Arturo Perez-Reverte - The Club Dumas: A Novel

Pros: Widely creative plot with great potential...
Cons: ...that is only partially realized.

The following review is the fourth in a continuing series of book reviews known as Write-Offs, a concept developed by myself and my esteemed friend mshawpyle. Each week we select a book and attack it from all sides, trying to expose as many...

Pros: Lots of plot twists and turns
Cons: Little (if any) character development

Even Johnny Depp couldn't save "The Ninth Gate", an appalling mish-mash of a film that didn't make much sense on any level, but "The Club Dumas", the book on which it is based, is a very enjoyable read. In Lucas Corso, Arturo Perez-Reverte has created ...

Pros: None whatever
Cons: Every miserable word: snotty and snarky

That Arturo Perez-Reverte's The Club Dumas is an 'international bestseller' is the gravest possible indictment of the present state of literature and culture. This turgid and banal book is an exercise in self-indulgent authorial wanking of a...

Pros: Interesting idea, reasonably well-executed
Cons: Only reasonably well executed

Arturo Perez-Reverte's The Dumas Club was one of the books I took on holiday with me for reading on the train. I picked it up whilst browsing in a second-hand bookshop and was intrigued enough to buy it. I'm glad I picked it up because despite...

Pros: Easy and engaging read with some literary high points.
Cons: Lots of silliness as well.

I recently rented the film The Ninth Gate (don't get it yourself!), and was reminded of the book it is based upon, which I had read a few years ago. A decent piece of beach-reading fun, I thought it was worth revisiting: *Background* The author, ...

Pros: mystery erudition suspense teases surprise
Cons: you might miss the meaning for the literary allusions

Fascination with the occult is as strong in this intellectual's treat of a novel as the bibliophily that gives the key to the mystery at the end. Sonia Soto's translation from the Spanish original is brilliant, Perez-Reverte and she showing promise as a...

Pros: Engaging story, fast-paced, intelligently written
Cons: Story line can be confusing, ending a tad formulaic

For some strange reason a few weeks back a few friends and I decided to see Johnny Depp's newest film, "The Ninth Gate." The overall attitude two hours later was a mixture of bemusement and confusion, but mostly confusion. I personally hate...