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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. I love these types of stories. Ancient history, myths and legends impinging on today with a mystery, old books and libraries thrown in for good measure.
I liked the The Bookman's Tale better. This one is so set in providing Old English church history (how many Sundays is it after Easter?) that it gets dry in a hurry for what is supposed to be an interesting mystery. The romance is a little forced and predictable. The narrator on the audiobook did a good job but his American accent was inconsistent, at best.
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you, like me, can’t resist a story based on ancient lore (National Treasure, The Da Vinci Code, etc), this book is for you.
The characters are quirky and lovable, and the story has a slow but steady pace with a satisfying ending. 4⭐️ outright!
The characters are quirky and lovable, and the story has a slow but steady pace with a satisfying ending. 4⭐️ outright!
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
Two friends gave this excellent reviews and then I discovered that the author was one I read earlier this year ("The Bookman's Tale" read in March 2020). In both these books Lovett mixes time periods, historic detail, mystery, romance, fact and fiction, deep love of things English and of books and manuscripts. Using Anthony Trollope's fictional village of Barchester as a base, the main character of this book is an uptight English professor with a deep love of cathedral prayer services and choral music (but not God), of ancient manuscripts, of secrets, of ancient/medieval Barchester, and with a quest for the Holy Grail. The cathedral is marvelous but badly in need of funds and refurbishing. Its library has barely survived political and religious changes, and now an American has been sent in to digitize its literary treasures which may spell the end of our hero's quiet search for Barchester's secret. Add in a modern university with its Media Center, endless committees, and so-so students, and our hero is set up with conflict after conflict. If you are interested in secret codes you may find that section intriguing; I did skim those pages. While some things are resolved too simply or too dramatically for my taste, in the end our hero resolves things with the help of friends which is always a plus for me.
A little slow, but a good mystery. It was hard to like Arthur at first, he’s pompous and set in his ways. But it ended up endearing in the end.
Silly and lots of fun. In some lifetime I would love to live within walking distance of a medieval cathedral where I could walk to evensong or compline then return right home again to the company of good books and great friends.
A thoroughly enjoyable, not-too-heavy, lovingly told story of Arthur, his grandfather, his friends Oscar and David, and a newcomer, Bethany, who both throws a monkey wrench into Arthur's life and also helps him to solve a mystery that has haunted him since the age of nine.
In other words, if you like Arthurian legend (as in King Arthur) or old English churches and the stories they hold, or are just a tad curious about the Holy Grail, or appreciate a coming of age tale (even at the age of forty), then this is the book for you.
A delightful read that, once began, I did not want to put down, but eventually did to go to sleep last night, only to resume today and continue reading till I, too, knew the secret of the lost Book of Ewolda, and the secret of the Holy Grail.
In other words, if you like Arthurian legend (as in King Arthur) or old English churches and the stories they hold, or are just a tad curious about the Holy Grail, or appreciate a coming of age tale (even at the age of forty), then this is the book for you.
A delightful read that, once began, I did not want to put down, but eventually did to go to sleep last night, only to resume today and continue reading till I, too, knew the secret of the lost Book of Ewolda, and the secret of the Holy Grail.
This was a hard book to get into, but once you get past the first 40 pages and meet Bethany, it becomes much better. I will say that it was a bit predictable. I had a feeling about the "item" and I knew that the author was playing around with the precentor because his name was never revealed until the end. I do wish that this had a little bit more excitement/action put into it, but I do think the novel accomplished what it set out to accomplish and that was find the grail.
The romantic elements did need help in this novel though. Since we don't get anything from Bethany's perspective, the romantic tension just isn't that present. I also would have preferred Arthur to be younger to give more credence to the fact that he was born in the wrong time period, but he's in his 40s and he probably should have been in his 30s.
Now the fact that Arthur couldn't remember his best friend's mother's name, that I did find unbelievable, especially if they had known each other for (if I recall correctly) about 30 years.
The romantic elements did need help in this novel though. Since we don't get anything from Bethany's perspective, the romantic tension just isn't that present. I also would have preferred Arthur to be younger to give more credence to the fact that he was born in the wrong time period, but he's in his 40s and he probably should have been in his 30s.
Now the fact that Arthur couldn't remember his best friend's mother's name, that I did find unbelievable, especially if they had known each other for (if I recall correctly) about 30 years.
Wow! Definitely a bibliophile's book.
Charlie Lovett is an amazing wordsmith. So many times during reading I sat back and re-read the words, gulping it all down, thinking and appreciating the beauty of it. The scenes jump out of the pages and you are fully entrapped in the moment. He encapsulates all the euphoria you get when you enter a library and take in the aroma in such a beautiful prose that you start longing.
Grail lore has always enchanted me, and this book kept me indulged. The chemistry between Arthur and Bethany kept you smiling, and the humour comes so naturally, I actually laughed out loud. It's like a breath of fresh air. I could keep on going singing praises about this they would still come short.
I would definitely be reading more from the writer. and would be re-reading it some day.
Charlie Lovett is an amazing wordsmith. So many times during reading I sat back and re-read the words, gulping it all down, thinking and appreciating the beauty of it. The scenes jump out of the pages and you are fully entrapped in the moment. He encapsulates all the euphoria you get when you enter a library and take in the aroma in such a beautiful prose that you start longing.
Grail lore has always enchanted me, and this book kept me indulged. The chemistry between Arthur and Bethany kept you smiling, and the humour comes so naturally, I actually laughed out loud. It's like a breath of fresh air. I could keep on going singing praises about this they would still come short.
I would definitely be reading more from the writer. and would be re-reading it some day.