Review: CODEX by Lev Grossman




Another story about an ancient book! If you like Geraldine Brooks's People of the Book then you may enjoy this as well.

This one sees a junior financial analyst leaving New York for England to take a promotion with his firm after having worked long, hard hours for several years. As a favour to his employers Edward agrees to catalogue a rare book library for one of the firm’s wealthy clients. At first he’s bored but then becomes more focused in finding one particular book that may or may not exist but is referred to in several other books. His research takes him to the library where he encounters Margaret, a rare book scholar, who knows just about everything concerning medieval manuscripts. Margaret insists the book does not exist but agrees to help Edward with the cataloguing and research. As time goes on, Edward finds himself distracted by a computer game that seems to mirror in a surreal way his search for the book. One has nothing to do with the other - or does it? The wealthy clients, the Wents, also figure very mysteriously throughout.

This was an fun book, and does not delve into serious historical aspects as does the novel 'The People of the Book'.

3 comments:

Literary Feline on January 2, 2009 at 3:43 PM said...

This sounds like a fun one. I like reading books about books. And sometimes something not so heavy is just what a reader needs! Thanks for another great review!

Staci on January 2, 2009 at 8:32 PM said...

This sounds pretty cool. Like Wendy I too love reading books about books. In fact, I think this would be a fun job to have!! Especially if it meant international travel!! LOL!!

Donna on January 2, 2009 at 10:12 PM said...

Yep, I like reading books about books too! Thanks for your comments!!

 

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