Customer Reviews

Book of Love (Magdalene Line Trilogy 2)

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Okay, I finally finished this book - but it took me 4 weeks. As an avid reader, I can easily read a riveting book within a few days. However, this book is slow and plodding. Yet I did have high expectations since I enjoyed the author's previous book, The Expected One.

The majority of the book is about Matilda of Tuscany rather than the heroine from the prior book (Maureen.) For me, TEO promised to delve into the alleged Cathar's "Book of Love" and its contents in this second book of the trilogy. Unfortunately, very little further information is revealed on that 'lost' book. Maureen supposedly finds the book which she cannot translate due to its undecipherable language. Then she magically absorbs light from it, and it glows, and she is able to understand the contents. Weird, huh? Yet we still don't learn what the BoL contained since it's never really explained.

Other than that silliness, it was difficult to keep up with all of the flashbacks. The reader has to contantly flip back-and-forth to try to keep track of characters, time-frames and events. For me, this is just too much work since I want entertainment from a good novel! It just got too exasperating and was a very fragmented read.

I honestly could not recommend this book to anyone unless they are suffering from insomnia- this book is the perfect remedy. I'm generously giving it a 2-star since I can tell that the author worked diligently on her new novel. But overall, it reads like a cheap modern romance - not a historical novel but instead a modern story set in medieval times. If you're looking for an experience of medieval immersion, get another book. However, if you're looking for a 21st century "emotion-fest" set in 12th century clothes, this book is for you.

I was floored by this novel.
At a time when so much of what I read is grave and bleak and hopeless (the Dow dropped below 7000 today,) Kathleen McGowan has managed to lift my heart and spirit to a new and enlightened place. As epic as this book is in its breadth, there is something about it that feels so personal - as though the author were whispering an enormous secret right in my ear.

And did I say epic?
Here are just a few of the fascinating concepts/topics McGowan tackles in this novel:
Matilda of Tuscany
Pope Gregory VII
The Song of Songs
Solomon and Sheba
Hieros-Gamos
The Libro Rosso
The Order of the Holy Sepulcher
DEMORI
The Unicorn Tapestries
Ariadne and Theseus and the Labyrinth
The Pater Noster
The Volto Santo
...and even Good King Wenceslaus!
(As you can imagine, I did a lot of Google-ing along the way - so fun!)

In addition, as an avid traveler, I enjoyed all the exotic locations in the book such as Orval, San Benedetto Po, Lucca, Galamus and the beloved Chartres Cathedral to name but a few. Plus, as a lifelong student of art and architecture, I loved all the references to the works of Lippi, Bernini, Brunelleschi, Ribera among Salvador Dali and many others.

All at once, The Book of Love is a secret adventure through history and a deeply moving love story that spans the centuries. Seriously, I can't remember when reading one novel has inspired me more. Inspired me to read more, investigate more and travel more.

Ultimately, there are lessons in this book that are fresh and profoundly relevant to our world today. Kudos Ms. McGowan, I can't wait for The Source of Miracles and The Poet Prince.

I really enjoy reading books about conspiracy stories and alternate histories and about the Marys in Jesus' life. This looked like it would be a good combination of the three. I fully expected to enjoy this book.

The story itself was interesting. The plot was interesting. The story about the women in history; such as Matilda de Canossa, was interesting. In fact it was fascinating and left me wanting to learn more.

Here were some of the things that I think needed to be shared with others reading this book.
1. It is not a fast moving novel. It moves fairly slow. IF you have read DaVinci Code (Dan Brown); while this book is marketed and seems like it will be similar to that- it is not. This is a fairly slow moving book with much less drama. Even the climatic point of the novel seemed to be somewhat flat.

2. The book was overly melodramatic at times. This was the biggest problem I had with this book. Other reviewers have used the word cheesy. I think it is an apt discription of some of the dream sequences.

3. The other big problem I had with this book was the phrase that is repeated over and over again. Almost every third or fourth page is the phrase 'for those with ears to hear..' For me it became this hammer that kept hitting away and saying 'you don't get it because you don't have ears to hear', if you really read it, really understood this book, really believed, you would hear the truth. It became very old very quickly.

I have rated as high as I have because despite the three problems I had with this book- it is an overall interesting read with a fascinating concept behind it. It was not a complete waste of time to read this book. I simply believe it could be better written without the overly melodramatic language and the push through repitition to force you to believe, as this author does, that this is truth embodied in fiction.

Having read Kathleen McGowan's "The Expected One" in its original, self-published form, I have been craving the sequel for many years.
"The Book of Love" did not fail to live up to my expectations. Written in the same style as the first book, with the same modern characters moving the story, McGowan continues to teach us all about the hidden secrets of the Church, which includes the Gospel written in Jesus' hand. With that information, and all of the stories and teachings from the Libro Rosso - I can't believe this book isn't 1,000 pages! It reveals the life of Matilda of Tuscany - a ballsy woman from the middle ages whose story has been sadly buried in the vaults of time, until now. This is a must read for anyone interested in the history of Christianity. Though written as fiction, like it's prequel, years of personal research convince me that these are true stories. I've been to the places that Maureen Pascal travels to, and let me tell you, it's all there for anyone with eyes. Now, when does the next book come out?????

