Don Casto > Recent Status Updates

I seldom either re-watch films or re-read books. The Game of Thrones series is one of the few exceptions in both cases. I find the writing to be top notch and the story line memorable. In another break from the norm, I have acquired the DVD collection of the first three seasons . . . .an even rarer action than the occasional re-read.

This book comes right up to my expectations for Dan Brown. As with his others, it mixes character, action and atmosphere in a way that makes the education provided almost enjoyable. I would have liked to have a map of Florence somewhere in my copy. As it is, I have gone to the 'net for background information and navigational aids.

I am sure this would have been a book that I read straight through in short order . . .were it not for all the dry weather work around here that tires me out to where I cannot read at night. To its credit, this book is memorable enough to allow me to pick it up after long lapses and still know what is going on.

The series has become much more enjoyable . . .to the point where I find myself conflicted as I near the end of a book There is sadness in seeing the diminishing number of remaining pages . . .and excited anticipation for the start of the next book.

The series becomes much easier to read and envision with each additional book. There is a great deal of detail and color in and around the ships, the British Navy and the culture of England and France in the late 1700s. I am finding that as much as I like the idea of being on a sailing ship . . .life at that time had many challenges that I am not sure I would bear up well under.

Like with so many things in life . . .reading this author's books gets easier and more enjoyable the more you do it. I still keep my illustrated guide to 18th century warships handy, but have found the dialect come much more readily to my mind' voice now. A patient initial approach is now yielding an exceptional reading experience..

I am slowly becoming for comfortable with the dialog dialects . . .character voices are now coming through for me. I am finding that reading some every day keeps maintains the voice for me. Other books I have read on this subject and era have included labeled illustrations of a typical sailing ship for their readers . . .something that this book sadly lacks.

I am taking this book a little slower than most as I adjust to the well crafted dialogs . . .many of which reflect various characters colloquial accents. It is all about finding the character's voices at this point. Character building seems to be the primary emphasis so far, and I am happy to make these new acquaintances.

This book seems to have more mystery in the first pages than the others. The villainous terrorist has still not been given a name . . .

An entertaining read . . .taking place in and near Park City, Utah (and Deer Valley) sparks some distant memories of the years I spent there. Some of the geographic references do not parallel with what I remember . . .and I am not sure whether it is literary license, foggy recall or new place names.