A review of "The Book of Kells"
I am copying this review here, because when I posted it I stupidly forgot to have it post here. So here it is:
I did enjoy this book, and will look for more by R.A. MacAvoy in the future. I admit, some of the reviews of this book had me worried, particularly about the need to constantly flip to the glossary for the less-familiar Old Irish words. But I really didn't look up more than one or two things, and I don't lose sleep over whether I'm pronouncing an Old Irish name correctly or not.
There were some fun characters in the book, although I agree with one reviewer that the two main characters weren't all that great. Derval, the woman, was a University professor in history and the Irish language. She picked up John in Newfoundland, and apparently persuaded him to follow her to Dublin after a fling. And then after that she wasn't terribly nice to him, and he kind of let her push him around.
John was an artist who taught graphic design & wanted to study the Book of Kells - let's just say he got his wish. Anyway, an incredibly beautiful cross was found with gorgeous spiral designs and a naked girl carved into it. When John practiced drawing the spirals while listening to an old tune, he accidentally opened a time portal, and the naked girl from the cross walked right into his room. Yes, that's how it begins, and it doesn't let up. Some might be comparing it to "Outlander," and while there is time travel involved the stories are quite different. John and Derval meet others, John mans up a bit, and they do end up going their separate ways in the end. But before that happens they have to face a brutal Viking who vowed to sacrifice all of them to Odin. There's mention of St. Brigit, and the Book of Kells does eventually find its way into the story.
I chose this story because I went to Ireland on vacation, and read most of it on the plane going and coming back. Ireland is steeped in history and battles, and although I didn't research the events named in this book, it seems an authentic historical fiction to me. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and/or anything Irish!
I did enjoy this book, and will look for more by R.A. MacAvoy in the future. I admit, some of the reviews of this book had me worried, particularly about the need to constantly flip to the glossary for the less-familiar Old Irish words. But I really didn't look up more than one or two things, and I don't lose sleep over whether I'm pronouncing an Old Irish name correctly or not.
There were some fun characters in the book, although I agree with one reviewer that the two main characters weren't all that great. Derval, the woman, was a University professor in history and the Irish language. She picked up John in Newfoundland, and apparently persuaded him to follow her to Dublin after a fling. And then after that she wasn't terribly nice to him, and he kind of let her push him around.
John was an artist who taught graphic design & wanted to study the Book of Kells - let's just say he got his wish. Anyway, an incredibly beautiful cross was found with gorgeous spiral designs and a naked girl carved into it. When John practiced drawing the spirals while listening to an old tune, he accidentally opened a time portal, and the naked girl from the cross walked right into his room. Yes, that's how it begins, and it doesn't let up. Some might be comparing it to "Outlander," and while there is time travel involved the stories are quite different. John and Derval meet others, John mans up a bit, and they do end up going their separate ways in the end. But before that happens they have to face a brutal Viking who vowed to sacrifice all of them to Odin. There's mention of St. Brigit, and the Book of Kells does eventually find its way into the story.
I chose this story because I went to Ireland on vacation, and read most of it on the plane going and coming back. Ireland is steeped in history and battles, and although I didn't research the events named in this book, it seems an authentic historical fiction to me. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and/or anything Irish!
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