Comments on: Review: By Fire, By Water, Mitchell James Kaplan

By: Janel

Janel — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:49:35 +0000

I agree with you that the book’s intertwining of the Christopher Columbus story was a nice surprise. I enjoyed this book alot as well. It was one of my top ARC picks at the ALA Conference in June. Glad to hear you liked it as well.

By: Amused

Amused — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 05:13:26 +0000

Everyone on the subway seems to be reading this book here – I was wondering if it was any good. Glad to know it is!

By: Veens

Veens — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:09:02 +0000

I haven’t read any book set around the Inquisition. This sounds fascinating, great review. I will keep this in mind.

By: Danielle C.

Danielle C. — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:38:01 +0000

This one is in the stack on my desk and I hope to get to it soon. It is ages since I read a novel set during the Spanish Inquisition. The last, I think, was Lawrence Schoonover’s “The Queen’s Cross”, about the life Queen Isabella. It barely touched on the situation of the Jews, being more concerned with conquering the Moors, as I recall, so I look forward to broadening the picture with Kaplan’s story.

By: Pam

Pam — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 12:47:18 +0000

The only fiction I’ve read around the time of the inquisition is Don Quixote…eep! This sounds like a good one to break me in, though. I like that it retains or at least visits the Jewish portion of the struggle.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:43:23 +0000

I am not well versed when it comes to the Middle Ages and I haven’t read much about the time period, so this one definitely interests me.

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 01:53:38 +0000

Sounds pretty intense! I don’t know, I’ll have to think about this one….

By: Coffee and a Book Chick

Coffee and a Book Chick — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:13:06 +0000

I so enjoyed this book also — historical fiction can sometimes be uber-complicated, but not with this one. I was struck by the author’s ability to make it very easy to follow, but still retain the true gem that historical fiction offers. This was easily one of my favorites for the year. Glad you enjoyed it!

By: zibilee

zibilee — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:19:57 +0000

I loved this book as well, and think that Kaplan did such a wonderful job of bringing his story and characters to life. I have read a fair bit about the Inquisition, but this was by far the best book on it that I have yet come across. Wonderful review! I am so glad to hear that you loved the book!

By: bermudaonion (Kathy)

bermudaonion (Kathy) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:08:42 +0000

I don’t think I’ve read any fiction that takes place during the Inquistion. This book sounds really good to me!