The Fencing Master

Rating:
Summary: I could follow this one!
Review: I've much admired the complexity of Perez-Reverte's mysteries and have enjoyed both the Flanders Panel and Club Dumas. I have found, however, that they are far too complex to read at night, after a long day, and I've spent many hours re-reading parts of both of these earlier books so I could get caught up on the details and fully understand what was going on. This one, however, was a joy to read--no back-tracking to figure out who was who, no intrigue of impossible complexity, and an interesting protagonist, Don Jaime, well-developed and worthy of empathy.

Rating:
Summary: Fast read
Review: The Fencing Master is an interesting and feast read book. The dull life of Don Jaime Asterloa is charged when Adela de Otera enters and requests that he teach her his special thrust. Don Jaime falls in love with his pupil only to see her disappear from his life. He eventually discovers why she needed his assistance. The conclusion of the novel, placed in the context of the decline of the Spanish monarchy, is fast-paced and intriguing. For those who do not understand the language of fencing, aspects of this book are hard to follow.

Rating:
Summary: a mystery thriller that has you guessing til the end.
Review: A well written novela, gives historical insight to the changing of the guard in 19th century Spain. A very relaxing read that entangles the reader with curiosity of each character. Three seperate mysteries are solved within the text. I would like to have had a glossary of fencing terms to identify some of the verbage within the book. I throughly enjoyed this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Not Bad For a First Novel
Review: For the guy from Medford, OR who knows everything:

foible n 1: an behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual [syn: idiosyncrasy, mannerism]

2: the weaker half of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip

Sometimes you just need to pay attention.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, especially after his previous books
Review: This books was quite a disappointment. After devouring Flanders Panel, Club Dumas and Seville Communion, I was expecting the same mystery and complexity. For this book, the plot was poorly developed, the villaness was seriously one-dimensional and stereotypical (a real letdown after the female characters in the previous books). I kept reading the book in the hopes of the plot becoming more interesting but no such luck. The ending wasn't as earth shattering as I'd hoped, judging from Reverte's previous works. I'm glad I didn't buy this book!

Rating:
Summary: Easy reading... too much so.
Review: For my first book from Arturo Perez-Reverte I was disappointed in that the book was predictable by the half waypoint and the characters a bit one-dimensional. There were some edit content problems, but probably due to translation of the work and this was unfortunate.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant.
Review: The Triumph and the Glory has this absorbing novel topped, but nothing else I've read in the last couple years can hold a flickering candle to it. It is terrific, a truly captivating novel! Get yourself a copy of the Fencing Master!

Rating:
Summary: Nice story, could have been better.
Review: The Fencing Master is a nicely conceived story, with a beginning,a middle and an end. Unfortunatley the middle comes about 90% of the way through the book, long after you've stopped looking for it. The ending is then too abrupt and the conflict not well developed enough. This could have been a great book. Truly great. But as it is, it is only okay. Great fencing scenes which make one want to learn how to do it. If only there were a fencing master of great quality around.

Rating:
Summary: este libro es cojonudo
Review: Reverte, la historia del Astarloa es tan cojonuda como la del pater de la piel del tambor. Lo lei en un sofocante verano cuando era un estudiante en la tranquila Pamplona y vivia de alquiler con unos compaNeros. En aquella epoca devoraba todo lo que pasaba por mi lado -o alrededores- y aseguro que no solia ser generoso en halagos. Enhorabuena Arturo.

Rating:
Summary: Should have spent more money on the translation...
Review: Being an avid fencer I was excited to read a review of this book...although the plot was interesting the overall book was disappointing. The translation was poor at best...a spell checker is not a substitute for a real human. My favorite was "foible" for foil. Touche!