2004 Books 34, 35, & 36

I've been procrastinating on getting these book reviews done. I don't know why. I guess it's because I flashed through so many books in a really short time that they sort of stacked up on me and the job seems daunting. I always put in a good amount of time into my book reports/reviews.

Books 34 and 35 are library books so they're not registered at BookCrossing. I've hid my reviews at LJ for them behind lj-cuts. Book 36 has a link to my review at BC. I also reversed the order of the reviews in which I read books 34 and 35 so you can read consecutively my reviews for books one and two of a trilogy. Enjoy!

Book 35. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I've been trying to get a copy of this book for uh maybe 6-9 months. I signed myself up with several book rings at BookCrossing and put a hold on the book at the public library. It was just a matter of waiting to see who would come through first.

Well I finally got a notice in the mail about 2 weeks ago telling me that the library had a copy on hold for me and to come get it within a week or say goodbye forever. I had already started working on a trilogy, so I was a little annoyed, but considering how long I'd been waiting for it, I was willing to cut into my trilogy sequence to get this book done and passed on to my husband. Actually I would have gotten a copy faster I think except I waited for maybe 2 months for what ended up being a CD copy of the book. I like to have a BOOK in my hands, not a CD, tape, or whatever. So I had to hand it back to the bewildered front-desk person and put myself back on a wait list.

So anyway, while I was waiting for this book I'd read a copy of the book Brown wrote before this one, "Angels & Demons," with the same main character, Robert Langdon. For others who had read them in reverse order I was told that this was the right way of going about it. I agree in that there's a comment here and there from things and people that occurred in "A&D" in "TDVC" that you wouldn't know what it was referring to. Not major things, though.

The main reason I think it's good to read them in the right chrono order is that, to me, it seems like "A&D" is the prototype to "TDVC." This isn't a negative comment per se, but I feel it is a true one. I liked both books, but I found that a lot of what happens in "A&D" is the same as in "TDVC" only the names and places have been changed and a little christianity was thrown in for good measure to snag all those readers out there who devote themselves to christian books. Brown's style of writing is very distinct and fast-paced which of course makes for a real page turner. I believe I read "TDVC" in about a 36 hour period! And it's a ~450 page hardback copy! And yes I did sleep and eat in that time.

I think that a lot of people are reading this book because of the many factoids it includes in its plot about symbolism, church history, and the beginnings of christianity in general. I didn't know that this was the main attraction so if I'd known that perhaps I wouldn't have been so overeager about the book. I think 97% of what was introduced in this book I already knew about. The sad part to me is that there's so many people out there who have such a tiny inkling about the background of the faiths they holler from the highest peaks that they adhere to so adamantly. The fact that there's so few people out there, relatively speaking, and readers no less who know so little about this broad subject that it takes this book to get a conversation going on these topics is what makes me sad.

However, that's just my opinion on the popularity of the book and not on the book itself. The book itself is interesting and Brown does tie together known facts very nicely into his own fictional plot. His characters are engaging and you just can't help yourself from wanting to turn the page and find out what happens next??? This is one device that Brown uses very effectively. Not only does he write some intriguing action, but just when you're on the edge of your seat... BAM! it's the end of the chapter and to top it off the next chapter has nothing to do with what you were just left hanging about. Very effective to get you to read just one more chapter- that is, until you pass out from sleepiness, hunger, or dehydration. lol

Referring back to his previous "A&D" book, I just want to add that I've seen many comments where people read it after "TDVC" and were disappointed because it didn't include more philosophy. What I find funny is that it did include plenty of philosophy, just not the monotheistic, christ-based ones or even 100% gnostic for that matter. It never ceases to amaze me how self-involved some (and don't send me hate mail because I AM saying some) christians are so self-centered about spirituality. *clambering off the soap box*

Anyway, if you know plenty about "the mysteries" I still recommend this book. If you think you know all there is to know about your faith, the faiths of others especially the old faiths and gods (yes that does mean older than Jesus people!), and how they're tied together READ THIS BOOK!!!

Book 34. The Elenium 01: The Diamond Throne by David Eddings

I picked up a book at the S.A. Central library Book Cellar May sale and then realized that it was book two of a trilogy. argh! I'm forever doing that. I'd previously read some Eddings some years ago (The Belgariad) and thought I'd check out this trilogy.

I'd say this book is typical quest-type fantasy material. I've read so many books on conspiracies, mysteries, and plain-ol' fantasies that usually I have figured out who is plotting to do what and who's really who (there's always at least one character who isn't whom they appear to be). The difference I found with this book is that for one thing I really like the main character, the knight Sparhawk. He has a dry sense of humor and he can be very practical in all things. He has a very clear sense of right and wrong without discounting the gray areas of life. For the other the other characters have very interesting attributes that make them interesting for one reason or another.

This being the first book of a trilogy, it serves mostly as the setup and intro to many of the major players. It also, of course introduces the main conflict of the trilogy, that being that a couple of people are conspiring to usurp the throne of his country, Elenia. In this book Sparhawk learns who has committed treason, how they did it, and how to solve it.

From the back of the book: "Sparhawk, Pandion Knight and Queen's Champion, returned to Elenia after ten years of exile, only to find his young Queen Ehlana trapped in a block of ensorcelled crystal. Only the great sorcery of Sephrenia, ageless instructor of magic, kept her alive- but the spell would last only a year, and its cost was tragically high.

Now a Prince Regent ruled Elenia, the puppet of Annias, ambitious Primate of the Church who planned to seize the power over all the land.

As Sparhawk and Sephrenia set out to find a cure for Ehlana, Sephrenia revealed that there was only one person in the west who could defeat the evil plots against Ehlana. That person was Sparhawk."

FINALLY! My BookCrossing review of my Book 36. The Elenium 02: The Ruby Knight. I'm reading book three of the trilogy so look for that next!

Thanks for reading!

This will be xposted to bookcrossing.
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