Customer Reviews

The Burning Road

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While I enjoyed the Plague Tales immensely, I found both the writing and general narrative flow to be a bit smoother in the Burning Road, and the transitions between the two time periods seemed easier to handle. Ms. Benson gives us a convincing portrayal of a time just a few years into the future, similar enough to our own time to be convincing but also new and frightening. There were a few places when I found myself thinking skeptically, "there's no way we'll have that kind of technology in seven years," but I was willing to suspend my disbelief for the sake of a fascinating story. My one big disappointment in the 14th century story was that with the introduction of Kate as a more important character, we necessarily saw less of Alejandro who, as in the Plague Tales, seems much the most compelling character in the novel. I can certainly understand Janie Crowe's obsession with him. One little caveat: there is a reference to the introduction of printed books almost 100 years before printing actually got started and Ms. Benson has Alejandro using the word incunabula about three hundred years before the first recorded usage. This may seem like a small thing, but it does make you wonder what other historical inaccuracies might have crept in. Still, overall it was a compelling read.

Having read The Plague Tales several times, considering it one of the most intriguing books I've read, I couldn't wait for the sequel. I was very disappointed in the results. While the storyline was still intriguing, the plot was confusing. There were details regarding some of the characters that I didn't understand. I found myself rereading passages to see what those were and still couldn't find reference to them. If there is a third book, it would be much more interesting to use just Alejandro's storyline. I think the "future" storyline has just about fizzled out, which was evident about halfway through the book. My recommendation if you must read this book is go to the library and borrow it. Don't waste your money.

What a sequel! I stumbled onto "The Plague Tales" by accident and was immediately hooked by all of the characters, especially Alejandro, who is one of the most genuinely human characters I've encountered in a fictional novel. Throughout "The Plague Tales" he struggles with the conflict between his passion for learning, devotion to medicine and his moral values. I also enjoyed the "future" characters, Dr. Janie Crowe and her assistant/friend Caroline. The only complaint I had was wanting to know more about the future characters, and I got my wish in "Burning Road." In this sequel, we learn about the cause of "The Outbreaks" in the future and follow Janie as she trys to track the cause of a mysterious illness affecting a certain group of young boys, while dealing with her true feelings for her lover Bruce and her attorney/friend Tom. Alejandro is back, with yet more dilemas to work through, and the character Kate, his "adopted" daughter takes on rich, deep dimensions. In both the past and future storylines, we meet new and exciting characters, revisit old characters in greater detail, and of course, encounter new enemies and dangerous situations. In "Burning Road" the novel seems to spend more equal amounts of time between the past and the future. As with "The Plague Tales", Ms. Benson weaves past and present together in an incredibly artful and satisfying manner. This is simply a great novel, but I definitely suggest that for maximum enjoyment, one should read "The Plague Tales" first. Also, be sure to have a copy of "Burning Road" ready, because you won't want to wait to spend more time with these characters! I'd love to read another installment to this story!

This story is about a man in the middle ages who tries to learn and understand medicine and nature, while being persecuted for his beliefs. At the same time, it is the story of a woman who tries to learn about a virus that has affected some boys, but she is constantly attacked by the new laws that exist for this kind of investigation in the year 2007.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The two stories have many similarities and are both very well written and very interesting. The author describes very well the hardships of living in the middle ages as well as how it would be to live in a world where everything we do is controlled because of an outbreak on a very deadly virus.

The characters are very alive and well inserted into their specific contexts. The places also seem very like-like, and even though the author must have speculated on both stories, they both seem very real, and are extremely interesting.

Both plots keep you interested until the end and you never are able to guess both outcomes.

Good read and well recommended.

A word of warning to anyone who might pick up this book - this is a sequel, a fact not acknowledged on the cover, or for that matter anywhere at all on the book.

The story moves compellingly between two doctors in two centuries. The historical tale stands on its own but the contemporary one needs more explaining. Frustrated with cryptic references that could only be understood if I went to the first volume, I've stopped reading until I can get a copy of The Plague Tales.

