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Chimaira
Al museo di Volterra il giovane archeologo Fabrizio Castellani sta cercando di svelare il mistero racchiuso nella statuetta etrusca "L'ombra della sera", quando inquietanti telefonate gli "consigliano" di lasciar perdere. Nel frattempo nei boschi circostanti la necropoli vengono rinvenuti cadaveri di persone sbranate da una terrificante belva. Fabrizio è convinto che tutto sia frutto di un'ira implacabile dalle lontanissime origini. E da archeologo si fa detective del passato.
246 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
31 people are currently reading
670 people want to read
About the author
Valerio Massimo Manfredi
139 books1,472 followersValerio Massimo Manfredi is an Italian historian, writer, archaeologist and journalist. He was born in Piumazzo di Castelfranco Emilia, province of Modena and is married to Christine Fedderson Manfredi, who translates his published works from Italian to English. They have two children and live in a small town near Bologna.
Valerio Massimo Manfredi defines himself as an "Ancient World Topographer". Since 1978 he spends his time teaching in several European universities, digging ruins in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East, and writing novels.
The Professor of Classical Archaeology in the "Luigi Bocconi" University of Milan and a familiar face on European television, he has led scientific expeditions, excavations and explorations in Italy and overseas. In addition to this, he has published a number of scientific articles and essays as well as thirteen novels, including the Alexander trilogy and The Last Legion. Alexander was published in thirty-six languages in fifty-five countries and The Last Legion was sold for a major film production in the USA. The Last Legion film was released in 2007.
From Wikipedia
Valerio Massimo Manfredi defines himself as an "Ancient World Topographer". Since 1978 he spends his time teaching in several European universities, digging ruins in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East, and writing novels.
The Professor of Classical Archaeology in the "Luigi Bocconi" University of Milan and a familiar face on European television, he has led scientific expeditions, excavations and explorations in Italy and overseas. In addition to this, he has published a number of scientific articles and essays as well as thirteen novels, including the Alexander trilogy and The Last Legion. Alexander was published in thirty-six languages in fifty-five countries and The Last Legion was sold for a major film production in the USA. The Last Legion film was released in 2007.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
August 6, 2018
Riletto, troppo avvincente. Sarò infantile, sarà paraletteratura, ma Chimaira mi è piaciuto come si vede un bel thriller di cui, a parte il gusto e la soddisfazione di averlo visto, ti resta poco. Ci sono, per me e per i miei gusti tutti gli ingredienti per una lettura facile e a capofitto: suspense, arcano con un pizzico d'orrore, storia lacrimevole attraverso i secoli e soprattutto loro come protagonisti inquietanti, i fantastici e meravigliosi etruschi in quel di Volterra e l'Ombra della sera. Che vuoi di più?
July 18, 2011
I picked this book up at the library, without knowing what it was about at all. I thought the title was interesting enough so I decided to give it a try.
I thought the author did a great job in describing anything that had historical context. I believe it would be largely due to his profession in archaeology and history. His descriptions of the Etruscan history were absolutely fascinating. I didn’t even know that such a place or civilization existed before this. The myths, superstition and seemingly supernatural elements of the novel were certainly very intriguing and attention grabbing (sort of similar to myths related to Egyptian pyramids and mummies). After all, it was a book about an ancient curse buried in the grounds and released in the modern day by accident. The premise was unique and unlike any other books that I’ve read.
However, from a character and plot building standpoint, I thought the execution was done very poorly. The lead characters, Fabrizio and Francesca, met in this novel near the beginning. At first, Francesca seemed to show no interests in Fabrizio romantic advancements. Then, part way through the book, she decided to risk her career to help him “steal” information from the Director of NAS. It made no sense at all. In fact, I was unable to observe any continuity in her character, because she went from being cold, to hot-feeling all of sudden for Fabrizio, and then very shortly thereafter declared love for him. It was so lame and unrealistic. More frustratingly, I couldn’t understand why Fabrizio had to be the “hero” to save everyone’s day. All along, I just thought of him as an annoying busybody poking his nose in someone else’s business. Okay, in the end he saved lots of lives and all, but I didn’t care for him at all. Sometimes I just wanted to slap both him and Francesca around because I just couldn’t stand them.
