I thought about what I could possibly read to fulfill this challenge. Most of the books that I own are set in foreign countries, so it was really difficult to decide. However, I have been pressed for time and still have a few unread books on my desk. I figured I may as well finish them up and pick one that best suits this challenge ^^;;
At the moment, I am almost finished with Angel Time by Anne Rice. It's a little difficult to describe because there are so many elements to the story, but I found it quite mysterious - to say the least. It is the first in the Songs of the Seraphim duology and revolves around a man named Toby O'Dare who was once a very spiritual person; but after a tragic event in his dysfunctional household, he gives up on faith and is lured into the dark side of the criminal underworld.
Let me clear something up. The first half of the book does take place in California, but we are later transported to thirteenth-century England where Christians and Jews are at wits end. The Jews are considered villains by the Dominican church, and are often accused of murder by locals, which is where the rest of the story churns out. There is a young Jewess who has gone missing, and the locals begin pointing fingers; burning Jewish holy books, houses, and even insinuating that they are works of the devil. I consider the story mysterious, because you sometimes find yourself wondering what exactly DID happen to the young girl. Was she murdered? Or is she hidden away, safe and sound? Away from all of the violence that breaks out in communities simply for being a Jew.
I also thought the way Toby was transported from current time to historic England was very interesting. Time travel and other supernatural elements take place.
I really love Anne Rice. She did enter into the Catholic church for quite a few years, but later left because she felt it no longer suited her lifestyle. I have to wonder if she was secretly doing research for this very novel? I'm not one for books that contain a lot of religious elements, because I simply don't agree with many of them. However, Anne never fails to amaze me and I have a newfound love for her writing :)
However, I have been pressed for time and still have a few unread books on my desk. I figured I may as well finish them up and pick one that best suits this challenge ^^;;
At the moment, I am almost finished with Angel Time by Anne Rice. It's a little difficult to describe because there are so many elements to the story, but I found it quite mysterious - to say the least. It is the first in the Songs of the Seraphim duology and revolves around a man named Toby O'Dare who was once a very spiritual person; but after a tragic event in his dysfunctional household, he gives up on faith and is lured into the dark side of the criminal underworld.
Let me clear something up. The first half of the book does take place in California, but we are later transported to thirteenth-century England where Christians and Jews are at wits end. The Jews are considered villains by the Dominican church, and are often accused of murder by locals, which is where the rest of the story churns out. There is a young Jewess who has gone missing, and the locals begin pointing fingers; burning Jewish holy books, houses, and even insinuating that they are works of the devil. I consider the story mysterious, because you sometimes find yourself wondering what exactly DID happen to the young girl. Was she murdered? Or is she hidden away, safe and sound? Away from all of the violence that breaks out in communities simply for being a Jew.
I also thought the way Toby was transported from current time to historic England was very interesting. Time travel and other supernatural elements take place.
I really love Anne Rice. She did enter into the Catholic church for quite a few years, but later left because she felt it no longer suited her lifestyle. I have to wonder if she was secretly doing research for this very novel? I'm not one for books that contain a lot of religious elements, because I simply don't agree with many of them. However, Anne never fails to amaze me and I have a newfound love for her writing :)