The book is good, keeps you reading and interested in what is going to happend, but if you read the first one you'll find too many references to "The Plague Tales". I thought this was anoying sometimes... (maybe I was too impatient).

And be prepared to buy a third one, because the story is not concluded... too many things to be worried about.

I certainly would buy a third part, but I would be dissapointed if it does not contains some conclussions and less references.

Really just agreeing with others that (1) it would be difficult to read this book without having read the Plague Tales (although that could easily have been fixed, because most of the Plague Tales is not really relevant to this book), and there are HUGE omissions toward the end. Ok, it's a setup for a sequel, but it's just really annoying. <don't read this bit if you haven't read the book> What happened with Bruce? What is the story with Kristina? How on earth can Janie be pregnant when she was sterile in the first book, or did I miss some actual explanation for this? I like this book, and all of the Ann Benson books, but the others didn't leave me screaming with irritation because there were huge gaps.

The Burning Road by Anne Benson is an extremely interesting and exciting novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel after having read its predecessor. In this book Benson carefully leaves small insightful hints that leave you pondering the ending but unsure of the outcome. The skillful weaving of two stories that take place seven hundred years apart leave the reader wondering who, how, and why.

The story opens as a sequel to an earlier book by Benson, The Plague Tales. The book begins with explaining what has become of Alejandro Canches and his foster child Kate Plantagenet. Kate is the unlawful daughter of King Edward Plantagenet who at the time is the current monarch of England. When the earlier book left off Kate was 7. In this book Kate is now about 17 and Alejandro has done an excellent job of raising her. Through a startling chain of events Kate is soon under the care of a Rebellious Frenchman Karl Guillaume. Karl is instructed by Alejandro to deliver Kate safely to a prearranged meeting place in Paris. While waiting for Kate and Karl to arrive Alejandro bumps into some old aquatiences that are insistent on keeping him from leaving Paris.

When Janie Crowe is reintroduced it is discovered that the man she fell in love with in London in the previous book is not being allowed to enter the country due to customs problems. Crowe is unhappy with her current job until she stumbles onto something that will greatly affect her life. Another dilemma presents its self in Crowes life later in the book; a life long friend has recently discovered that he is in love with her. Janie is then left to sort out the many problems a secret agency has created in her life to keep her from a major discovery. As well as choosing between two guys that love her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I sometimes found my self wishing I could skip to the next chapter because I enjoyed the historical fiction more than the other part of the book. Anne Benson has written a book that is often hard to put down. The one negative opinion that I put forward is that the ending lacked something to be desired.

I read The Plague Tales because of its medieval theme. While I enjoyed that book I mainly bought The Burning Road due to a feeling of wanting to at least finish the series as it is so far. I have just finished reading The Burning Road and all I can say now is WHEN IS THE NEXT INSTALLMENT? This book picks up a decade later in the medieval chapters and Alejandro has taken Kate out of England and back to France where a very important new character comes into their lives and drags them into the current political intrigues there. Meanwhile, back in 2007 America, Dr. Jane Crowe has come across some very disturbing instances of severe spinal injuries for no apparent reason and DR SAM is rearing its ugly head again. Oh - and she also must make a decision which of the men in her life she really wants to be with. I love medieval history (and even pure fiction) so I did enjoy those chapters a little more than the "contemporary" chapters although those are sufficient to scare you to death about the possibilities of the (near?) future. A wonderful read!

I felt enormouly frustrated at the end of this book, which is unfortunate as I had enjoyed it until then. I wanted Ms. Benson to take me a little further down the Burning Road than she chose to. The critical conversation between Janie and Tom near the end of the book was left completely up to our imaginations, of which perhaps I am lacking. Nevertheless, I didn't want to have to fill in the story as to how Kristina came to be in addition to a few other critical questions. That's the authors job. Sorry, but I went to bed grousing.