Status
Available
Series
Publication
Ballantine Books (1997), 624 pages
Description
The riveting #1 international bestselling novel about the quest across centuries by two intrepid women in different eras to reunite the pieces of a powerful, ancient chess set A fabulous, bejeweled chess set that belonged to Charlemagne has been buried in a Pyrenees abbey for a thousand years. As the bloody French Revolution rages in Paris, the nuns dig it up and scatter its pieces across the globe because, when united, the set contains a secret power that could topple civilizations. To keep the set from falling into the wrong hands, two novices, Valentine and Mireille, embark on an adventure that begins in the streets of Paris and leads to Russia, Egypt, Corsica, and into the heart of the Algerian Sahara. Two hundred years later, while on assignment in Algeria, computer expert Catherine Velis finds herself drawn unwillingly into the deadly "Game" still swirling around the legendary chess set-a game that will require her to risk her life and match wits with diabolical forces. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Katherine Neville including rare images from her life and travels.… (more)
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Media reviews
****
Pawns and Kings.
I love reading and reviewing books. Yet if you read a lot of my reviews, (and I hope, Dear Reader, that you do), you will notice how frequently I write about the difficulty I find in reviewing certain books. More often than not I then precede to rave about that book. It’s
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because as a reviewer I feel that I am beheld to an oath similar to the Hippocratic one taken by doctors; first, do no harm.
Good books deserve to be experienced by their readers with as little interference as possible, so I try to give you a feel for the book without dropping spoilers and ruining the reader’s chance to revel in an exceptional work. All of which brings me to The Eight by Katherine Neville. It’s a novel that is tailor-made to fit my little manifesto. It’s very good, very original, and it deserves to be appreciated first-hand. Both the story and the plot are intricate, bordering on the Byzantine, but to break it down, it is about The Montglane Service, an antique Chess set, made in India, and gifted to Charlemagne, which holds mystical and mythic powers, and must be protected by the innocent from falling into the hands of the evil.
There are two main story-lines, one featuring Cat Velis, a computer expert and accountant, who works for Con Ed, in the 1970’s. After refusing to do something illegal for her boss she is sent from New York to a dead-end assignment to Algeria, to work with a then-unknown organization called OPEC. Before she leaves a fortune-teller at a party tells her that her life is in danger, and quick as a wink two people are dead and Cat is afraid that she might be next. The other story is about two young nuns, Valentine and Mirielle, and is set in France during the Revolution. These two are sent to Paris with a mission that involves the mythical Service. Before long everyone is either trying to hide or find this powerful artifact.
If that was all there was to the story, I would be done with my review. The Eight, however, is over 500 pages long, and Ms. Neville has plenty of stories up her sleeve. Historical figures, from the Freemasons to Catherine the Great, from Muammar Gaddafi to Cardinal Richelieu and Charles Maurice de Talleyrand all play significant roles, and Ms. Neville spins plenty of myths and history into her tale as well. Both backgrounds are solid and believable without being burdened by too much minutiae. The prose is solid, and all of the main characters ring true. What makes The Eight really special is the way that Ms. Neville makes the two storylines twist and turn, each enforcing and informing the other until they are, in the end, one. It’s something that is rarely accomplished, and deserves a tip of the cap.
The mythology of Chess also plays an integral part in this novel, and as a lifelong fan of Nabokov, I can say that she does the old master proud, both in her knowledge, and in her execution. Also worth noting is that the complexity of both the story and the plot are closely tied into the underlying motif of the game of Chess. In case you might find this intimidating, let me tell you that I am terrible at Chess, and my knowledge of it’s history is weak, and it never interfered my my enjoyment of this novel. What makes this book so good, in the end, is that all of this is subsumed by the narrative flow. You can read this big, smart novel as a thriller, and enjoy all of the tangents as just gravy. Smart, intricate and sophisticated gravy. Now how is that for an ending sentence?
Review by: Mark Palm
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Joycepa
Published in 1988, the same year as Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum, which is more or less in the same genre, The Eight was a forerunner of thrillers such as The Da Vinci Code. It is set in two time frames—the “historical present,” meaning 1972, and at the time of the French Revolution,
Chess itself is the matrix for the plot; the modern story involves two Grand Masters, a Russian and an American woman, and the game itself becomes important from time to time.
But mainly the plot is a showcase for history and for puzzles. The puzzles are imbedded mainly in interpretation of symbols, rather than in word play, although numbers play a role. However, the main tension in the story is the race, by two different sides that have deliberately taken on identities as the Black and White “teams” in chess, to collect the pieces of the Montglane Service which were scattered, as a precautionary measure during the French Revolution. Murders occur in both periods during this struggle for obtaining a means to what is thought to be unlimited power.
There are plenty of twists and turns to the plot; Neville uses exposition fairly effectively both as a way of introducing plot twists and as a way of forwarding the story. This is no mean feat, because the amount of exposition that she uses can be deadly in an adventure-type story. With a few exceptions, she manages to avoid that problem. However, the device does weaken the plot to a certain extent, since it makes it difficult to keep track of all the different threads. In fact, it can be said that the plot verges on too many sudden twists that many times leap out of nowhere.
Neville really uses history and historical figures quite cleverly as a means of generating and maintaining interest in the story. The two main figures are Talleyrand of France and Catherine the Great of Russia. While the historical basis for these figures seems accurate, the rather romantic treatment leaves a lot to be desired.
In fact, there are two main defects to this book, one of which is the treatment of characters. Most of them are not very credible, and they never really attain much more than one-dimensional status. Part of that is due to the second defect: the writing. If the story weren’t so interesting, the style would have been enough to have me out the book down after about a quarter of the way through. Frankly, it lacks such sophistication that it appears to have been written for 10 year olds by someone not much older. It detracts heavily from the book. The “sex scenes” are so badly written that I wanted to laugh out loud—when I wasn’t wincing.
