Anybody read The Historian?

[DonC]

Ya know, that new Dracula novel?


I'm curious if it's any good.

[Gordon Smith]

I'm just finishing the Historian now. I recommend it without reservation. This is a worthy successor to Bram Stoker's classic, a painstakingly researched tale that's going to be recalled with affection and respect by horror fans for decades to come.

[Karl J. Barnes]

I'm interested, but will wait for it to come out in paperback.

[Puma]

I'm on the waiting list at the library. glad to hear you liked it Gordon. The early reviews were good but then the popular press started to pan it.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I haven't been following the book press too closely, so somehow I hadn't heard anything of this book until I saw this thread. Reading it got me interested, so I looked up the reviews. Sounds like an interesting book, one I'm gonna have to track down via the library.

Thanks, Don and everyone else.

[Rabid Trekkie]

Actually found out about it when flipping through one of my Aunt's Entertainment Weekly magazines. Sounds cool so I'll probably check it out sometime. I wanted to look for it the last time I was at the bookstore but ended up getting a book to prepare for an exam.

[DennyK]

I have heard some say that it will be this years Da Vinci Code.

[Karl J. Barnes]

I have heard some say that it will be this years Da Vinci Code.

It's definitely getting the hype.

[Blueferret]

I half expected to be halfway through Harry Potter at this point, but I picked up The Historian as well due to this thread. Haven't put it down for most of the afternoon. Very interesting read.


And Harry keeps waiting :D

[Tobias March]

I have heard some say that it will be this years Da Vinci Code.

I heard the same and that immediately turned me off.

But I came across an interesting piece on it today I might check out. I'm just afraid it's more refried Anne Rice-like material.

[Gordon Smith]

I heard the same and that immediately turned me off.

But I came across an interesting piece on it today I might check out. I'm just afraid it's more refried Anne Rice-like material.

No need to worry on that score. The Historian has absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to the works of Anne Rice.

[Blueferret]

No need to worry on that score. The Historian has absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to the works of Anne Rice.

Agreed wholeheartedly. What a well done book. very cool.

[Blueferret]

O.K. who do you all think the Historian in the title actually is?




*Possible Spoilers Below*







My personal theory is Dracula, although I could see the argument made for any number of characters.

[jessecuster]

I am about halfway through it, and I love it. The similarities to DaVinci Code are not just because its popular, but because of the historical and glkobe trotting references in both books. Frankly, Im jutst happy to see either of these books doing well, because it means people are READING !

[Rabid Trekkie]

I am about halfway through it, and I love it. The similarities to DaVinci Code are not just because its popular, but because of the historical and glkobe trotting references in both books. Frankly, Im jutst happy to see either of these books doing well, because it means people are READING !

I was reading through a new Entertainment Weekly magazine and Stephen King said something interesting. He said he found the book really boring but loves the fact that its number one right now because it means a new author can come in and knock down the giant and that a lot more people are reading more books.

[Gordon Smith]

I have heard some say that it will be this years Da Vinci Code.

Any apparent similarities between the Historian and the Da Vinci Code are probably accidental. Elizabeth Kostova spent at least eight years writing the book, with most of it completed before the Da Vinci Code came out.

[frankiedetroit]

I was reading through a new Entertainment Weekly magazine and Stephen King said something interesting. He said he found the book really boring but loves the fact that its number one right now because it means a new author can come in and knock down the giant and that a lot more people are reading more books.

I saw this too and thought what an interesting comment. The Historian has been sitting on page 20 for a while now at my house. It's interesting, I just keep having other things to do. But I'm really looking forward to it.

[John Wayne]

I finished reading this book this morning and enjoyed everything but the end, which I found flat after my expectations being built for the first 600 pages. Not at all like Anne Rice or Da Vinci Code. It is entirely its own animal.

[Blueferret]

Was it ever explained who was behind the paper on the train from Paris when you couldn't see his face, only his shoes?

[John Wayne]

Was it ever explained who was behind the paper on the train from Paris when you couldn't see his face, only his shoes?

I don't think this was ever addressed. I just assumed it to be of the many 'Agents' Vlad claimed to have held in his service.

[Gordon Smith]

Yeah, the guy on the train was probably just one of Dracula's unimportant minions.

[Puma]

finally finished it last night. Strangely complelling but not a real page turner, perhaps it is the lack of strong character development and the repetion of fortunate encounters that dulled it for me. Additionally, the cliched ending prompted a desire to toss the book at the wall. harrumph I say

[Rabid Trekkie]

I finished it today and loved every bit of it, well except some of the parts where Stoichev was reading from those manuscripts he had in his collection. That part was sort of boring.

