Codex (2004)

I was all set to give this book a higher rating, really. The writing is not uncompelling -- I wouldn't say it's slick and fascinating prose, but it's not a turn-off, either. It's okay for lazy reading, and the descriptions are pretty good. Some parts are quite fascinating, particularly the descriptions of MOMUS.

Characterisation is shaky, though. I don't particularly care about any of the characters, or feel convinced by their relationships to each other. Edward, the main character, was blandly unobjectionable, really, and Margaret was no better. The Duchess could've been interesting, but there wasn't much of her. I didn't believe in any of Edward's motivations, either: it didn't make any sense.

And then the ending... nothing has changed since the first page of the book, really. Edward hasn't grown as a character at all. The status quo hasn't shifted so much as an inch. All the potentially interesting characters and plot exits stage left. It's an utter anticlimax. It's infuriating. ( )

I don't know, Grossman. Maybe this was the book you had to write in order to achieve the truly awesome [b:The Magicians|6101718|The Magicians A Novel|Lev Grossman|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OLoyt+bUL._SL75_.jpg|6278977]. If so, well, fine.
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Two comments about this author. Say what you like about Rowling's Harry Potter books, no one can take from her the gift she has for naming characters. Grossman, unfortunately, lacks a similar talent. The best a name does is not detract from the character; often it seems shallow and pedantic.

More seriously, he seems unable to sustain consistent character developments For example, we're supposed to believe that the same person who, with drive and brilliant performance has succeeded in the high stress world of banking in a matter of days becomes a layabout, sleeping well into the afternoon, and becoming addicted to computer games, something he showed no inclination or interest in to that point. We're also supposed to believe that someone who is obsessed with her academic success and interest in the physical book will, with no explanation, chuck it all, and hand over a priceless, one-of-a-kind manuscript to someone certain to destroy it in order to protect his ego.

Still, despite these flaws, and a weak ending, the parts about the sought after text are interesting. ( )

Edward Wozny, young investment banker, is sent to help one of his firm's most important clients. His task is to search their library for a medieval codex, a book kept sealed away many reasons. Edward meets Margaret Napier,an academic, who he enlists to help him to solve the mystery of the codex-to understand its significance to his clients, and to decipher the seeming parallels between the legend of the codex and an obsessive role-playing computer game, MOMBUS, that has absorbed Edward's time and mind. I found the plot intriguing and the history of the book collection fascinating. Still unsure of the ending--in someways it was a surprise, and at the same time somewhat disappointing. Still I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars. ( )

Thriller about an investment banker about to be promoted to a job in London who becomes embroiled in the library project of a couple from the British nobility. It sounds really far-fetched--and it does strain credulity at times--but it's a good fast read about medieval scholarship in the digital age. Would make a nice companion read with "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks.

Read more reviews at http://thegrimreader.blogspot.com ( )