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Summary: Made for Movies plot
Review: Michael Crichton has given us readers cause for excitement whenever his latest novel appears - they tend to be well worth the wait.'Timeline' then, must be the exception to the rule. It's really a movie script disguised as a novel. The pace, the detail, the characters, the plot all seem to have come straight from a big-budget Hollywood movie rather than from a book from one of the more gifted and imaginative writers of our times.
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Summary: Here we go again...
Review: Does the world need another over-blown Crichton epic? Obviously not, but here it is anyway. And yes, zillions of people like myself plunk down some hard earned cash and partake of a little harmless mind-candy. Such is life. This probably wouldn't have been a bad novel had Crichton been able to pick one time travel theory and stick with it. Instead, he seems to remain confused (and thus, so does the reader) on whether or not his charcters have actually journeyed back to the Middle Ages or have merely entered a parallel universe resembling that time period. And not content with writing only bad science this time around, Crichton also gives us bad history as well, with a depiction of life in the Middle Ages about as accurate as what you might have seen in an episode of "The Smurfs." If you're looking for a simple beach-read, by all means pick this up. You'll likely have a good time. But for more accurate and engrossing version of time travel to the Middle Ages, try "The Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis.
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Summary: Architectural Intrigue...
Review: I heard about this book from my Architecture History professor. The way it combined architectural elements with the historical and then added modern science to it intrigued me. As an architecture student I was absolutely fascinated by the book. On top of that, it had a plot that kept twisting and turning leaving me to wonder what could possibly happen next. I have read a lot of Crichton books, and this was definitely another great one!
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Summary: Chalk one more up for the "it's a good book" side
Review: It may be beach reading. It may have characters that get lost. There may even be missing elements, but that doesn't stop this from being a fun, suspenseful, page-turning read. Those that only buy Crichton for futuristic techno-thrilling will be disappointed, maybe. But I was just as fascinated with 14th [1380s are 14th century, not 12th] century and the characters "lost" there as with the technology available today [something I always love about the way he writes]. Nice to see the past having an impact on the present instead of the present having an effect on the future. Tho there's a place for that, too. If you don't want to pay hardback prices, borrow it or wait for paperback. But it's a good book, and the best of his I've seen in awhile.
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Summary: Add this to your library...
Review: I must admit that I pre-ordered this book and was not disappointed once I had finished reading it. Having read most of his novels, this was "way up there" in terms of entertainment value. There's something about Crichton's books that have a certain level of realism making you almost feel like you're there seeing the events from a safe distance - Thank God for that in this case! I'd say a big part of that is all the research he puts in, which in turn makes up the backbone of his stories. Basically, in this story, technology has advanced to such a level that time travel is possible. Due to some strange occurances in the present, you see a group of Historians sent back to 14thC France. His descriptions of the medieval past are quite amazing! The plot is pretty suspenseful as well... If you're craving some escapism and like his writing style then you can't go past this one! Now all I have to do is wait impatiently for his next book...
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Summary: Same old story
Review: I am somewhat disappointed with this book. The storyline is similar to his previous masterpiece -Jurassic Park, Lost World hence the ending is predictable. However, i have to commend him on his brilliant research on quantum technology which I find truly enlightening.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: A brilliant amalgamation of modern technological 'fiction' with historical reality. An outstanding read.
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Summary: it's all a bit silly, really
Review: crichton's latest is eminently readable in his usual page-turner way. it provides a fascinating insight into life in 12th century france. it's probably thoroughly accurate in that respect too. but there's something about modern day people clowning around in middle age costumes saying forsooth and hey nonny nonny that makes you embarrassedly look up from the page every now and then to check nobody in the subway car has seen you. crichton has always dwelled challengingly on the border between what is possible and what is yet beyond the grasp of science. here a considerably larger than usual measure of disbelief suspension is required for the enjoyment of this otherwise quite thrilling thriller.
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Summary: Crichton's worst -- Don't bother
Review: I have read all of Crichton's fiction, hanging onto his every idea and phrase. Crichton is a brilliant man, and an equally brilliant author. Imagine my disappointment with Timeline, a made-for-tv heap of swords-and-armor trash. Poorly written and sloppily planned, Timeline hardly deserves to be placed next to Soap Opera Digest in the supermarket check-out aisle. I could feel the commercial breaks in the narrative: "They're split up again! Will they ever return to the present? Stay tuned!" To Crichton's credit, this novel is as well-researched as any of his others, and his ideas about the future of technology are intriguing. But the story itself is a waste. Don't fault Crichton for one bad apple, but don't bother with Timeline.
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Summary: You can even smell the world inside the book
Review: This book is came to be just the best that I've read until now this year. Michael Crichton has the power of bringing us inside his world. His detailed descriptions of every scene make us feel that we are inside of it. We can barely smell the horses and everything
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