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Elizabeth Kostova: The Historian
- Thread starter Harriet
- Start date
Prairie_Girl
New Member
I really enjoyed the book and actually found it to be quite scary at times. The ending seemed to be rather predictable and I knew what was going happen around page 400. However, it was an enjoyable read, and being a Romanian who doesn't know a whole lot about her heritage it provided some great history. I also enjoyed the paralell's between
I just realized something does our narrator ever have a name? I didn't notice it in the book but I now realize thatI'm notsure we ever know her name, and I've already returned it to the library so I can't check. All in all though itwas well worth the wait and I would definately read another book by Kostova.
I also found out on Amazon that she actually researched the book for TEN YEARS. That is amazing.
Helen and Paul's relationship to the narrator and Barley's
I also found out on Amazon that she actually researched the book for TEN YEARS. That is amazing.
ValkyrieRaven88
New Member
I also enjoyed this book. I saw a special on TV about Elizabeth Kostova, and I convinced my mother to get me the book for Christmas. I read it in, like, two or three days. I loved it.
I think I liked it mostly for the same reason I liked The Da Vinci Code--because I liked getting all the information the way it was given. Whether it's true or not, it keeps me interested and always going, "Wow, wow, wow." Having done a lot of research on Vlad Tepes (since I am a vampire fanatic), I can honestly say the information on him is pretty accurate. The only complaint I have is what I have with a lot of Tepes vampire stories: Vlad Tepes's nickname--Dracula--was the only inspiratoin from Tepes himself Stoker used. He had written the whole story where the Count had a different name, and after he had completed the story, he ran across the name "Dracula" in a book or something. He found out it meant "dragon" or "devil" and decided to replace the Count's name with it, and voila, we have Dracula.
I think I liked it mostly for the same reason I liked The Da Vinci Code--because I liked getting all the information the way it was given. Whether it's true or not, it keeps me interested and always going, "Wow, wow, wow." Having done a lot of research on Vlad Tepes (since I am a vampire fanatic), I can honestly say the information on him is pretty accurate. The only complaint I have is what I have with a lot of Tepes vampire stories: Vlad Tepes's nickname--Dracula--was the only inspiratoin from Tepes himself Stoker used. He had written the whole story where the Count had a different name, and after he had completed the story, he ran across the name "Dracula" in a book or something. He found out it meant "dragon" or "devil" and decided to replace the Count's name with it, and voila, we have Dracula.
Vespertilio91
New Member
It's on my TBR (suprise, suprise). I think I want to finish a couple others first, so I'll let you know.
savvyambrose
New Member
It was a decent book. I don't think I'd ever read it again, though. The information she gave was interesting, but the story wasn't exactly satisfying, especially the ending. Ah well.
Anyone read The Historian?
I started The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova a few months ago but then got sidetracked by other books. I was quite enjoying the atmosphere of it but thought it a bit slow. I got to about page 130.
Is it worth the extra 600 odd pages? I ask because I'm a slow reader and I don't want to waste time on it unless it's worth it.
I started The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova a few months ago but then got sidetracked by other books. I was quite enjoying the atmosphere of it but thought it a bit slow. I got to about page 130.
Is it worth the extra 600 odd pages? I ask because I'm a slow reader and I don't want to waste time on it unless it's worth it.
Stewart
Active Member
It's a sort of unspoken rule (or netiquette, to get cutesy) on discussion forums that before you post you should do a search first before posting. It avoids duplicate discussions, the same questions being answered over and over again, and longer standing members blowing their top over nescient newbies.
abecedarian
Well-Known Member
It's a sort of unspoken rule (or netiquette, to get cutesy) on discussion forums that before you post you should do a search first before posting. It avoids duplicate discussions, the same questions being answered over and over again, and longer standing members blowing their top over nescient newbies.
Now who amongst us would EVER do that?
Stewart
Active Member
I'm all out of tops, so it can't be me.Now who amongst us would EVER do that?
Anyway, back to The Historian:
HermioneWeasley
Member
what a coincidence, i'm reading the booknow! and the author is coming to our town! i admit it drags out a bit, the story's kinda dull, but the info is great, especially since i've read dracula. it's not necessary, but it's more interesting that way.
tartan_skirt
New Member
I just finished the book and I really enjoyed it, and I think it may actually have gotten me out of my reading slump 
. At first I found the size a little daunting but nearer to the end I didn't want it to end. I'm not sure if the ending was all that good compared to the rest of it, but it was still ok. I have to admit though, I was a little disapointed not to find out what happened
. I did feel it was a little similar to The Da Vinci Code in style, but I much prefered The Historian and thought it was much better. I wonder if making it into a movie will turn out well or not...
