The Lost Diary of Don Juan

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 show more 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 show less

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 show more 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 show less

Douglas Carlton Abrams' The Lost Diary of Don Juan transports the reader into a world where honor and piety are praised in 16th Century Seville, Spain, at the height of the Inquisition. But love must be chaste, and not lustful. Don Juan is fabled to be one of the greatest lovers and seducers of women, much like Cassanova. This work of fiction, written in a diary format, examines the inner Don Juan, his philosophies about love and lust, and his desire to remain honorable even as a galanteador. He refuses to tell tales of his "conquests," a term that really is inappropriate in the context of this novel. Don Juan does not conquer these women, but sets them free from the constraints of a society against passion and living life.

The sexual show more encounters in the novel are well portrayed and not too graphic, which is pleasing. Don Juan's humor is inviting as he talks about seducing women on the ground floor so he won't have to jump from trees to balconies any longer. There is often more than one side to a character or historical figure. These are humans after all and are we not multifaceted. I love the way in which Abrams fleshes out Don Juan as a sympathetic character in spite of his desires to lay with multiple women. He is not only a cad, but one who is afraid of truly loving one woman and becoming beholden to her as her faithful husband. He fears this love because he does not deem himself worthy.

Don Juan is a sympathetic and believable character, and his redemption is so fleeting. It's a classic love story full of redemption, despite the fleeting nature of his redemption. He loves women, and in some ways worships them. Don Juan is unaware of what he is missing in these fleeting relationships because his adrenaline pumps through his veins as he leaves their homes and seeks to escape their angry husbands and fathers. That is until he meets Dona Ana.

This novel has all the makings of a great historical piece from the duels and the honorable father to the trapped maiden, the wrath of the Inquisitor, and the betrayal of misplaced loyalties. Abrams carefully chooses his language to describe the streets and alleys of Sevilla, Espana, while sprinkling the text with Spanish words. This technique provides the diary technique with greater authenticity.

Although Don Juan is often thought of as a cad, this novel will provide readers with an alternative view--a renewed perspective on why one man sought love in the arms of numerous women and why that one man ultimately met his match. show less

Before reading The Lost Diary of Don Juan, the infamous title character was nothing more than a name to me. From a mere caricature, Abrams has skillfully created a character who is richly complex and multi-layered. As I read the eloquently written pages of Don Juan's diary, it was impossible not to be drawn into his libertine life and the intrigues of the city of Seville in 1593.

With beautiful, readable prose, Abrams paints a vivid picture of late 16th century Spain. The descriptions have a very cinematic feel. I could visualize the walled courtyard of a nobleman's home, and the dark, dank interior of Don Juan's favorite tavern. I could feel the velvet fabric of his maroon doublet. I could smell the faint, seductive orange-apricot scent show more of a woman's perfume. The prose tends to feel a little flowery and euphemistic when describing Don Juan's many and varied sexual encounters, the upside of this being that the subject matter is thus handled in a manner that is inoffensive to a broader audience.

The Spanish Inquisition was going strong in 1593, creating a sinister atmosphere in Seville which Abrams conveys well. His Inquisitor is a cruel, dark, ominous figure. The reader will sense that treachery and betrayal are rampant in Don Juan's world. Because of this, the trustworthy few - a nun or priest here, a loyal coachman there - feel all the more significant and engaging as supporting characters. show less

Summary: Don Juan, the greatest lover in all of Spain (and perhaps the world) has been portrayed by history as a craven seducer and womanizing cad, intent only on increasing the number of notches on his bedpost. This novel takes a different view: Don Juan as a seducer, yes, but as a lover of all womenkind, a worshipper at the altar of all that is female, a devotee of true passion, and the liberator of widows and dissatisfied housewives. Told in diary format, this novel recounts not only his history as orphan, thief, spy, and libertine, but also of the most dangerous period of his life. For Don Juan is in danger, not only from the Inquisition who views his activities as licentiousness and the deepest form of sin, but also from Doña Ana, show more the beautiful and independent-minded woman who may threaten everything that Don Juan thinks he stands for. The first rule of a libertine is never to fall in love; for, after all, how can a man who is devoted to lust and passion ever find satisfaction with just one woman?