Unfortunately, these two weaknesses really detract so much from the book that it becomes a good but far from outstanding read. That’s a pity, because the premises, the historical settings are really clever. In the hands of a better writer, this book would have been outstanding.
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during the Terror, in 1790 and beyond. The plot, which revolves around a mysterious, fabulous chess set that once belonged to the Emperor Charlemagne and which is credited with unknown but terrifying powers, flips back and forth between these two periods in a very effective way. Because of its hidden location for a thousand years, the chess set is dubbed the Montglane Service.Chess itself is the matrix for the plot; the modern story involves two Grand Masters, a Russian and an American woman, and the game itself becomes important from time to time.
But mainly the plot is a showcase for history and for puzzles. The puzzles are imbedded mainly in interpretation of symbols, rather than in word play, although numbers play a role. However, the main tension in the story is the race, by two different sides that have deliberately taken on identities as the Black and White “teams” in chess, to collect the pieces of the Montglane Service which were scattered, as a precautionary measure during the French Revolution. Murders occur in both periods during this struggle for obtaining a means to what is thought to be unlimited power.
There are plenty of twists and turns to the plot; Neville uses exposition fairly effectively both as a way of introducing plot twists and as a way of forwarding the story. This is no mean feat, because the amount of exposition that she uses can be deadly in an adventure-type story. With a few exceptions, she manages to avoid that problem. However, the device does weaken the plot to a certain extent, since it makes it difficult to keep track of all the different threads. In fact, it can be said that the plot verges on too many sudden twists that many times leap out of nowhere.
Neville really uses history and historical figures quite cleverly as a means of generating and maintaining interest in the story. The two main figures are Talleyrand of France and Catherine the Great of Russia. While the historical basis for these figures seems accurate, the rather romantic treatment leaves a lot to be desired.
In fact, there are two main defects to this book, one of which is the treatment of characters. Most of them are not very credible, and they never really attain much more than one-dimensional status. Part of that is due to the second defect: the writing. If the story weren’t so interesting, the style would have been enough to have me out the book down after about a quarter of the way through. Frankly, it lacks such sophistication that it appears to have been written for 10 year olds by someone not much older. It detracts heavily from the book. The “sex scenes” are so badly written that I wanted to laugh out loud—when I wasn’t wincing.
Unfortunately, these two weaknesses really detract so much from the book that it becomes a good but far from outstanding read. That’s a pity, because the premises, the historical settings are really clever. In the hands of a better writer, this book would have been outstanding.
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LibraryThing member debs4jc
A complex plot that intertwines the past and the present with a treasure hunt of sorts makes this one fun read. It all centers around a chessboard and its pieces--pieces that seem to give those that hold them power, and then when all assembled could give even more. Two women, one in the past, one
This was a lot of fun to listen to, a great adventure tale with many twists and turns. I got amused at the number of historical figures that popped up. It is quite unbelievable, so take it all in fun and enjoy the ride as the story takes you across a chessboard that spans the globe.
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in the present are chosen as 'queens' to guard--or to find?--this great treasure. But they aren't the only players in the game.This was a lot of fun to listen to, a great adventure tale with many twists and turns. I got amused at the number of historical figures that popped up. It is quite unbelievable, so take it all in fun and enjoy the ride as the story takes you across a chessboard that spans the globe.
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LibraryThing member Gwendydd
This was fun brain-candy reading. The story was exciting, and I read the book really fast.
There are two parallel plots, one taking place during the French Revolution, and the other in the 1970s. The historical storyline was HORRIBLE! The characters were not remotely believable, Neville didn't do
So I skimmed the historical plotline, but enjoyed the modern one. The modern plotline had some contrived bits too, but it is impossible to write about international conspiracies and secret societies without getting contrived. Just like watching an Indiana Jones movie, you have to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the adventure.
It's not a brilliant book by any stretch, but I found it to be a fun quick read (quick if you skip the historical parts, which are horrendous).
There are two parallel plots, one taking place during the French Revolution, and the other in the 1970s. The historical storyline was HORRIBLE! The characters were not remotely believable, Neville didn't do
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any research beyond reading an encyclopedia article or two, and the whole thing was really contrived. All of the characters in the historical plot were really famous people (Tallyrand, Napoleon, Robespierre, Catherine the Great), so the historical plotline was just a who's-who of the French Revolution, which I found really tedious and really unbelievable.So I skimmed the historical plotline, but enjoyed the modern one. The modern plotline had some contrived bits too, but it is impossible to write about international conspiracies and secret societies without getting contrived. Just like watching an Indiana Jones movie, you have to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the adventure.
It's not a brilliant book by any stretch, but I found it to be a fun quick read (quick if you skip the historical parts, which are horrendous).
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LibraryThing member pioneercynthia
Quite possibly one of the most exciting books I've ever read. All the action and historical suspicion of The DaVinci Code, with none of the religious nonsense. I'm well versed in the French Revolution, and I could find nothing to grumble with in her historical suppositions (other than that they
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might be based on unlikely coincidences ). I loved this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member dasuzuki
The first time I read this was back in the early 90s. It was actually an assigned reading book for my Modern European History class. I have to say I am so glad we had to read it because it became one of my favorite books of all time. I’ve re-read it so many times my copy is near falling apart and
I loved both the story lines although I have to say following Cat’s story was my favorite. She along with the help of a friend, Lily Rad, and the handsome chess champ, Solarin(mmm…sexy and smart!), she has to solve the mystery surrounding the Montglane Service. Although I am not a chess player I found the references interesting especially as you start to see what parts each of the characters in the story take and eventually finding out who the Black Queen is. The reader is introduced to a cast of interesting characters, each who grabs you in their own way with their quirks of personality. Sometimes I found it hard to decide if I wanted to cheer Lily on or strangle her and her little dog. I highly suggest this book to everyone!