From a plot perspective, there was suspense and mystery. I really liked the Etruscan curse and the storytelling of an ancient warrior wrongly accused of murdering his wife and child, and then subsequently brought into gruesome death at the face of a monster. That, in my opinion, was probably the best part of the book. The execution of discovering the secret curse and the counter to it was so hastely portrayed, that it wasn’t very believable. Well, the fact that it had to be Fabrizio, our “hero”, to solve the puzzles and mysteries was probably the main cause of my frustration. The plot was very predictable. The ending was unsurprising. Moreover, in some parts of the book, I thought the plot was choppy, in that sometimes things would happen and I often felt as though I had missed some things along the way.
I honestly don’t know if this book was translated from Italian, because I would imagine that the choppiness was a probably result of things lost in translation. All in all, I thought this book was okay, but poorly executed. Thus only earning a 2-star rating in my opinion.
I thought the author did a great job in describing anything that had historical context. I believe it would be largely due to his profession in archaeology and history. His descriptions of the Etruscan history were absolutely fascinating. I didn’t even know that such a place or civilization existed before this. The myths, superstition and seemingly supernatural elements of the novel were certainly very intriguing and attention grabbing (sort of similar to myths related to Egyptian pyramids and mummies). After all, it was a book about an ancient curse buried in the grounds and released in the modern day by accident. The premise was unique and unlike any other books that I’ve read.
However, from a character and plot building standpoint, I thought the execution was done very poorly. The lead characters, Fabrizio and Francesca, met in this novel near the beginning. At first, Francesca seemed to show no interests in Fabrizio romantic advancements. Then, part way through the book, she decided to risk her career to help him “steal” information from the Director of NAS. It made no sense at all. In fact, I was unable to observe any continuity in her character, because she went from being cold, to hot-feeling all of sudden for Fabrizio, and then very shortly thereafter declared love for him. It was so lame and unrealistic. More frustratingly, I couldn’t understand why Fabrizio had to be the “hero” to save everyone’s day. All along, I just thought of him as an annoying busybody poking his nose in someone else’s business. Okay, in the end he saved lots of lives and all, but I didn’t care for him at all. Sometimes I just wanted to slap both him and Francesca around because I just couldn’t stand them.
From a plot perspective, there was suspense and mystery. I really liked the Etruscan curse and the storytelling of an ancient warrior wrongly accused of murdering his wife and child, and then subsequently brought into gruesome death at the face of a monster. That, in my opinion, was probably the best part of the book. The execution of discovering the secret curse and the counter to it was so hastely portrayed, that it wasn’t very believable. Well, the fact that it had to be Fabrizio, our “hero”, to solve the puzzles and mysteries was probably the main cause of my frustration. The plot was very predictable. The ending was unsurprising. Moreover, in some parts of the book, I thought the plot was choppy, in that sometimes things would happen and I often felt as though I had missed some things along the way.
I honestly don’t know if this book was translated from Italian, because I would imagine that the choppiness was a probably result of things lost in translation. All in all, I thought this book was okay, but poorly executed. Thus only earning a 2-star rating in my opinion.
May 20, 2018
amazing, love the story and the archeology story was espectacular and the end... puff amazing
October 10, 2010
I can't believe I've never read any of his other books. I'm going to look for more by this author. He manages to mix history/archeology and mystery in an amazing way. Definately worth the read.
January 20, 2019
Oh my soul. This book was keeping me up late. As soon as i finished one chaper I wanted to know what happens next. At some point I started to get scared when that monster almost attacked Fabrizio & Francesca. But it is a really good book. I wish that there was a movie based on this book. I would surely want to watch that.
March 12, 2019
Um thriller pleno de intriga e mistério combinado com uma paixão pela arqueologia que nos prende do início ao fim.
Faltou qualquer coisa porém...
Faltou qualquer coisa porém...
October 20, 2019
7/10 en 2006.
En 2006 y animado por una de romanos en China de este autor me leí varias suyas casi seguidas. Todas muy amenas de leer se llevaron esta misma nota.
No llegaría a las 4 estrellas plenas pero tres me parecen muy pocas (algún libro suyos si se queda en las tres o incluso menos, conste)
En 2006 y animado por una de romanos en China de este autor me leí varias suyas casi seguidas. Todas muy amenas de leer se llevaron esta misma nota.
No llegaría a las 4 estrellas plenas pero tres me parecen muy pocas (algún libro suyos si se queda en las tres o incluso menos, conste)
August 25, 2015
"Quando i pochi che possono parlare vogliono essi stessi dimenticare, dopo un po' tutto torna normale. E' come se non fosse successo nulla."
In molti mi hanno consigliato di leggere Valerio Massimo Manfredi perché i suoi libri sono appassionanti e la scrittura fluente, sono andata come mio solito in biblioteca ed ho scelto questo testo per farmi una mia opinione personale.
