Javier Sierra

This short read (around 130 pages) left me with mixed feelings.

First when the book starts with linking of coming end of the world and last year pandemic .... I truly want to puke. In situation where data provided looks like statisticians wet dream in which they drill in, out, all over the place without giving the total context of events (imagine software engineer showing you what you can do for-loop over and over again, because it is cool, heey you can go backward too but without the context for use), when author starts to use words like millions of deaths (like it was at least 50% and not 2.2% of 2.4% of world population - these number games only obfuscate actual numbers which are real tragedy in itself) I usually tend to close the book, shutdown TV and go for a walk. Because life is too short and mind to fragile to listen to panicky fear-mongers. I know, it is book, it tries to get readers interest. But this sounds like a very cheap shot. You want true horror related to pandemics - then write it as Crichton's "Andromeda Strain" or Cook's "Outbreak". But I am getting off topic.....

So that was my first reflex. But I was feeling kinda tired and due to warm weather could not sleep so I decided to give it a shot. After all it is short read.

And, melodrama aside ..... book was interesting and I actually learned quite a few things. Written as a birthday letter to a niece sometime in 2020, it is a story of human civilization and how it evolved. Through it various scientists and eminent names are mentioned and we are given a framework that shows how we on Earth (and Earth itself) are part of the much greater universe and how every outside effect like cosmic rays have enduring effect on Earth's flora and fauna.

Written in very crisp prose we are taken from the very beginnings to the modern era and shown how life is not to be looked as good or bad - life is .... life. It has its own path and motivations and any change that to us can look devastating plays a part in further evolution of life.

Only for these references and fact that story is told from the perspective of the eternal immortal (I am sucker for this type of story) this book was 4 stars.

But for melodramatic elements it is 3. Author finally manages to balance the oh-my-god-we-are-all-gonna-die with normal approach to life events (I like aunt's lectures on hysteria and fear). In my opinion this takes place too late in the book and causes entire book to feel too .... cheesy? I mean you end up in backwoods of France and you find people who seem to have read all major philosophical works and speak at least two classic languages - if this isn't weird I don't know what is, artistic freedom aside.

Interesting book. If you can go over the melodrama and the fact that book does not have standard structure and feels more like a [very] brief overview of human civilization (again, keep in mind this is single letter content after all) there is lot to learn here [which was very, very pleasant surprise].… (mais)

La cena secreta
Javier Sierra
Publicado: 2004 | 287 páginas
Novela Histórico Intriga

La trama se desarrolla durante la creación de la obra «La Última Cena», encargo de Ludovico el Moro al artista Leonardo da Vinci como parte de la ampliación y decoración del refectorio del convento dominico de Santa Maria delle Gracia, en Milán, Italia entre 1495 y 1497. Agustín Leyre, inquisidor dominico experto en la interpretación de mensajes cifrados, es enviado a toda prisa a Milán para supervisar los trazos finales que el maestro Leonardo da Vinci está dando a La Última Cena, debido a una serie de cartas anónimas recibidas en la corte papal de Alejandro VI, en las que se denuncia que Da Vinci no sólo ha pintado a los Doce sin su preceptivo halo de santidad, sino que el propio artista se ha retratado en la sagrada escena, dando la espalda a Jesucristo. En la novela se expone que La Última Cena de Leonardo da Vinci contiene una serie de anomalías para el punto de vista de los católicos ortodoxos de la época: no muestra el Santo Grial, ni a Cristo instaurando el Sacramento de la Eucaristía, sino que hace un gesto con las manos parecido a una imposición, idéntico al único sacramento que ejercitaban los cátaros durante sus ceremonias, el «Consolamentum». También expone la posibilidad de que los discípulos fueran retratos de importantes heterodoxos de su época. Tampoco la actitud de los Doce en esa composición refleja lo que narran los Evangelios: Juan, el joven discípulo que está sentado junto al maestro, no apoya su cabeza en su pecho, como dice el Nuevo Testamento; más bien, al contrario, parece alejarse de él. El autor se basa en datos como que la región italiana de la Lombardía acogió entre los siglos XIII y XV a los últimos supervivientes cátaros después de la caída de sus correligionarios en Montsegur en 1244.… (mais)

El ángel perdido
Javier Sierra
Publicado: 2011 | 453 páginas
Novela Intriga

Mientras trabaja en la restauración del Pórtico de la Gloria de Santiago de Compostela, Julia Álvarez recibe una noticia devastadora: su marido ha sido secuestrado en una región montañosa del noreste de Turquía.A partir de ese momento, Julia se verá envuelta sin quererlo en una ambiciosa carrera por controlar dos antiguas piedras que, al parecer, permiten el contacto con entidades sobrenaturales y por las que están interesados desde una misteriosa secta oriental hasta el presidente de los Estados Unidos.Una obra que deja atrás todos los convencionalismos del género, reinventándolo y empujando al lector a una aventura que no olvidará.… (mais)