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3.12 AVERAGE
3.12 AVERAGE
I found this to be a well-written thriller with an interesting triple-narrative-thread. The first-person narrator in one of those threads is particularly well-developed. At bottom, it's a typical historical mystery, ciphered text, suspenseful chase for the truth kind of paperback, and anyone expecting more will be disappointed. But it's smarter, better written, and has a few more interesting characters than others of its type.
'The Book of Air and Shadows' falls somewhere between Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinci Code' and Eco's 'Foucault's Pendulum' (though it lies much closer to the Da Vinci code). If you wanted to enjoy the Da Vinci Code but simply couldn't get past its shallow absurdity then give this one a read next time you are spending the day on your favorite lawn chair soaking up those vacation rays. It is quick and easy while being mildly informative about Shakespeare and cryptography.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Michael Gruber's The Book of Air and Shadows is an odd combination of literary treasure hunt, personal memoir, and mystery-thriller. Two men in New York get caught up in the discovery of an old manuscript that may hold details of a lost Shakespeare artifact. Such a thing being extremely valuable, shadowy enemies are after it and anyone who is in on the discovery. A lot of the writing rambles all over the place, going off on tangents about personal history, friends and family, sexual conquests (or lack thereof), etc so that we end up learning all about the men's lives while they're dealing with this discovery. We also get the manuscript itself in chunks at the end of each chapter, written in ye olde English so it takes some extra effort to decipher. The first half of the book is very slow, much more rambling than action, but it picks up in the second half with gangsters, fights, gun battles, travel to historical sites in England, various people not what they seemed...everything you'd expect from a story with this premise.
In my opinion, this book needed a lot more editing. I found myself skimming a lot of the rambling about Jake's philandering and Albert's angst over romantic and professional failings. There's a decent plot in there, built around the story contained in the manuscript and the world of historians who study such things, but you have to wade through a whole lot of frankly uninteresting detail of personal failings to find it. I'm not unhappy that I read it, but I'd not pick up another one by Gruber unless I was assured of a more focused narrative.
In my opinion, this book needed a lot more editing. I found myself skimming a lot of the rambling about Jake's philandering and Albert's angst over romantic and professional failings. There's a decent plot in there, built around the story contained in the manuscript and the world of historians who study such things, but you have to wade through a whole lot of frankly uninteresting detail of personal failings to find it. I'm not unhappy that I read it, but I'd not pick up another one by Gruber unless I was assured of a more focused narrative.
an incredibly interesting, well-researched book. definitely dragged at times, and difficult to get through, but by muddling through the weaker parts of the story, the reader is rewarded with a thrilling narrative. there are definitely flaws within the structure and the characters are mostly difficult to like, but the close of the story is satisfying, and it is worth wading through the rest to get there.
This is one of those books that sadly suffered from a comparative review on its dust jacket. The review measured this book up with The Da Vinci Code, not the best of moves. Now, I won't pretend that The Da Vinci Code is literary gold, but it is a very exciting piece of fiction. Engaging and fast-paced. When its title is referenced on another book, I would assume that the second book would also have these qualities. Swap out Da Vinci for Shakespeare and I'm on board. False advertising. This book was all right, but it didn't have the engaging quality of Da Vinci Code. Had the comparison not been made for me, I might have enjoyed this book much more. Sadly, I went in thinking one thing and got something Other.
I really wanted to like this book. Lost Shakespeare text being found, mobsters, a high-end book dealers who specialized in first editions whose last name was Glaser... But this book was so boring. I listened to 2 (out of 15) cds and it got absolutely no where. The stream of consciousness way of thinking was super annoying as well.
The publisher sent this book to STNJ because it's a little bit about Shakespeare and they probably hoped we'd sell it in the gift shop. I picked it up because it looked like a light, but possibly intriguing read...plus it's a little bit about Shakespeare. :)
At first it was hard to follow the three seperate plot lines, but once they got going and started to merge it was interesting. I thought the narrative style was clever, although sometimes the pop culture references were distracting.
At first it was hard to follow the three seperate plot lines, but once they got going and started to merge it was interesting. I thought the narrative style was clever, although sometimes the pop culture references were distracting.
Very enjoyable thriller that held you to the last page.
I think there was a good mystery in here somewhere.
Long & confusing. I think he needed a better editor.
Long & confusing. I think he needed a better editor.
I struggled with this one. The discovered manuscripts that drive the plot are between each chapter. i found them very challenging to read and I often got to the end of them and then realized that i hadn't comprehended a single word. I would have to go back and slog thru and they often felt more like homework than pleasure reading. I started skimming half way through. Due to that I struggled to get on board with the characters that were so excited and engaged with the letters.