Bennnc63

• Rated 4 stars

“A short quick read, a quick account of the Conquerer. A good overview.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Friday, December 30, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“This biographical novel about Henry and Sophia Schlieman follows Stone's usual well researched and detailed works surrounding the life of important fiqures in history. The Schliemans efforts to locate and escavate the ancient city of Troy (which in the 1870's was considered by scholars to be fiction) and several other ancient sites made them leaders in establishing the science of archaeology. This book uses all the expected background sources as well as the diaries and letters of Henry and Sophia (he was the first to have access to these) to establish their lifes and relationships, and to carry you through all the physical, emotional, political, scientific jealousy, and cultural struggles which they face.

As with all of stones works, he sets time, place, and culture with well researched details. He places you on the quest for unbelivable treasure, and share with you the excitement of discovery.

The only reason that I give this book a 4 instead of a five is that unless you are very familiar with Greece and Turkey, you must refer to a map often. The front of the book has an ok map, but it would have been great to have a more detailed map placed at the begining of each new dig.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Thursday, October 13, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“A very good story (more of a Romance than Historic) with good placement of time place and culture, around the time of William the Conqueror (1066 AD). The story is very lightly hung on the events of the period, Harold's battle with the Danes, and William's defeat of Harold at Hastings are very lightly addressed. As this book is mainly about the lives and loves of two family's (a horse breeder and a merchant family) I think the book is wrongly titled. I enjoyed the book, but was a little disappointed because other Chadwick books follow historic events more closely, and I expected the same from this one, however this one did not.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Sunday, October 9, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Good action / adventure / mystery / quest. A quickly and easily read book or moderate lenght. If you are into the events of 2012, Myans, or crystal skulls, this is your cup of tea.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Wednesday, October 5, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“I enjoyed the underling story this series and, of this book, which is why I gave this rating of 4 stars. As to the organization of the story, it gets 3 stars, as it made me feel as if I was on a high speed merry go round, being flung from horse to lion to eagle to chariot to ... well you get the picture, and then you repeat the process. Bookus interuptus. A lot of story, a lot of plots, and way to many characters. Martin's creative skills can not be denied, but this series would have been a 5 star read to me if it had been a couple of hundred pages per book shorter and, thereby have been "Complete". Now, years of waiting......”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Friday, September 30, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“An overall great read, quick pace, easy reading, and a fine story. If witches or quests are you cup of tea, you will enjoy this one. A little history of the Salem witch trials mixed in with an academic quest, a touch of supernatural, and a cup of mystery. What a great recipe for a book. A little too much detail at times, although very acceptable, and for some it will be just right. Well set place, time, and culture.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Monday, September 12, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 2 stars

“Perhaps my expectations were way to high for this 6th and final book of the Earth Children series. One word sums up my opinion of this book "fizzle". The book just runs out, or runs down, or perhaps just flops. Very little in this book is new, from fact to ideas 90% is just reruns of reruns. I do not think I have ever been so disappointed in a book.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Sunday, September 4, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“An excellent 17th century love story, and a fictional account of the building of the Taj Mahal. Well written and very discriptive, and provides excellent placement in time, place, and culture.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Monday, August 29, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Book 3 continues the amazing story of the rise of Genghis Khann, and his campaigns in Arab lands. A great book, but once again it did not meet the 5 star bar he set in book 1.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Tuesday, August 23, 2011. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“Brooks is a true artist with words, painting a picture of small villiage life in 17th century England, perfectly setting place, time, and culture. If you would like to know what it is like to live in a villiage visited by a plague that wipes out two thirds of the population, read this book. Filled also with many questions about religion that are as old as Job.”

Bennnc63 wrote this review Friday, August 19, 2011. ( reply | permalink )