Anyone that is interested in History will love this book, vampires aside. Kostova's characters roam Cold War era Europe digging through archives and visiting many of History's treasures, like the Hagia Sofia. Yet this is no National Treasure, thank goodness. It was written for people of scholarly leanings rather than for mass appeal, and therefore does not insult the reader's intelligence.
As far as vampires, this book takes the more classic garlic and crucifix approach and doesn't attempt to rewrite myth or history. The downside of that is that there's not much there to surprise anyone. Audiences are more and more difficult to shock, myself included. Kostova seems to have been aware of that, and so relies on the reader's interest in the cobwebs of History rather than a the visceral thrills of violence and blood. Although there's a bit of that too. Somehow it was enough at times to keep me up at night with a racing pulse.
Overall this was an intriguing -and very long- read. I recommend it to anyone interested in History or in the manifestations of myth and legend.
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Okay, I am heading to the library today and am going to look for this book.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, this one, I read this about three months ago. If you're not into the history part of it, it could loose you. I was, so I was hooked!
ReplyDeleteThis was a good book, but certainly not an "easy" read. I can read most books in two or three days, and this one took me almost two weeks. Worth it, though.
ReplyDeleteI am reading this book now. so for so good.
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