You don't have to be caught up in any controversy to enjoy this book. You just have to love a compelling plot, filled with surprising historical details, tantalizing mystery and a cool, compelling message. It's a great read no matter what you believe about Christianity.

And really, it has a soul, this book. You're just rollicking along with it and by the end, you realize you've been moved - deeply. How many pieces of pop culture manage that?

I have to start off by saying that I am not usually a huge fan of this type of book as they always reminded of me of another imitation of The DaVinci Code - which is another book I could never quite figure out the fascination with.

However, I was extremely pleased to discover, upon starting the first few pages that McGowan is an excellent writer - I immediately loved her descriptions and details - especially when it came to describing all the beautiful areas of the world. She has a way of making it sound as though I am standing right there!

I think what I liked most about The Book of Love is that this book is a indeed an adventure/thriller storyline, but it also includes a vast knowledge of history (which I always enjoy). The story of Matilda of Tuscany and the Pope was fascinating to me and to think that I never even knew these people could have existed. There is, of course, a beautiful love story entertwined in this book and the adventure and pace is non-stop.

At times, I got a little confused with all the characters - especially when the action was at its heaviest, but once I had all the players figured out, I was fine.

I found the Book of Love to be overly preoccupied with the beauty of Matilda of Tuscany, full of cliches about her intelligence and beauty and generally full of nonsense.

Intrigue, openly hidden truths and faithful perseverance, wrapped in a profound and poignant message... that Love conquers all.

Kathleen McGowan's "The Book of Love" is a well crafted and, for me, much anticipated 2nd installment in The Magdalene Line trilogy. The novel picks up a short period of time after the 1st book, "The Expected One", left off. We catch up with Maureen on tour, promoting the book she had written based on her controversial discoveries that Mary Magdalene was the wife of and a beloved disciple of Jesus. Maureen begins to have dreams of a book, written by Jesus himself on his teachings, referred to as the Book of Love; which she is being guided to find so she can share its message with the world. These dreams and some mysterious packages serve as the impetus to reconnect Maureen with Berenger, Tammy, Roland and her cousin Peter as the story unfolds.

Kathleen McGowan artfully weaves together historical facts, local folklore, myth and legend with an adventurous plot that ultimately leads the reader on a path of internal discovery of the inherent divine feminine in everyday spiritual practices and beliefs. On this journey, we meet Matilda of Canossa, a woman of faith and strength, who serves the book of love through safeguarding its message she holds so dear. Paralleling Matilda's journey, Maureen's mission is to find the book Matilda so carefully preserved and bring it to light. All of the characters and their stories culminate in an unexpected, enlightening and dramatic ending that concludes the journey to find the Book of Love, yet entices the reader with hints of the next adventure to come set in the Renaissance period with "The Poet Prince". I for one anxiously await Maureen's continued journey to spread the word to the world. For those with ears to hear it, the truth will set you free.

Kathleen McGowan's "The Book of Love" is a well written fictional novel. Chronicling the lives, and journey's of two heroines, Matilda, a countess from the past, and Maureen, an author from present day. This book transitions easily between the two time lines, which follows both of these women's passions.

Conflict, mystery, love, destiny, and a touch of the supernatural, are just a few of the themes throughout this book and every page will make you want to research historical Christian icons, and artifacts, as well as question what are held as modern day beliefs by the Christian Church.

This book delves into one of the most controversial questions of modern day Christianity - "What was the real relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene?" In addition, it brings to light a little known, forgotten religion that was pronounced heretical clear back to the time of Jesus. Using many historically accurate artifacts of the Catholic Church, from gardens, to churches, to statues, McGowan puts a spin on a conspiracy theory that many people have debated for centuries.

When reading this novel, you can easily tell a lot of work and research went into this book. You may want to read this book with your own research mediums close at hand... as you will undoubtedly want to do your own investigating, regarding many of the references made throughout this book. You may learn something new from this book and it may also make you question your own knowledge and beliefs of modern religion.

However, no matter what your own beliefs are, or even if you hold to none, you will enjoy this novel for what it is, a well written, fast moving novel of mystery, love, actions, and intrigue. From beginning to end... this book is a non stop, action filled, dramatic novel, spanning distance time.

One of the biggest drawbacks of this book is McGowan's over use of her poetic and descriptive language, however, the overall storyline of this book will draw the reader right into the action. McGowan's use of imagery makes this a great escape novel. If you like a well written, action packed, mystery novel, with just enough romance and comedy to please any crowd, this is a book you should read.

The book was in fine shape, but was ordered on December 7th and arrived on January 4th :( Boooooooooo
The other items ordered from other sellers on the same day and shipped by the same method arrived right away. It was listed as available, not back ordered. It was a Christmas gift so I was not happy!