Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Center Street (2013), Edition: 1, 464 pages
Description
After receiving a tip from a dying priest, four unlikely partners begin a quest to find the Holy Grail in the jungles of Ethiopia.
User reviews
LibraryThing member bah195
Two journalist and a female photographer come across a dying priest in the jungle in Ethiopia. Before he dies he tells them about a black stone monastery that houses the Holy Grail.
The three barely excape the Ethiopian Civil War.
Once back in Rome they make the decision to go back and find the
Is the story of the black monstery and the Holy Grail real or was the story a figment of the dying priest's imagination?
To find out the three must go back to Ethiopia. Will they find what they are after or will they die trying?
I was looking forward to reading this book but I just had a hard time getting through it.
The three barely excape the Ethiopian Civil War.
Once back in Rome they make the decision to go back and find the
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monastery.Is the story of the black monstery and the Holy Grail real or was the story a figment of the dying priest's imagination?
To find out the three must go back to Ethiopia. Will they find what they are after or will they die trying?
I was looking forward to reading this book but I just had a hard time getting through it.
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LibraryThing member jbarr5
The Quest by Nelson DeMille
The Holy Grail and one priest who was kept prisoner for over 40 years knows where it's located. He's told the war correspondents about his journey and to look inside the black monastery.
Two men and one women are on the track to find it. Some think it's a myth. Some think
Mercado, Henry and Vivian meet with others to help with clues. A prince in south africa to give them safe passage. Love how they link King Arthur and the knights of the round table into this legacy.
Much war and inhumane treatment of the prisoners, they are lucky to get out of the country once...
But they must go there again to seek the holy grail. lots of travel and adventure and action and a bit of sexual scenes.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
The Holy Grail and one priest who was kept prisoner for over 40 years knows where it's located. He's told the war correspondents about his journey and to look inside the black monastery.
Two men and one women are on the track to find it. Some think it's a myth. Some think
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it was lost at the Last Supper. Other thinks it does exist and thus the journey around Ethiopia and the area.Mercado, Henry and Vivian meet with others to help with clues. A prince in south africa to give them safe passage. Love how they link King Arthur and the knights of the round table into this legacy.
Much war and inhumane treatment of the prisoners, they are lucky to get out of the country once...
But they must go there again to seek the holy grail. lots of travel and adventure and action and a bit of sexual scenes.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
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LibraryThing member Jarratt
Good book, not great. Which essentially translates into "It's not a John Corey book,"
One thing that irked me right off the bat was to find out this was a story DeMille wrote back in the mid 1970s. I thought I was getting a new story. (Understand, that with authors I love/trust, I try to find out as
Nevertheless, this was a good book; well written; had pretty fleshed out characters; but included far more history on Ethiopia than I was interested in. The story takes place in the mid-70s and revolves around a trio of war journalists who go looking for the Holy Grail after running across an old Italian prisoner in Ethiopia. The country is at war and after a harrowing time as captives of an evil general, the group escapes only to decide later to return to look for the Grail. The first and last third of the book were much more exciting to me. The middle third takes place in Rome where they talk a lot about Ethiopia during WWII and do much research about the Grail's history (some fact, most speculation). While interesting, it seemed to drag on far too long.
Again, the book is very well written and not bad. But if you think you're going to read a tale about the actual quest of the Grail, then just read the first and last section as that's pretty much what you get.
One thing that irked me right off the bat was to find out this was a story DeMille wrote back in the mid 1970s. I thought I was getting a new story. (Understand, that with authors I love/trust, I try to find out as
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little about the story so I know nothing of what's coming. I do, however, look at review ratings and will sometimes skim reviews...)Nevertheless, this was a good book; well written; had pretty fleshed out characters; but included far more history on Ethiopia than I was interested in. The story takes place in the mid-70s and revolves around a trio of war journalists who go looking for the Holy Grail after running across an old Italian prisoner in Ethiopia. The country is at war and after a harrowing time as captives of an evil general, the group escapes only to decide later to return to look for the Grail. The first and last third of the book were much more exciting to me. The middle third takes place in Rome where they talk a lot about Ethiopia during WWII and do much research about the Grail's history (some fact, most speculation). While interesting, it seemed to drag on far too long.
