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Audiobook10 hours
The Lost Book of the Grail: A Novel
Written by Charlie Lovett
Narrated by Charles Armstrong
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this audiobook
Arthur Prescott is happiest when surrounded by the ancient manuscripts of the Barchester Cathedral library, nurturing his obsession with the Holy Grail and researching his perennially unfinished guidebook to the medieval cathedral. But when Bethany Davis arrives in Barchester to digitize the library's manuscripts, Arthur's tranquility is broken. Appalled by the threat of modern technology, he sets out to thwart Bethany, only to find in her a kindred spirit-and a fellow Grail fanatic. Bethany soon joins Arthur in a quest to find the lost Book of Ewolda. Arthur and Bethany peel back layers of history, and when the future of the cathedral itself is threatened, Arthur and Bethany's search takes on grave importance, leading to discoveries about the Grail and each other.
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Reviews for The Lost Book of the Grail
Rating: 3.7695312765625 out of 5 stars
4/5
128 ratings16 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A significantly better work than this author's earlier attempt, A Bookman's Tale. He has resisted the temptation to insert distracting elements of melodrama. There are no murders to be solved, no skulking villains to be battled. Just a solid, well-told mystery involving history and books involving the possible discovery of the Grail's location.Threaded throughout is an ongoing consideration of weighty subjects, such as the nature of religious faith, and role of digital files in the library. I found this latter material especially interesting, not only for being rarely explored in this genre of fiction, but also because it has executed very well and even-handedly.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was a total romp. No “bad guys” to contend with, and a whole bunch of people who just love books...and King Arthur.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fictional medieval saint and cathedral with secrets - plausible and enjoyable novel - even if I didn't understand the coding ciphers.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book skillfully intersperses the past and present, creating an intriguing, well-structured plot. The historical part has to do with the legend of King Authur and becomes a "what's it" and "where is it" quest for the holy grail. The present day sequences are a slow-burn love story,while keeping the main action centerd around a caper and the solving of medieval ciphers and secret codes. The fictional and the true historical facts are so expertly crafted in with the King Authur folklore that the story's pacing advances effortlessly, holding the reader in suspense to the very end.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5An unusual mystery in that it features a treasure hunt rather than a crime. The history of Barchester Cathedral and a fabulous relic are interwoven with the contemporary story of Arthur Prescott's search for the lost Book ow Ewolda, a history of the founder of the abbey established in Saxon times. A young American shows up with the job of digitizing the manuscripts in the cathedral library. Arthur is appalled at the prospect but eventually comes to terms with the process and warms to Bethany. The search for Ewolda's history becomes urgent when the need to repair major structural damage makes the sale of the manuscripts imminent.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I, like Arthur Prescott, delight in Arthurian legend, and lived in reading about Arthur and his adventures. But, this book drags along with pedantic prose. I stopped many times and went to another book, but would return to attempt to find some motivation to continue reading. I did enjoy the chapters devoted to the medieval monastery. I finished reading the book, after many agonizing stops and starts, but Thomas Malory's writing brings greater enjoyment.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It didn't take me very long at all to fall head over heels in love with this book, and I believe that any reader who loves excellent characterization and a story filled with ancient books, buildings, and history will, too. If readers also love stories about the quest for the Holy Grail, well, that's just icing on the cake. I qualified on all scores, and I loved The Lost Book of the Grail.First and foremost are the characters. Arthur is as emotionally hidden as the Grail. He has two good friends and his cathedral library, and that seems to be all he wants-- except for the lost book of Ewolda. Bethany is young and pretty and smart, and she blows into Arthur's life like a blast of fresh spring air, but she, too, has her secrets. Watching these two dance around each other is one of the joys of reading the book.There's also some code breaking to do, and although I found that part absorbing, I was drawn time and time again to the characters because Lovett provides vignettes of the panoply of people charged with keeping Barchester Cathedral and its library safe. From the cathedral's founder to bombing during World War II to the present day, there are some wonderful characters to meet. My favorite of them all is probably Margret Barlow, a simple woman of wisdom and common sense who discharged her duties with grace and speed during a time of great danger. Character-driven readers are probably going to love this book every bit as much as I did (and do).If you're worried that the book is going to be buried under King Arthur and his knights along with that Grail, it's not. The Lost Book of the Grail is a feast for readers who love characters and books and history-- and who realize how important they are in this world. What a marvelous reading experience!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A charming and delightful mix of Arthurian legend, Christian beliefs, myths, history and the blending of new and old technology. Arthur, a lowly professor in Barchester (nod to Trollope) was raised by his grandfather with the belief that not only was the Holy Grail real, but was here, hidden in Barchester. The monastery named after Saint Ewolda, has gone though many reincarnations, which is where the history comes in, the plundering of the monasteries by the Saxons and later by Henry VIII and Cromwell. Arthur loves the old manuscripts in the library and when a young woman arrives sent to digitize these old manuscripts, Arthur is not pleased. Common grounds are found, secrets exposed, some great and very likable characters, love of books and legend, and a grand adventure is afoot.A fun read, but often bordering on too sweet, too predictable, though nice and interesting change of pace read. I enjoyed this, hard not to when it was such a wonderful ode to books.ARC from Viking.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Not unlike, his last book, this was good. Nothing spectacular. Professionally written, straight-ahead, not much in the way of trying to show us his personal style. Very 'readable' as the saying goes these days. Likable characters. Probably a little better than his last one.That said, I am a librarian/digital archivist professionally, and one of the two main characters in the novel is as well, so my antennae were up. That said, he did a nice job, no silly mistakes. Lots of fun for bibliophiles and the like!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fun read for book lovers and followers of Arthurian legend. With the addition of a little light romance, it provides an escape from the everyday world.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Lost Book of the Grail. Or a Visitor’s Guide to Barchester Cathedral. Charlie Lovett. 2017. Arthur Prescott is happiest when he is in the library of the Barchester Cathedral checking the old manuscripts for clues to his secret obsession: searching for the Holy Grail. He loathes all things related to computers and his horrified when a pretty American, Bethany Davis appears to digitize the library’s ancient manuscripts. We know from the beginning that they will find true love, but if you like English history this is a nice love story
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A book about books, about book-lovers, about love, faith, and nerds. I could have finished it in a single day, but I loved it so much I paced myself and savored it. Found it in a Tiny Free Library, and it has found its forever home with me.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One of the better bibliomystery-type books I've read in a while, since Lovett at least mostly gets the details right when it comes to books and manuscripts and libraries (though having the main character be quite so much a lump got to me a bit).
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Enjoyable and stimulating read - particularly liked the melding of modern and ancient times.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Well written quest story with questions of nature of faith. And is still very funny and light-hearted.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5i really enjoyed the bibliophile slant and the whole quest for the grail angle, as well as the romance and interactions among characters. I'm not sure the amount of detail will appeal to most readers. I liked all the history, ins and outs of the grail and Ewolda's history. The weakest part for me was Arthur's "transformation" from a skeptic to a man of faith (sort of). I liked him better as the skeptical seeker who attended services for the music and peaceful atmosphere.