One question about the ending of the last chapter (not the epilogue) was the book she got from Stoker's collection a new book or did Stoker get a book as well and therefore the book Dracula is a true account with the names changed to protect the innocent?

[Melchior]

I enjoyed the book, especially with all the layers in the story, but agree that the end seemed to move too quickly.

Definitely suggest that you pick it up if you like vampires, does quite well there. And the supernatural is kept mostly out-of-sight, with only the results to be seen.

On a side note, I think bookstores are trying to push the title, so it occasionally jumps to 30-40% off. If you try it and like it, or have a bit to spare, $17 for a hardback is good.

[Tobias March]

I'm reading this at the moment. I've decided that it's a comedy :p Especially after that sequence with the vampire librarian chasing Ms. Rossi through the library stacks! Hi-Lar-ious :D

[Shellhead]

I got The Historian for Christmas this year. I'm only halfway through it right now, and I have mixed feelings about it.

The specific angle of this book, the idea of a legacy of vampire-hunting handed down by historians, is interesting. It works well as a concept, because Vlad Tepes is a historical figure with an especially vile reputation.
The descriptions of the various locations are detailed and evocative, although at times it feels more like I'm reading about somebody's summer vacation in Europe.

It is interesting enough that I keep reading, even though the dual-track narration is starting to get on my nerves, though not as badly as in Tim Powers' last novel, Declare. I'm assuming that Ms. Rossi will eventually prove to be the girl's mother, and if that turns out to be the case, it isn't a sufficiently surprising plot point to require the annoying movement back and forth between the diplomat's story and his daughter's story. They could have been told sequentially and possibly carried greater impact.

Having a first-person narrator in a horror story is a questionable choice, since the reader can safely assume that narrator will survive everything that happens. This problem is magnified with The Historian, because the narrator introduces the book from a perspective of decades later, so we know that she will survive everything and live for decades afterwards.

However, the vast and comprehensive conspiracy of agents serving Dracula is seriously straining my ability to suspend disbelief. One gets the impression that merely owning a copy of Bram Stoker's most famous book is enough to attract the attention of these near-omniscient agents. Their diligence in shadowing a 16 year-old school girl is both impressive and silly, unless maybe they were just preparing to kidnap her for leverage against her father. And if all they want to do is to keep their secret a secret, it seems like they would be better off using more subtle means than biting people in the neck.

So far, I don't think that The Historian is a bad book. It's okay, maybe a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10. It's certainly better than the fanfic quality writing of Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton.

[Ghost]

I got it for christmas, but I haven't read it yet.

[Tobias March]

Yes it's holiday escapism of the best kind. But there were times when I thought the book used Stoker's novel as a confrontation between the east and west. It was almost profound at times, or at least a neat use of the themes of the original novel. Perhaps a little too Eng. Lit. in its humour, but still. Interesting :D

[berk]

I'm trying to avoid spoilers in case I ever decide to read this book, so I just skimmed through this thread, but I have a question: for any of you who've read both The Historian and Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell, what did you think of the latter? The reason I ask is that I thought Strange & Norrell was only OK, and if I could have my time back I'd spend it reading something else. I mean, I was entertained and thought the writer did some excellent things in the book, but for the most part I found it mildly disappointment - only "mildly", because I didn't have huge expectations going in. Anyway, I'm beginning to get the feeling that The Historian might end up striking me the same way, after initially having been attracted by the premise, so I'm not sure I want to invest my time in reading it or not.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I'm trying to avoid spoilers in case I ever decide to read this book, so I just skimmed through this thread, but I have a question: for any of you who've read both The Historian and Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell, what did you think of the latter? The reason I ask is that I thought Strange & Norrell was only OK, and if I could have my time back I'd spend it reading something else. I mean, I was entertained and thought the writer did some excellent things in the book, but for the most part I found it mildly disappointment - only "mildly", because I didn't have huge expectations going in. Anyway, I'm beginning to get the feeling that The Historian might end up striking me the same way, after initially having been attracted by the premise, so I'm not sure I want to invest my time in reading it or not.

If you liked Bram Stoker's Dracula, bizarre history and dark legends, and a secret conspiracy plot then you'll probably like it. If you lack any of those things then I suggest you borrow a copy instead of purchase it.

