes indulge myself in the romantic cheesiness that comes with many of books found in the teen book section.

Being close to one of my bi-annual vacation, I told myself that this seemed like a good contender for vacation read.  As you have already guessed, with my addiction to buying more books than I can read, I delayed my reading of this novel of about 2 years.  Oups!!

The story

The story line opens with Diana Bishop, a witch whose only desire is to be as normal and as human as she can be.  While researching references in the Bodleian Library (Oxford) for an upcoming conference on the history of science and alchemy, she comes across a bewitched manuscript named Ashmole 782.  Now here is the catch: the above mentioned manuscript hasn't been seen by any magical creature for the last 150 years.  So how was she able to set her eyes on it?  Without wanting to, Diana sets in motion a series of events that will blow beyond her control as every magical creature (witch, daemon and vampire) tries to put their hands on the precious manuscript that may hold the key to their origin and survival.

Among them, a fifteen hundred year-old vampire and geneticist, Matthew Clairmont, who has already laid eyes on the manuscript right before it disappeared and who believes that his only chance at getting the book may well rest in the hand of a novice witch, he will have to befriend.  See me coming so far?

The review

The author has built here a well balanced mixture of fantasy, romance, history and suspense by focusing mainly on the mysterious alchemy manuscript that is Ashmole 782.  Her story is beautifully written and includes a lot of details that helps the reader immerse him/herself into the story.  I particularly enjoyed her well researched historical description as well as the description she makes of Oxford and its campus and libraries.  It felt has if I was there instead of here when I read those.  I felt committed to the story.  Until...

Until, I advanced further into the story and realized that it tended to resemble more and more an adult version of Twilight.  At first it didn't truly bother me that much; should the author have adapted the love story and sensual details to the fact that her two main characters are in their mid-thirties, it would have probably been fine.  The problem is that she didn't  which makes this part of the plot sound unrealistic and a tad bit too cheesy.

As for the characters, I found that the author’s strength lied mainly with her supporting characters (such as Marcus, Ysabeau, Sarah and Emily) more that with Diana and Matthew, who are her mains characters.  As a matter of fact, their unrealistic and juvenile love story (and at times, behavior) made them less likable and immature.  I felt deeper connection to her supporting characters which to me, seemed more realistic emotionally. 

All in all, a dense book where immersing yourself remains a possibility as long as you’re able to live with the occasional lack of realism of the two main characters.  As this is the first book of a trilogy you can already guess that I have the second published installment on hand.  But it will have to wait a little, as there’s a limit to the amount cheesiness I can take J

As always, keep reading all of you bookworms and book lovers out there.  Let me know what you’re reading or how you found it.  Who knows, you might inspire me my next great read.  Should you be wandering what happened with “World Without End”, let’s just say I diverged from it a bit... in hope to get back to it soon.

Until next time

Ladybug

When the Old joins the New – Mr Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

Published on: September 24 2012

By: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Number of pages: 288

Reading attempt: 2

Reading time: 4 ½ days

Rating: «««

Advice: Read it if you like books about books or if you are in an “in-between” books period

Also available in French as: yet to be published

The context

I bought this book a while back; my guess is probably when I came back from Portugal last September.  At the time I hadn't read anything except my guidebook for the past two weeks and I was desperate to put my hands on something good.  As I was, yet another time, touring around different bookstores, I came across Robin Sloan’s book and it intrigued me: a book about books.

Let’s just say that based on this fact alone, buying the book was a done deal.  I didn't get far the first time I tried reading it.  I guess I just wasn't ready or in the mood for it.  But now, in between Ken Follett’s, I think the timing was perfect.

The story

Set mainly in San Francisco during the Great Recession that happened only a few years ago, we follow Clay Jannon who after losing his job as a web-designer, is in desperate need of a steady paycheck.  As his criteria for the perfect job go from several to non-existent, he ends up at Mr Penumbra’s 24-hour bookstore where he lands a job as night clerk.  But this bookstore is no ordinary store as he soon realizes.

First, not only does it sale everyday books to very rare paying customers, some individuals also come in repeatedly, checking out books that turn out to be impossible to read.  Clay concludes that there is more here than meets the eye and he will, with the help of his friends and modern technology, crack open this mystery, only to find out that the secrets extend far beyond this single bookstore.

The review

This book already had my vote when I first bought it.  I mean let’s face it: this is a book about books and the mysteries and secrets they may hold.  If you are obsessed by books as much as I sometimes may be, you are bound to find something interesting in it.

Although the story line, humanity’s everlasting search for immortality, is nothing new, the simple fact that the characters, especially the “Average Joe” Clay Jannon, show some sort of self-deprecation brings humor to this complex story plot.  By this process, the author shows that the story doesn't take itself too seriously bringing in some welcome lightness.

