- Paperback
- Publisher: Vintage
- ISBN-10: 0099449048
- ISBN-13: 978-0099449041
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,265,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Balthasar's Odyssey
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Product Description
Review
'Sparkling and erudite, this is a wonderful novel' Independent
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Review
"Balthasar's Odyssey is one of Maalouf's most subtle books, and without doubt one of his most accomplished"; Philippe Nourry, Le Point "A splendid book that should be read in the way one looks at a highly coloured fresco, allowing oneself to be transported by the breeze that wafts Balthasar on the most unexpected journeys"; Josette Alia, Nouvel Observateur
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For those that have read his previous books, like Leo the African and Samarkand, it will be no surprise that the Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf again delivers a splendid book. You can read it as a historical novel, as a metaphysical one or just as an adventure novel; it is all three.
The main protagonist, Balthasare, gets involved with a book, the Hundreth Name, which apparently gives the magic hundreth's name for Allah, a certain cure to avoid the end of the world. Set in 1966, the year that many believed to be the year that the world would come to an end, this is certainly a book to be treasured. Alas, he loses it and he sets out on a journey to retrieve it. a journey which will take him from his home in Lebanon to Constantinople, Genoa, Amsterdam, London and many other places. During his trips he encounters many people and thinkers from all main religions, Catholics, Muslims, Jews etc, as well as a whole range of scoundrels after his money or other possessions. The many meetings contain gems of debates about the meaning of life and religion. The debate is wonderful and insightful and poses very interesting questions; one non-catholic questions whether the phrase "Love thy neighbour as one self" is that important as self love is always flawed and suggest that "He who is without sin casts the first stone" really should be thr prime guideline for our life.
All this is set against a painstaikingly well researched historical background ranging from the upsurges against Constantinople to the Great Fire of London.
A magic adventure indeed!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is not my usual read at all, being fantasy and historical, but I did absolutely love it. It is a rich and colourful book. The style is fabulous and so easy to read, the plot flows effortlessly. The portrayal of the Mediterranean is excellent and the characters are delightful, even if a few are quite unsavoury. Within a very clever and slightly comical plot many modern day issues are touch upon, but in the same breath the historical accounts are well researched and accurate.
I just can't praise this read enough and look forward to reading more of this author's books.
I just can't praise this read enough and look forward to reading more of this author's books.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When i started to read this book, i had to force myself to put it down sometimes,as it was so captivating!All characters in the book are so well created, and i like that all story was written in diary form, which made all this storry telling so simple,but at the same time so warm and real. In some places i felt like i'm in the middle of all these events,it seemed like i can feel all the smells,and can hear sounds around me..:)Picture of every country was so real, that i felt like i was travelling myself.
Another thing i liked about this book,that all the sides of this book-religious, philosophical, educational, psyhological was well-balanced and the stranded together in such a beautiful way, that even if i was doing something else that reading, i was still thinking about this story...
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in travels, a little bit of mysticism, history of religion...A lot of things:)
Another thing i liked about this book,that all the sides of this book-religious, philosophical, educational, psyhological was well-balanced and the stranded together in such a beautiful way, that even if i was doing something else that reading, i was still thinking about this story...
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in travels, a little bit of mysticism, history of religion...A lot of things:)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Highly Recommended Voyage of Discovery
This is an excellent novel, it's a travelogue, a philosophical work, a tale of relationships and religion - and that's a lot to ask of any book. Read more
Published on 21 April 2010 by Elizabeth Taylor
Entertaining
This is definitely a book worth reading. The character in this book is a little stupid, which I suppose is the main reason why you cant put the book down, but the theme of the book... Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by DMJ MIAH
More good storytelling from Maalouf
Balthasar's Odyssey portrays events in the life of a Lebanese bookseller of Genoese extraction whose hunt for a book that may provide a solution to the possible end of the world in... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Martin White
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