Strangely I didn't get any of the hype for the book (apart from a mention that it was one of Richard and Judy's "Summer Reads") so I didn't really have any set expectations for it to be let down by.
. At first I found the size a little daunting but nearer to the end I didn't want it to end. I'm not sure if the ending was all that good compared to the rest of it, but it was still ok. I have to admit though, I was a little disapointed not to find out what happened
between Barley and the narrator at the end
Strangely I didn't get any of the hype for the book (apart from a mention that it was one of Richard and Judy's "Summer Reads") so I didn't really have any set expectations for it to be let down by.
HermioneWeasley
Member
I rather agree with tartan skirt: while the book started out great, I don't see what the big deal is. It's not that entertaining, it's rather like reading a memoir than a novel, and it didn't provoke discussions and arguments like the Da Vinci code did. although understanding the bulgarian in the book was fun.
ValkyrieRaven88
New Member
I liked this better than The DaVinci Code because I'm more interested in vampires/Vlad Tepes than I am in the Holy Grail. I actually just reread the book a couple months ago, which I typically do when I run out of books to buy since no one in this town knows what a decent library is. ^-^ I really like all the research that went into it. I am reading a biography of Dracula, and The Historian was very accurate.
Prairie_Girl
New Member
I was a little hesitant to read this at first, simply becuase it was SO BIG and I didn't want to waste my valuable reading time. Definately not sorry to have read it though. I really enjoyed it.
MonkeyCatcher
New Member
I just finished this and I really enjoyed it. Previously I didn't know much about Vlad Tepes apart from the fact that he impaled people and was the inspiration for Dracula, so I found all the information this novel contained especially interesting. I could believe that the research would have taken her 10 years - it was extremely detailed, which made it even better. Like others, I saw the parallel between this and TDVC, and also recognised that this novel was of a far better quality.
I really liked the style in which it was written - the periods of activity interspersed with periods of inactivity kept the plot from losing its compelling and highly interesting drive. From the blurbs I had read on it I was excepting more input and research from the daughter, but the actual lack of it in the novel didn't detract from the story at all - I found the letters an extremely effective way of telling the story. One thing that didn't quite click with me though was the detail contained in the letters - would the author really be able to remember minute details such as the slight movements of various people during scholarly 20 years after the event? Despite this, I still found the narrative to be extremely compelling.
I never heard any of the hype for this story apart from the thread on here, so the novel far exceeded any kind of expectations I had for it. I thoroughly enjoyed it despite never having read Dracula, and heartily recommend people read it.
Stewart - did you ever end up obtaining and reading this one?
I really liked the style in which it was written - the periods of activity interspersed with periods of inactivity kept the plot from losing its compelling and highly interesting drive. From the blurbs I had read on it I was excepting more input and research from the daughter, but the actual lack of it in the novel didn't detract from the story at all - I found the letters an extremely effective way of telling the story. One thing that didn't quite click with me though was the detail contained in the letters - would the author really be able to remember minute details such as the slight movements of various people during scholarly 20 years after the event? Despite this, I still found the narrative to be extremely compelling.
I never heard any of the hype for this story apart from the thread on here, so the novel far exceeded any kind of expectations I had for it. I thoroughly enjoyed it despite never having read Dracula, and heartily recommend people read it.
Stewart - did you ever end up obtaining and reading this one?
imhere4beer
New Member
Oh goodness. I must be the only person who hated this book! And I mean hated! I thought it was just plain boring. It dragged on and on and on and on and on, the ending was predictable, and I found the language... awkward, I guess? It's like she was torn between trying to write a literary masterpiece and a bestseller, and never could figure out which one was more important to her.
I did like the info on Vlad the Impaler, though. I thought the historical details were really interesting, but the whole "bad writing vs. interesting information" reminds me too much of Dan Brown, and it makes me hate the book even more.
Should I re-read it? Sometimes that helps, because I have been know to fall in love with a book, and then whatever I read next is automatically a let-down because I'm still lost in the previous story. (Does that make sense?) Could that be the case here?
I did like the info on Vlad the Impaler, though. I thought the historical details were really interesting, but the whole "bad writing vs. interesting information" reminds me too much of Dan Brown, and it makes me hate the book even more.
Should I re-read it? Sometimes that helps, because I have been know to fall in love with a book, and then whatever I read next is automatically a let-down because I'm still lost in the previous story. (Does that make sense?) Could that be the case here?
Scout11
New Member
I thought that this was a really good book. Although, it did get a little slow during the middle and then rushed at the end. I also didn't like the fact that the girl narrator was never given a name. I kept thinking maybe I missed it, but there is nothing that refers to her name. But in all a very interesting read and now I def. want to read Bram Stoker's Dracula.
