In my previous life, I actually had the time to blog and didn't have to do all my typing one-handed. In this life, however, I am alive and incredibly happy, but sorely lacking in computer time (and amazingly, not all that upset about it either!). I'll get a new post up about 1 month of motherhood very soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the book that made my last week of 24/7 nursing fun. The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose is even more addictive than the Home & Garden Channel and way better for your brain.
I'm reviewing the book as part of MotherTalk's blog tour, and I'm really grateful for the chance to review this particular book. At first glance the premise (Present day Josh recieves flashbacks from his previous life as Julius at the end of the Roman Empire, unlocking a mystery that spans two millenniums) is a bit too "DaVinci Code" for my tastes, and I don't buy into the whole reincarnation thing. But, had I listened to my prejudices, I would have missed an amazing book.
This isn't a Shirley Maclain tell-all about previous lives complete with seances and dramatic Seth-like revelations. In fact, one of the things I most liked about the book was that it doesn't require you to believe in or even like reincarnation--it has so many other things happening that reincarnation becomes a plot device more than a theme.
After reading this book, I decided I needed more "puzzle books" so I read two others in this vein--and neither held my interest beyond the first chapters. What makes this book so stellar isn't just the puzzle(s) at its core, but rather the deep point of view and fast paced plotting that Rose employs masterfully. The subtle differences between Josh/Julius are captured with little gestures and phrasing rather than clunky exposition.
While impeccably researched, Rose doesn't hit you over the head with her findings. Instead, the plot drives the story forward until its surprising conclusion (a shocker of Crying Game proportions--just read the book!!). It is only at the end that the reader realizes how much detail of ancient Rome, pagans, relics, and reincarnation they have absorbed.
This plot-driven brain food is exactly what makes The Reincarnationist ideal reading for nursing mothers. I can't muster up the brain power to watch the history channel or read non-fiction, but the twists of the plot had me pushing past exhaustion. Heck, for the few days I spent with this book, I actually looked forward to late-night feedings because I wanted to see what happened next. Plus, it's a hard cover, so it fit well in a book holder, making it ideal for hands-free reading. Now, if I could just find more like it. Maybe Ms. Rose can ask her past selves to get busy :)
This sounds like my kind of book, I'm going to check it out.
And can we have some more baby goodness please? Stop holding out!
Posted by: starfish | November 03, 2007 at 09:13 AM