Figured there would be no harm in reading this, hoping it would fill in some gaps that were clearly missing in the film by way of explanation for the Figured there would be no harm in reading this, hoping it would fill in some gaps that were clearly missing in the film by way of explanation for the plot holes.
I got the ‘past’ part of this. I was very familiar with a lot of that stuff and the original Star Trek series ideas etc.
The rest…?
Well, I’ve been trying to determine what I could say about it, and while the art work was very good, I got nothin’.
This sounded interesting but wasn’t really my thing, though I can see how it would appeal to other readers.
I picked it up for free and gave it a shot,This sounded interesting but wasn’t really my thing, though I can see how it would appeal to other readers.
I picked it up for free and gave it a shot, but I only got 8% into it.
I give 2 stars for some very vivid and graphic details, but it’s the kind of book where the reader is expected to have a certain understanding of things, and I just couldn’t actually find for myself, whatever that was meant to be.
I’m not a fan of the kind of details in this story that leave a rather bad taste in my mouth, but that’s just me personally.
Picked this up on Kindle and found the premise interesting because of personal and historical connections to New Orleans.
This was surprisingly good, aPicked this up on Kindle and found the premise interesting because of personal and historical connections to New Orleans.
This was surprisingly good, and I would suggest that at least a little smattering of knowledge about New Orleans would make appreciating it, a lot easier to handle.
It was intriguing, and it felt almost out of control toward the climax of the story, but it laid the foundation well for more stories to come....more
Having heard a lot about this series of Elizabethan Star Wars tales, I was very impressed to read the first one at last, and it shed a new light on ceHaving heard a lot about this series of Elizabethan Star Wars tales, I was very impressed to read the first one at last, and it shed a new light on certain motivations to certain rather misaligned and misunderstood characters.
This is very clever, and yet very deep.
Wonderful stuff in true Shakespeare style with a nod and wink to many famous lines in both Shakespeare’s own words and those of George Lucas.
This was a recommendation from Goodreads that was actually worth pursuing, and I’m really quite astonished at the dark, grim storyline in this book, tThis was a recommendation from Goodreads that was actually worth pursuing, and I’m really quite astonished at the dark, grim storyline in this book, that was dealt with so very sensitively.
Wonderfully done. A very thorough translation too.
Highly recommended, but not for the faint of heart!...more
This is one of those subjects that you always feel you know ABOUT, but in truth you really only know OF, and what you DO know is generally fabricationThis is one of those subjects that you always feel you know ABOUT, but in truth you really only know OF, and what you DO know is generally fabrication that’s become mythology and legend over time.
So this book is utterly fascinating, and lays out matters in a way like a detective story, concluding the mystery once and for all in a fashion that I, as a 21st Century person who has read very widely, can fully understand and accept as the truth.
Very well researched, well written, and highly recommended....more
Read more from a certain curiosity than desperate burning interest, this book came to me as a result of several things in life coinciding all at once.Read more from a certain curiosity than desperate burning interest, this book came to me as a result of several things in life coinciding all at once.
Aware of the Edmund Fitzgerald but not fully aware of how important and mysterious, confrontational, horrifying, confusing, territorial, awe inspiring and devastating its story actually is, this book represents a clear passage of the narrative concerning the Fitz’s final journey.
Other than that, my opinion is not required.
Well written and presented and full of reference materials for further study if needed. I would recommend it for that....more
Intriguing, exhaustive, well presented, and oddly thrilling, this is one of those stories that should sound like a Hollywood movie, but is actually reIntriguing, exhaustive, well presented, and oddly thrilling, this is one of those stories that should sound like a Hollywood movie, but is actually real life.
My opinion on the painting is irrelevant, but the latest news about it rather puts it more into sharp focus again.
Definitely a very necessary ‘must’ read book for me....more
I read the Aubrey/Maturin series every so many years, and it’s been quite a while since the last time, so I feel like I’m reclaiming these wonderful sI read the Aubrey/Maturin series every so many years, and it’s been quite a while since the last time, so I feel like I’m reclaiming these wonderful stories again, and remembering all those things I’d otherwise forgotten in the intervening time.
Such a joy! I adore this book series. O’Brian is, as The Times so correctly put it, ‘the greatest historical novelist of all time’.
Yes, it’s a hard read with some difficult language and references that the reader has to research to fully comprehend, but thank God for Google these days!!
I cannot recommend these books highly enough, but be patient with them. And take your time to savour them well.
I really liked the idea of this book, and the premise was very intriguing, but I have to admit, I just couldn’t get further than 23% into it.