Devo dire che per me è stata una delusione, in molti tratti il racconto mi ha richiamato alla memoria il libro del grande Arthur Conan Doyle Il cane dei Baskerville (un classico della letteratura inglese, brillante e accattivante, il primo della serie del grande investigatore Sherlock Holmes), mi è sembrato come una brutta copia dell'originale, in entrambi è presente un animale terribile che terrorizza e uccide ed un mistero da risolvere, la differenza è che in Chimaira scopriamo anche un'antica storia etrusca da ricomporre grazie al ritrovamento in una tomba di frammenti bronzei che l'archeologo Fabrizio Castellani con arguzia e bravura riporterà alla luce e la collegherà ai fatti orribili che accadono nella Volterra di oggi.
Per i miei gusti la storia è troppo irrazionale e fantastica, ho sperato fino all'ultima pagina che il finale avesse un senso logico e reale, ma purtroppo non è stato così quindi la lettura mi ha lasciata delusa e insoddisfatta.
"Anche la morte uccide. Ma non può essere uccisa. Tu non hai idea di che cos'è. Noi l'abbiamo avuto di fronte per alcuni interminabili secondi a una distanza di due metri. Io non ho mai visto niente del genere in tutta la mia vita e sono certo che non esiste al mondo alcun animale di quella specie. E' un mostro, ti dico...una chimera."
In molti mi hanno consigliato di leggere Valerio Massimo Manfredi perché i suoi libri sono appassionanti e la scrittura fluente, sono andata come mio solito in biblioteca ed ho scelto questo testo per farmi una mia opinione personale.
Devo dire che per me è stata una delusione, in molti tratti il racconto mi ha richiamato alla memoria il libro del grande Arthur Conan Doyle Il cane dei Baskerville (un classico della letteratura inglese, brillante e accattivante, il primo della serie del grande investigatore Sherlock Holmes), mi è sembrato come una brutta copia dell'originale, in entrambi è presente un animale terribile che terrorizza e uccide ed un mistero da risolvere, la differenza è che in Chimaira scopriamo anche un'antica storia etrusca da ricomporre grazie al ritrovamento in una tomba di frammenti bronzei che l'archeologo Fabrizio Castellani con arguzia e bravura riporterà alla luce e la collegherà ai fatti orribili che accadono nella Volterra di oggi.
Per i miei gusti la storia è troppo irrazionale e fantastica, ho sperato fino all'ultima pagina che il finale avesse un senso logico e reale, ma purtroppo non è stato così quindi la lettura mi ha lasciata delusa e insoddisfatta.
"Anche la morte uccide. Ma non può essere uccisa. Tu non hai idea di che cos'è. Noi l'abbiamo avuto di fronte per alcuni interminabili secondi a una distanza di due metri. Io non ho mai visto niente del genere in tutta la mia vita e sono certo che non esiste al mondo alcun animale di quella specie. E' un mostro, ti dico...una chimera."
March 14, 2011
La storia del Phersu è affascinante, ma il modo in cui è stata inserita nell'intreccio non mi è piaciuto molto. I personaggi principali sono troppo stereotipati, a volte un po' fastidiosi. Tra le varie perplessità, ricordo il grande amore tra i due personaggi principali sbocciato nel giro di qualche pagina, dal nulla. Ci siamo visti qualche volta, abbiamo lavorato insieme un po', un po' di sesso e... ah sì: ti amo! Il finale è un po' scontato.
August 23, 2018
I found this book a struggle to get through. The main character was a bit of a jerk and thus harder to root for as the story went along. The story was not engaging enough for me to want to stay with it and I fought my way through simply to reach the conclusion.
This would be a definite skip from me and I don't say that about many books.
This would be a definite skip from me and I don't say that about many books.
July 30, 2011
This is a non complicated, historical thriller with a mythical beast, lots of grisly murders and archaeologists! Yes it is cheesy but it is a quick little read that will keep you entertained.
April 19, 2020
Por si fueran pocos los libros que tengo en casa por leer, ahora también me enfrasco a leer los de mi novio 😂😂
Éste me lo recomendó él.
Una historia cargada de enigmas, secretos, restos arqueológicos y maldiciones. Unos buenos ingredientes que si bien es cierto me han mantenido entretenida y espectante, no han terminado de gustarme del todo.
Más bien por la temática que trata que por el relato en sí.
