Customer Reviews

The Book of the Lion

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Book of the Lion: Michael Cadnum

Edmond's life is perfect. He is an apprentice of a blacksmith and is friends with a girl that he likes named Elviva. One day all this was ruined when his master was caught counterfeiting gold coins. His master was brutally killed by the soldiers and Edmond had a choice of his hands being chopped off or get sent off with the crusade because he was no better than a thief. He chose to be sent off with the crusade and believes that he won't be able to see Elviva again.

Edmond becomes a second squire of a knight called Sir Nigel. After a long trip across the ocean there was a gust storm and a squire fell off the ship. Since Edmond was already a second squire of Sir Nigel he took place of the lost squire. The crusaders lay siege on the Castle of Acre.

The story takes place in the medieval days where squires and knights take place. I felt like I was in the story myself as Edmond being one of the many squires and knights fighting their way into Acre. Once I started reading I couldn't put down the book for hours and the next thing I knew it was done. I recommend this book who likes historical fiction and lots of action at the climax.

-Colin

I liked this book because it wasn't a fairy tale. It told the Middle Ages like they were. Cleanliness and personal hygene weren't exactly a priority. People waited like, years before they had a bath. Nobody could read and write (except monks). And people died everday from pointless duels and disease (not to mention the bubonic plague). Nothing good came of the Crusades. They didn't even win back the Holy Land. Trade finally started up again, but that was about it.

If you liked this book you should try: "Catherine Called Birdy" and "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman, and "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite deAngeli.

Michael Cadnum puts us squarely into the alien environment of the 12th century in this well written and evocative novel of a young man's coming of age. Young apprentice Edmund is sentenced to go on Crusade for abetting his criminal master, and finds himself caught up in the excitement and terror of the Cause. Cadnum's vivid imagery had me holding my nose when Edmund's ship drifted down the sewage-laden Thames; this is not a pretty portrait of a romantic Middle Ages. Battlefield rape, smashed skulls, torture, and mutilation should put this novel out of reach of anyone under middle school age, but the unsentimental story and exquisite writing recommends it to anyone older, including adults.

This book is about Edmund a young apprentice to a metal worker whose Master is a counterfeiter. Edmund goes to prison but gets out with a knight as a squire. So he goes to war and fights at Acre and Arsuf. It is bloody but VERY exciting. I couldn't stop reading. When you read it, it is like your there. I could hear the cry of wounded men, the sound of metal on metal and the rocks on the walls. If i could rate this book on a scale from 1-10 it would be a 9 1/2!

I can't get over the graphic sexual references in a book intended for young middle-school aged children. For example, "Wenstan and Miles disagreed on a song about a woman in a citadel who grew her hair long, so any passing knight could climb up the long tresses and join her in corporeal delight. Miles contended that the hair in question was her privy hair, while Wenstan said this was the most irritating example of twisting a jolly song into something sinful. 'It was the hair of her head,' stammered Wenstan, 'Her head hair!'" (page 67).
It is one thing to reference some examples of prostitution and rape to give an idea of the zeitgeist of the Crusades; it is another to intersperse them throughout the book in such a cavalier manner, seemingly designed for the shock value or perhaps the entertainment value of the author as he knows he is writing for young children. I picture the author chuckling to himself as he slips these things past the parents and the teachers who are assigning the book.

My first Michael Cadnum book will definitely not be my last! The depth of his research is apparent, as well as his grasp of the historical realism of the period. I particularly enjoyed the characterization of Edmund (the main character). His traits were well developed and personal. They helped me to identify even more with the story, as if I could feel what it would be like if I were really there.

The gritty realism of the battles and medieval life were well done, I thought. It left me wanting more of the same. Having never read Cadnum before it took a little getting used to his crisp style. He paints scenes and "frames" (for lack for a better word) to help his story move along. The haunting quality of his transitions left me pausing to consider the implications of his words.

A gifted writer and excellent storyteller, I will be looking forward to reading more of in the future!

"The Book of the Lion" by Michael Cadnum is a very well written book. The book takes place during the midevil era. The young teenager that is the main character goes on many adventures during his time as a squire. Fighting with a knight forfor Brittian who allied with the French, and the Franks. They all fought with the king Lion Heart as their leader. They fought to gether and the battle of.....Well You'll just have to read the book.

I liked this book because it was a long book but I ZOOMED through it. I liked this book so much that I really got into it and it seemed as though i was right there with the soldiers as they charged the castle. I encourage people who like long suspencful books.

Was looking for young adult books to supplement our homeschool study of the Middle Ages. This one looked promising, but it finally grossed me out too much. I wearied of all the descriptions of bodily functions, bug infested armpits, and squishing lice off their own skins. Not to mention the graphic descriptions of rotted bodies, etc. If you don't mind reading these things over and over, this may be the book for you. We passed on it.

Bleh. Add bawdiness to "..stink and bugs, random cruelty, drunkenness, and sudden death..." and you've almost got it. The story started out so good, but it got worse the more it went on. Frustrating. And the title had nothing to do with the story (unless I missed something).

I disliked The Book of the Lion because of the boring rising action. Michael Cadnum does a good job of giving details but in some parts of the book he tells the story in a boring and slow way.
In The Book of the Lion an apprentice named Edmund was awaken at night by the Exchequer's men. They were sent from the king to punish his master for making counterfeit coins. This part of the book got me absorbed into the story, but as I read more throughout the book I started to get more and more bored of the story. Michael Cadnum is a good writer because of the details he gives but he should make The Book of the Lion's story go a little faster.
This book has a good story and has a lot of details. Readers must be able to stick to a long and somewhat boring rising action in order for them to actually like the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the subject.