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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
If you love books, literature and a good thriller-mystery, this is the book for you! I'd say its a little bit reminiscent of Dan Brown, but in a much smarter way.
I really liked the mystery itself--thrilling--and I found the violent opposition to the reading of Dante and the study of a "vulgar" modern language like Italian in the US to be fascinating. The characters, however, are mostly undeveloped to the point that it's difficult to tell them apart, and the prose that tries to imitate the time period in which its set is dense but awkward.
I got very bogged down in this book. Too many names being thrown around and the prose itself was overwrought and overly dramatic. Sometimes felt that Pearl was getting a bit carried away with his own genius. Great idea, but not brilliantly executed.
This book was OK. I'm not sure why I didn't like it better, but somehow the story never really drew me in, which is a shame, because I think it's quite well done.
Wish I could give it 2.5 stars. Interesting premise, this book has sat on my book shelf for at least 8 years. I picked it up to read multiple times but could never get passed the first 10-20 pages, really struggled getting into this.
Audiobook to rescue! Recently I came across the audiobook on my library app, and this proved to be the format necessary for FINALLY getting through this book. Listening at work I was able to casually listen to the less interesting/dragging parts while still grasping the crucial story bits and enjoying the mystery.
Audiobook to rescue! Recently I came across the audiobook on my library app, and this proved to be the format necessary for FINALLY getting through this book. Listening at work I was able to casually listen to the less interesting/dragging parts while still grasping the crucial story bits and enjoying the mystery.
I couldn't get through the first half of the book - too complicated for my reading time, which is just before bed. Maybe on a beach trip I will pick it up again!
currently trying to decide if it's worth it. i'm leaning toward not.
update -- couldn't get into it, couldn't finish it. i love a good dante-related mystery, but everything about this book rubbed me the wrong way. oh, well.
update -- couldn't get into it, couldn't finish it. i love a good dante-related mystery, but everything about this book rubbed me the wrong way. oh, well.
It took me a long time to get into this book, pretty much Canticle One in it's entirety (And I almost gave up just after the the first few pages - this is not a book for the squeamish...which begs the question as to why/how I read it, but that's another show...). But once I did get into it, I didn't stop.
Pearl did something that only one other author (Steve Martini) has ever done - I couldn't figure out the culprit until I saw it on the page. Major kudos for that.
As a resident of the People's Republic of Cambridge, I enjoyed reading about the area post-Civil War, especially as I live near Fresh Pond.
Pearl did something that only one other author (Steve Martini) has ever done - I couldn't figure out the culprit until I saw it on the page. Major kudos for that.
As a resident of the People's Republic of Cambridge, I enjoyed reading about the area post-Civil War, especially as I live near Fresh Pond.
while I was in the mood for mystery I think I’ll pass this one… 3 strikes and I’m out before page 50