Again, the book is very well written and not bad. But if you think you're going to read a tale about the actual quest of the Grail, then just read the first and last section as that's pretty much what you get.
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LibraryThing member rufusraider
The Quest by Nelson DeMille is an interesting thriller. It is set in the early 70's in the midst of the Ethiopian revolution that overthrew the monarchy. It is about a group of three journalists covering the war and their eventual pursuit of the Grail.
The three journalists are involved in love
The story starts with a Italian priest who has been imprisoned for nearly 40 years in a an Ethiopian prison. One of the rebel groups bombards the prison. He manages to escape from the prison even though he was wounded by a guard who had orders to kill him. The journalists find the wounded priest in an Italian spa built after the Italians captured Ethiopia before WWII. The priest had been assigned to the army and had been given a sealed letter by the Vatican. This led the priest to a hidden monastery in Ethiopia. The monks then imprisoned him so that he could never tell anyone what he had found.
The journalists discovered him in the spa and through questioning eventually got most of the story from him before he died of his wounds. This story is the beginning of their quest for the Grail. The rest of the story is set in Ethiopia and Rome. They are captured by the rebel government and expelled from the country.
The story is nicely told story of the events of the 70's in Africa.
The three journalists are involved in love
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triangle with Vivian switching back and for between the two men. Henry is an old journalist who covered the Italian campaign to capture Ethiopia in the 30's. He was interred for a while after WWII in a Soviet gulag. Frank is a younger journalist who covered the Viet Nam war and was imprisoned in Cambodia during the Pol Pot days. Vivian is a young woman covering her first war as a photographer.The story starts with a Italian priest who has been imprisoned for nearly 40 years in a an Ethiopian prison. One of the rebel groups bombards the prison. He manages to escape from the prison even though he was wounded by a guard who had orders to kill him. The journalists find the wounded priest in an Italian spa built after the Italians captured Ethiopia before WWII. The priest had been assigned to the army and had been given a sealed letter by the Vatican. This led the priest to a hidden monastery in Ethiopia. The monks then imprisoned him so that he could never tell anyone what he had found.
The journalists discovered him in the spa and through questioning eventually got most of the story from him before he died of his wounds. This story is the beginning of their quest for the Grail. The rest of the story is set in Ethiopia and Rome. They are captured by the rebel government and expelled from the country.
The story is nicely told story of the events of the 70's in Africa.
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LibraryThing member Alphawoman
Written like a movie script. I always have a hard time with 20 year old women falling for 60 year old men. I think the other character was in his 40's rather than 60's. Yet, how could a woman closer to their age (60ish) go thru a war infested jungle! A wiser older woman would say "Hell No!". Pretty
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good story, easy read. Show Less
LibraryThing member CharlaOppenlander
I quit this one before I finished it! The first 1/3 of the book was REALLY good. After that, it moved VERY slowly. I think I probably read 2/3 of the book. By the time I quit reading I didn't even really want to know the ending! That's when I know it's time to read something different. There are
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too many good books out there to waste time reading a not-so-good one! Show Less
LibraryThing member CharlaOppenlander
I quit this one before I finished it! The first 1/3 of the book was REALLY good. After that, it moved VERY slowly. I think I probably read 2/3 of the book. By the time I quit reading I didn't even really want to know the ending! That's when I know it's time to read something different. There are
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too many good books out there to waste time reading a not-so-good one! Show Less
LibraryThing member mainrun
The Holy Grail is a cool concept. Knights at the round table, King Author, etc searching for it without regard to their own well being. However, it was not well done in this book. I kept thinking what idiots these people are. If they were trying to save a person, I think the book would have worked
