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What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

Sorry if its been done already, but has anyone read the Historian?

25 replies

ilovecaboose · 16/08/2006 11:49

This is the most well written book I have ever read (and the story is pretty damn good as well).

Has anyone else read it?

Would highly recommend it.

Ok first night half way through book - didn't sleep and spent whole night shitting myself (am a big scaredy cat though) - loved it!

Passed it on to OH now. Waiting with baited breath to hear his opinions....

OP posts:

chestnutty · 18/08/2006 15:51

Haven't read it yet but I intend to. Saw it on R & J the other day.
Will have to buy it soon.

chestnutty · 19/08/2006 20:22

Bought it this morning.

lemur · 19/08/2006 21:35

It's brilliant, took me ages to get through it (breastfeeding book for me - so read it in 20 minute blocks) and really really enjoyed it, would definitely recommend it, agree with the scared sleepless nights...

Dior · 19/08/2006 21:38

Message withdrawn

Dior · 19/08/2006 21:39

Message withdrawn

Berries · 19/08/2006 21:53

Reading it now - started reading it when we went on holiday but gave up as we were staying in the Pyrenees & didn't want nightmares!

Mirage · 21/08/2006 21:05

I'm reading it at the minute & find it hard to put down.I'm really enjoying it,it is so well written.

Original poster

ilovecaboose · 22/08/2006 10:22

Apparently (according to Richard and JUdy) there are plans to turn it into a film. If so I hope they do it properly.

I know a few people that have started it and then put it down to read later as they were a bit scared.

I even came home late one night to find OH in bed with the radio on really loud cos he was scaredy (even though he wouldn't admit it )

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kittyb · 23/08/2006 19:36

Would recommend it yes, but didn't anyone else think that the reason "you-know-who" was searching for Rossi was a bit ludicrous?

Mirage · 04/09/2006 22:28

Finished it at last.Very good,but kept waiting to get to the scary bit only to find that it wasn't scary at all!That was a bit disappointing.

hitchcock · 04/09/2006 22:32

well thats my holiday read sorted any one else got any other segestions(oops) has anyone read my best friends girl??? or any other r&j reads

hitchcock · 05/09/2006 11:01

bump sorry

chestnutty · 05/09/2006 20:04

2/3rds of the way through the book.
Dreamt abot Istanbul the other night but not about vampires!
Enjoying the read but a bit long in places.

kittywits · 05/09/2006 20:44

I haven't read it but have seen lots talked about it on Mn. Anyone fancy giving me a quick synopsis?

spykid · 06/09/2006 19:12

Am about 2/3 way through and really can't see what all the fuss is about!!!!

I keep waiting for it to improve.

Am finding it very predictable

Original poster

ilovecaboose · 07/09/2006 15:54

Kittywits - basically the synopsis is that a girl (in 1970s) finds a book and a collection of letters to her father in the library. The book is very old and blank except in the middle pages where there is a woodcut of a huge dragon and the word Dracula (but spelt funny). The letters start 'to my dear and unfortunate successor'. From them she basically gets her father to tell her the story behind them.

The book is told through about 3 people. THe girl, her father and the author of the letters and follows them researching Dracula. So its set in 3 different time periods.

Its subtely creepy (IYSWIM) not monster jumping out on unsuspecting blonde teenage girl kinda thing.

It goes into the Eastern bloc during the communist period there when Westerners were restricted and there is a lot of travelling in it. Someone said it was almost like reading a travellog (I think thats going too far personally).

Very Very good though.

OP posts:

Original poster

ilovecaboose · 07/09/2006 15:54

And to all those who didn't like it I say 'bah humbug!'

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kittywits · 07/09/2006 21:51

Thanks for the synopsis, I think I'll give it a go as it gets rave reviews generally

marthamoo · 07/09/2006 21:56

I thought it started well then got a bit bogged down in historical detail - in fact, I posted about it on here to ask if I should persevere with it. Overall I felt it promised much but didn't quite deliver.

And it didn't scare me at all..I'm 'ard, me.

marthamoo · 07/09/2006 22:02

My thread on it (was being SorenLorensen then).

marthamoo · 07/09/2006 22:03

That was a good name. Might change back again.

Original poster

ilovecaboose · 07/09/2006 22:39

I didn't find the historical detail too much - but then I'm a history student so probably a little biased .

OP posts:

katierocket · 08/09/2006 07:25

I thought it was rubbish. Started off ok but just lost it towards the end. Didn't think it was well written at all.

Bucketsofdinosaurs · 18/09/2006 14:16

I found it very boring, all that historian procedural stuff, basically why I'm not a historian myself.
If you want a scary book with interesting procedural stuff, try anything by Phil Rickman.

chestnutty · 20/09/2006 20:12

Finally gave up on it after 3 weeks of pushing myself to read it (3/4 the way through). I've skim read the rest and decieded not to bother. Now reading My best friend's girl and I'm off to find a thread about it ( or i'll start one when I've finished it)

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