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The Eight by Katherine Neville

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LCW
Compulsive Reader
Posts: 756
Joined: August 2008
Location: Southern California

The Eight by Katherine Neville

Post by LCW » Mon October 27th, 2008, 4:33 pm

Has anyone read this novel? I've been reading it for a week now and have only managed to get 1/2 way in. I suppose part of the problem is that I'm not a huge fan of mysteries to begin with but the writing here just seems so inconsistent. There are parts of the novel that are real page turners but then I have to plod through to get through the next parts. I determined to finish this novel and it's not like I don't like the story, I definitely want to find out what's up with this darned Montglane Chess service thingy, but some parts are just really boring! This was one of those novels I was sure I'd love....it's not exactly working out that way!
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them. --Arnold Lobel

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Carine
Compulsive Reader
Posts: 675
Joined: September 2008
Currently reading: Jonkvrouw - Jean-Claude Van Ryckeghem
Interest in HF: I love history
Favourite HF book: Can't pin that down to only 1 :-)
Preferred HF: Medieval, Tudor and Ancient Egyptian
Location: Ghent, Belgium
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Post by Carine » Mon October 27th, 2008, 5:49 pm

[quote=""LCW""]Has anyone read this novel? I've been reading it for a week now and have only managed to get 1/2 way in. I suppose part of the problem is that I'm not a huge fan of mysteries to begin with but the writing here just seems so inconsistent. There are parts of the novel that are real page turners but then I have to plod through to get through the next parts. I determined to finish this novel and it's not like I don't like the story, I definitely want to find out what's up with this darned Montglane Chess service thingy, but some parts are just really boring! This was one of those novels I was sure I'd love....it's not exactly working out that way![/quote]

I read it a few years ago and know exactly what you mean, over all I didn't find it bad though but as you say there are parts that are boring. I'd give it 3.5/5. Not great but not too bad either.

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LCW
Compulsive Reader
Posts: 756
Joined: August 2008
Location: Southern California

Post by LCW » Sat November 1st, 2008, 4:31 pm

I finally finished this darned book! It was just a 3 star to me! OK, good mystery but it just plodded on and on in parts and I found myself skipping way too many pages to give it anything higher!
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them. --Arnold Lobel

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Leyland
Bibliophile
Posts: 1042
Joined: August 2008
Location: Travelers Rest SC

Post by Leyland » Sat November 1st, 2008, 5:36 pm

I loved The Eight and have read it more than once. The first time I read it was in 1993 or 1994 and it was totally unlike anything I'd read before, in regards to the mix of HF with a contemporary thriller. I also loved the characters Cat, Solarin and Lily and their adventures. I thought Neville came up with some great imaginative storytelling, although I did want to skim a few brief parts as well. It's a book I'd recommend to people who like a bit of the mystical with their mystery thrillers.
We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams ~ Arthur O'Shaughnessy, Ode

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JMJacobsen
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Posts: 113
Joined: September 2008
Location: Gig Harbor, Washington

Post by JMJacobsen » Mon November 3rd, 2008, 6:22 pm

I just picked this book up last week - haven't started it yet. I'll report back with my thoughts on this one....

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