Review: This book is about equal parts historical fiction and trashy romance novel (in the nicest sense of the term), mashed together to produce an enjoyable, quick-reading, and compelling story. I have to admit, I was not particularly familiar with Don Juan's story before reading this book - recognizing the name but having no real idea of the context. Abrams does an excellent job bringing late 16th century Seville to vibrant life, and this novel has a strong sensuality to it in both the sensory and sexual sense. The prose is florid, occasionally to the point of being purple, but the thing is: in this case, it works. For example, I found it completely believable that Don Juan would use the term "Supreme Pleasure" in his diary, even though on its own, that sort of language would totally make me roll my eyes. However, The Lost Diary of Don Juan neatly walks the line between being overly coy and overly graphic about sex and seduction.

While the overarching theme of this book seems to be the relationship between lust and love, and whether one is real without the other, and how to maintain both with only one other person, I don't think it went particularly deep - the ending's pretty predictable, and the moral seems to be of the "wuv, twoo wuv conquers all" variety. However, I really don't think most people are looking to this novel as a deep philosophical, historical, or moral treatise. As a bit of light, slightly fluffy, yet compelling historical romance, though, it was thoroughly entertaining. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: A good choice for folks who like their historical romance sexy but not super-graphic, or for those who are looking for a entertaining, not-too-serious book to lose themselves in for an afternoon. show less

Set in 16th century Seville during Spain’s Golden Age and the Spanish Inquisition, The Lost Diary of Don Juan is an action-packed look at the life and passion of the world’s greatest lover.

The son of a prostitute, Juan Tenorio is abandoned as an infant at the gates of a convent. He grows into a young man under the sisters’ loving care and instruction. Juan seems destined for the priesthood until he falls in love with one of the nuns, Sister Teresa. The two begin a passionate affair, meeting in secret each evening. When they are eventually discovered, Juan is forced to leave the Church.

The teenaged Juan Tenorio then joins a burglary ring in order to support himself. His skill as a thief and usefulness as a spy soon attracts the show more attention of the Marquis de la Monta, Don Pedro. The Marquis trains Juan as a libertine – one unbridled by traditional morality – and even secures a nobility title for the young man. Don Juan is a natural when it comes to the art of seduction, and his conquests are soon the stuff of legend. Unbeknownst to Don Juan, the Marquis is blackmailing the husbands and fathers of the women Don Juan seduces. Once Juan learns of this, he continues his libertine ways but refuses to reveal the identity of his partners to the Marquis.

When the beautiful Dona Ana captures Don Juan’s eye, the world’s greatest lover finds himself embarking on his most challenging conquest of all: the mastery of his own heart. Can one who has enjoyed the pleasures of so many women find himself content with one woman for the rest of his life?

Douglas Carlton Abrams gives us an intriguing look into the soul of a character who is usually portrayed as a villain and a rapist. Instead of depicting Don Juan as someone who preys on women, Abrams shows us a more tender side of the mythical lover. Passion is a central theme, not just sexual passion but also passion for life.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the humor. At one point, Don Juan is climbing a tree to reach a woman’s bedroom. As the rough bark digs into his hands, he tells himself that one day, he will seduce a woman on the ground floor.

As one would expect, sex plays a large part in this book. The Lost Diary of Don Juan is very sensual but never crass. The prose seems, on occasion, a little too flowery, but the compelling story tends to compensate for much of the florid language. show less

The Inquisition is has definitely been at the forefront of my reading recently. I stopped reading Melmoth the Wanderer when it was gearing up for the the Inquisition. Immortal also focused on the topic as well. The Lost Diary of Don Juan, which takes place in Spain in 1593, tells the story of Don Juan from the legend’s own standpoint. His lifestyle and his initiation into passion made him a target of the powerful forces of the Inquisition in Seville. This novel is by far the most enjoyable and satisfying of the books I’ve read dealing with this dark period of human history.

Don Juan is a legend that goes back to 1630. He has been portrayed anywhere between a villain and a savior. In Abrams’ novel, Don Juan sees himself as he writes show more in the diary he was given by the Marquis who took him under his wing and made him the man he was to become. He sees himself as a man who gives lonely women the attention they need to know and understand their inner worth. He enjoys his life and takes satisfaction in what he does for these woman, but he has no plans for marriage, even at the command of the King. Because the women he seduces are generally overlooked wives or closely guarded virgins, Don Juan’s vocation often puts him in harm’s way, but it isn’t until he discovers that there is a woman who can save him that he is truly in danger.

Abrams wrote a delicious, swashbuckling, and sensual novel. It contained just the right combination of levity and seriousness. The tone kept the book from getting heavy. Likewise, there was enough action to balance out Don Juan’s numerous libertine adventures. As a result, Spain and Don Juan come to life in the pages and make this novel a most delightful read.

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