Sarum

I am currently reading Sarum: The Novel of England, by Edward Rutherford. This is a LONG historical novel. Over a 1000 pages in little bitty type. My poor eyes bleed after an hour and I have to put it down and do something else.

Yet I keep coming back to it--and probably will for weeks to come since this is my lunch time reading material.

I think everyone has a heyday of when they really loved reading. Mine was definitely the 80s, where there was plenty of head hopping and long sprawling epics. Nothing at all like the popular literature of today, which is probably why it took me a while to get my bearings when I decided to take up fiction writing. Sarum, typical for the decade, was published in 1987.

Sarum is told by an unseen storyteller. There's very little dialog and most of the action feels...calm. You can't read this book for its rip roaring adventure even though in a sense it is an adventure, a story about the people who colonize and claim what will someday be known as Salisbury, England.

I do like it despite its slow and steady telling. I like the story and I am invested in each set of characters Rutherford introduces for each time period. That in itself speaks volumes for this author. I am not a patient reader, yet he has managed to hold my interest.

It'll be interesting to find out if I still feel just as invested when the story ends.

*****

I've mentioned before I have a large box overflowing with books to be read. Between work, reviewing, freelancing and helping friends out, my only time to read is during my lunch hour at work. Who knows when I'll finish that box of books.

The books chosen depend on what moves me at the time. Lately, I've been craving historicals. Can't write'm, but I love'm to death. LOL

Comments

Anonymous said…
I "read" Sarum via an audiobook from the library during my commute. I really enjoyed it.

daw
Maria Zannini said…
Oh, I wish I had known it came in audio. That would have made a great trip "read". I might look it up at my local library.

Thanks, Daw!
Anonymous said…
I think I had to renew the book once because it's so long, but it sure made the time in the car pass quickly.
I loved this book. I like all his books and am busy reading "The Princes of Ireland" right now. You're right, they are not fast reads.
Maria Zannini said…
Now you make me anxious to finish. :o)