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What are readers saying about THE HISTORIAN: A NOVEL?
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-06-19 12:03:20.
(Language: English)
  
okay, finally finished this one, whew, it is a long book...but if u are not into history, intellectual stimulation and more of a research based ananlysis on the familiar story of dracula, this book is not for you, it is not full of gore or sex...no stretch of the imagination is it another bram stoker look-alike, nor is it any comparison to any other vampire chronicles (excuse the pun) such as the anne rice books which i love, not this is purely an excellently researched and prepared manuscript of the history of vlad the impaler who he himself loves history and scholarly efforts (go figure) but man it was full of interesting conjecture and not so subtle coincedences....being a history teacher myself i loved it if for nothing but the effort it must of took in preparing this novel...so far so good, it is a mingling of history, suspense, and the supernatural but in an enthralling unfolding way....must read if u are at all into history, dracula, vampires 
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-02-15 07:34:16.
(Language: English)
Myth and History meet together to present the Legend of Vlad Tepes in a whole new way.Whoever takes the challenge to reveal the truth and support it with facts and evidents,finds himself trapped in the labirinth of his own self.Is Dracula still alive?Where is his grave?Why do all people who had ever been interested in learning something more about him disappeare in a mysterious way?What ectually happened in the 14 th century, in Walachia?Read the book.It's worth the time and the effort.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-02 05:54:08.
(Language: English)
very very good!
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-06-06 12:27:58.
(Language: English)
I really liked this one. The way she describes the scenery is amazing and it makes me want to follow every footstep they take in the book just to see it all myself. On the other hand, it seems to run just a tad long because of all the detail. On the whole though, very well written! I'm reading it for the second time as we speak.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-07 09:09:02.
(Language: English)
The book starts off promising and ends some 500 pages later! She needed an editor. Her trails of missives and clues ever litering the landscape made the story a bit absurd even frustrating. It went from page turning and turning and turning until I was about on page 450 and gnashing my teeth waiting for a bloody ending (no pun intended) - I even stopped caring about piecing all the clues together: I just wanted something anything to happen. The different "voices" found in the letters were uniformly victorian flourishings. And the ending(s) were def. less interesting than the journey, just like the original Dracula.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-03 06:10:42.
(Language: English)
I actually read the book the first time and then listened to the unabridged version of it on CD the second time. I was able to get so much more out of it by listening to it read aloud. There are several different actors reading the parts of the characters. The accent of the characters really add to the overall feeling of the eeriness of the novel and the different time sequences.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-24 09:54:36.
(Language: English)
Who would have thought that such an erudite approach to the well-known Dracula myth would be so utterly compelling and chillingly fascinating? Kostova’s in-depth research coupled with her impeccable pacing and timing results in an entirely entertaining journey, even for non-genre fans like me. Think of it as horror for non-horror fans; history for non-historians. Her brilliant blend of historical fact and fiction results in one of the most exciting novels I have read for some time. Will be looking forward to her sophomore effort, although I do hope it would not be another decade in the making.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-30 07:22:00.
(Language: English)
After around 200 pages, I started getting into this book. It was especially fun to read around Halloween. I was flipping through the channels one night and on History they had the Dracula Underground special on and it gave additional realism to the historical facts in this book. Good read, skip to page 200 if you're looking for a quick start.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-29 02:37:44.
(Language: English)
This book was fantastic. It could be a bit slow at times, but it was very well researched and extremely engaging. I've recommended it many many times.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-03 07:18:05.
(Language: English)
There is a decided lack of innovation in the vampire lore and mythology aspect of The Historian. Despite the resulting feel of rehashing the same old vampire story again, Kostova manages to approach these similarities from a slightly removed and ironic angle, with the feel of a smirk and a slightly sarcastic head tilt to the classical incarnation of Dracula that most of us are familiar with these days. There is also an intriquing interweaving of political undercurrents, and an addictive talent for manipulating characters and prose that make this book hard to put down, and redeems the consistent attention paid to following the cliches and conventions of the vampire novel. Predictable to follow, but still fun to read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-10 03:14:16.
