- MP3 CD
- Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks; MP3 Una edition (April 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1433202239
- ISBN-13: 978-1433202230
- Product Dimensions: 19.1 x 13.9 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,200,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
White Blood
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Product Description
Review
`If Doig can be bombastic and self-parodying when he speaks, his observation of others is often surprisingly perceptive, and he could well be worth persevering with in a more peaceful context.' --Literary Review
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
A compelling historical thriller set in Russia on the brink of the Revolution
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ignore the blurb on the back of 'White Blood'. Its a long time since I've come across a dust jacket description that so misrepresents the book inside or its plot. It makes James Fleming's novel sound like some sort of period thriller, which it most certainly isn't.
What it is a very complex tale of love, family, country, nature, revolution and violence all set around the fall of the Tsar in the Russia of 1914. Its not an easy read by any means either. Told in the first person by Charlie Doig, the narrative meanders, the language is rich but sometimes rather cumbersome and its not until the final third of the book that a real hook is found to propel the story forward. Up until then this feels like an overextended introduction to Doig; a preface to future adventures and stories that lacks drive and focus. I will confess that I struggled with the book at times and on more than one ocassion came close to giving up on it.
Perseverance does however, reward the reader with colourful, atmospheric, evocative writing; especially once the action shifts to the Pink House and the woods around it. Once the narrative finds its focus the story also begins to grip, characters and their relationships become more clearly and deeply defined and events begin have far greater impact. The final tragedy that befalls the characters is made truly heartrending by how much Fleming has made the reader care about Doig, Liza, Nicholas and all the other residents of the Pink House after a rather shaky start.
So by no means a perfect effort and except in parts not really a thriller per se, but a fine effort that rewards readers who stick with it. Its certainly good enough to make me come back for the next instalment of Doig's adventures, Cold Blood, at some point in the future.
What it is a very complex tale of love, family, country, nature, revolution and violence all set around the fall of the Tsar in the Russia of 1914. Its not an easy read by any means either. Told in the first person by Charlie Doig, the narrative meanders, the language is rich but sometimes rather cumbersome and its not until the final third of the book that a real hook is found to propel the story forward. Up until then this feels like an overextended introduction to Doig; a preface to future adventures and stories that lacks drive and focus. I will confess that I struggled with the book at times and on more than one ocassion came close to giving up on it.
Perseverance does however, reward the reader with colourful, atmospheric, evocative writing; especially once the action shifts to the Pink House and the woods around it. Once the narrative finds its focus the story also begins to grip, characters and their relationships become more clearly and deeply defined and events begin have far greater impact. The final tragedy that befalls the characters is made truly heartrending by how much Fleming has made the reader care about Doig, Liza, Nicholas and all the other residents of the Pink House after a rather shaky start.
So by no means a perfect effort and except in parts not really a thriller per se, but a fine effort that rewards readers who stick with it. Its certainly good enough to make me come back for the next instalment of Doig's adventures, Cold Blood, at some point in the future.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Historical thrillers really don't come much more gripping and seat-of-the-pants than this epic tale. Beautifully written, crisply plotted, this is classic story-telling with a larger-than-life lead character, Charlie Doig, who you just long to have as your best friend. Set in the years leading up to the Russian Revolution, the various backdrops are utterly convincing and the action sequences suitably gruesome, gory and nail-biting. At various points in the book I was reminded of Conrad, Pasternak, Tolstoy, with a little bit of Anthony Burgess thrown in for good measure. James Fleming is clearly at the top of his game, and once started, only rigid self-discipline kept me from reading his book in one sitting. I have already bought Fleming's follow-up, Cold Blood, and after this mesmerising introductory volume I cannot wait to find out what Charlie Doig gets up to next. Go to it, Doig, and don't spare the horses...
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent book that moves the reader comprehensively through all the many facets of human emotional experience. White Blood charts various key life changing events for Charlie Doig and as the book progresses it becomes necessary to re-evaluate ones own perception of right and wrong in order to fully empathise with the large variety of fascinating characters introduced throughout and the way in which they interact.
Not every reader will have the wit necessary to fully comprehend the genius of Fleming, but for those that do this is an amazing book, fully engaging and poignant, exhilarating yet lachrymose. Thoroughly recommended!
Not every reader will have the wit necessary to fully comprehend the genius of Fleming, but for those that do this is an amazing book, fully engaging and poignant, exhilarating yet lachrymose. Thoroughly recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
good start but .....
The book started well and the first hundred pages made me think that this could be a really good read but then the characters got blurred and I lost interest.
Published on 16 April 2009 by John Fordyce
white blood
A great adventure story and history all in one.
I thoroughly recommend it.
I thoroughly recommend it.
Published on 23 Mar 2009 by I. coltart
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