After getting of to a shaky start this turned out being pretty good. I'm not sure if it has enought "romance" to keep a romance reader going but it didn't have so much romance that it turned me off and I'm not a romance reader.

Though the overall plot was fairly predictable, I really liked the ending. One thing that bothered me was the constant "tension building" that never ended bad. Like "his legs were weak from the torture but with a final burst of strength he was able to..." and then 2 paragraphs later, "he could barely hold the sword but he was able to...". It just seemed like Don Juan was Superman by the time the chapter was over and it didn't really build any tension after the fifth near disaster in as many paragraphs.

The other thing that was a little off-putting for me was that the narrator for this (audio) book was the same guy that does all the new Dune prequels. I kept on expecting sandworms to pop-up and eat Don Juan. But I don't suspect that would be a problem for too many people. ( )

"I looked at her smiling face, and her black hair, disheveled by our earlier desire. Her clear brown eyes reflected the flames of the candles that encircled the altar of her bed. How could I refuse her?"

(The Lost Diary of Don Juan pg 3)

"The Lost Diary of Don Juan" by Douglas Carlton Abrams is the story of Don Juan, a man raised by nuns who has to flee after having an affair with one of them. He's guided by a Marquis who teaches him 'swordplay and seduction'. Don Juan is essentially a libertine or a Casanova- a lover of all women. The story is a bit predictable, in that of course he will eventually fall in love (real love) with one woman.

It's meant to be a diary, although there are very few moments when you will be able to tell. Each entry is certainly not started, "Dear Diary." There's plenty of dialogue along with the action, so really it just seems to be a story told in the past tense.

I couldn't help but think, as I read, that certain parts of the book simply made me think of Zorro. Specifically the Marquis guiding Don Juan- it just made me picture (the somewhat-recent movie verion of) Anthony Hopkins molding Antonio Banderas into the new Zorro-"The Mask of Zorro"! I also found little love for the womanizing Don Juan. Despite the author's goal to display Don Juan's `love' of all women, all I could see was Don Juan's `lust' for all women.

Those who enjoy Spanish historical fiction may enjoy this story, or perhaps those who enjoy romance. I couldn't really get into it though which is why it's only getting three stars from me. ( )

In diary form, legendary seducer Don Juan Tenorio tells us in his own words how he got his reputation, how he goes about seducing women, and more intriguingly, his own love stories. Who knew Don Juan could fall in love? We learn that he seduces because he loves women as a whole, not for particular reasons of his own, but that he’s finally stymied by one woman who is particularly hard to win over and in the end challenges Don Juan to consider his own philosophies as he’s confronted with the startling loss of his heart.

I thought it sounded interesting, particularly because I’ve read reviews all over the blogosphere and they were universally praising. Don Juan is one of those characters who exists in phrases and popular knowledge but without much substance behind him. Abrams has provided that substance and done so in a way that Don Juan could conceivably be a real person, albeit a rare one. I think I was a bit let down, though, as I expected a bit more from it. I wanted deeper characters and more to the story than a fight to win a particular woman and a trail of lovers. I didn’t feel attachment and I knew the ending as soon as Don Juan met Dona Ana. That’s not what I look for in regular historical fiction, but I suppose given the subject I shouldn’t have expected so much. It would have been much better if I’d gone into it without any expectations and was looking for something lighter at that particular time instead of taking a break from that lighter fiction. I did enjoy it, but I felt it was lacking in complexity for my particular mood. So, most likely my fault, not Abrams’!

To sum up: a good read, but don’t expect much more than a book about Don Juan and his various exploits! Many others have loved this novel and so might you, don’t take my word for it.

http://chikune.com/blog/?p=358 ( )

Not knowing much about the history of Don Juan Tenorio or being a fan of world history, this book was somewhat out of my “genre” of what I would normally elect to purchase off the shelf at a local bookstore. Being that I was offered the opportunity to be a part of the Book Tour for The Lost Diary of Don Juan, I was elated to face the opportunity to step “outside my ‘norm’ ” and lose myself in a tale of history, pride, power, lust, jealousy, and most of all, true love.

In visiting the novel’s website, you can discover articles pertaining to the differences between the great lovers Don Juan and Casanova. Truthfully, I was so taken by Abrams’ account of Don Juan’s journey, that Casanova simply didn’t interest me! Along with this article, fans of the novel can review photographs and articles from the author, Douglas C. Abrams, himself.

The Review: The Lost Diary of Don Juan

Author: Douglas Carlton Abrams

Author’s Website: www.lostdiaryofdonjuan.com

Publisher: Washington Square Press, a Division of Schuster & Shuster, Inc.