(Language: English)
Even though it was long book and could be difficult to read at times, because of the amount of detail Kostova put into it, I thought it was most fantastic books I have ever read!The relationship between Elena and her father is sooo beautiful and sad all at the same time. A relationship mainly told through letters and one sided conversations, but a deep love and understanding. Thats just one part of it, to tell you the rest would ruin the book entirely, but just one peace of advice....don't read before you go to sleep nor in a darkend room, as you might wee yourself!It will be very difficult to make this book into a film, which I know is going to happen in 2010...god help us all!!Enjoy! Amazing, amazing, amazing!! There are so many, blimey!moments, you just can't imagine how good it is....And the unsettling thing about it is you start to spot pictures of "things" and whenever you hear the words "Ottoman Empire" in makes you feel rather pale...Mwwhaaaahahaaahahahahahahahahha
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-29 09:54:02.
(Language: English)
This book right from the start is very grabbing. The descriptions are so detailed and colourful that you get lost in the book so thoroughly you almost feel as if you are Paul or Helena. The blend of historical fact and fiction is so well done it's hard for a non-historian to differentiate between the two. The only flaw that I seemed to find was Helena's disappearing act and her watchful eye on the father & daughter. It seemed way to convienent after such an intense story line. It was neatly covered up by the post cards in the later chapters but you could still tell. Thinking back now, I don't think I ever caught the daughters actual name. I think that she was named after Helena's mother but I could be wrong.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-01 01:32:44.
(Language: English)
My GOD how I enjoy the genre I believe to be categorized as 'Literary Fiction.' "THE HISTORIAN," though a bit slow at the starting gate, has a way of drawing you in further and further as if it were a literary riptide of fictional perfection. "THE HISTORIAN" has nearly all one could want, Mystery, Intrigue, Romance, Death, Dracula, Immortality, and Adventure as we (through manuscript notes and letters of one character, the reminiscences of the narrator's father, and the 'real-time' adventure of the young protagonist) follow multiple, expertly interwoven narratives all leading to a fantastic climax. This is, unabashedly, within my top 10 favourite novels I've read. "THE HISTORIAN" has something for everyone. Though it could be labeled as a "slow burn," the payoff is worth it. The main characters feel as though you've known them forever and the reader will find themselves becoming emotionally attached throughout the course of the novel. A MUST READ!
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-26 03:39:53.
(Language: English)
Far surpassing Bram Stoker, even as she wickedly follows his pattern of story-telling. A far more intimate and informative book with years of research behind it than any vampire novel that I have yet come across. Most people I've talked to can't stand the ending, but fail to realize that it directly echoes what made the end of Dracula so disappointing. The commentary on Stoker's classic is subtle, yet spot on. An incredible debut novel.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-05-11 03:50:34.
(Language: English)
I found this book incredibly obvious. It was a bit much to expect the reader to believe that all the characters were somehow related and did not even raise an eyebrow to their new found situation. The characters were wooden and there was no character development at all. People brag about its historical substance; fair enough - but when the plot is laid out like breadcrumbs - the only surprises arise when the same events seem to keep occurring.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-09-28 04:25:05.
(Language: English)
While I adored the historical part of the story, I was not thrilled with the pace. It was too slow, and there were many times I felt like less words could have been used to the same effect as the drawn out segments. By the time I finished the book, I didn't really care anymore about the story, just about getting it over with, which is not characteristic for me as most novels I read are as long or longer than this one. Overall, the story was good, the writing was too long and the history was fantastic.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-17 10:54:34.
(Language: English)
The day I bought this book, I was grumbling about the conspicuousness of the Twilight books in the bookstore. I've considered myself a vampire purist since my youth, which makes the Twilight series especially despicable to me. Standing in the fiction section, I promised myself that I wasn't going to read a book about vampires, so I took home Kostova's 900-paged book, The Historian. Although an integral part of the story involves Vlad the Impaler, this is not a book about vampires. It is so much more than that. The book is, obviously, about history; history and old books. But it's also about cultures, dark psychology, sociology, geography, archaeology, mythology, innocence, and relationships. The language is so rich, I later had difficulty reading other stories taking place in more contemporary settings. And, the strongest litmus test for me: I didn't want the book to end, and I wanted to read it cover to cover again.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-03-04 09:31:37.
