Book review: Ex-Libris
Jan. 5th, 2010 10:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhuOver the last few weeks, on the recommendation of my rabbi, I read Ex-Libris by Ross King.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It's a mostly well-written book about books, after all.
I do wish it had been a bit shorter; there was a little too much heavy-handed foreshadowing and a little too much remember-where-we-were recap when switching between the two plot lines -- or even sometimes when King must have realized that one of his digressions had gone on so long that the reader might have forgotten about the IMMINENT OH-MY-GOD PERIL that --- ooh, shiny bibliophilic oddment!
At times, the book reminded me (in a good way) of Eco's Foucault's Pendulum --- although now that I'm writing this it occurs to me that it's probably closer to The Name of the Rose; but I only read Rose once so it didn't stick with me as much as Foucault did.
At other times, Ex-Libris was clearly striving to imitate The DaVinci Code. Here, I mean it both in a good way (building up a plausible and detailed historical-fiction conspiracy plot, as with the Eco) and in a bad way (somewhat overwrought writing in places).
In sum, this was an entertaining book to read despite its flaws, and I think it would appeal to many of my friends. There's a nice mix of books, codes, science, history, and action.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It's a mostly well-written book about books, after all.
I do wish it had been a bit shorter; there was a little too much heavy-handed foreshadowing and a little too much remember-where-we-were recap when switching between the two plot lines -- or even sometimes when King must have realized that one of his digressions had gone on so long that the reader might have forgotten about the IMMINENT OH-MY-GOD PERIL that --- ooh, shiny bibliophilic oddment!
At times, the book reminded me (in a good way) of Eco's Foucault's Pendulum --- although now that I'm writing this it occurs to me that it's probably closer to The Name of the Rose; but I only read Rose once so it didn't stick with me as much as Foucault did.
At other times, Ex-Libris was clearly striving to imitate The DaVinci Code. Here, I mean it both in a good way (building up a plausible and detailed historical-fiction conspiracy plot, as with the Eco) and in a bad way (somewhat overwrought writing in places).
In sum, this was an entertaining book to read despite its flaws, and I think it would appeal to many of my friends. There's a nice mix of books, codes, science, history, and action.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-01-05 03:27 pm (UTC)