Type: Fiction

ISBN-13 #: 978-4165-3250-7

ISBN-10 #: 1-4165-3250-1

Pages Including Glossary: 306 (Paperback Version)

For my readers who are accustomed to my “direct approach” to book reviews, I will stay true to my style in giving you my most truthful opinion of this novel. I was expecting it to be one of those historical (yawn), boring, and another “way-exaggerated” romance novels that was filled with tales of the improbable, and most likely, impossible. The beginning of this book seemed to prove me right. It was quite the unveiling of the characters, the setting, the history, etc. Time for my nap! But, then, out of nowhere, this book takes a turn for me… and I understand why it is that Abrams took such attention to the detail in outlining the facts of the story. They all are completely relevant and key to the overall connection that I had to the book. Then, I went back and re-read the beginning… and, loved it!

I read this novel on paperback and understand that it was published in 2007. With that being said, many of you have had an opportunity to pick up this work and read it. For those who have not, I fear to give up too much of the story line in the event that you decide to read it for yourself… which, if you believe in true love, you definitely should. However, there are main elements of the story that I will reveal in this review… but, I won’t share the ending!

This novel is based upon the supposed diary of Don Juan Tenorio in the late 1500’s in Seville, Spain. Don Juan’s beginnings are as tragic as his ending… he was born to a prostitute and his life was considered a liability for her profession. She left him at the doorstep of a convent in Carmona, Spain. Due to the fact that he was born with a slightly lamed leg, the nuns elected to raise him within the convent as the overflowing orphanages would surely not care for him properly and they feared he would die. He is raised by these Priora Francisca and Padre Miguel Antonio until his young teens. At that time, he was determined to live a life of worship and devotion to God as a priest in the Church. That was, until he discovered his secular needs as a man via his interest in a girl who entered the convent, Hermana Teresa… a ripe, beautiful 16 year old who he falls deeply in love with. Despite the laws of chastity within the confines of the convent, he and Teresa form a physical relationship in addition to their emotional commitment. Eventually, they are caught by Hermana Marta and Don Juan was exiled from this convent to a monastery in Seville, Spain. There, he was admonished for his sins.

In Don Juan’s experience at the monastery was not a good one. He was faced with interaction with Fray Ignacio de Estrada, who is “The Inquisitor” (2nd only in line to the Inquisitor General). For those not too familiar with the Spanish Inquisition, from what I can ascertain from the novel, in the name of “God” people were burned alive at the stake for being “heretics” or as simple as being a red-head. Anyone who followed Luther’s teachings as well as fornicators were subject to death. And, The Inquisitor had a list!

We come to love Don Juan and become entranced by his adventures with the women he loves. He is such a compassionate man, let me tell you! He finds great pride in utilizing his skills and pleasing the women he seduces. The readers are introduced to Dona Ana, who will become the one woman who can transform Don Juan’s heart into one of a monogamous man… loving only one. Of course, there are obstacles he is faced with involving his brotherhood with the other noblemen, the Marquis, The Inquisitor (I just hate that guy), and the Commander (Dona Ana’s father). But, Don Juan is a quite clever and the way that he arranges to win Dona Ana’s heart, escape death, and live “happily ever after” is a tale that had me completely engrossed. There are other characters within the story that I grew to love including Alma, Seville’s greatest courtesan. The ending of the story… simply, I approve!

One of my favorite tales in Don Juan’s diary was his night of escape with Dona Ana to the “Tour of Heaven.” (sigh). See picture of actual site (left) with the tower.

But, the diary is filled tales of passion, grief, adventure, and provides little “pearls of wisdom” in Don Juan’s self-discovery. Reader be warned… there are some very “steamy” scenes in this novel that, well, got my heart beating a bit faster. Abrams writes them with such passion and delicacy… bravo!

Interestingly enough, the photos displayed herein are from Abrams’ tour of Carmona and Seville. The author took many years in understanding the layout of Seville, the history, the legend… and it shows in the intricacy of the book.

Now, for my favorite lines of the novel:

“A woman’s desire does not die before her last breath.”

“Indeed, although pleasure and pain are often impossible to separate.” (they’re discussing physical encounters)

“How easy it is to satisfy a woman’ how great are the rewards and gratitude for any man who makes even the slightest effort. But how few are those in this cruel age who seek to understand womanhood, and so my lust finds countless women who yearn for even the most basic kindness.”

