Aztec

Rating:
Summary: Another 5-star review
Review: You will like this book if: you like historical fiction, you like erotic fiction, you like catptivating, gripping, doesnt-let-go-of-you fiction, if you like fiction, period! Like many others have stated, this is a great book, a work of genius. It's such a long book that you would think it's be hard to get through, or might get boring. Not at all, at the end of nearly a thousand pages, you wish it wasn't over.

This book is not for the light-hearted. The plot, action, and imagery is often dark, graphic, sometimes disturbing, and other times stimulating. If you're looking for a conventional book, you might not like this.

Overall, after the many books I've read, this one stands out in mind more than most - I wish i could give it 6 stars. When you read this, the world around melts away and you forget you're in the 21st century, stiing at home in a chair. With all of the hero's journeys and adventures, you're right there with him - you ARE him. He's easy to identify with, and he's the opposite sex from me.

Buy it, read it, keep it. You'll love it.

Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: This is the greatest historical novel I've ever read. It is also the funniest. I got tears in my eyes I laughed so hard in some places. Buy the hardcover copy and keep it in your library. You won't want to give it away!!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting... but how accurate is it?
Review: Quite an interesting book, though I was irritated for the first few hundred pages by several contradictions, such as the willingness of most people Mixtli encounters to offer their selves/daughters/cousins etc for Mixtli's pleasure despite his own tribe considering adultery and the loss of virginity before marriage a crime punishable by death.

In addition I question the historical accuracy of several of the book's details. Did the ancient Aztec culture really provide sporting scholarships to their equivalent of university colleges for a game similar to basketball? Did they really describe their chief's favourite wife as the First Lady? Well researched and highly detailed fiction masquerading as fact can be a dangerous thing.

But if you ignore the shortcomings and keep in mind it's pure fiction it's a very good read.

Rating:
Summary: "All good books..."
Review: "All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened, and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that has happened to you, and afterwards it all belongs to you" - Hemingway

And if all good books are measured by how much you feel the experience, and how much they affect you, then no better book has been written than Aztec.

Rating:
Summary: Great story with only a few negatives
Review: I really didnt mind the violence contained in this book. I was, however, disturbed to read about the main character: 1) having detailed sex with his sister 2)having sex with a little boy and 3)him and his wife having sex with two little bald kids.

Maybe its just me but im not a big fan of that kind of stuff, and it wouldnt have even been that bad but those parts were WAY too detailed.

Other than that, the rest of the book was incredibly enjoyable and educating. I would suggest it to anyone, but recommend skipping those nasty parts.

Rating:
Summary: Accurate, sad depiction of the end of the Aztec culture
Review: Gary Jennings spent several years researching this book, and it shows. His intricate and detailed story, told by a fictional Mexicatl named Mixtli, follows Mixtli's longer-than-average life adventures: amorous, tragic, at times brutal or happy, through the years before the Spanish invasion and subsequent slaughter and enslavement of the Central American tribes. The details we learn about the advanced civilization of the Nauhatl tribes are surprising and I was relieved to see that at least some of this complicated culture has been rediscovered.

Mixtli sees and travels quite far through the lands now known as Mexico, and we are treated to descriptions of the many countries and tribes, their beliefs and customs that were later wiped out by the Spanish through intolerance, ignorance, and European diseases. What we see is a group of advanced cultures, with their own traditions, writing, mythologies, and science. Although elements of the culture seem barbaric to us (the human sacrifices, for example), the people were certainly no worse (and certainly more broad-minded) than the Spanish that killed and enslaved them. The explanations given for the seeming violence seem perfectly understandable: there is no greater honor than being sacrificed to one's God.

The conquest by the Spanish, however heinous, is told in a straightforward and unbiased manner, taking into account information that has been lost or changed over the last 500 years. History comes alive as we hear of Cortes' gathering of other tribes against the ruling Mexica before he turned on them and subjected those tribes to the slavery they had forced upon the Mexica.

The language used in the story is florid and a little obsolete, in imitation of the style used a few hundred years ago, although it is eminently readable. Be forwarned that it takes about 100 or so pages before the book really starts going -- from there you will be hard-pressed to put it down! Once you finish, you will have a very different perspective on Mexico than you do today. I travel frequently to central Mexico, and have been seeing the area in a very different light. The current Mexicans have a confusing mix of cultures in their past; like the Germans, they need to look back and honor the best of what their heritage offers. This book may help them do just that.

Rating:
Summary: Please don't forget this is a novel
Review: This book gives an incredible description about the life, places, events and everything related to the people in ancient Mexico during the Spanish colonization war.

