Aztec

Rating:
Summary: A truly intense and gripping novel
Review: While wandering the basement of my local library, I came across an ancient novel simply titled "Aztec". Since I had some interest in Aztec culture, mostly based on my research into various religions, I decided to look at this book.
I must say, I was not disappointed. While quite a large novel, it is one which I would be more than happy to read several times over. I was amazed at the detail with which Jennings could describe the life of a typical Aztec person. I read the novel, devoured it quite thoroughly, and then stored in the back of my head.
A couple years later, when it came time to choose courses for my freshman year here at the University of Pittsburgh, I stumbled across a course titled "Colonial Latin America". I have a natural interest in history, but had it not been for my reading this novel by Gary Jennings, I may have simply passed over the course. As it is, I'm taking the course now. (Actually, in about 6 hours I will be attending one of the lectures.) I read one user review here on Amazon claiming that Jennings was not entirely accurate in some of his descriptions of day-to-day living in the Aztec Empire. So far, there has been nothing in my course to suggest that there is any truth behind this. Perhaps my professor would have something different to say on this subject -- I plan on speaking with her tomorrow about this book, and if she does have any negative comments regarding it, I will certainly post them here.
I would have given this novel five stars, rather than the four which I awarded it, but as of yet I have only found two novels which I can fairly give that prestige to -- House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. So do not mistakenly think that I found any noticable problems with this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Quite a life...
Review: You like historical fiction? Interested in the life and society of the Aztec empire? Start here. Although I was not exactly swept away by "Aztec" at first it wasn't long before the book captured my attention and continued to command it to the last page. The main character, Mixtli, is hard not to like despite some of the more barbaric aspects of his personality. After all, he is the product of a somewhat barbaric culture and as you read you grow to accept the ways of that society as if you were born into it yourself. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure story in the tradition of "Shogun" or even "The Hobbit". It's a good read filled with colorful characters but be prepared for some fairly gory violence and explicit sex. The biggest downfall of "Aztec" is that most of us know what finally happened to the Aztecs at the hands of the Spaniards (yes, Hernan Cortez eventually makes a cameo)and Mr. Jennings makes no attempt to rewrite history. We grow to empathize with the characters always aware that eventually their world will sadly crumble around them.

Rating:
Summary: Give me more, Mr. Jennings! Please, I need more!!
Review: Simply amazing!! I read peoples reviews who gave this book anything less than 4 stars, and surprise, surprise, most of their reviews on other books are extremely critical as well. Don't listen to them. If you have a passion for ancient cultures, are open minded and not easily offended, this book is for you! This man clearly did his research. Anyone who claims they could have predicted what life "really" would have been like in ancient Mexico, and thinks that there are discrepancies in this story has no way of proving it. Again, lets remind the critics that history is all interpretation. These differences can be so far as black and white. There is nothing wrong with filling in the blanks with your own marvelous imagination if you possess the talent for it, as Mr. Jennings obviously does.
Oh, and by the way, about the book being too long; it wasn't long enough! I wish it were 10,000 pages!

Rating:
Summary: One thousand pages read in two weeks by a 15-year-old. Huh?
Review: I cannot say it is the best book ever written, for I have not read every book. But I say that if I had, Aztec would probably be the one I'd remember most dearly.

In other words, you're not a book-lover if you haven't read Aztec. It will shock you, it will make you laugh, it will take you close to tears. It's the most complete literary work I've ever come across and it will probably keep this title for a long time.

The main character is incredibly human, even more human than some people I know. I cringe when I call him a character, because after reading this book, he feels more like a friend. He makes mistakes, not stupid mistakes, but mistakes we would make if we were in his position. The people that he shares his life with are also noteworthy. Even Hernan Cortes isn't demonized here. The Spanish are noted as real people. As people with flaws, which are criticised with heavy doses of irony and sarcasm.

I love reading books, but the biggest book I've read before Aztec was only 450 pages long. This is 1039. If you want to start reading long books (it's a step bigger than I imagined) than Aztec would be the perfect kind. The book is huge not because it has overly-long-descriptions. It's long because it's a person's life, and a very long and busy life I might add.

I plan on finding a hardcover edition of this book. Just so I can keep it on my shelf, unread and in perfect condition. This is better entertainment than any other kind of media can give.

Buy this book. Read it. Love it. Share it.

Rating:
Summary: Captivated
Review: I first read this book over a year and half ago. I have also read the psuedo-sequel, Aztec Autumn. There is no doubt that Jennings has captured the depth and intricacies of Aztec culture and society. His character Mixtli is memorable, as he takes us with him on his life journeys. Few characters in modern literature have the ability to capture the world around the them, and give us a unique perspective of their own soul. Nevertheless, Jennings has used a great deal of literary license in order to prove certain points. Mixtli's relationship with his sister, though poignant and touching, is tainted by incense, an Aztec cultural taboo which Jennings points out yet still uses in order to pull the characters into several crisis. Nevertheless, Jennings is very honest in his depiction of the Aztecs, other MesoAmerican cultures that Mixtli meets in his journeys, and the Spanish Conquistadores. Jennings nor Mixtli pass judgement, though there is a definite sadness, yet sarcasm in Mixtli's narration. I highly recommend this novel, though I will say it can be a difficult read. It can be gory, violent, but as I said earlier brutally honest.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: Aztec is an absolutely wonderful book! Jennings has done a great job. The story is very captivating. I actually found myself caring for Mixtli and sharing his griefs, joys, victories, etc. With the arrival of Cortes, I felt a tinge of sadness knowing what would happen. Though the story starts off slow, it eventually picks up to the point that you won't be able to put the book down.

