Amin Maalouf
Paperback | Pages: 391 pages Rating: 3.86 | 4049 Users | 311 Reviews
List Books Toward Balthasar's Odyssey
| Original Title: | Le périple de Baldassare |
| ISBN: | 155970702X (ISBN13: 9781559707022) |
| Edition Language: | English URL http://www.aminmaalouf.net/fr/ses-livres/le-periple-de-baldassare/ |
| Characters: | Marta, Baldassare Embriaco |
| Literary Awards: | Premio Grinzane Cavour Nominee for Narrativa Straniera (2001), International Dublin Literary Award Nominee (2004) |
Explanation In Pursuance Of Books Balthasar's Odyssey
I bought this book in a charity shop for £1 because I liked the cover. What a bargain! I loved this tale which revolves around the fears of ordinary people that the world would end in 1666 - The Year of the Beast. I enjoyed the diary format and became quite fond of the diary writer. He was sometimes a pompous man but because he was only writing his journal for himself, he wrote down all his insecurities, worries, etc without reservation and that is how we come to know the real man. It's sometimes funny, sometimes quite moving, never boring and entertaining throughout. I'll happily recommend it as a really good read.Present Appertaining To Books Balthasar's Odyssey
| Title | : | Balthasar's Odyssey |
| Author | : | Amin Maalouf |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 391 pages |
| Published | : | November 14th 2003 by Arcade Publishing (first published 2000) |
| Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction |
Rating Appertaining To Books Balthasar's Odyssey
Ratings: 3.86 From 4049 Users | 311 ReviewsComment On Appertaining To Books Balthasar's Odyssey
A great story by the great writer amin Maalouf. Like always Maalouf give us a glimpse about the old world the year 1666 ( the year of the beast ) and the connection existing between the east and the west. Family love and friendship. With the eyes of a Genoa-man leaving in the east, and traveling the known world in searching of a book and reaching his destiny.[screams into the void] I'd probably never choose to read this book on my own, a book in which so much and yet so little happens. maybe i'll put my academic review up here later.
I found this quite heavy going and almost gave up on it after the first 50 pages or so but I quite enjoyed it, apart from the disappointing ending, which was not what I was expecting.
In Balthasars Odyssey the best of Umberto Eco meets the worst of Jorge Luis Borges. The erudition towards medieval paraphernalia and the elaborate metaphors are certainly appealing while the narrative best reminds a Mexican telenovela. In one word Borges would have a story where Maalouf has a novel. Yet, cant say I didnt like it. Bearing in mind futility I ran through the pages with much delight. If Dan Brown is a fair comparison, then I definitely prefer a Lebanese Da Vinci Code over an
Grand scale 17th Century travel adventure propelled by a quest for forbidden knowledge. Maalouf spins a yarn both credible and incredible.
The unexpected journey around the world in 1665 and 1666 of a reluctant traveler. A very authentic representation of the universal journey of life through the personal journal of this Genoveze wanderer, always chasing what seems like a ghost, and eventually finding the strength to own his decisions and take control of his fate.
It helps me a lot to understand the feeling part of the history during this time. I know it's mainly a romance but it's in fact really good. To choose the style of a diary is interesting to understand the way the main charactere understand the world. He is always torture between his reason and the outside atmosphere of irrationnal fear. A really good novel.
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