“The greatest power in the world, greater than kings and people, is the desire of women. Love, the priests tell us, rules the heavens, but does desire not rule the earth? One who understands the workings of desire understand the very secret of life…”

“… But to live, a man must have a purpose or his life is a rudderless ship.”

“Woman is the masterwork of God, the last Creation and endowed with the divine power to create new life.”

“The priests tell us that the body is like a thorn to the soul, but I have seen the truth-it is only from the body that the soul blossoms, and our soul cannot be separated from it in life.”

“… The true passion of which you speak could occur only in marriage, for without love, there is only lust, forever fleeting and empty.”

“Seduction and passion are simply Life longing for Life.”

“There is a time for reading, and there is time for living.”

“When the truth is blasphemy, then deception becomes dogma.”

My thoughts on the author:

In the Author’s Note at the end of the book, he explains:

“My desire in writing the book was not only to resurrect this greatest of historical lovers and to give voice to his true motives; I was also moved to write a book that would explore the tension between lust and love and that would confront the human question of how any man or woman can find lifelong satisfaction in one committed relationship.”

Although this is Abram’s first novel, he has co-authored other books on love, sexuality, and spirituality. He lives in Santa Cruz, CA with his wife and three children.

Final Thoughts:

There is a very helpful Glossary at the end of the book in addition to a provided synopsis. For book clubs, there are provided questions and topics for discussion. My most favorite question was #10… “Who is your favorite female character in the book? What did you like about her? Did you identify with any of her struggles? What do you think her life was like after knowing Don Juan?” Let’s just say… my answer is Alma and I could go on for pages about why and in answering the subsequent questions.

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale”:

If your interest is historical romance novels… I’d put this one up there with a 9.5! (Ole!) If that isn’t the genre that you favor and you’re testing the waters, like I did… I’d have to say I was pleasantly surprised and would give this an 8.5… nearly a 9. Why? Abrams was able to take my mind out of myself and into a story that I became lost in, I felt for the character, and now I want to go to Seville!

The Book Tour:

Oct 20 - Denyse Bridger’s Fantasy Pages
Oct 21 - The Literate Housewife
Oct 22 - Age 30 – A Year of Books
Oct 23 - Denyse Bridger’s Fantasy Pages (book giveaway)
Oct 24 - Kathleen’s Book Reviews
Oct 27 - Fictionary
Oct 28 - Stephanie’s Confessions of a Book-A-Holic and The Dark Phantom
Oct 29 - Fyrefly’s Book Blog
Oct 30 - A Novel Menagerie ( )

I picked up this book with the intent to read something light, funny, and a little bit naughty. The book hasn’t failed me on these three accounts; in fact, it has delivered a lot more.

The fabled Don Juan writes of his life as a galanteador (courtier) with the natural arrogance of someone who firmly believes he is God’s gift to women. But instead of being offended, I was intrigued and amazed by his ideas and perspectives on the female gender and ultimately on lust and love.

Don Juan is not your average rake. He is a rake, but one that genuinely loves women. He loves everything about them—their scent, their curves, their intellect, their eyelashes—everything! So by virtue of women’s innate beauty, he, Don Juan, takes it as his duty and life’s purpose to give the “ultimate pleasure” which they so deserve. (I wish men would think like this scrumptious guy).

His adventures, though, force him to question what the nature of passsion is. Can it be tied to love or is it a separate drive that has nothing to do with love? Is it possible to actually love and be true to one woman forever? Don Juan’s realizations to these age-old questions are tackled with lots of wit, humor, and surprisingly intelligent philosophy.

I certainly got more than what I paid for. I got what I wanted : levity, sex, fun…plus artful writing and a good dose of food for thought, which I never thought I’d get from what I deemed as one of those “chick-lit” books. In fact, this particular passage was a little over my head:

“The greatest misstep in the dance of courtship is to believe it is our charm or beauty that is ultimately in question in this ancient fertility rite. Seduction and passion are simply Life longing for Life. It has little to do with our fears and faults. When we discover this Divine Secret, we realise that we are far less than we ever feared and far more than we ever imagined. Life uses us for its own satisfaction, and when we surrender to its will, we become a part of every kiss, whether or not it is made with our lips, and of every caress, and whether or not it is made with our fingertips.”

I only understood half of it. (I guess in crude terms it means: Go with the flow. ?) But hey, Mr Abrams does write prettily. Don’t worry, this is the only esoteric passage to me.

My Mark : Outstanding

Kudos to the author for a wonderful first novel.

From : http://josbookshelf.wordpress.com ( )