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a lot better. The first and last parts were excellent. The middle part dragged, but the information was interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member Gatorhater
This adventure thriller reminded me of the Indiana Jones movie, "Raider's of the Lost Ark". A Italian Catholic priest, Father Giuseppe Armano is held captive in a Ethiopian fortress by the Galla tribesmen for forty years when a mortar shell strikes the fortress and he's free. Father Armano is badly
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injured during the attack, he is dying, when he encounters two Western journalists and a freelance photographer. They tend to his wounds and he tells them this incredible story about his journeys describing the location of "The Holy Grail" the cup used by Christ at the last supper and the "Ark of the Covenant" which is the chest described in the Book of Exodus, as containing the stone tablets on which the "Ten Commandments" were inscribed, then as they question him for more information, Father Armano dies. Motivated by this secret knowledge, they undertake a dangerous search to locate these relics. Show Less
LibraryThing member gaillamontagne
I always enjoy listening to Scott Brick. I liked the book! Not my favorite, but I liked it. Takes place in 1975. Story of a
group of journalists who meet in Rome and all have the same goal of covering the Ethiopian civil war going on at that time ; a beautiful 20 something woman named Vivian Smith,
group of journalists who meet in Rome and all have the same goal of covering the Ethiopian civil war going on at that time ; a beautiful 20 something woman named Vivian Smith,
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and older British man, and a third, very "John Cory" like man whose name was Frank Percelle. With their journalist correspondence paperwork, they set off to seek out a news story but instead find a dying priest, Father Armono, who tells them of his imprisonment of 40 years and recent escape. With his dying words, he communicates his unbelievable Vatican mission of retrieving a relic located in the hidden recesses of the jungle inside a black stone monastery. After finding the relic, he was captured and put into solitary confinement with the only courtesy of being allowed a Bible. After being told of the relic, the 3 decided this is the Real story and set out. Therefore, the quest, with its twists and turns takes the reader on an adventure. This story has very dark villains, romance, betrayal, etc. I thought the end could have been a little more exciting but I tend to measure all of DeMille's books against "The Lion's Game" which is my favorite. In the Author's Notes at the end, he says one of his editors thought the book needed a little more sex. I felt that could have been left more to the imagination than what was described...... Show Less
LibraryThing member buffalogr
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read. I thought that the middle 1/3 could easily be hacked out and I'd not have missed a thing. The characters were okay, but the female couldn't decide which of the other two she would fall in love with. The bad guys kept coming back but were predictable. The
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premise, however, is fascinating. The plot kept me reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
This was such a disappointing book. I usually love Nelson DeMille's books and Charm School is among my favorite books ever.
The Quest is a regurgitation of a book DeMille wrote in the early 70's and recently updated. The plot looked interesting; war torn Ethiopia, the search for the Holy Grail,
I usually try to find something positive to say about every book, even one I've rated one star. In this case I feel like I've spent enough time on this dog. I honestly can't think of a book I've disliked more this entire year.
If you're going to read it anyway please borrow it from a library so you don't waste any money on it. It's money and time you'll never get back.
The Quest is a regurgitation of a book DeMille wrote in the early 70's and recently updated. The plot looked interesting; war torn Ethiopia, the search for the Holy Grail,
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adventurous men and beautiful women. The characters are dated and unlikable. The writing is not very good and I struggled to finish the book.I usually try to find something positive to say about every book, even one I've rated one star. In this case I feel like I've spent enough time on this dog. I honestly can't think of a book I've disliked more this entire year.
