Customer Reviews

Godiva (Viking Sagas)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I felt compelled to write a review of "Godiva" because of the unduly harsh words that the editors of "Publisher's Weekly" used in their own review of the book. As a professional editor myself, I agree that the book does indeed fall short in some of the areas flagged by "Publisher's Weekly" (but certainly not all of the areas, especially in regard to characterization). Having now read the work twice (once as a preview copy and now as a finished book), I am giving "Godiva" four stars for two reasons.

First, it's a great story. It has all of the elements that make for a timeless tale--actually, an EPIC tale. I found it difficult to put the book down, as the author's pacing kept me turning the pages. I also appreciated the author's sensitivity to the difficult decision that Godiva was forced to make. Mr. Rose creatively captured her crisis of conscience and did a fine job of weaving it into the fabric of the story.

My other reason for giving the book four stars is the potential I see in David Rose. Throughout "Godiva," I caught the heart of Mr. Rose, and it's easy to discern that he loves telling a good story. It's also obvious that he did his homework in regard to the background research.

Fine-tuning the mechanics of writing fiction will come as Mr. Rose learns the discipline of crafting a novel. For now, though, I'm more than happy to applaud what he's done with his first crack at tackling a novel.

Keep your eyes on the prize, Mr. Rose. I look forward to the next installment in your saga of Viking tales of yore!

I loved Godiva and it is the best book I have read this year.
The story is well written and I could not put it down. Thank you Mr. Rose for a beautifully written story about an incredible woman.

This was an excellent first novel by David Rose concerning the life of the legendary Godiva. King Canute and his Viking legions come to England to conquer but find a people that are willing to fight for what they believe in. He destroys Coventry where a young Godiva witnesses the destruction of her town and nearly her entire family and friends.

As she grows and matures into the beautiful women we've all heard of she marries her rescuer, Leofric, who becomes the Earl of Mercia and tries to have a normal life minus the violence. However, King Canute demands the "danegeld" be collected by none other than her husband and events become more and more shadowed by either protecting her village or honoring her husband.

Overall, the story was well-written but could use some polishing here and there. A few typos did not detract from the plot, however, the constant piety of the Christians, primarily Godiva, needs to be toned down. I'm sure she was a faithful Christian, however, she was not a saint that I'm aware of. I will be looking forward to reading the rest in this series which is known as The Viking Sagas.

Godiva is an elaborate debut novel by David Rose, veteran film producer, Emmy award winner and developer of more than 40 screenplays. Set in England during the 11th century, Godiva tells of a young girl witness to horror as Viking legions raid and conquer her homeland. Though she manages to settle down and find love, the threat of the terrible enemy's destructive return looms ever closer. Her desire to protect her home and her people could cost Godiva her faith, or even her very soul. A lush, romantic, sweeping saga centered upon a brilliant and strong-willed heroine.

My husband, and I could not put this deeply moving book down. It was as if it were a film playing in my mind. The ability of the author to touch on so many tender truths was amazing. I know it was a fictional book, but I have researched, and he did give us a true to life picture of the true Godiva the hero so many in Coventry speak about to this day. Americans were told a half truth about this woman for decades. She was a unique woman of her time. We see her as a sales lady to candy, and a harlot, but she was nothing of the sort. Among women she did have the ability to stand up out of the horror of her time when women were more like cattle than a co-equal. She is a modern day role model for feminists. A women like me today can look her to find strength, this is desperately needed today. I take my hat off to David Rose whose goal was to tell the truth about how wonderful a woman Godiva was. I hope people do the home work go to England find out about this woman from her own country before they mock Davids' picture of the true Godiva, a god fearing woman before her time. Thank you for telling us the truth about Godiva. The world needs to hear this story.

Excellent Read!! I picked up Godiva because of the beautiful cover and was pleasantly surprised when it was a great read. I fell in love with the story and read it in one night.

I was confused by the professonal credict, but was always told not to judge a book by its cover. This time I did, I thought someone must have cared alot to make such a beautiful cover. I took a chance after reading the other reviews and am so glad I did. I loved the different charactors especially Godiva. I was inspired by the story and her love for the children. I recomend this book to anyone no matter what the age. Good Job Mr. Rose, I want to know the rest of the story.

Almost a teenager

I enjoyed reading Godiva tremendously!

The Viking scenes were believable and interesting and were a great beginning for this epic story. I fell in love with Godiva and felt the author showed her as an amazing example for women all over the world.

I reccomend this book for all readers who love a good story that makes you fall in love with the characters and stay up to finish it.

Lady Godiva rode naked through the streets of Coventry to save the townsfolk from a burdensome tax. That -- and the fact that she gave her name to a line of fancy chocolates -- is pretty much the sum of what most people know about her. Godiva, or Godgifu, was certainly real -- the proof of her existence in 11th-century England is far more concrete than that of King Arthur and Robin Hood -- but the details of her legendary ride are vague at best. It's possible, historians say, that the notorious ride is entirely fictional, a tale that grew up around the lovely wife of Earl Leofric III of Mercia.

David Rose, in his first novel, plays fast and loose with the bare facts to create a Godiva who is beautiful, wise, bold, selflessly charitable, modest, loving and kind to children and animals. The story he tells, which is woven thoroughly into the story of Danish leader Canute's conquest and rule of England, is interesting -- it was, at times, hard to put down -- but it is not entirely satisfying.

A recurring problem is dialogue, which is too often stilted, overly expository and repetitive. Even more disappointing is Rose's portrayal of all Christians as good-hearted and fair, while pagans of the time (including Canute) are ruthless and vile. In the most extreme examples, both occurring early in the text, a Christian nun sings hymns while being burned at the stake for her defiance, while Canute proves unable to bear the sound of a victim reciting the Lord's Prayer in his defense. And, while legend states that Godiva made her famous ride to persuade her husband to lift a tax on Coventry, Rose has made it the evil Canute's decree.

Rose also links Godiva's ride to a distasteful pagan tradition, then goes to great lengths to make it acceptable to devout Christians of the time. The ride itself, which occurs in the last few pages of the book, sparks a dramatic, yet wholly unbelievable, religious conversion.

The novel has very little areas of grey; the good people (Christians) are always good, while the bad people (mostly pagans) are always bad. The one exception to this rule is a major character whose rapid shifts in mood become absurd.

Still, Rose has a pretty good handle on battle scenes, and his portrayal of Godiva is entertaining, if overly pious and pure. Despite the novel's many failings, I never felt the time spent reading it was onerous, and I was eager to see how he would resolve the situations he created.

While Godiva is certainly not the definitive work on this intriguing character, it is a pleasant reading experience for those who enjoy stories set in a tumultuous period in English history.

- by Tom Knapp, the Rambles.(net) guy

We have all prejudged Godiva. But as the author points out, her trip in the nude, had a very Godly reason behind it.

Do yourself a favor and read this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. There are very graphic details of the horrendous atrosities of Viking war.

My 17 year old grand daughter read it also. She is an avid reader, and said it was very good.

Judy Thornton