No soy muy fan de zombis, ni vampiros ni temas relacionados con la religión o como el presente libro con el tema de la arqueología en general. Aunque hay veces que leo algún libro de estas temáticas y me quedo más que encantada pero no suele ser la tónica general.
Aquí nos encontramos con un famoso arqueólogo, Fabrizio Castellani, que viaja a Volterra para investigar una estatua de un niño de bronce; a partir de su presencia en el pueblo empiezan a aparecer una serie de asesinatos aparentemente inexplicables. Una maldición y unos aullidos salidos de no se sabe donde serán el punto de partida en los que fantasía y realidad se fusionan en una trama muy entretenida y que sin duda a los amantes de estos temas mantendrá en vilo y con ganas de devorar sus páginas.
Éste me lo recomendó él.
Una historia cargada de enigmas, secretos, restos arqueológicos y maldiciones. Unos buenos ingredientes que si bien es cierto me han mantenido entretenida y espectante, no han terminado de gustarme del todo.
Más bien por la temática que trata que por el relato en sí.
No soy muy fan de zombis, ni vampiros ni temas relacionados con la religión o como el presente libro con el tema de la arqueología en general. Aunque hay veces que leo algún libro de estas temáticas y me quedo más que encantada pero no suele ser la tónica general.
Aquí nos encontramos con un famoso arqueólogo, Fabrizio Castellani, que viaja a Volterra para investigar una estatua de un niño de bronce; a partir de su presencia en el pueblo empiezan a aparecer una serie de asesinatos aparentemente inexplicables. Una maldición y unos aullidos salidos de no se sabe donde serán el punto de partida en los que fantasía y realidad se fusionan en una trama muy entretenida y que sin duda a los amantes de estos temas mantendrá en vilo y con ganas de devorar sus páginas.
February 22, 2020
E' un perfetto esemplare dei libri di Manfredi: è meravigliosa la parte archeologica, professionale, competente, evocativa, appassionata; mentre intreccio e psicologia appaiono dilettanteschi e approssimativi. Manca una spiegazione accettabilmente logica della sovrapposizione tra i fatti di sangue e la maledizione antica; manca una spiegazione razionale della natura e della provenienza della bestia. Ma la prima metà del romanzo è veramente bella.
September 9, 2017
Mozzafiato intelligente
September 20, 2019
2,5 ⭐️
April 15, 2019
sarà che per me "i manfredi" sono tutti capolavori ma questo è come un racconto che ti fanno attorno al camino mentre fuori nevica... e tu vieni rapito e proiettato in un altro mondo... fantastico.
August 1, 2019
Review to follow xxx
April 7, 2024
I found this book at a hotel we staid in. There was a small collection of books donated by other guests and my eyes caught the electrifying blue cover. I loved the title as well since I’m a massive fan of conspiracy fiction-archeological mysteries. I wasn’t familiar with the author as well but the synopsis had me interested. I only had one day to finish this book and so I just dived right into the pages.
This book revolves around the protagonist Fabrizio Castellani, an archaeologist who moves to a small town in Italy to study a famous “Etruscan” statue and what he discovers is thrilling and equally terrifying.
This book had very interesting and simple characters and I also liked the use of language (I assume it’s a translation). There was a certain thrill to this story in the first half and I enjoyed the suspense as well. However what I didn’t like about this story was that I found it quite easily predictable and repetitive.
I have mixed feelings about this book but i would definitely recommend this to a friend :)
This book revolves around the protagonist Fabrizio Castellani, an archaeologist who moves to a small town in Italy to study a famous “Etruscan” statue and what he discovers is thrilling and equally terrifying.
This book had very interesting and simple characters and I also liked the use of language (I assume it’s a translation). There was a certain thrill to this story in the first half and I enjoyed the suspense as well. However what I didn’t like about this story was that I found it quite easily predictable and repetitive.
I have mixed feelings about this book but i would definitely recommend this to a friend :)
April 24, 2019
This was...not good. The problem here is that I'm not sure if it's truly the book or just a really shitty translation from the original Italian. The characters were terrible, nothing to them, shitty dialogue, zero chemistry with each other or the reader. Therefore I didn't care if they lived or died (probably wouldn't notice if they did die). I understand this is a plot driven book but come on. Plus there was an unpleasant cringe worthy romance thrown in for some god awful reason. Why was it there? I don't know, to torture us? Maybe having to read about the 'romance' between who-do-you-think-you-are Fabrizio and dull-as-a-doorknob Francesca was the real curse in the end. And then there is the addition of the little kid. Don't even get me started on annoying children. The only interesting consistent character is the hell ghost dog and they burn him.
