Tag: Historical fiction
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The Skin Map

Well, this was not good. Not good at all. I’m not going to pan it and trash it, the author writes fairly well but this book was all over the (skin) map and was a real slog to get through. Remember, I’ve been through Life of Johnson and Decline and Fall so when I say Read more
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The Prague Cemetery

Review: This was. This was. Give me a moment. This was, something, there, that sums it up. In other words, this was typical Umberto Eco material: erudite, researched, intellectually challenging and confusing as IKEA instructions in the original Swedish. So what’s it about? Sort of a historical novel about anti-semitism in 19th century Europe, plus Read more
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The Song of Achilles

Review: 5 stars! This was an extraordinary piece of writing. A retelling of the Illiad done vividly and clearly. A masterpiece based on a materpiece. Plenty-o-gayness. This book made me want to: punch Odysseus in the snotbox Overall rating: Readability: Plot: Other: Gayness Read more
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The Alchemist’s Dream

Review: Grabbed this one at random from the shelf. You never know what great things you will pick up by chance. This was not one of the great things. Schlocky “Can-con dude with a grant” fiction. A hidden code in an old manuscript, a mysterious map showing mysterious things. Yawn. Characters were cutouts, no depth, Read more