I am currently in the middle of the sequel that just came out but I will save that for a review when I am done.
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I just bought a replacement copy.I loved both the story lines although I have to say following Cat’s story was my favorite. She along with the help of a friend, Lily Rad, and the handsome chess champ, Solarin(mmm…sexy and smart!), she has to solve the mystery surrounding the Montglane Service. Although I am not a chess player I found the references interesting especially as you start to see what parts each of the characters in the story take and eventually finding out who the Black Queen is. The reader is introduced to a cast of interesting characters, each who grabs you in their own way with their quirks of personality. Sometimes I found it hard to decide if I wanted to cheer Lily on or strangle her and her little dog. I highly suggest this book to everyone!
I am currently in the middle of the sequel that just came out but I will save that for a review when I am done.
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LibraryThing member paradoxosalpha
In its early printings, The Eight was compared to Umberto Eco's puzzle-novels, but it doesn't really have their literary integrity. It's probably more deserving of comparison to Dan Brown's film-treatment-cum-novel conspiracy thrillers, which may have been influenced by (or even modeled on) this
Pluses: Enigmatic ages-spanning conspiracy constructed around chess. Efficiently told fast-paced adventure story. North African setting rendered with experienced detail and rich imagination. Surfeit of ass-kicking redhead heroines. Flashes of humor. Cameos by William Blake, Giacomo Casanova, and practically anyone of note in the last decade of the 18th century.
Minuses: Use of third-person narrative in 18th-century plotline which is eventually revealed to be contained in a journal. Use of first-person narrative in 20th-century plotline, including chronological inclusion of events unknown at the time to the character describing them. 1970s protagonist of author Katherine Neville is named "Catherine Velis." Really? Hard to care for Velis, who seems to have everything fall into her lap, and to have no real personal attachments: no reference to any prior lover (is she a 24-year-old virgin?) or close peers or blood relations, just an abundance of mentors and benefactors, who are nearly all eventually implicated in the conspiracy. She was a music major at an unnamed college, but never plays, sings, or actively listens to music during the nine months of her story in the book. Out of three or four major plot twists at the novel's end, I saw a couple of them coming at least 150 pages in advance. I groaned out loud at this passage from page 108, spoken to the French Abbess of Montglane by Catherine the Great in 1791:
"I know the secret is older than the Moors, older than the Basques. Older, indeed, than the Druids. I must ask you, my friend, have you ever heard of a society of men who sometimes call themselves the Freemasons?"
On the whole, it's a fun read for those who like that sort of thing. The historical parts audaciously conscript an enormous range of famous figures, usually with some level of believability, and the modern parts churn out a bewildering array of heterogeneous clues before the solutions start to cohere. I'm not signing up for the sequel, though.
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book. Pluses: Enigmatic ages-spanning conspiracy constructed around chess. Efficiently told fast-paced adventure story. North African setting rendered with experienced detail and rich imagination. Surfeit of ass-kicking redhead heroines. Flashes of humor. Cameos by William Blake, Giacomo Casanova, and practically anyone of note in the last decade of the 18th century.
Minuses: Use of third-person narrative in 18th-century plotline which is eventually revealed to be contained in a journal. Use of first-person narrative in 20th-century plotline, including chronological inclusion of events unknown at the time to the character describing them. 1970s protagonist of author Katherine Neville is named "Catherine Velis." Really? Hard to care for Velis, who seems to have everything fall into her lap, and to have no real personal attachments: no reference to any prior lover (is she a 24-year-old virgin?) or close peers or blood relations, just an abundance of mentors and benefactors, who are nearly all eventually implicated in the conspiracy. She was a music major at an unnamed college, but never plays, sings, or actively listens to music during the nine months of her story in the book. Out of three or four major plot twists at the novel's end, I saw a couple of them coming at least 150 pages in advance. I groaned out loud at this passage from page 108, spoken to the French Abbess of Montglane by Catherine the Great in 1791:
"I know the secret is older than the Moors, older than the Basques. Older, indeed, than the Druids. I must ask you, my friend, have you ever heard of a society of men who sometimes call themselves the Freemasons?"
On the whole, it's a fun read for those who like that sort of thing. The historical parts audaciously conscript an enormous range of famous figures, usually with some level of believability, and the modern parts churn out a bewildering array of heterogeneous clues before the solutions start to cohere. I'm not signing up for the sequel, though.
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LibraryThing member conceptDawg
If you have read The DaVinci Code and enjoyed it then you will probably find this book enjoyable also. They have many of the same themes running throughout both books: Knights Templar; Freemasonry; Hidden, secret objects that hold great power.
In the end, I really liked this book. It had quite a bit
In the end, I really liked this book. It had quite a bit
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of intrigue, but not too much that there was no action. The cast of characters was interesting and the locations of the tales (Present day New York, Algiers; 18th Century France, Russian, and Algiers) were even more so. Show Less
LibraryThing member pedalinfaith
What do King Charlemagne, a gaggle of nuns, just about every historical celebrity from late 18th century Paris to Venice to St. Petersburg, more than a few chess prodigies, and the formation of OPEC have to do with each other? More than you could imagine. Katherine Neville out-Dan-Browns Dan Brown,
The book starts strong--the classic cryptic fortune telling of doom, a stubborn genius heroine who pisses off the wrong boss, a few mysterious deaths, and a sexy Russian spy. And I hung in there through the melodramatic characterizations of the ever unrolling parade of players, even when she mixed in the Freemasons. (Gotta have the Freemasons.) But Catherine the Great AND Rousseau AND Voltaire AND Robespierre AND the painter Jacques-Louis David AND Napoleon Bonaparte AND Wordsworth AND Cassanova? Puh-leeze. It tries even this willing suspender of incredulity. I made it to page 392 before I strained my eyes from rolling them--and we hadn't even got to Sir Isaac Newton yet.
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skipping across continents and centuries, connecting far-fetched dots, and name dropping all along the way.The book starts strong--the classic cryptic fortune telling of doom, a stubborn genius heroine who pisses off the wrong boss, a few mysterious deaths, and a sexy Russian spy. And I hung in there through the melodramatic characterizations of the ever unrolling parade of players, even when she mixed in the Freemasons. (Gotta have the Freemasons.) But Catherine the Great AND Rousseau AND Voltaire AND Robespierre AND the painter Jacques-Louis David AND Napoleon Bonaparte AND Wordsworth AND Cassanova? Puh-leeze. It tries even this willing suspender of incredulity. I made it to page 392 before I strained my eyes from rolling them--and we hadn't even got to Sir Isaac Newton yet.
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LibraryThing member melydia
This is my second time reading this book and it was amazing all over again. Like all of Neville's novels, two stories are interweaved: one in the present (in this case, the 1970's) and one in the past (late 18th century). Two women, a computer expert and nun, attempt each in their respective time
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periods to unravel the mystery behind a powerful and much-coveted ancient chess set, the Montglane Service. This book is full of action and romance, suspense and memorable characters. The number of famous historical figures who show up does border on the absurd, but I was too busy having a good time to nitpick. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.Side note for those who've read the book: my sister was in love with Solarin, but my heart belongs to Nim. :) Show Less
LibraryThing member Othemts
Here’s another W&M book club selection that was a chore to finish. This Dan Brown style thriller follows two stories: 1970’s Catherine being sent by her company to work with OPEC and the more interesting French Revolution-era story of the beautiful redhead nun Mirielle. The whole plot is about
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a mysterious chess set designed by the Moors with magical powers which becomes the focus of an international conspiracy. Neville in all her b-rate mystery writer cleverness sees this as an excuse to squeeze chess metaphors into every one of the bloated book’s 550 pages. As Nadia says, “We’re all just pawns to the authors we read.” Another nuisance is the constant name-dropping of historical figures Mirielle meets in search for the chess set. Sadly this book isn’t even good enough to be a page-turner. If it wasn’t for the book club I would not have finished it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stewartry
I read The Eight a long time ago, and loved it. It's happened before with Open Road books on Netgalley – I like to request books I know and give a bit of a boost to their reissue. It's also nice to know that I'm going to like a book going in rather than taking the gamble a Netgalley book usually
Unfortunately, this time it didn't work so well. The first half or so was a wild ride, smart and fun and fascinating, and I kept thinking this is what The DaVinci Code so very much wanted to be. But somehow somewhere in there I started to flinch every time I clicked a page over and saw a new chapter set in the 18th century. The 1970's portion still had me – but the tale of Mireille and her pantheon of the greats of France and America of the 1780's just kind of left me cold this time around. It was such a parade of 18th century notables… Even Ben Franklin and Alexander Hamilton got a mention. (Yes, I too now hear "Alexander Hamilton" sung to a certain tune.)
And the digressions within the jumps backward ("There’s a tale that goes with it", said someone, and I whimpered quietly) were painful.
It wasn't the writing – that was always solid and clear. Characterization was kind of magnificent; I mean, in one line Neville said more about Lily than most writers would be capable of in a full chapter ("Lily was the Josephine Baker of chess. She had everything but the ocelot and the bananas.") The only character who got somewhat short shrift was the 20th century first-person narrator, Cat; she didn't seem quite so well-rounded.
It was just that the story did not simply have a beginning, middle, and end in a straight line. It more resembles a Celtic knot, or one of those flourishes one of those 18th century notables might have made under their signature to (if I recall correctly) discourage forgery. Maybe it's because I don't often have the solid blocks of time to devote to a book that I did when I first read this, but it made me tired.
And it was just a bit frustrating that, with guns blazing all around them and bodies dropping right and left, Cat and Lily keep on trucking by themselves.
"I still think we should go to the police. After all, we have two bullet holes to prove our point."
"Never," cried Lily in agitation, "will I admit that I’m not up to solving this mystery on my own. Strategy is my middle name."
Argh.
It's all very dated, of course - or rather period, I suppose. This came long before 9/11, so the zipping about among countries was easier, and security at events and in buildings was much lighter. And a cell phone here and there would have made a huge difference in the more modern plot.
But I have to say, something I usually complain about, the Dread Recap, is skillfully avoided in this book. Katherine Neville is good at keeping the reader afloat in a vast and sometimes choppy sea of plot.
I'm not much of a chess player; I won a game once, but I'm pretty sure my opponent wasn't paying attention. But the trappings, the history of chess is wonderful to read about, and, happily, The Eight does not depend on a reader's prowess to work. And it does work. It really is everything the DaVinci Code longed and miserably failed to be.
Quote I want to see turned into a painting:
On the fourth of April in the year 782, a wondrous festival was held at the Oriental Palace at Aachen to honor the fortieth birthday of the great King Charlemagne. He had called forth all the nobles of his empire. The central court with its mosaic dome and tiered circular staircases and balconies was filled with imported palms and festooned with flower garlands. Harps and lutes were played in the large halls amid gold and silver lanterns. The courtiers, decked in purple, crimson, and gold, moved through a fairyland of jugglers, jesters, and puppet shows. Wild bears, lions, giraffes, and cages of doves were brought into the courtyard. All was merriment for weeks in anticipation of the king’s birthday. It needs a Pre-Raphaelite painter, I think.
