Book #32 – The Historian – the end
Before we get into this I just need to, umm..WOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! I FINISHED! FINALLY!!
Okay, now that I have that over with, let’s get down to business.
UK paperback cover
The most basic summary I can give for Kostova’s The Historian is that it is a search for the grave of Vlad Tepes, known worldwide as Dracula. This search, however, is not just a search through ancient cities and crypts, it’s a journey through documents and letters. A search in which those involved aren’t in danger in dark alleyways, but in libraries pouring over mysterious texts.
Kostova does a wonderful job weaving together the stories of a number of different people from a number of different time periods to make a unified story line. The story centers on three time periods – a 17-year old in the 70’s, her parents in the 50s, and her father’s mentor in the 30s. But quite a few other people join in now and then to add their 2 cents. The chapters constantly switch from one point of view to another without getting confusing or without, for the most part, interrupting the pace of the book. The stories are told through letters, oral accounts, and historical documents, some of which are fiction and some are not. Kostova has mixed so much fact with fiction that at times it’s hard to know what is true and what isn’t. A wonderful combination!
I’m too much of a wimp for scary books, and this was just the right level of creepiness for me. There isn’t enough gruesomeness to give you nightmares, but vampires lurking in the shadows will sneak undetected into your dreams. Kostova sets the mood with a sinister undertone early in the book and keeps it up throughout.
However, I somehow made Dracula seem a little less sinister because for some reason I couldn’t get this image out of my head:
The descriptions of “long, curling, dark hair,” “the long straight nose,” and “wiry, dark mustache” were suppose to instill this picture:
But once I had Hook in my head, the real thing was lost on me.
Anyway…back to the real details of the book. Kostova’s attention to detail is fantastic. She makes everything from the texture of the documents to the noisy streets of Istanbul so real. I especially enjoyed her descriptions of Budapest and the Romanian countryside, as those are the only two places in the book I’ve been to. I could almost taste the delicious Hungarian bread that is served with every meal.
I’ve got to mention something about the size. Yes it is enormous (the mass market paperback I have is 800+ pages), and yes it is daunting. If the book hadn’t already been sitting in our house for months I probably wouldn’t have read it. And true, near the end I was getting a bit antsy for it to be over already. BUT, that being said, I’m really glad I did read it. I very much enjoyed the story and the various characters that played a part in it, both historical and fictional. Plus, the mood was perfect for the beginning of fall!
My rating: 8.5/10
Book #32 – The Historian – update
It’s definitely been slow going, but I’ve made it past the halfway point of The Historian. The last couple hundred pages have flown by as I cheer on the characters working to unravel the mysteries of Drakulya, while also fearing for their safety.
The good news, though? I’ve only dreamt about vampires twice in the last week 
Which is pretty amazing, since I’ve been reading right before bed much more often than I usually do.
Let’s take a quick minute to look at this cover of The Historian. It just doesn’t seem to capture the mood of the book. It feels a little to lighthearted, almost on the verge of chick lit. Okay, so the drops of blood take away from the chick-lit feel. Out of the two I’ve looked at so far, I think the cover of the copy I’m reading gives a better idea of what the book is like.
Of to do some reading before bedtime!
Book #32 – The Historian
“His memory becomes legend, passed down through generations of superstitious peasants. At the end of the nineteenth century, a disturbed and melodramatic author – Abraham Stoker – gets hold of the name Dracula and fastens it on a creature of his own invention, a vampire.” (p. 23)
Is there a better way to start off Fall than with a creepy historical thriller? Yesterday, as I curled up on the couch while dark clouds gathered and heavy rain pelted the window, Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian seemed to fit the mood perfectly.
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while, but hesitant at the same time. Mostly because it’s long (800+ pages) and it’s been described by numerous people as being quite dry. Hmm..long and dry, doesn’t sound like a quick read. I really don’t like being bogged down by one book for too long. I only read one book at a time, so if something takes too long, I start getting antsy, thinking of all the other books I could be reading.
But on the other hand, I like challenging myself and there’s nothing quite like that feeling of accomplishment you get after finishing something you deemed to be particularly difficult. Also, I’ve heard so many good things about The Historian that I really want to know what all the fuss is about. No one likes feeling left out 
I’m about 100 pages in and I’m happy to say that while it is quite dry and the pace is pretty slow, the story is great. There’s a sense of anticipation that keeps me reading, needing to know what will happen next.
Plus, there are wonderful quotes. I love books with great quotes.
“Life’s better, sounder, when we don’t brood unnecessarily on horrors. As you know, human history is full of evil deeds, and maybe we ought to think of them with tears, not fascination.” (p. 42)
What book-lover doesn’t enjoy a good book-related quote?
I flipped through the rest of the pages – when you handle books all day long, every new one is a friend and a temptation. (p. 13)
Seeing a new book as a friend and temptation – I love it.
I’ve got to mention something about this cover. Seriously, it creeps me out. Every time I pull it out of my bag and I see that one dark eye staring at me…shiver shivers. The colours on the copy I have aren’t as bright as this picture here, which makes it look that much more sinister.
Okay, I’m off to do some more reading before it feels too late to read about possible vampires.
Book #31 – Evermore – the end
I’ll admit, during the first half of Alyson Noël’s Evermore I was wondering what all the fuss was about. Yes, Ever is an interesting character in that she can read people’s minds, see their auras, and talk to dead people. But she’s also just like every other moody, emotional adolescent girl, not wanting her friends to find out about her huge crush on a guy who’s way out of her league and utterly convinced that no one really understands her, not even the psychic the same unusual abilities. And then, just over half way through, things changed and I was hooked.
What I liked about this book was that it wasn’t your typical “girl meets boy who turns out to be a vampire” story. There were some twist that I didn’t see coming at all. I may not rush out to read Blue Moon right away, but I do want to read it at some point. I really want to see how the choices made at the end of Evermore play out in the next book.
What I didn’t like were, at some points, the two main characters: Ever and Damen. There were times that Ever was a bit too whiney to get much sympathy from me. As for Damen, what can I say other than that there were times he was too Edward-esque. But I feel that they redeemed themselves at the end and their story is interesting enough to make me want to read on in the series.
Overall, a fun, quick read with the promise of an even better sequel. My rating: 7.8/10
Book #31 – Evermore
The plan was that once I finished I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason I would dive head first into The Historian. However, last week the library informed me that a book I had requested was ready for me to pick up. A book I have no recollection requesting. I really need to stop browsing the library website late at night.
Anyway, obviously this means I need to read my new book right away, because The Historian is not going to be a quick read. And it’s not going anywhere. My dad lent it to my husband months ago and there’s a good chance it will still be here for quite a few months to come. But, I’m not here to talk about a book I’m not reading yet.
I remember reading a synopsis of Alyson Noël’s Evermore a while ago and thought it looked interesting. It’s is about Ever, a teenager who is anything but ordinary. After surviving a car accident that killed the rest of her family, she’s left with some unusual abilities, including hearing people’s thoughts and being able to see (and converse with) dead people. And then a boy shows up who changes everything.
It’s a pretty easy read – I started last night and am about half done – and I’m enjoying it so far. It’s always fun to get into a new series that you know you’ll want to continue with.