A lot of details in history, arquitecture, cooking, healing etc., is given, and they look well-documented. However, I always had the question about where history finishes and fiction starts.

Enjoy the book if you like this kind of reading, but, again, please do not forget this is a novel.

Rating:
Summary: wow, what a book
Review: I could not put this book down. It is one of the most incredible historical novels i have read in a long time. And Jennings has done his homework on aztec history and archaeology. Telling the story of the life of an Aztec commoner and how he rises through the ranks, and of the final confrontation with the Spanish invaders, Jennings gives you what i though was a very good approximation to the aztec's point of view of the whole thing. If you are into mesoamerican archaeology, you cannot miss this book.

Rating:
Summary: Push a nut between your mother's great legs...
Review: ...From The Monitor...

Aztec, a firm epic story by Gary Jennings is so spectacular, that I would be willing to read it at one o'clock in the afternoon, middle of July, laying down shirtless on black asphalt. Impressed? Aztec is an epic historical fiction novel, often categorized with James Clavell's Shogun or the works of James A. Michener, which enraptures its audience with a firsthand vivid account of the 16th century life of the Mexicatl (Aztec) people in their city Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City). Jennings uses 'Mixtli' which is Nahuatl (language) for Dark Cloud, to tell the story of his life ab ovo. Mixtli tells his story to an audience consisting of friars, a bishop and scribes whom were charged by the King of Spain to write down verbatim the words that escaped Mixtli's mouth so that his august Majesty could know of the people (Aztecs) he had recently conquered.

Jennings reveals a people, a place, and a time period that is often forgotten. He takes you through religious ceremonies, sacrifices, and festivities that are completely alien to any of today. The myths, suppositions and lore of the Mexica people come alive through Mixtli's narration. Mixtli's life is exciting and diverse, he wears many hats: a scribe or 'word knower', a peddler of booty, a passionate and sometimes clumsy lover, a cartographer and a very unlikely warrior. Mixtli travels throughout his nation and to far off lands and experiences much through intention, and more often, through error. He learns various tongues along his travels and eventually picks up Spanish, which makes him a great but reluctant tool of the Spaniards. So much of Jennings' novel is comprised of such a wealth of sensible, believable information that it is easy to forget Aztec is a fictional account. I would be hard pressed to prove or disprove the elements of truth in Aztec. I can only rely on the experts: Professor J. Pino of Kent State University found Aztec's representation of culture and religion a "total horselaugh"; the Denver Post had this to say: "The history, geography, art, literature, and religion of the Aztecs are all here, along with a wealth of information about the people themselves and the way they went about the business of living." Now what? Even the 'experts' seem dubious. To any reader of historical fiction, it should be evident that certain liberties are taken regarding factual information; something may be added or subtracted, or even sugarcoated for effect, this is often called 'artistic licensing'.

Whether or not you believe Aztec is a grandiose misrepresentation of the Mexica people during Spain's occupation in Mexico during the 1500's, or an accurate story down to the letter about the ways and means of a great people, you simply cannot deny Jennings' skill of seizing readers' curiosity, welding their hands to the book. Although, I must admit there were times when I felt dirty reading portions where Mixtli nonchalantly addressed incest or grisly religious rituals, purportedly indigenous of the Aztec people, it has been the best read of the summer. In reading Aztec, I spent most of time admiring Lake Texacoco, enjoying walks through the great city of Tenochtitlan, and despising the "smelly" Spaniards for their 'divine' right to pursue "Gold, Glory and God". I could empathize with Mixtli in the good times and the bad.

However, when you pickup Aztec, don't expect a quick read, for it is 1000+ pages, but expect to live, or at least dream of life among the Mexica people for days to come. Jennings has finished this race first place.

Rating:
Summary: The crown jewel of Aztec culture
Review: I bought and read this book when it was first published and I was rather disappointed that it was published some years after having lived in Mexico.

Mexico is a country rich in antiquities and historical sites, piramids temples and churches but dearly lacking in the details of what the society and cultures were like that built all those great wonders that have managed to withstand not only the ravages of time but also the ravages of the conquistadores.

The Spanish conquerers were unable to destroy the fabulous piramids and temples of the Aztecs and only manages to cover the samller ones up in dirt and then build a church on top of the mounds.

Mixtili the narrator and subject of the book manages to describe in almost lifelike detail the life and times of many of the different classes of Aztecs and their very bloodthirsty culture.

5 stars do not give this book justice .....