I will say this, the history is well done. I actually learned a lot about Etruscan history which is why I upped the book to two stars instead of negative one. Just so bad.
I will say this, the history is well done. I actually learned a lot about Etruscan history which is why I upped the book to two stars instead of negative one. Just so bad.
October 14, 2011
Generally, this is a book that ranged from okay to quite good. Depends on how you see it.
The mystery is okay, the pacing is good. But I noticed there's something lacking on the characterization and other personal details. And also on the storytelling method. It's like... assuming the reader to know quite well the Etruscan myth and legend, and also the area where the mystery took place.
The lack of dialogues also made me gave this book some minus points. Which is pretty saddening (to me), since I read it because one of the reviews I read in the publisher's site/catalogue said "This is how Dan Brown should write!" or something like that. So yeah, I was sort of expecting some kind of intricate Angels and Demons.
The mystery is okay, the pacing is good. But I noticed there's something lacking on the characterization and other personal details. And also on the storytelling method. It's like... assuming the reader to know quite well the Etruscan myth and legend, and also the area where the mystery took place.
The lack of dialogues also made me gave this book some minus points. Which is pretty saddening (to me), since I read it because one of the reviews I read in the publisher's site/catalogue said "This is how Dan Brown should write!" or something like that. So yeah, I was sort of expecting some kind of intricate Angels and Demons.
March 29, 2020
I picked this up at a discount book store and didn't expect much of it, so I have to give it five stars - it was surprisingly engaging and well-written. It's not a book to read and reread and find new things in - it's a straightforward mystery, some police investigations, some archaeology, some love story, some horror elements. Characterizations are not great - the main character is a bit of a jerk, and no one is described in much depth, but I didn't think that was a huge problem in this case. As a mystery the book flows smoothly, develops well and is basically a solid example of its genre.
October 5, 2012
Dalla quarta della sovra-copertina: "Noi archeologi siamo anche noi degli investigatori, tenente, proprio come voi ma con una differenza. Voi arrivate sul luogo del delitto qualche minuto o al massimo qualche ora dopo il fatto. Noi dopo parecchi secoli".
Romanzo ambientato in Italia con incursioni storiche, questa volta della misteriosa quanto affascinante civiltà etrusca.
Da questo libro è nata la mia personale passione per questo scrittore e il suo genere !!
Romanzo ambientato in Italia con incursioni storiche, questa volta della misteriosa quanto affascinante civiltà etrusca.
Da questo libro è nata la mia personale passione per questo scrittore e il suo genere !!
June 26, 2015
L'ho trovato avvincente perché riesce a tenerti costantemente col fiato sospeso. È vero che in alcuni punti i personaggi sono un po' stereotipati, ma sono comunque adatti al tipo di libro che ti aspetti. Quello che trovo incredibile è come Manfredi riesca ad avere un potere descrittivo tale da farti sentire in mezzo all'azione anche in un libro di fantasia come questo. Mi è piaciuta anche la delicatezza mista a tristezza che riesce a trasmettere. Bell
August 1, 2016
Penso sia il mio libro preferito di Manfredi, ma ancora non ne ho letti molti, quindi... :D
La cosa veramente interessante è l'ambientazione, che ha a che fare con gli etruschi, un popolo molto bello, ancora tutto da scoprire per me.
La cosa veramente interessante è l'ambientazione, che ha a che fare con gli etruschi, un popolo molto bello, ancora tutto da scoprire per me.
July 28, 2021
¿Cómo es que nadie habla de las implicaciones de machismo donde las mujeres son postradas como objetos de deseo en el libro? También sobra decir que el romance de Fabrizio y Francesca ha sido como todo muy apresurado e irreal.
February 18, 2012
A book that stops you doing anything else, loved the mood and the characters and learnt a little history as well.
May 16, 2012
L'ho letto per la scuola e forse è uno dei pochi "libri imposti" che mi è davvero piaciuto..
November 12, 2012
Lendo a edição em português, mas sabe-se lá porquê aqui não há. xD
Nome em português: Quimera
Editora: Editorial Presença
Nome em português: Quimera
Editora: Editorial Presença
March 13, 2016
Valerio Masimmo does two things: he takes you on an excavation and gives you the best history lesson you'd ever have through his writing.
Read
September 6, 2023CONTAINS SPOILERS
Fabrizio punches Sonia in the face and we're just gunna brush the plot past it?!? ok ffs
Fabrizio punches Sonia in the face and we're just gunna brush the plot past it?!? ok ffs
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews