An Instance of the Fingerpost
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An Instance of the Fingerpost
by Authors:
Iain Pears
Released: March, 1999
ISBN: 0425167720
Mass Market Paperback
Sales Rank: 7,390
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List price:
$7.99
Our price:
$7.99
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| Book > An Instance of the Fingerpost > Customer Reviews: |
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Average Customer Rating: 
An Instance of the Fingerpost >
Customer Review #1:
 Seven Hundred Pages Werent Enough
Im not a mystery devotee, nor do I have the patience (or available personal time) to read very many 700 page novels. About every 3 or 4 years though, I find an exception and this (like Umberto Ecos best work) was one of the strongest. At the end of this very cleverly drawn book, I was longing for more, including more information beyond the dramatis personae entries on the main and secondary characters. Before reading Pears, I had some general familiarity with the unfortunate period of the Commonwealth and the fresh air of the Restoration, but his work put some very real flesh and blood to both periods. As such, Ive been reading little else since I finished Fingerpost. For me, this ability to awaken, or even create, a new subject of intellectual curiosity is one of the rarest, and therefore most valuable, talents an author can hone. Pears does this masterfully through his movement from one narrator to the next, each of whom reveals truths about his predecessors which they concealed or ignored. I would recommend this to any thinking reader, perhaps with the caveat that some patience may be needed initially, as Pears doesnt insult the readers intelligence by uncovering the plot catch (or catches) right away. I guarantee that such patience will be rewarded many times over.
An Instance of the Fingerpost >
Customer Review #2:
 Often Gripping, Occassionally Dull, the Ending Falls Flat
The first two chapters of this book rapidly draw you into the seventeenth century life of Marco da Cola, an Italian merchants son and student of medicine who travels to England after the sudden death of his fathers business partner. The prose reads with incredible authenticity, and you feel as though youve picked up an actual early modern letter. Yet Pears includes numerous witticisms with as much punch today as 350 years ago. Thereafter, the writing slips comfortably into the modern mystery genre. At times, Pears allows philosophical debates to ramble excessively, but soon, the political and religious intrigue surrounding the bizarre posioning of an Oxford professor pushes you to read just one more chapter before bed. With four different accounts of the murder, representing different of Sir Francis Bacons "idols" which skew our quest for truth, the book becomes engrossing and enlightening. Unfortunately, just as you begin to think this is one of the best books youve ever read, the murder is solved in a disappointing, summary fashion. 100 pages discussing occult beliefs of the time follow. The book concludes with a brief factoid about Charles II that you probably read in your high school history textbook. The novel has enough strong points to make it a worthwhile choice, but I wonder if the professional critics who called it a classic might have skimmed the last part of this lengthy story in a rush to get to print.
An Instance of the Fingerpost >
Customer Review #3:
 Boooooooorrrring
Reduce this book by 50% and it would still be way too verbose. The first narative was able to maintain my interest from time to time, but the second two just overwhelmed me with needless boring nonsense. I was waiting for the blundy girl to be narrator, that may have spiced things up a bit. What an enormous waste of time. Fingerpost, I gladly give you the finger.
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An Instance of the Fingerpost >
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