Its main characters, “Ordinary” Clay Jannon and “Grandfatherly” Mr Penumbra, both lead the way through this maze with their allies.  Every character is as realistic as can be as they all come with their qualities and visible flaws.

But do not be fooled by this easy style because as Robin Sloan allies all you normally need to make a good book (a good story plot full of twists and complexities with realistic characters), the author makes this important point: it is and will always be possible to have a balance in-between the Old and the New and this balance might forever coexist.    His point is frequently repeated in this book as the characters will have to use both modern technology as well as old books to crack this 500 years old mystery. Throughout the book, he also makes a point of showing that both vectors have their advantages and limitations, reinforcing his point of view about the cohabitation of these two information mediums.

And yet, as every person has its flaws so does every book, this one being no exception. The technical jargon about computer programming and the programming techniques described in this novel were a little complicated to understand and the concepts of their use difficult to grasp.

Moreover, the fast paced story plot made it at times feel as if all this puzzle solving and mystery cracking was a tad bit too easy for the characters.  The struggles they had didn't seem as convincing as they should have.  This feeling is further reinforced through the too perfect ending; which is why the book ended up feeling a little flat to me, hence its rating.

This being said, even though this book doesn't end up being as memorable to me as I first thought it would be, it remains a good book that showcases an interesting point of view about the future and the preservation of the old and new knowledge.

As always, keep reading all of you bookworms and book lovers out there.  Let me know what you’re reading or how you found it.  Who knows, you might inspire me my next great read.

Until next time

Ladybug

A work of rare beauty – The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Published on: June 29 2010

By: Berkley Mass Market

Number of pages: 983

Reading attempt: 1

Reading time: 20 days

Rating: «««««

Advice: It’s a must read!!!!!

Also available in French as: Les Piliers de la Terre

The context

I have been hearing the name of Ken Follett for a while now, whether it is related to his previous thriller novels or his more recent historical ones.  But lately with his new book trilogy “The Century Trilogy” and “World without End” now out on DVD, it’s becoming more and more of an actual talk than a simple whisper or murmur.  This is how I convinced myself to finally buy the book ... last summer.

As you see, I didn't exactly throw myself into it right away.  Actually it took a push from one of my friends who had just finished reading the “sequel” a short time ago.  Looking back on those last 3 weeks, I have to say that I owe her many thanks, because the last 21 days have brought me nothing but amazement.

The story

This is twelfth-century England; a country divided by a war of succession in-between the weak-minded nephew of the last king and his last legitimate child, a woman.  Their fight will touch many: some will acquire power and wealth only hoping for more, others will be betrayed and destitute and seek revenge over those who wronged them.

The main theater, the impoverished Kingsbridge priory and its new prior, who is desperate to bring back the old glory of his institution with a new and modern cathedral.  But others do not see eye to eye with him and will stop at nothing to interfere in his plans and those of his allies.

The review

This novel is a thing of beauty.  Rarely do you fall on a book that’s got everything working for it: a great story line, riveting characters, extraordinary writing style and thorough historical details.

The story plot is action-packed and features such themes as despair, treachery, corruption, betrayal and love.  The author also depicts here a fine reconstruction of what twelfth-century life was like.  The result makes for a book that is quite dense and complex where you can never guess what will happen later on, which makes it a powerful and undeniable page-turner.

The small downside is that it is a tad bit slow to start and that some of the technical jargon concerning the architecture and the building of the cathedral might discourage some.  The ending also tends to draw on a little, even though every single conflict is resolved.

As for the characters, the author makes it clear that he has great insight into people behavior as his creations come alive on the paper as well as in our imagination.  The author also adds a layer of complexity to his story through the intertwining of his characters’s lives.  This effect is achieved through the over description that is made of their thoughts and their feelings.  The result is simply magnificent as you are powerless to hate those who have a despicable and dark nature and love the heroes even through their rough patches.

This novel is not doubt a long-term commitment, but I can assure anyone who will take this path that it will be worthwhile and that there are no disappointments whatsoever.  You will be completely and utterly immersed in this book until you resurface at the very end of it.

As for those who still aren't sold on reading it and those to whom the thought of a thousand page-long book gives a hive, you could always settle for the eight-episode TV series, now available on DVD.  As I have seen it, I can say that it is a fairly good compromise, although you will lack in story detail and the directors took some creative liberties and tempered a little with the original story line.

As always, keep reading all of you bookworms and book lovers out there.  Let me know what you’re reading or how you found it.  Who knows, you might inspire me my next great read.  But for now, I am preparing myself for yet another tour of Ken Follett’s world... this one without endJ

Until next time

Ladybug