I have to say I took great geeky pleasure in the etymologies peppered through the book, from the obvious (how did I forget "Vermont"?) to the huh! (The Rooks, or Castles, were called Rukhkh, the Arabic word for "chariot") and the "aha!" ("Islam" comes from the same root as "shalom"). (One more: "Venice was founded by the Phoenicians—whence we derive our name".) And the chapter heading quotes (there's a name for those, isn't there?) were terrific. ("Skeletons of mice are often to be found in coconuts, for it is easier to get in, slim and greedy, than to get out, appeased but fat." —Chess Is My Life: Viktor Korchnoi (Russian GM); "Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do. Strategy is knowing what to do when there is nothing to do." —Savielly Tartakover (Polish GM))
Note of worthless trivia: my high school French teacher christened me Mireille for her class. I hated it because no one (including me) could pronounce that "R". So this was kind of weird.
Something which was probably intended as comic relief, but which made me uncomfortable and then began to make me a little angry, was the way Lily's little dog Carioca was handled throughout. That poor little fuzzball was thrown, dropped, kicked, dunked, squashed, and lord knows what all else. I really hated it.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review. Thank you!
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is. Unfortunately, this time it didn't work so well. The first half or so was a wild ride, smart and fun and fascinating, and I kept thinking this is what The DaVinci Code so very much wanted to be. But somehow somewhere in there I started to flinch every time I clicked a page over and saw a new chapter set in the 18th century. The 1970's portion still had me – but the tale of Mireille and her pantheon of the greats of France and America of the 1780's just kind of left me cold this time around. It was such a parade of 18th century notables… Even Ben Franklin and Alexander Hamilton got a mention. (Yes, I too now hear "Alexander Hamilton" sung to a certain tune.)
And the digressions within the jumps backward ("There’s a tale that goes with it", said someone, and I whimpered quietly) were painful.
It wasn't the writing – that was always solid and clear. Characterization was kind of magnificent; I mean, in one line Neville said more about Lily than most writers would be capable of in a full chapter ("Lily was the Josephine Baker of chess. She had everything but the ocelot and the bananas.") The only character who got somewhat short shrift was the 20th century first-person narrator, Cat; she didn't seem quite so well-rounded.
It was just that the story did not simply have a beginning, middle, and end in a straight line. It more resembles a Celtic knot, or one of those flourishes one of those 18th century notables might have made under their signature to (if I recall correctly) discourage forgery. Maybe it's because I don't often have the solid blocks of time to devote to a book that I did when I first read this, but it made me tired.
And it was just a bit frustrating that, with guns blazing all around them and bodies dropping right and left, Cat and Lily keep on trucking by themselves.
"I still think we should go to the police. After all, we have two bullet holes to prove our point."
"Never," cried Lily in agitation, "will I admit that I’m not up to solving this mystery on my own. Strategy is my middle name."
Argh.
It's all very dated, of course - or rather period, I suppose. This came long before 9/11, so the zipping about among countries was easier, and security at events and in buildings was much lighter. And a cell phone here and there would have made a huge difference in the more modern plot.
But I have to say, something I usually complain about, the Dread Recap, is skillfully avoided in this book. Katherine Neville is good at keeping the reader afloat in a vast and sometimes choppy sea of plot.
I'm not much of a chess player; I won a game once, but I'm pretty sure my opponent wasn't paying attention. But the trappings, the history of chess is wonderful to read about, and, happily, The Eight does not depend on a reader's prowess to work. And it does work. It really is everything the DaVinci Code longed and miserably failed to be.
Quote I want to see turned into a painting:
On the fourth of April in the year 782, a wondrous festival was held at the Oriental Palace at Aachen to honor the fortieth birthday of the great King Charlemagne. He had called forth all the nobles of his empire. The central court with its mosaic dome and tiered circular staircases and balconies was filled with imported palms and festooned with flower garlands. Harps and lutes were played in the large halls amid gold and silver lanterns. The courtiers, decked in purple, crimson, and gold, moved through a fairyland of jugglers, jesters, and puppet shows. Wild bears, lions, giraffes, and cages of doves were brought into the courtyard. All was merriment for weeks in anticipation of the king’s birthday. It needs a Pre-Raphaelite painter, I think.
I have to say I took great geeky pleasure in the etymologies peppered through the book, from the obvious (how did I forget "Vermont"?) to the huh! (The Rooks, or Castles, were called Rukhkh, the Arabic word for "chariot") and the "aha!" ("Islam" comes from the same root as "shalom"). (One more: "Venice was founded by the Phoenicians—whence we derive our name".) And the chapter heading quotes (there's a name for those, isn't there?) were terrific. ("Skeletons of mice are often to be found in coconuts, for it is easier to get in, slim and greedy, than to get out, appeased but fat." —Chess Is My Life: Viktor Korchnoi (Russian GM); "Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do. Strategy is knowing what to do when there is nothing to do." —Savielly Tartakover (Polish GM))
Note of worthless trivia: my high school French teacher christened me Mireille for her class. I hated it because no one (including me) could pronounce that "R". So this was kind of weird.
Something which was probably intended as comic relief, but which made me uncomfortable and then began to make me a little angry, was the way Lily's little dog Carioca was handled throughout. That poor little fuzzball was thrown, dropped, kicked, dunked, squashed, and lord knows what all else. I really hated it.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review. Thank you!
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LibraryThing member PghDragonMan
Reading a series in reverse order can be interesting. Having recently finished Katherine Neville’s The Fire, I went in search of the predecessor of that book, The Eight. As expected, since one story is a continuation of the other, there are many similarities. Enough so that you almost know what
Another device that was overused were the numerous flashback scenes designed to give the reader the history behind the search for the mythic mystic Montglane Service, a chess set once created for Charlemagne. The main problem is the same story told so many times becomes annoying after a while. Neville becomes that teacher we all had at one point who insisted on you memorizing something through endless repetition. I’m left wondering what is so important about this tale that I need to memorize it.