If you're going to read it anyway please borrow it from a library so you don't waste any money on it. It's money and time you'll never get back.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
While driving through the jungles of Ethiopia in September 1974, journalists Frank Purcell and Henry Mercado, accompanied by photographer Vivian Smith, veer through a thicket of bushes and end up at an abandoned hotel/spa. This was not a planned stop, and they all seem surprised to be there. When
The book actually should have 2.5 stars. I didn't hate it and it wasn't a horrible book...it just wasn't MY kind of book. Nelson DeMille is a fantastic author and I have read and enjoyed many of his offerings. This just wasn't one of them although it will likely appeal to many others.
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they encounter a wounded old priest, looking very near death. He recounts a fantastic story about a black monastery he visited nearly 40 years ago. He has been imprisoned all these 40 years, so he is eager for them to listen to his tale. He claims that he was sent by the Vatican to find the Holy Grail. Unfortunately he dies before telling them how to find it. Or did he? His story was long. Could he have given them enough clues? All Purcell, Mercado and Smith know is that they must now find it.The book actually should have 2.5 stars. I didn't hate it and it wasn't a horrible book...it just wasn't MY kind of book. Nelson DeMille is a fantastic author and I have read and enjoyed many of his offerings. This just wasn't one of them although it will likely appeal to many others.
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LibraryThing member JoniMFisher
My favorite Nelson DeMille book is even better in this longer, updated version of The Quest. In this story the reader finds flawed, oh-so-human characters in the Ethiopian civil war, warriors fighting to save the royal dynasty, rebels fighting for Marxism, and journalists caught in between who are
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on a quest of their own. Magnificent! Show Less
LibraryThing member JPodlaski
THE QUEST by Nelson DeMille is not his best work. In fact, if lands near the bottom of the pile. I have read all of his other books and enjoyed them immensely. Unfortunately, this one starts out slow and I almost stopped reading it on several occasions. Surely, this was not expected. I don't know
The story follows two reporters, Frank and Henry, and a photographer, Vivian, through the death-filled country of Ethiopia during their civil war. DeMille 'shows' the violence and mutilation, leaving nothing to the imagination. Initially, the crew is reporting on the war until they come upon a dying priest who recently escaped imprisonment during the last forty years. He claims to have seen the '"Holy Grail" in a secluded monastery before his capture; he finished his story short of exposing the location before dying. This results in the team changing direction and beginning a Quest to locate this holy relic.
They are captured by one of the feuding armies and threatened with death. They do barely escape and return to Rome. There, they plan a return to Ethiopia and their search for the relic, knowing full well that there is a high chance of being captured and tortured by the same army they escaped from earlier. Much of the story is dialog and planning their quest, a love tryst is also included as Vivian plays both of the men during their time together.
The story was just OKAY but could have had much more action. Seemed like only the last 20% was compelling to the point that I didn't want to put the book down. I was also disappointed with the ending. This makes me wary of purchasing his next book.
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what it is, but I found the same issue with some of Clive Cussler's and James Patterson's books - boring at the beginning and slow to unfold. Maybe they're ready for retirement.The story follows two reporters, Frank and Henry, and a photographer, Vivian, through the death-filled country of Ethiopia during their civil war. DeMille 'shows' the violence and mutilation, leaving nothing to the imagination. Initially, the crew is reporting on the war until they come upon a dying priest who recently escaped imprisonment during the last forty years. He claims to have seen the '"Holy Grail" in a secluded monastery before his capture; he finished his story short of exposing the location before dying. This results in the team changing direction and beginning a Quest to locate this holy relic.
They are captured by one of the feuding armies and threatened with death. They do barely escape and return to Rome. There, they plan a return to Ethiopia and their search for the relic, knowing full well that there is a high chance of being captured and tortured by the same army they escaped from earlier. Much of the story is dialog and planning their quest, a love tryst is also included as Vivian plays both of the men during their time together.
The story was just OKAY but could have had much more action. Seemed like only the last 20% was compelling to the point that I didn't want to put the book down. I was also disappointed with the ending. This makes me wary of purchasing his next book.
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Original language
English
Original publication date
1975
ISBN
1455576425 / 9781455576425