Tuesday 13 April, 2004
The Dumas Club by Arturo Perez-Reverte
Myself and Dragon, we very rarely read the same books. His genre is fantasy and historical novels, and while I like those too, my passion is sci-fi (and the other way around). So when he suggested I should read The Dumas Club I was undoubtedly suspicious - but he described it to me as a crime novel, so I decided to give it a go. Immediately I could see why Dragon loved this book so much. It's a book about books - about a book hunter who is investigating a rare Dumas manuscript and a satanistic antique book, and leaves behind a trail of bodies.
I don't know if it was about the translation (from Spanish to English) or the original text, but I found the language quite heavy and a bit difficult to read. The main character Corso was quite unpleasant man, and the subject of Dumas, his books and his private life wasn't such an engaging factor for me. Those reasons were probably enough that it took me better part of a month to finish this book.
But while the beginning was a bit slow, things started to happen towards the end, and the ending was actually quite exciting and clever. Perez-Reverte obviously likes to give clues to the reader, and this book was full on illustrations of different copies of the book "Nine Doors". There was something Christie-like in his methodology and approach to the mystery which appealed to me, but unfortunately the characters in it didn't really do anything for me. While I think it's not necessery to like characters in a book, I think I would still like to admire them in some way, or at least the way there were written - but in case of Corso I just didn't find him appealing in any way, and didn't think that the character development was overly logical.
But all in all, not a bad read. But I think Dragon is a better person to sing the prase for this book.
Posted by kolibri at 13 April 20:35, 2004Ever since seeing The Ninth Gate, which is loosely based on this book (starring Johnny Depp as Corso) I've been meaning to pick this book up. Since the original is in Spanish, I'll probably pick a Finnish translation, if I can find one.
And after checking, Like Kustannus has translated the book as "Yhdeksäs portti" (that's The Ninth Gate for you foreigners). And it's even reasonably priced. Gotta get a copy.
# 2 - Dragon (on April 14, 2004 12:15 AM):
You really should. In my opinion the book is WAY better than the movie. I'll write my own review when I have a moment.
# 3 - Merten (on April 14, 2004 08:15 AM):
The Finnish translation is quite good - can't obviously compare it to the original, but it was a pleasure to read. While the book is better than the movie, the latter one is quite enjoyable as well.
I've read two other books from Perez-Reverte, lately, which were almost as good as the The Dumas Club, if not better. Can't remember the titles for the life of me, but one was about chess and the other one about treasure hunting in the Spanish coast. I recommend both.
# 4 - Moira (on April 14, 2004 12:14 PM):
The first of the novels Merten mentions is Flaamilainen taulu or The Flanders Panel in English. The second might be The Nautical Chart, which I haven't read myself. Yet.
Arturo rules. 'Nuff said.
# 5 - Kolibri (on April 14, 2004 12:25 PM):
I'm starting to feel more and more like I need to read some more of his books, but in Finnish. Dragon picked up (I think) the Flaamilainen taulu from the airport, so maybe I'll give that one a go next.
# 6 - Merten (on April 14, 2004 01:32 PM):
More souls for the master!
Ahem.
A good choice.
As for the Nautical Chart, it's a bit less puzzle and a bit more adventure -kind of novel.
# 7 - Dragon (on April 14, 2004 02:05 PM):
I'll get the Fencing Master in Finnish, I think it is the best translation I've read. The new Reverte book was out in Spain, and had a picture of a man with a moustache and a sword on the cover. This prompted me to learn Spanish, as I CANNOT wait for a translation!
# 8 - Henri (on April 14, 2004 05:10 PM):
So, there goes my soul. Bought the "El Club Dumas" and already started reading. I can't remember when I've been this curious and excited about a book.
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