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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Another book that just felt too long! Perhaps my fault for juggling several books at once, because it probably would have been a much better read at a faster pace. Intrigue, mystery, a great story line, but by the time I got through Part 3 of 3 it was a stretch to remember some of the references from Part 1. I'm ready for some great shorter books - suggestions please!
Iain Pears never disappoints. Stone's Fall is a masterpiece of espionage, intrigue, illicit liaisons, manufacturing and industry, and Mystery. As many have commented in their reviews, I, too, felt like ditching this book half-way through - it was a bit tedious, primarily in the analysis of Stone's industrial empire, but I plodded on and found myself becoming totally engrossed by his business acumen (not something I ever thought I would say). And then, it just kept getting better and better. I'm so glad I didn't give up on it.
I probably learned something about finance and munitions, though those subjects always make my eyes glaze over. I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, from what I'd heard about it. Elizabeth (John Stone's widow) was a great character, but she was the only one who really came to life for me. I liked the Russian doll structure of the book, going back in time with each narrative revealing more about the central event, Stone's death in a fall from a window. However, the voices of the three narrators were virtually identical, and there wasn't much distinction between them as characters.
Clever, convoluted novel of intrigue. 3 separate narratives that bring the reader to a surprising conclusion. The first read like a crime novel, and was from the perspective of a reporter hired to solve a mystery in England 1909. And just when you are satisfied the mystery has been solved, book two starts. Then we get an introduction to the early business of espionage amongst nations...which leads to murder and mayhem in 1890. In book 3 a personal narrative (1867)of the deceased from book one ties it all together. I thought the book clever, but a tad bit long and if the author succeeded in doing one thing, that would be driving all desire to see Venice from my head... someplace the author seems to not have much affection for. Now on to another book set in England in honor of the Olympic Games!
This book was quite a disappointment to me. It all looked so interesting from the outside. Sadly the reality was largely an over complex and over detailed, tedious story. I'm just glad I managed to get through it. I only kept in going because there were a few glimmers of something interesting, to see if my (fairly early on) suspicions were spot on (and they were!). But mainly to see what the point of it all was. I felt that in the first part, some big leaps were required of the reader, I was constantly thinking 'how have we suddenly jumped here'. Then part two took us a bit further back, with a bit more back story of the main characters from on part one. Finally the last 30 or so pages of part three, everything clicks into place and gets quite exciting. Overall, I reckon the book could have done with some streamlining to keep it as interesting a page turner as the last few pages were.
lots of interesting characters and the story was told backwards, with a summary at the end. Very well written :-)
There were some very interesting parts of this story, but have to say it is not my cup of tea. I understand that the story was about money - but some parts just made it dull and a bit unreadable. Maybe if I understood more about the whole finance process I would have enjoyed it more.
This is a tough one to review (even in brief) and choose how many stars. The beginning was great and I was very quickly pulled into the characters and the mystery. Then the style changed and it turned almost into an epistolary form with the murdered victim from the beginning mystery going on and on and on and on about his life. I hung in until the beginning though and it was jaw dropping.
Not worth the what felt like millions of hours of over-detailed boredom that was the middle.
Not worth the what felt like millions of hours of over-detailed boredom that was the middle.