The strongest points of this book are the rich descriptions Neville creates for us. You will have no trouble visualizing everything as it is taking place. The dialog also helps move the story along, but at times, the language becomes a little forced. This is not too objectionable as there are a number of characters from other countries speaking in English and the phrasing helps to remind us of that.
I tried to divorce myself from what I know of The Game, the chess game played with real people in search of mystic knowledge and the theme binding the two works together, when reading The Eight. Taken by itself, The Eight is entertaining and thought provoking, yet it is not worthy of being deemed an eternal classic. I found the flaws annoying enough that I had to pull this down to a three and a half star rating from a four star experience.
Having now read both books about this chess service and The Game, there is a theme that is voiced in both works: the game continues. I can’t help but wonder if there is a third book yet to come involving the Montglane Service. I hope I’m teasing you into reading The Fire and not spoiling it, but there are enough plot similarities between the two books already a part of this greater story that you can’t help but wonder if the pattern will not repeat itself at least one more time.
Not your traditional thriller genre read, but readers of that genre should find plenty to keep them entertained. If you like books with a mystical bent to them, read on. While not truly historical fiction, there are plenty of historical figures representing the literary, mathematical and political worlds of the past to keep followers of this genre on their toes. An above average novel that just misses the mark for a great read.
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is coming at you in terms of plot development. One phrase, spoken by the main protagonist, Catherine Valis, resonated with me. In one scene she says, “I don’t believe in coincidences”. Coincidences are an overplayed device in this work and added a high distraction factor to this otherwise really good read.Another device that was overused were the numerous flashback scenes designed to give the reader the history behind the search for the mythic mystic Montglane Service, a chess set once created for Charlemagne. The main problem is the same story told so many times becomes annoying after a while. Neville becomes that teacher we all had at one point who insisted on you memorizing something through endless repetition. I’m left wondering what is so important about this tale that I need to memorize it.
The strongest points of this book are the rich descriptions Neville creates for us. You will have no trouble visualizing everything as it is taking place. The dialog also helps move the story along, but at times, the language becomes a little forced. This is not too objectionable as there are a number of characters from other countries speaking in English and the phrasing helps to remind us of that.
I tried to divorce myself from what I know of The Game, the chess game played with real people in search of mystic knowledge and the theme binding the two works together, when reading The Eight. Taken by itself, The Eight is entertaining and thought provoking, yet it is not worthy of being deemed an eternal classic. I found the flaws annoying enough that I had to pull this down to a three and a half star rating from a four star experience.
Having now read both books about this chess service and The Game, there is a theme that is voiced in both works: the game continues. I can’t help but wonder if there is a third book yet to come involving the Montglane Service. I hope I’m teasing you into reading The Fire and not spoiling it, but there are enough plot similarities between the two books already a part of this greater story that you can’t help but wonder if the pattern will not repeat itself at least one more time.
Not your traditional thriller genre read, but readers of that genre should find plenty to keep them entertained. If you like books with a mystical bent to them, read on. While not truly historical fiction, there are plenty of historical figures representing the literary, mathematical and political worlds of the past to keep followers of this genre on their toes. An above average novel that just misses the mark for a great read.
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
I read a review of this book online that led me to believe I might enjoy it. I ordered it - and when I got the book in the mail, I saw that the cover blurb read something like, "If you loved the Da Vinci Code, you'll love The Eight."
"OH NO," I said. Because I certainly did NOT love the Da Vinci
Nevertheless, I read this book; cover blurbs are not always correct. Unfortunately, in this case, it was absolutely correct. It was very similar to Dan Brown's writing, both in style and content.
If you are into unlikely and ridiculous conspiracy theories that don't stand up to a bit of logical thought, and have a lot of time to kill, go for it.
(My problem is that I really like novels that involve conspiracies - but I have absolutely no patience for conspiracy theories.)
The premise is that Catherine Velis, a computer expert at the top of her field (or so we are told - not ONCE in the VERY LONG book does she do anything, or even THINK in such a way that would indicate she knows anything about computers), is sent to Algeria on assignment. Her antique-dealing friend takes advantage of this to try to get her to acquire some rare chess pieces while she is there.
Meanwhile, back in the 18th century, two young novice nuns (yes, this is an excuse for some unnecessary but oddly understated trashiness) are asked by their abbess to participate in hiding the Very Same chess pieces, which everyone is out to get - because they are imbued with Magical Powers which will allow the owner of the whole chess set to Take Over the World.
Poorly written. Characters that seem to have their attributes assigned to them by dice roll. Historically inaccurate. Unnecessarily long. Trashy, but not trashy enough to be titillating. Unconvincing fantasy elements. Plot elements that don't stand up to any sort of analysis. Boring.
"OH NO," I said. Because I certainly did NOT love the Da Vinci
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Code (although it is, admittedly, the best of Dan Brown's shoddily researched and crappily written novels.)Nevertheless, I read this book; cover blurbs are not always correct. Unfortunately, in this case, it was absolutely correct. It was very similar to Dan Brown's writing, both in style and content.
If you are into unlikely and ridiculous conspiracy theories that don't stand up to a bit of logical thought, and have a lot of time to kill, go for it.
(My problem is that I really like novels that involve conspiracies - but I have absolutely no patience for conspiracy theories.)
The premise is that Catherine Velis, a computer expert at the top of her field (or so we are told - not ONCE in the VERY LONG book does she do anything, or even THINK in such a way that would indicate she knows anything about computers), is sent to Algeria on assignment. Her antique-dealing friend takes advantage of this to try to get her to acquire some rare chess pieces while she is there.
Meanwhile, back in the 18th century, two young novice nuns (yes, this is an excuse for some unnecessary but oddly understated trashiness) are asked by their abbess to participate in hiding the Very Same chess pieces, which everyone is out to get - because they are imbued with Magical Powers which will allow the owner of the whole chess set to Take Over the World.
