The Catholic Book Club discussion

2. How did you experience the book? Was it a slow grind? Or did you find yourself pulled into the story right away?

In general I liked it, although all in all I liked best Father Coloma's JEROMIN, which deals with the same subject, but invents a lot less. Although it deals almost exclusively with historic facts, Jeromín must also be considered a novel, for the author fills gaps with no footnotes and without mentioning authorities and alternatives.

This topic we Will speak my friend Alfonseca and me about Jerómin, but my opinion is different i admit that Jerómin is better but i do not consider that Jerómin was a novel i consider that Jerómin is a biography. The Jesuit Coloma that i wish One day was translated to English besides of writing about Juan of Austria he wrote a biography of the scot Queen Mary Stuart entitled the Queen Martyr. I apologize with my friend Alfonseca for delaying in replying his message in Goodreads i am reading How to write science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card i Will like discuss with him :-). My friend Alfonseca and me are discussing (not argue) about other topic Grazie the daughter of Yussuf Nassi the Big Jew Duke of Cyprus and a Big friend of Sultan Selim II. My friend believes that she is a fictional character and for This reason he has not Interest in her however i have my serious doubts It is true that i can not find evidences about her existence but why the spanish writer included in his novel The Knight of Alcántara a daughter of Yussuf Nassi that she escaped with the main character. I do not think that This character is in the story by chance. I give my permission to my friend Alfonseca in case that he wants to reproduce the contain of our message about The Last crusader and sharing with the group. I think that the discussion is a success and we spawn a lot of comments about This book.

John wrote: "2. How did you experience the book? Was it a slow grind? Or did you find yourself pulled into the story right away?"

It was an easy and captivating read. I'm very glad to have read it and am reading Lepanto by Chesterton as a follow up.

Jt wrote: "It was an easy and captivating read. I'm very glad to have read it and am reading Lepanto by Chesterton as a follow up."

Excellent!! I always love a book that drives me to read other books or to seek out other information.

Very entertaining, but also poignant.
Don Juan is in many respects a tragic figure being caught up in the geo—political machinations due to his birth. At the same time his connections bring him to the climax of his life at the early age 24. What I really enjoyed was how faith permeated and organized every aspect of life. It draws a sad picture of what we have lost.

I totally agree with Kerstin.

I really like the book. I thought the beginning was a bit slow; but it picked up speed very quickly. The ending it is true is a bit rushed; but I think the author wanted to end on a sort of climax; though I do agree that it might have been better if he included an epilogue about Don Juan's death.

I totally agree with Mss. Stover at least the people understand what does It happen with Don Juan?

I loved it and have recommended it to others.
I'm also glad that our next book is also set in Spain and in the same time period.

I haven't finished it yet, but I have enjoyed all th de Wohl books I've read so far and will finish. I find the main characters appealing, and I admire any writer who can show the humanity in his villains. De Wohl does this well.