Book Buzz: The Journeyer by Gary Jennings (1984)


"Anything you want to be...
Be.
'Cause you give me hope
When you shine."
Charles & Eddie

NO SPOILERS:
An author who can weave well-researched historical facts into a work of fiction... so expertly... that it neither slows down the story...or worse...interrupts the pacing altogether...is worth every penny they earn.

Gary Jennings and his 1984 offering...the epic "The Journeyer" achieves this in spades.

Based on the premise that Marco Polo had another journal...kept hidden...Jennings fills each page with accounts of breath-taking adventures and intriguing encounters with unforgettable characters.

Add some very risqué...sometimes taboo goings-on and interwoven story lines and one can easily see why Marco felt it necessary to keep some memories secret.

At 1024 pages, there is not a wasted word. "The Journeyer" takes the reader all across the "known world" during the 13th century with descriptions so dead-on...so vivid...I thought I was there.

By ship and by foot, Marco, along with his Father and Uncle travel the land and seas in hopes of bringing back many rare and valuable items back to their homeland for some beaucoup profit. But finding them and keeping them is easier said than done.

This novel is pure enjoyment and will have readers earmarking a few pages to return to for perusing. And absolutely, this epic will cause one to reflect on their very different...very mundane lives in comparison. Classic! Good stuff!

MoSkeet

Charles & Eddie-->"Shine" off Duophonic (1992) (Own This CD)

Comments

whiteray said…
Great, great book! All of Jennings' books are well worth reading.
April 19, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Casey said…
Whiteray...That's good to know.
I was going to tackle "Aztec" sometime this summer.
Thanks for visiting.
April 19, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview:-- Joan Staley (Actress - Classic Movies & Television)

Image
  "Elvis,  do you really want me to slap you?"  ~ Joan Staley ~     So my friends and I were talking about first crushes. First tv and movie crushes.  For me, it was easy.  It was Alma. (Joan Staley)   I broke into the double-digit age of 10 in 1993.  That was the summer I discovered my favorite Don Knotts movie while flipping thru cable one Saturday morning... "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Everyone has seen it.  It was a funny haunted house story similar to an episode on Andy G. with a cast of familiar characters, trippy organ music, and the prettiest girl I had ever seen...Alma. She was beautiful alright.  I was love-stung so bad, I swear I could smell flowers coming out of the TV set.  And best of all, she was nice.  She didn't like the smart alec, the wise guy, or the show-off.  Alma was digging Luther (Don Knotts) and that just made her that much prettier.  And from then on... But unfortunately, time and puberty wouldn't let her wait
Read more

Interview:--> Terry Kirkman (The Association)

Image
"...Not only learned to think, but to care.  Not only learned to think, but to dare." ~ The Association ~  With one of the most bad-ass songs about the herb that no one was quite sure about, yet everyone understood...to the anti-war homage that was both beautiful and pointed... The Association . From gentle psych pop spinneries that tease the mind...to the lush vocal and instrumental arrangements that melt the heart... The Association. The Association were all of these and none of these. Lead by co-founder Terry Kirkman, it was never an "either/or" about the music.  No pigeonhole here.  It was simply "all" about the music.  And having at least 3 of the most radio-played songs in history...I'd say The Association were on to something. TERRY KIRKMAN INTERVIEW  01/26/2015 Casey Chambers:  In the summer of '67, The Association had the opportunity to perform at the iconic Monterey Pop Festival.  How cool was that? Terry Kirkma
Read more

Interview -- Henry Lee Summer (Singer/Songwriter)

Image
"I just always have played music.  For better   or worse, I banked my whole life on it." ~ Henry Lee Summer ~     It's strange how music lets you travel through time as if there truly was no time.  I played the shit out of this album growing up.  Nothing deep or complicated.  Nothing outta bounds.  Nothing to get hung about.  It's deceptively simple.  But here's the thing... Henry Lee Summer  is serving aces all over this heartland square. This is the 35th anniversary of Henry Lee Summer's self-titled album and this one falls under that sweet spot between raucous and chill.  It's a large cup of iced coffee with a nice soulful blend.  Not usually my type of go-to and yet this album easily fills a void I didn't know I had.  Let this spin be your own private Idaho.  " Check it out, Leroy!"   Henry Lee Summer... Go get you some. Henry Lee Summer Interview -- August 2023 Henry Lee Summer Casey Chambers:  Well, this is the 35th anniversary of you
Read more