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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first of the Brother Cadfael books, this the Welsh-born monk returning to his homeland in an entourage from his English Benedictine abbey. They have travelled in hopes of acquiring a saint’s bones so that their abbey will rise in importance. The prior rationalizes this as being all for the glory of the saint, conveniently ignoring the fury of the Welsh villagers who have always considered the saint their own.
This sets up a struggle between the Benedictines and the villagers. As a native Welshman, Cadfael quietly sides with the villagers. He’s there as translator and he does his best to convey the reality of the situation rather than the specific words his proud, vain, and self-important prior uses to justify taking away the saint’s bones.
There’s a murder, possibly a coverup or misdirection, some romantic entanglements, and lots of religious ecstasy and visions. Skeptical Cadfael is less inclined to believe the mystical when the earthly shows the truth of the matter.
A good introduction. I’m looking forward to reading a few more of the Cadfael books.
This sets up a struggle between the Benedictines and the villagers. As a native Welshman, Cadfael quietly sides with the villagers. He’s there as translator and he does his best to convey the reality of the situation rather than the specific words his proud, vain, and self-important prior uses to justify taking away the saint’s bones.
There’s a murder, possibly a coverup or misdirection, some romantic entanglements, and lots of religious ecstasy and visions. Skeptical Cadfael is less inclined to believe the mystical when the earthly shows the truth of the matter.
A good introduction. I’m looking forward to reading a few more of the Cadfael books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What really makes this story is the language. The prose sets the historical stage. Peters has well-developed characters and a lovely setting. For this first book, it takes a while to get to the murder. The first part is a bit slow until you get to the adversity regarding the saint's bones and the mysterious death.
I was surprised to see this book was written in 1977! Despite the age, it reads quite well over 40 years later. In fact, many modern books don't hit the beautiful historical voice so well as this book does. An interesting read with fun characters and mystery.
I was surprised to see this book was written in 1977! Despite the age, it reads quite well over 40 years later. In fact, many modern books don't hit the beautiful historical voice so well as this book does. An interesting read with fun characters and mystery.
First in the series and a very slow, plodding start.
But ... about half way through the pace quickened and I was amused. Amused enough that I’ll probably read a few more of these.
Going to read more before I pass judgement. First in the series is 3 1/2 stars. My guess is it gets better from here.
But ... about half way through the pace quickened and I was amused. Amused enough that I’ll probably read a few more of these.
Going to read more before I pass judgement. First in the series is 3 1/2 stars. My guess is it gets better from here.
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
This is the first of the Cadfael mysteries-I LOVE and own every book. I love the character Cadfael to the point that I re-read the entire series each year during early spring and I've continued this tradition for at least 25 years.
I first came upon Cadfael through a gardening window display at our local library one spring; "A Morbid Taste for Bones" was sitting amongst the "how to" gardening books and it struck me as completely strange that a piece of fiction would be included in the display. Praise to the librarian or person who thought of it! I found a second copy of A Morbid Taste for Bones in the library and proceed to devour it and subsequently each and every one of the books in the series. I tell people who ask me that Cadfael is a medieval monk who uses forensics as related to plants and medicine--he is a man who studies human nature and who balances the superstition and religious fervour of the time with scientific & modernistic thinking.
These books have affected my life in ways that I would never have imagined. They sparked my interest in ancient medicines and herbariums. Whenever we have gone to Europe I always make sure to visit one Medieval garden and next time we're in Britian it's my hope to go to Shewsbury. Today I have a number of plants that are referred to in the books and am particularly proud of my stunning blue monkshood despite the fact is is poisonous.
It's February & I'm itching to get down to reading and vist with Cadfael again. I'll probably watch some of the Cadfael TV Series once I'm done the books--I have to admit that Derek Jacobi is now the Cadfael in my mind as I read rather than the Cadfael of my imagination; to me it is a testament of what a great job DJ has done in bringing this characer to life. Reading Cadfael each year just before the gardening season starts has become a tradition in my life as important as looking seed catalogues and perusing gardening books--each year some type of inspiration or a new plant I haven't considered pops off one of the pages; to have a book of fiction that affects my life in such a way each year is not only a great gift but testament to the author.
I first came upon Cadfael through a gardening window display at our local library one spring; "A Morbid Taste for Bones" was sitting amongst the "how to" gardening books and it struck me as completely strange that a piece of fiction would be included in the display. Praise to the librarian or person who thought of it! I found a second copy of A Morbid Taste for Bones in the library and proceed to devour it and subsequently each and every one of the books in the series. I tell people who ask me that Cadfael is a medieval monk who uses forensics as related to plants and medicine--he is a man who studies human nature and who balances the superstition and religious fervour of the time with scientific & modernistic thinking.
These books have affected my life in ways that I would never have imagined. They sparked my interest in ancient medicines and herbariums. Whenever we have gone to Europe I always make sure to visit one Medieval garden and next time we're in Britian it's my hope to go to Shewsbury. Today I have a number of plants that are referred to in the books and am particularly proud of my stunning blue monkshood despite the fact is is poisonous.
It's February & I'm itching to get down to reading and vist with Cadfael again. I'll probably watch some of the Cadfael TV Series once I'm done the books--I have to admit that Derek Jacobi is now the Cadfael in my mind as I read rather than the Cadfael of my imagination; to me it is a testament of what a great job DJ has done in bringing this characer to life. Reading Cadfael each year just before the gardening season starts has become a tradition in my life as important as looking seed catalogues and perusing gardening books--each year some type of inspiration or a new plant I haven't considered pops off one of the pages; to have a book of fiction that affects my life in such a way each year is not only a great gift but testament to the author.
Nice!! This series will be good for lighter reading to offset some of the darker things I read. Monastic beach-reads, if you will! I believe Brother Cadfael would approve of the description ;)