The Historical Fiction Book Club is busy nominating books for the next round of reading. So far the following books are up for voting,
Ratcatcher by James McGee - crime thriller set in Regency London
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks - fictional account of Eyam, the Derbyshire village that quarantined itself in 17th century when plague reached it from London
The Wolf of the Plains by Conn Iggulden - fictional account of Genghis Khan's early years
For more information about these books click here where I have prepared a synopsis and links for each.
Some very different choices so far! If you fancy joining the group visit us here. Nominations for books to read ends on Tuesday 24th March so you still have time to join and make your suggestions! Voting follows and we will start reading the book with the most votes on Saturday 28th March.
So if you enjoy reading reading historical fiction but don't know what to choose next or want to try historical fiction come along and join the group. It's all based online so location doesn't matter. You never know, you might find a new author that you like :)
Update (28/03/2009) - We have chosen to read Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks this time round.
Showing posts with label 12th century. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 12th century. Show all posts
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, September 01, 2007
The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman
In a field in Cambodia the find of a lifetime is uncovered during an archaeological dig. It is the memoir of Cambodia's greatest king, preserved on sheets of gold for centuries. Cambodia is in turmoil, still reeling from the civil wars that have torn the country apart, and the massacres by Pol Pot. The treasure is stolen and the director of the excavation kidnapped. A young moto-boy and an ex-Khmer Rouge solider, brought together by their concern for the dig director, join forces to try and recover the memoirs. Yet with such opposing backgrounds and in a country on a knife edge their quest is in jeopardy before they even start. They must overcome their pasts and fight for a brighter future for their beloved country.
The book is set in multiple time frames in Cambodia, from the present day, to the 12th century of Jayavarman, to the memories of Luc and Map over the last 40-50 years. The book centres on the violent past of the country, not only in the past century but also in the 12th century. Cambodia is a country still struggling to come to terms with itself and re-build itself. Most of the characters are Cambodian and reflect the different backgrounds, from Map the ex-Khmer Rouge soldier who switched sides to William, a young man orphaned by the fighting, to Pich, one of the leaders of the opposition, ruthless and intelligent but fighting for a better future for Cambodia. There are also the odd Vietnamese characters and of course the French dig director to help show other characteristics of the country.
The inclusion of a story running parallel to the main narrative, centuries before the present day is an interesting device. The violence and turmoil of this story seems to show that the events of the most recent century are not new or indeed unique. It tells the story of a king striving to obtain peace but also, towards the end, yearning for power. It also shows that humans can never be flawless. We can all have good intentions but there will be times when we go against these.
Although the story was readable it didn't grab me as it has done others who recommended the book to me in the first place. I know nothing of this history of Cambodia and although have heard the names 'Pol Pot' and 'Khmer Rouge' I only know they were involved in genocide. I know absolutely nothing beyond that and I think that meant I got far less out of the story than I should have done. I admit I probably know more about Cambodia now that I did before I read the book, but still not enough to appreciate the nuances of the book. It has made me wish to read up a bit more about it though, so perhaps it has served one of Ryman's aims when writing the book!
It is quite clear that Ryman is in love with Cambodia. Despite the misery and the violence in the book there is a strand of hope running throughout it. Hope and desire to make Cambodia a better place. To see the country great once more. By the end of the book you sincerely hope that one day the characters will succeed in their quest.
This is definitely a book for anyone with an interest in Asia, particularly Vietnam & Cambodia. It is a book written in the hope that things will improve. It's certainly not a tourist travel novel, written with the sole intention of getting you to visit and spend money. It is definitely something that should be read if you want to learn about the country and the people who live there. It is meant to highlight the problems that the country faces but it does not suggest that tourism and foreign intervention will cure them.
*3 stars*
The book is set in multiple time frames in Cambodia, from the present day, to the 12th century of Jayavarman, to the memories of Luc and Map over the last 40-50 years. The book centres on the violent past of the country, not only in the past century but also in the 12th century. Cambodia is a country still struggling to come to terms with itself and re-build itself. Most of the characters are Cambodian and reflect the different backgrounds, from Map the ex-Khmer Rouge soldier who switched sides to William, a young man orphaned by the fighting, to Pich, one of the leaders of the opposition, ruthless and intelligent but fighting for a better future for Cambodia. There are also the odd Vietnamese characters and of course the French dig director to help show other characteristics of the country.
The inclusion of a story running parallel to the main narrative, centuries before the present day is an interesting device. The violence and turmoil of this story seems to show that the events of the most recent century are not new or indeed unique. It tells the story of a king striving to obtain peace but also, towards the end, yearning for power. It also shows that humans can never be flawless. We can all have good intentions but there will be times when we go against these.
Although the story was readable it didn't grab me as it has done others who recommended the book to me in the first place. I know nothing of this history of Cambodia and although have heard the names 'Pol Pot' and 'Khmer Rouge' I only know they were involved in genocide. I know absolutely nothing beyond that and I think that meant I got far less out of the story than I should have done. I admit I probably know more about Cambodia now that I did before I read the book, but still not enough to appreciate the nuances of the book. It has made me wish to read up a bit more about it though, so perhaps it has served one of Ryman's aims when writing the book!