Poorly written. Characters that seem to have their attributes assigned to them by dice roll. Historically inaccurate. Unnecessarily long. Trashy, but not trashy enough to be titillating. Unconvincing fantasy elements. Plot elements that don't stand up to any sort of analysis. Boring.
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LibraryThing member kd9
In 1973 Cat Velis is a smart, independent computer consultant with a dysfunctional family in New York City. When she refuses to rig a bid for her boss, she is sent to Algeria to help the nascent OPEC. But there is more mystery in store for her than just oil manipulations. Her uncle, an antiques
In 1790, the French Revolution has started and the Catholic nunneries are not refuges that they once were. Montglane Abbey has been the sanctuary of a deadly secret for over a thousand years, but now the secret must be moved and scattered to keep it out of the hands of the ruthless who would use it to gain more power. Mireille de Rémy takes a piece of this powerful chess set to Paris and becomes the focus a power struggle that takes the life of her best friend.
How the struggle for these pieces from an alchemical chess set transform the people who carry them, whether pawns or queens, makes for a gripping tale. I enjoyed most of the characters and the plot, but every so often, the author's noveau status shows in some poor word choice or too lengthy explanation. I especially grew tired of the phrase "but little did she know..." That is a construction that most novice authors manage to avoid.
Overall, if you like novels with strong female protagonists and quite a lot of historical background, but don't mind a strong dose of mysticism, you will enjoy this book.
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dealer, has asked her to transport a mysterious piece from a chess set.In 1790, the French Revolution has started and the Catholic nunneries are not refuges that they once were. Montglane Abbey has been the sanctuary of a deadly secret for over a thousand years, but now the secret must be moved and scattered to keep it out of the hands of the ruthless who would use it to gain more power. Mireille de Rémy takes a piece of this powerful chess set to Paris and becomes the focus a power struggle that takes the life of her best friend.
How the struggle for these pieces from an alchemical chess set transform the people who carry them, whether pawns or queens, makes for a gripping tale. I enjoyed most of the characters and the plot, but every so often, the author's noveau status shows in some poor word choice or too lengthy explanation. I especially grew tired of the phrase "but little did she know..." That is a construction that most novice authors manage to avoid.
Overall, if you like novels with strong female protagonists and quite a lot of historical background, but don't mind a strong dose of mysticism, you will enjoy this book.
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LibraryThing member majorbabs
Five stars for plotting, one star for dialogue. (Has this woman never heard people talk to each other?) A page-turner for sure, but let's hope the sequel, The Fire, is better.
LibraryThing member sarah_rubyred
I read a lot of reviews of this before I started, but I like to think I keep an open mind... I liked it overall, good fun, puzzles and adventures can rarely go wrong, especially if they involve a bit of magic. I am not so keen on reading about real characters of history as if they are involved in
Some books do come across as though they were meant for the big screen and this is definitely one of them, in fact, as Katherine Neville has produced a sequel, I wouldn't be surprised if this came soon....and was successful. I particulary imagined the boat scenes at the end with the New York skyline coming into sight as a great visual picture.
A rip-roaring yarn with intelligence, but a beach read nonetheless.
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the tale, but this is only in one half of the story, and none take any real lead role in the story.Some books do come across as though they were meant for the big screen and this is definitely one of them, in fact, as Katherine Neville has produced a sequel, I wouldn't be surprised if this came soon....and was successful. I particulary imagined the boat scenes at the end with the New York skyline coming into sight as a great visual picture.
A rip-roaring yarn with intelligence, but a beach read nonetheless.
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LibraryThing member turtlesleap
I rarely abandon a book once I've started reading it. This was an exception. I ploughed through about two-thirds of it, then rolled my eyes one last time and quit. In a parallel plot-line tracking action in modern times and in th 1790's, the author postulates the existence of a chess set, once
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owned by Charlmagne and at the heart of a dizzying array of plots, counterplots, riddles and codes. For the portion of the story taking place in the 18th Century, the author invokes as many historical figures of the era as possible. The effect is just silly. The story was ho-hum and the author's habit of injecting a phrase like "little did she know that her actions would blah, blah, blah" in order to keep the reader informed of events unfolding was downright irritating. Ham-handed at best. Show Less
LibraryThing member wbentrim
The Eight by Katherine Neville
The story seemed like one that Dan Brown and Sandra Brown might have collaborated to create. It is a study of mysticism and mysterious formulas, treasure, clues and a wealth of historic personages wrapped in emotional relationships. A mysterious, ancient chess set is
Neville bounces back and forth from the 1790’s to the 1970’s without promoting a great deal of confusion. Her characterizations have depth, breadth and color. There are times where it appears she may have read a little too much Clive Cussler but the introduction of historic figures and preposterous chases is very entertaining. I’m not sure if there is an attempt to challenge the intellect but regardless, the book is a fun read.
I recommend the book and look forward to the sequel, "The Fire".
The story seemed like one that Dan Brown and Sandra Brown might have collaborated to create. It is a study of mysticism and mysterious formulas, treasure, clues and a wealth of historic personages wrapped in emotional relationships. A mysterious, ancient chess set is
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the center piece of a frantic and fanatic hunt detailed in the 1790’s and the 1970s. Whosoever holds the chess set will rule the world, according to legend. The forces of good and evil have been striving to capture the board for a millennium. Neville bounces back and forth from the 1790’s to the 1970’s without promoting a great deal of confusion. Her characterizations have depth, breadth and color. There are times where it appears she may have read a little too much Clive Cussler but the introduction of historic figures and preposterous chases is very entertaining. I’m not sure if there is an attempt to challenge the intellect but regardless, the book is a fun read.
I recommend the book and look forward to the sequel, "The Fire".
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LibraryThing member elizabethn
like the DaVinci Code, except way better in every way.
