Bottomless Women Kitchen

La historiadora (Elizabeth Kostova)

A sixteen-year-old daughter of a diplomat, found among the papers of her father's library a strange book with pages white and a engraving with the figure of a dragon. Eventually discover that his father gave him the book a mysterious donor and that has some relationship to the legend of Dracula, which leads him to embark on an arduous task of research on the historical figure of Vlad Tepes, a cruel noble Wallachia on which the legend of the vampire.

I read this book three years ago, but I would love to comment on this blog. I think it's a great example of what can marketing: the shelves of book sections of big malls appeared inundated with thousands of copies of this title. Then, the novel rose to the top of the charts. In this Christmas I gave it away, I started reading with enthusiasm and ... I can say that ended up being a big disappointment. Seven hundred pages to say very little: the legend of Dracula is based on the character of Vlad the Impaler, known for his extreme cruelty and fierce enemy of the Turkish sultan Mehmet II. The plot is a mess with continuous "flashback" and "flashback flashback" bundled it all and add little. Everything is based on a "mysterious mystery" that the more one investigates least known and most confuses the reader. As I read over my embarrassment was big and when I got to the last pages only succeeded find two explanations for both nonsense: o this is a huge dream (or rather nightmare) or that pasta is the famous white book are permeated with a substance that produces hallucinations for months ...
The impression I have given is that the author after spending ten years researching the historical Dracula passionately embarked on the composition of a very pretentious work that would have everything: action, mystery, historical accuracy and would be a global bestseller ( needless to say, failed miserably, although the latter itself got it).
In short, I did not like.

My Rating:

regular

Crepe Myrtle Treesin Ill

El príncipe (Niccolò Machiavelli)

Niccolo Machiavelli dedicates the book to Lorenzo de Medici. It reveals an organized manner and with many examples from history, how to conquer a rule and how to govern to keep. According to the method of conquest and the nature of the principality, the author explains what is the best way to get a good end in order to become a prince.

Before deciding to read this little book, and based on the meaning of the adjective "Machiavellian", I thought it would be twisted tips on how to govern a young prince day inherit the kingdom. However, I found something very different:

- In the play, is synonymous with the ruling prince and principality is the kingdom or territory.

- Machiavelli's advice, they are not twisted but entirely rational . Systematically through all possible forms of government and conquest of the principality. In some cases, it is true that their boards are relentless, but simply because it is the smartest way to solve a problem. For example, when explaining the conquest of a hereditary principality (eg a kingdom), advised the king not only killed but his entire family. This is not done out of malice or cruelty, but because it exposes that if there is any real class member may never live to ensure the new government because there will always be a legitimate heir who could reclaim the kingdom and caused wars and other evils.

- For Machiavelli at the time of forming an army is better to do with soldiers themselves and not mercenaries. Further holds that if you have to choose between for the people or the dominant social class should always be chosen to act in accordance with popular will.

The book is easy to read and read very fast. Perfectly reflects the change in mentality of the modern age with regard to the Middle Ages. It is indisputable that it is a work with great influence on later thought and I think it is unfair to fame with Machiavelli has gone down in history for the general public.

My Rating: capital work.