At 1000 pages, Aztec is certainly a hefty read, but don't let that scare you. The pages will literally fly by. And don't worry about staleness. Mixtli's tale is still as fresh and exciting on page 850 as it was on page 90.

If you get the chance, definately pick up this book. It's great!

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book
Review: A very interesting tale of the final days of the Aztecs before the Spanish conquest. If you have a strong stomach for sex and violence (which this book contains a lot of) and have an interest in ancient cultures then AZTEC is definately worth checking out.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelieveable!
Review: This book is incredible. It will change the way that you look at everything. Crisp details and descriptions of persons, places and events make for a great read. You will feel this book happen around you as you read it.

Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Epic Saga
Review: Wow! One thousand and more pages of historical fiction surrounding the half-century leading up to the last days of the Aztec peoples. This story by Gary Jennings revolves around a single Aztec, or Mexícatl, named Mixtli, or Dark Cloud. He recounts the details of his life from his early child hood memories, to his rising through the ranks of Mexíca working class and nobility, to the last days of the great Aztec empire as crushed by Hernan Cortés. The dense and long chapters/ramblings are occasionally interspersed with letters from the Christian priest, who supervises the transcribing of his stories, letters directed toward the King of Spain.

Know before you begin this book that it is more than 1000 pages long, and the pages are packed with many words. Unless you have several days to devote to reading it, do not expect to get through it in one sitting.

While this reviewer knows nothing about Aztec historical fact, the story presented here provides an enjoyable and exciting exploration into what the life of one Aztéca might have been like. The story is compelling and a worthwhile read. I've come away from the book wanting to explore more details of the real Aztec history, and perhaps this book will do so for many others as well. Underlining the latter third of the book, of course, is the reality that European conquerors decimated and destroyed a thriving and advanced culture all in the name of Manifest Destiny. You cannot walk away from this book without having to consider what would life in the new world, Mexico, North America, Canada, what would life have been like today for these cultures if white men had not so boldly and shamelessly invaded, conquered, decimated, and infiltrated their very lives? And of course, the next question becomes, Are we still doing more of the same but in a more palatable gloss of making the world safe for democracy?

This book, being published over two decades ago, clearly shows some of the influence of the late 70s/early 80s with it's rampant exploration of sexual themes, incest, fredom of the man to romp sexually through anyone and anything he desires. It also shows way too much influence of American culture. At it's best, the book is an entertaining and thoroughly developed plunge into an alternate and perhaps lost culture. At its worst, Jennings has given us an Aztec Forrest Gump. So many things seem to happen to our hero, Mixtli, that it becomes a bit unreal at times. He has a Revered Speaker (an Aztec King, or President) take a liking to him as a boy and choose to give him free education, He goes to war and happens to kill the most fearsome opponent even though he is extremely nearsighted, He more than once becomes a successful merchant by bringing to his community some of the most exotic trades ever found, He discovers the true origins of the Aztec peoples, He advances himself to nobility, and He even becomes Christian, of a sort. I never cared much for Forrest Gump, and have a difficult time stomaching similar characters. But, even so, this Mixtli Gump does usually earn his rewards in a detailed and satisfying manner. His cousin Forrest, on the other hand, is a joke =)

My most concerned criticism with this book is the assumption that the ancient culture is a reflection of the desires and values of American Capitalism. Too much of the Aztec way of life seems to be rooted in free trade (capitalism), a very defined nobility hierarchy, a warfaring and conquering daily life, and the premise that one can advance up through the hierarchy through a man's deeds, as our hero Mixtli does. Yes, there is a great deal of time spent on the details of the various celebrations and sacrifices which are a daily part of the culture, but the rest of the book seemed to be too much a reflection of western capitalism. I find it amusing that so many contemporary writers, historians, and scholars tend to impose a hierarchical system on ancient cultures. Why must they have noble classes, middle classes, and slaves? Why do they need to reflect our western economic structure? Why does everything need to be valued in terms of trade currency? Why must we assume that our way of life today is the penultimate system and that any previous great civilization by necessity MUST have had a similar structure to their lives? Where is the paradigm shift? There hasn't been one in 500 years of white occupation of Mexico? I don't think so.

Unfortunately, there is little to corroborate my concern with these details. As pointed out by Jennings' Mixtli, there is little, if any, evidence of the actual histories of the Aztecs, or Mexícatl, or whatever ancestors there once were.

The book gets three stars. It could have received four if it wasn't so over-laden with a capitalist and western overtones.

Rating:
Summary: WOW--what can i say???
Review: The way that Gary Jennings wrote this book was super extraordinary!!! He makes it seem as if the main character Mixtli (one of his many, many names as most "Aztec" readers learn) was part of the aztec's history. He wrote it as if Mixtli experienced it all. It's truely an amazing book. As many others agree, my first thought of reading this book was, "Oh no. Here goes another boring history book." But NO!! If I would've had time, I would've finished the book in at most a week, but at the pace of 50 pages a day, it took me only about a month to read it.

If you would like to read another magnificent novel, I would defenitely recommend "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet.
I promise that if you liked "Aztec", you defenitely will not regret taking my recommendation.