(Language: English)
Another great novel that grounds itself in history, but takes it to another level with mystery and fantasy. If you're a fan of vampires and Dracula, then this is definitely worth a read. And, even if you don't know much about this subject, after reading this novel, you'll know more about the history of Dracula than you ever thought you needed to know. It is a great, thrilling read, cover to cover. And, if you have ever thought of visiting Eastern Europe, this book will paint a wondrous picture of what may be in store for you.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-21 01:14:31.
(Language: English)
This is an interesting and enjoyable read. Although it was sort of difficult to get into at the beginning, if you persevere it is definitely worth it. Another take on vampire legends, this novel doesn't deal with vampires so much as it deals with Vlad the Impaler and possible (?) descendants. Thoroughly researched, one of my pluses for this book is how the story unfolds. The reader finds out what's going on through a series of letters. First the main character, then her father, her mentor, and her mother.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-01 10:23:21.
(Language: English)
Agreeable pulp, complete with characters of Victorian earnestness whose hair "stands on end," and who feel "thrills of horror" every couple of pages. It even gets genuinely creepy around the 100 page mark. But the critical praise for its literary merit seems predicated on the view that any book starring historians and grad students must perforce be "deep." Come on, this book is as deep as my cat's water bowl and only slightly more nourishing. A moderately diverting time is guaranteed for all.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-09 04:01:38.
(Language: English)
This story begins when a young girl finds a mysterious book in her father's library and questions him about it. The father begins to tell the story of his experience with the book and its connection to Dracula. The story is well researched, but it tends to drag a bit. After following the clues for hundreds of pages the reader is left anxious to get the some resolution. Overall, readers interested in this genre will enjoy the story, especially the last chapters where the story picks up significantly.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-26 12:40:47.
(Language: English)
excellent read
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-18 03:11:46.
(Language: English)
Honestly, I stopped reading this about half way through it. The shallow and contrived plot devices were too distracting. At one point the daughter (the main narrator) is recording her father recalling his mentor's memory of a conversation. Despite being overly complicated, they all seem to have total recall of the events. I would have rather the author just cut scene. Plus, from what I've heard from spoilers, the plot turns out just as ridiculous.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-18 07:25:17.
(Language: English)
This storytelling was so tight and elegant that I waited for another year to get my hands on her next book, checking every week at the library and on every bookstore I could find. I love how the narrative wraps around two different stories without being confusing or cumbersome. Also, the book demonstrates our need to be grateful to the Turks, because they were the ones who killed Dracula.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-23 08:24:54.
(Language: English)
One of my favorite contemporary novels. Dense, erudite, and filled with a wondeful sense of intelligence and also, amazingly, menace. It is a vampire novel, but much cleverer than the average fare. This is the story of 4 historians and their multi-generational search for the true Vlad the Impaler, the original Dracula. They slowly come to believe that not only did he exist as a historical figure, but he also exists now as a presence of evil in the modern world.Most of the action takes place in Eastern Europe and Istanbul, and though previous to reading this, I never really wanted to visit Hungary or Romania, this book really makes me want to.An excellent book for sophisticated readers. This is probably the best contemporary novel I have read in some time. It is one of the books that I re-read again and again, and after I do, other books feel flat. I have been a graduate student in a closely related field, and understand the nature of historical research. The writing is beautiful, and I enjoy the constant switching of narrators.To some extent, this continues the genre created by The Da Vinci Code, but unlike Dan Brown's sort of thrown-together mentality, this feels meticulously crafted and plotted. You can also tell that research has actually been done, and while I dont' have any thorough knowledge of eastern European history, I feel that it has not been twisted and altered as much as Dan Brown altered art history (which I do know something about). The story is also riveting, and the scenes and settings beautifully done. After reading this, I always have a great desire to travel eastern Europe. A haunting, sad mood pervades the whole thing--you really understand Paul's utter desolation at losing his wife so long ago, and also his worry about her eternal fate.A beautiful book for those willing to take the time to savor it. Those who have short attention spans probably shouldn't bother.
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