It is quite clear that Ryman is in love with Cambodia. Despite the misery and the violence in the book there is a strand of hope running throughout it. Hope and desire to make Cambodia a better place. To see the country great once more. By the end of the book you sincerely hope that one day the characters will succeed in their quest.
This is definitely a book for anyone with an interest in Asia, particularly Vietnam & Cambodia. It is a book written in the hope that things will improve. It's certainly not a tourist travel novel, written with the sole intention of getting you to visit and spend money. It is definitely something that should be read if you want to learn about the country and the people who live there. It is meant to highlight the problems that the country faces but it does not suggest that tourism and foreign intervention will cure them.
*3 stars*
Saturday, June 23, 2007
More reviews & a new website
I've been doing a few reviews on a new website I've found called 'The Book Club Forum'. It's a great website where you can discuss books, pick up great reviews and keep a list of all the books you're planning to read. I'll still do reviews here (don't see the point in repeating reviews for books that have already been done on the site), but any I do there I will post links to. The good thing about this new website is that you only need to join if you want to post something. Non-members can still browse and read most of the topics (the review ones definitely!).
Anyway, I've been doing lots and lots of reading lately so here are the links for the other reviews I've done.
The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez - the true story of an American hairdresser who helps the women of Kabul find freedom through training as beauticians after the fall of the Taleban.
The Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin - a murder mystery set in 12th century Cambridge.
And if any of you want to see whats I'm reading and what reviews are likely to be coming up check out my 'to read pile'.
Anyway, I've been doing lots and lots of reading lately so here are the links for the other reviews I've done.
The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez - the true story of an American hairdresser who helps the women of Kabul find freedom through training as beauticians after the fall of the Taleban.
The Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin - a murder mystery set in 12th century Cambridge.
And if any of you want to see whats I'm reading and what reviews are likely to be coming up check out my 'to read pile'.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
The poisoned chalice by Bernard Knight
Yes I'm back again :) Hopefully for a while, so stick around for some more book reviews :) Remember these reviews *may* contain spoilers! Please feel to add comments of you own to any of these book reviews
The poisoned chalice is the second book in the John Crowner series by Bernard Knight. Set in 12th century Devon the series follows the life of John Crowner, recently appointed Coroner of Devon and staunch supporter of the absent King Richard. The this installment John has to deal with the rape of the daughter of one of the prominent citizens of Exeter. Not long after another well-to-do lady of the town is found dead in a churchyard thanks to an illegal abortion. Just who is guilty of these crimes and those that follow? Meanwhile John has to wrangle with his brother-in-law, the local sheriff, over what comes under the coroner's jurisdiction. Nothing seems to be straightforward!
This book is a welcome break from some of the later politics heavy books in the series. Although there are some undertones of the political situation within which the books are set, the book doesn't feel like a constant battle between the supporters of the king and the supporters of Prince John. As always Bernard Knight manages to paint an accurate and down to earth view of 12th century life. The rich are rich, but the poor are poor. People have real problems (pregnancy, unhappy marriages, rape etc) many of which do translate into the modern world. It deals with the after effects of rape, which you don't necessarily see when its covered in modern cop dramas. It shows how those around the victim can also be affected (in this case her fiancee).
On the whole the book is well written and I didn't feel bored at any point. It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down necessarily but I did want to learn what happened, whodunnit :) I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical murder mysteries or indeed murder mysteries as a whole. John Crowner is not perfect and does suffer from time to time. Unlike some modern dectectives whose personal lives are a complete and utter shamble, you do find yourself feeling life isn't all too bad for him. It's certainly not a thoroughly depressing kind of detective story!
3 stars
The poisoned chalice is the second book in the John Crowner series by Bernard Knight. Set in 12th century Devon the series follows the life of John Crowner, recently appointed Coroner of Devon and staunch supporter of the absent King Richard. The this installment John has to deal with the rape of the daughter of one of the prominent citizens of Exeter. Not long after another well-to-do lady of the town is found dead in a churchyard thanks to an illegal abortion. Just who is guilty of these crimes and those that follow? Meanwhile John has to wrangle with his brother-in-law, the local sheriff, over what comes under the coroner's jurisdiction. Nothing seems to be straightforward!
This book is a welcome break from some of the later politics heavy books in the series. Although there are some undertones of the political situation within which the books are set, the book doesn't feel like a constant battle between the supporters of the king and the supporters of Prince John. As always Bernard Knight manages to paint an accurate and down to earth view of 12th century life. The rich are rich, but the poor are poor. People have real problems (pregnancy, unhappy marriages, rape etc) many of which do translate into the modern world. It deals with the after effects of rape, which you don't necessarily see when its covered in modern cop dramas. It shows how those around the victim can also be affected (in this case her fiancee).
On the whole the book is well written and I didn't feel bored at any point. It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down necessarily but I did want to learn what happened, whodunnit :) I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical murder mysteries or indeed murder mysteries as a whole. John Crowner is not perfect and does suffer from time to time. Unlike some modern dectectives whose personal lives are a complete and utter shamble, you do find yourself feeling life isn't all too bad for him. It's certainly not a thoroughly depressing kind of detective story!
3 stars
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