[Tobias March]

If you liked Bram Stoker's Dracula, bizarre history and dark legends, and a secret conspiracy plot then you'll probably like it. If you lack any of those things then I suggest you borrow a copy instead of purchase it.

Yeah there's no real comparison. The Historian apes the style of Dracula, whereas Jonathan Strange... is more Jane Austen! With Magick!! So totally different feel.

The Historian is more compulsive reading. I dipped in and out of Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell over a period of weeks.

[berk]

Thanks Rabid Trekkie and Tobias; sounds like it's worth a look.

Yeah, I thought Strange Norrell was a good historical novel ruined by what felt to me like the gratuitous introduction of the magic theme, which was the one aspect of the book I think the writer completely failed to pull off: no atmosphere, no sense of mystery, a more prosaic and drearily mundane "magic" I've rarely come across in the realms of fiction.

[RiotCntrl]

I didn't really hear about the Historian from anyone nut I did see it on the shelf During the "David Caruso in Jade" scene from the 'Fourty year old Virgin' and it looked interesting so when I spotted it in my local Barnes and Nobles I picked it up. I really liked it after I got into it the length didn't really bother me it seemed to fly by. The ending seemed a little rushed but I would still recomend the book to anyone.

[Tages]

I heard about this mostly because of the press around Kostova receiving a record-setting advance for the book for a first novel.

[Karl H]

Well I'm reading it at the moment and am finding it quite enjoyable..

[Julusnc]

I finished it after three days of reading.I find I enjoyed the book overall but would have enjoyed more action.

[Karl H]

I finished it after three days of reading.I find I enjoyed the book overall but would have enjoyed more action.

I'm just a bit bored of it... It's kind of flown by without anything really happening... I'm on the train to London this afternoon so will hopefully finish it then...

[Pinnacle]

Just bought this last night. First two chapters have seemed a decent start but since I was a history/English double major who took a class over Gothic Lit. as a totally unneeded credit then I hope this book is right up my alley. As long as it is better than The Da Vinci Code.:D

[Karl H]

Just bought this last night. First two chapters have seemed a decent start but since I was a history/English double major who took a class over Gothic Lit. as a totally unneeded credit then I hope this book is right up my alley. As long as it is better than The Da Vinci Code.:D

I find reading the ingredients on the back of cereal packets more compelling than the Da Vinci Code so I reckon you'll be alright.

[Shellhead]

This isn't a bad book, but I got stuck a while back and haven't finished it yet. I got to the flashback part where they attended that academic conference and got a little bored. I have since picked it up and re-read that same section a couple of times now, trying to get back into the story but not succeeding.

Part of the problem that I'm having is the overall narrative structure. By having the daughter follow in her father's footsteps, there is a certain overlap in themes and situations that feels repetitive. Also, we know that her father will survive all the flashback stuff, because he is alive and well at the start of the book. And we know the daughter will survive the search for her father, because the book opens with her looking back on these events as an older woman.

[Shellhead]

I am close the finish now, and yet very little seems to have happened. While this book is superficially about scholars trying to hunt down Dracula, it has been little more than a very descriptive travelogue. The exciting vampire theme is almost wasted on this overly nuanced story.

[Shellhead]

Finally finished this book. The quality of the writing was decent, but this was the least eventful vampire story that I have ever read. Compared to The Historian, the original Dracula novel by Bram Stoker was a gore-soaked Hong Kong action movie, exciting, violent and stylish. The Historian was more like a travelogue with an oddly vampiric theme, with the emphasis on describing exotic European locations and also on a couple of relationships. Dracula appears only briefly and then is shot (!!!!!) to death. It seems puzzling that he survived all these centuries simply because nobody ever successfully shot him before.

[Karl H]

Finally finished this book. The quality of the writing was decent, but this was the least eventful vampire story that I have ever read. Compared to The Historian, the original Dracula novel by Bram Stoker was a gore-soaked Hong Kong action movie, exciting, violent and stylish. The Historian was more like a travelogue with an oddly vampiric theme, with the emphasis on describing exotic European locations and also on a couple of relationships. Dracula appears only briefly and then is shot (!!!!!) to death. It seems puzzling that he survived all these centuries simply because nobody ever successfully shot him before.

Yup... I agree with you... It's the only book I've read in a while that felt like a chore to finish...

[JoeK32880]

I still have a little over a hundred pages. It was going okay but I just stopped dead in my tracks a couple months ago and haven't been able to get back into it. Some parts are pretty neat to read, but overall very boring.