Labyrinth
2 journalers for this copy...
Blurb on back cover says:
"July 1209: in Carcassonne a seventeen year old girl is given a mysterious book by her father which he claims contains the secret of the true Grail. Although Alais cannot understand the strange words and symbols hidden within, she knows that her destiny lies in keeping the secret of the labyrinth safe...
July 2005: Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons in a forgotton cave in the French Pyrenees. Puzzled by the labyrinth symbol carved into the rock, she realises she's disturbed something that was meant to remain hidden. Somehow, a link to a horrific past - her past - has been revealed."
I really enjoyed this book and whizzed through it in a few days. It's easy to read and not complicated in plot, perhaps a little predictable but a great story nonetheless. The characters are very likeable/dislikable and having visited the parts of France in the setting I could envisage the landscape/cityscape. The story could be compared to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code which probably explains why it has been at the top of the best sellers list for a while, different subject but along similar lines. The historic content (although I can't vouch for accuracy) seems well researched and informative. If you don't like gore then perhaps you should steer away as there are battle scenes and burnings at the stake - not gratuitous but enough to leave you contemplative at the end of the chapter into how barbaric society was at that time.
"July 1209: in Carcassonne a seventeen year old girl is given a mysterious book by her father which he claims contains the secret of the true Grail. Although Alais cannot understand the strange words and symbols hidden within, she knows that her destiny lies in keeping the secret of the labyrinth safe...
July 2005: Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons in a forgotton cave in the French Pyrenees. Puzzled by the labyrinth symbol carved into the rock, she realises she's disturbed something that was meant to remain hidden. Somehow, a link to a horrific past - her past - has been revealed."
I really enjoyed this book and whizzed through it in a few days. It's easy to read and not complicated in plot, perhaps a little predictable but a great story nonetheless. The characters are very likeable/dislikable and having visited the parts of France in the setting I could envisage the landscape/cityscape. The story could be compared to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code which probably explains why it has been at the top of the best sellers list for a while, different subject but along similar lines. The historic content (although I can't vouch for accuracy) seems well researched and informative. If you don't like gore then perhaps you should steer away as there are battle scenes and burnings at the stake - not gratuitous but enough to leave you contemplative at the end of the chapter into how barbaric society was at that time.
Passed onto a non BCer friend on loan but expect it to be returned.
Update from non-BCer friend informs me that she really enjoyed this and that her husband is now reading this {grin}.
Book passed back to me today - both previous unnamed readers seemed to enjoy it. However, the book never made it home as I have passed on to another colleague to read:-)
Book has now been returned to me and is sitting on my shelf while I think what to do next with it.
Posted 1st Class to MarthaK-H today as part of an agreed trade.
Journal Entry 7 by MarthaK-H from Lewisham, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Many thanks for the swap Jinglefish! I rescued it from the sorting office yesterday.