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Title: Deus Lo Volt! by Evan S. Connell ISBN: 1-58243-140-X Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 20 March, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.74 (31 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Not what I expected
Comment: Just to be clear on this point, Deus Lo Volt! is not a novel per se (or at least, not what I would think of as a novel). It certainly has nothing in common stylistically with the better historical fiction of Graves or the First Man in Rome. It is told in the style of a period history, perhaps as a piece of oral history written down. I must admit I found the style (and the total absence of dialog) rather tedious. For example, every other chapter seems to end with a lengthy rationalization (a.k.a. "rant") on the justness of the Crusades. Such text is also liberally sprinkled throughout the text. Authentic, perhaps, but I became rather tired of reading it after a while (and I think that seeing as we all now live in the 20th Century, most readers will probably agree with me on this point if nothing else).
When I first started reading the book, I found it tedious, boring, and unreadable. The "period recitation of history" style (with zero actual dialog) makes all the characters and events seem distant, indistinguishable, and flat, as if vainly trying to peer through the mist. Even the narrator is a distant, poorly-defined character.
And yet, I do still give it 3 stars - because despite all this, the oddity is that the book did end up capturing my attention. I can only assume it's because of my near-complete ignorance of the Crusades and of the entire time period. Despite a style which could charitably be called "difficult", a lot of stuff does happen, and being such a crucial event in history it is interesting. If you can get into the zone with the unusual perspective, it's an interesting book. My first attempt at reading it I couldn't find it and couldn't even make it through 50 pages; second try, though, I was taken in. Even if it's not going to make my Top N list this year.
Still, even if it is worth trying, I'm not sure this is not a book I would reccomend buying. Check it out of the library first (I'm told these still do exist in many areas of the country; here in the heart of Silicon Valley, I wouldn't know).
Rating: 3
Summary: Interesting, but I prefer Agori's novel
Comment: This book relies on the traditional view of the Crusades. Too bad. The novel Defenders of the Holy Grail (with its great songs) relates more to current research and ties Jesus' family to the Crusader effort. Connell write well, but his "facts" are suspect. remember the Pope back then was whoever was strongest in Rome, and Godfrey's own uncle had been one of the Popes!! Get this, but get a copy of Defenders also.
Rating: 1
Summary: Biased History, Bad Literature
Comment: I am a big fan of historical literature, and have seldom been disappointed with my choices, until now!
Anyone with a basic background on the history involved, and willing to see it in terms of the societal contexts of that time, can see this for a biased and shallow "hatchet job" on Western civilization in general and Christianity in particular. In this it fails to inform accurately and fairly about history. The story and theme is merely a poorly-disguised excuse for political-cultural polemic (ditto for the author's previous efforts in this genre).
It also fails miserably as literature. There is little depth either to the events related or the characters involved, who are depicted as comic book figures without human dimensions. Needless to say, it also does not make for very entertaining reading. The problem may be due to the choice of the narrative style, but ways to get around these limitations could have been found had this been desired (there are chronicles of that very same time much better than this one!). Given the apparent intentions of the author, this would have been too much to expect, as such stories necessarily have to be cast simplistically and in black-and-white terms. This may be reassuring for those who think in that way (and of course, are on the author's side of the contrast), but defrauds all those with any sense of perspective and open-mindedness.
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Title: The Aztec Treasure House: New and Selected Essays by Evan S. Connell ISBN: 1582432538 Publisher: Counterpoint Press Pub. Date: 15 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.50 |
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Title: Son of the Morning Star by Evan S. Connell ISBN: 0865475105 Publisher: North Point Press Pub. Date: October, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Crusader : A Novel by Michael Alexander Eisner ISBN: 0385502818 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 16 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: My Name Is Red by Erdag Goknar, Orhan Pamuk ISBN: 0375706852 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 27 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0066210801 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 26 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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