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
Blurbs on the cover compare this to The DaVinci Code, although it was written well-before, in 1988. I can see the resemblance. Like The DaVinci Code there are various kinds of puzzles involved--crosswords, cryptograms and mathematical puzzles. Like The DaVinci Code there is a mystery of great
Admittedly, this isn't a genre I'm drawn to--but admittedly this one isn't well done--although I'd rate it considerably higher than The DaVinci Code because it isn't as historically ludicrous or as eye-bleeding in style. It's not strong writing wise though--not in the convoluted plot, one dimensional characters or pedestrian prose.
But I think what irritated me most is that this can't quite settle between genres. I love both urban and high fantasy, and have enjoyed works with touches of magical realism. The first depends on strong world-building and the second a magical prose and gift for metaphor. This one is just too implausible--and I say that as a fan of Harry Potter with witches and wizards playing games on flying broomsticks and various vampire tales. Maybe it's just I'm generally allergic to conspiracy scenarios. But this chess set is supposed to be both a scientific key and has an ability to possess those playing a game upon it. It just never gels for me somehow.
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historical import and a sinister conspiracy. The book shuttled between Revolutionary France and contemporary times to tell the story of a chess set owned by Charlemagne whose owner could change the world.Admittedly, this isn't a genre I'm drawn to--but admittedly this one isn't well done--although I'd rate it considerably higher than The DaVinci Code because it isn't as historically ludicrous or as eye-bleeding in style. It's not strong writing wise though--not in the convoluted plot, one dimensional characters or pedestrian prose.
But I think what irritated me most is that this can't quite settle between genres. I love both urban and high fantasy, and have enjoyed works with touches of magical realism. The first depends on strong world-building and the second a magical prose and gift for metaphor. This one is just too implausible--and I say that as a fan of Harry Potter with witches and wizards playing games on flying broomsticks and various vampire tales. Maybe it's just I'm generally allergic to conspiracy scenarios. But this chess set is supposed to be both a scientific key and has an ability to possess those playing a game upon it. It just never gels for me somehow.
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LibraryThing member michdubb
A thoroughly good read about two women whose paths intertwine as they seek to unravel a thousand year old mystery hidden in an ancient chess set. Catherine is a modern-day career woman, computer expert, and artist who is sent to Algeria to work for OPEC. Mirielle is a young nun whose life is turned
One element that felt a bit thin was the character of Catherine, who does seem to lack a history or life prior to the start of the novel. She doesn't seem to have any family and this isn't really explained or addressed. There was no 'eureka moment' at the end when her own personal story is revealed. I think this was a lost opportunity and wish the author had been able to weave this last strand into the overarching fabric of the story.
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upside down at the height of the French Revolution. Famous politicians and artists (Napolean, Fournier, Voltaire, Woodsworth) make appearances as players in this real-life chess game. While obviously highly unprobable at times, it is a fun and engaging tale.One element that felt a bit thin was the character of Catherine, who does seem to lack a history or life prior to the start of the novel. She doesn't seem to have any family and this isn't really explained or addressed. There was no 'eureka moment' at the end when her own personal story is revealed. I think this was a lost opportunity and wish the author had been able to weave this last strand into the overarching fabric of the story.
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LibraryThing member FinnTiger
I enjoyed The Eight...to a point. The plotting was splendid, but the writing was clunky; it was one of those books where I found myself wanting to rearrange the author's sentences, which is profoundly distracting. But the characters were decently drawn and the central conceit was fascinating. Chess
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and puzzles galore! Show Less
LibraryThing member majkia
The Game. Played by kings and generals and grand masters. The game of strategy taking intellect and concentration and dedication to truly understand it.
Catherine hasn’t ever paid much attention to chess, although she knows several competitive players, mainly a young woman she finds annoying. So
Who are the players? Who’s white, who’s black? What are they after? What’s the endgame they’re playing for? And why, suddenly, is Cat finding dead bodies strewn around New York?
The Game takes Catherine from New York to Algiers, following in the footsteps of a French Nun from 1792 as she searches for the pieces of a very special chess set, to find and protect a secret that’s threatened the world since Charlemagne.
Not just an exciting thriller, but with great characters beautifully drawn, exotic locales that spring to life, and puzzles galore.
Catherine hasn’t ever paid much attention to chess, although she knows several competitive players, mainly a young woman she finds annoying. So
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when Lily invites her to go to the latest chess match Cat is less than interested. But then she keeps seeing this man in a white hoodie riding a bicycle, and its disturbing, since she’s been painting the guy for weeks. She finally follows him. And thus, she enters the Game.Who are the players? Who’s white, who’s black? What are they after? What’s the endgame they’re playing for? And why, suddenly, is Cat finding dead bodies strewn around New York?
The Game takes Catherine from New York to Algiers, following in the footsteps of a French Nun from 1792 as she searches for the pieces of a very special chess set, to find and protect a secret that’s threatened the world since Charlemagne.
Not just an exciting thriller, but with great characters beautifully drawn, exotic locales that spring to life, and puzzles galore.
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LibraryThing member JessicaCapelle
A fantastic, complex book. I truly enjoyed how Neville travels back and forth between the eras, unveiling layers of intrigue and adventure. She creates a chess game of a novel that keeps you interested and on your toes. What a fantastic story.
LibraryThing member indygo88
I'm not sure this book lived up to all the hype I'd heard about it. It seems to fall into the DaVinci Code-esque novel genre, sort of, although I'm not sure it was pulled off quite as well. However, being published 10-15 years earlier, it was a good predecessor to these types of novels. I enjoy
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novels with recurring stories in both the past & present, and this one fit the bill. I only wish I knew more about the game of chess. I think that would've added a lot more enjoyment for me. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1988
Physical description
624 p.; 5.2 inches
ISBN
0345419081 / 9780345419088