It was boI really liked the idea of this book, and the premise was very intriguing, but I have to admit, I just couldn’t get further than 23% into it.
It was boring, and utterly depressing.
I get where it was coming from, and could see what the author was trying to do, but it just kept getting darker and from the various things I’ve seen written about it, it gets darker still.
I really wanted to like this, but it wasn’t doing anything for me at all, and contained not a single character who was either likeable, supportable, or even remotely personable.
Took me a while to finish this, as the library didn’t have a Kindle copy - only Kobo.
But I’m very glad this caught my attention.
It’s a translation intTook me a while to finish this, as the library didn’t have a Kindle copy - only Kobo.
But I’m very glad this caught my attention.
It’s a translation into English, though I dearly wish I could find it in Italian.
Very deep, very well constructed, very emotional, highly tempestuous. This is a series I could definitely go on to read a lot more of, and Ricciardi is someone I would like to know better for sure!
Multi-layered and dramatic. Filled with elegantly crafted scenes built to great degree, and laced with confident knowledge.
I read this as an audio booMulti-layered and dramatic. Filled with elegantly crafted scenes built to great degree, and laced with confident knowledge.
I read this as an audio book, and I’m glad I did because I would likely not have finished it if it had been an actual physical read. It took what felt like a long time to reach the point, and then got somewhat predictable....more
Started well, hooked me in. Seemed to flow and caught my interest, then built far too many layers in an unconvincing first person PoV that drove me nuStarted well, hooked me in. Seemed to flow and caught my interest, then built far too many layers in an unconvincing first person PoV that drove me nuts.
Reached 21% in before I was flicking through the most grimly depressing stuff I’ve read in years, and mentions of Covid that drove me batshit. Are you kidding with that? But hey, well done for putting a date on your story.
Most people read to escape from the dystopia outside their front door. I don’t really want it in my fiction unless I’m specifically looking for that type of story - which generally speaking, I’m not.
Found the ending by reading other people’s reviews and I’m glad I didn’t waste any more time on this....more
It’s taken me a while to get through this, as other books got in the way and this one seemed fit to keep dipping back into.
I have to say that the authIt’s taken me a while to get through this, as other books got in the way and this one seemed fit to keep dipping back into.
I have to say that the author’s ability to create a scene in quite glorious depth is astonishing, and the prose is gorgeous, but from time to time it feels a little like wading upstream in a river of treacle, especially when all you want is for the tale to reach a point of some kind.
The point is reached, but it can be slow burning and then explosive.
I actually enjoyed this, even with the Robin Hood legend moving into Wales. It made historically relevant sense, and was nicely concluded with an eager urge to read the second story in the series.
This was recommend because I’ve read some Jack Reacher, and I’ve got to say this bears a distinct resemblance to that type of tale, just from a differThis was recommend because I’ve read some Jack Reacher, and I’ve got to say this bears a distinct resemblance to that type of tale, just from a different perspective.
Nicely done. A bit clunky and predictable in places, but well rounded and decently concluded.
Not sure if I’ll pick up the rest in this series, but I might if I need a distraction from other stuff.
I have to stop picking up these kinds of memoirs thinking the next one will be different.
I just cannot finish them, and I couldn’t finish this either,I have to stop picking up these kinds of memoirs thinking the next one will be different.
I just cannot finish them, and I couldn’t finish this either, sadly, though I’ll admit I got further through this than most others of their ilk....more
This book was eagerly anticipated but sadly it took me so long to read I can’t remember when I started. I know I had to return it to the library at leThis book was eagerly anticipated but sadly it took me so long to read I can’t remember when I started. I know I had to return it to the library at least twice before I made it all the way through.
This is an interesting look at motivations, assumptions, and assertions, and pretty typical when it comes to scam and economics.
It seems pretty well infested too with the same lethargy and lack of urgency that’s prevalent in a lot of societal situations ‘post pandemic’, including me and my desire to run away from anything that mentions it in a book I want to lose myself in, rather than be struck by a sudden blow to the face from actual life itself.
Reading Guido’s life and perspective is always interesting but this one was a struggle, I admit it....more
I will admit I was first interested in this book thanks to the clever play on words in the title.
The subject was more fascinating than I’d imagine. ItI will admit I was first interested in this book thanks to the clever play on words in the title.
The subject was more fascinating than I’d imagine. It was painfully hard to find any kind of feeling for anyone involved in this story however, and I’ve come away from it with a snort and a shrug.
Interesting topic, well presented - if slightly confusing for those of us who have no knowledge bar a smattering of education on wines, vines, and history.