Did you enjoy the book?

What was your overall impression of the book? Would you recommend it?

I certainly enjoyed the book. At first I thought it may be a difficult book to read and understand, but after I started it there was no problem keeping up with characters or the story. I thought it was a very enjoyable and fun read.

I must admit that I found the book to be one I rather forced myself to read. There were many chapters that I did enjoy, but the tale as a whole was not my cup of tea. I admire the author for using a novel (no pun intended) technique and his way with words is praise worthy. I do appreciate the opportunity to read something so different. Something I would not ordinarily have read/finished were it not for the impetus to be part of this discussion.

I've found it necessary to re-read sections of the book, in order to understand better what's going on. I recommend that if you're having some trouble keeping things straight or catching references you may have missed the first time through. It's definitely a challenging book.

I had a very hard time enjoying this book because I had to keep rereading passages and underlying all the peoples names the author kept introducing. I would not recommend this book at all. It is very disjointed and rambling.

This was a hard book to read it contained so much, maybe too much. It was hard to keep track of it all. As one reader said there were chapters that I enjoyed but I just never felt that the book was a cohesive whole. Maybe it was not meant to be.?

The first chapter I didn't care for at all. The next was a bit better. With each additional chapter I enjoyed the book more. Maybe I was getting the jist of the authors writing.

Yes but I did struggle at times. This is a book that demands rereading and discussion. It is simply too much to digest on a first reading.

I forced myself to read this book. It was hard to follow at times & I had to keep going back to reacquaint myself with some of the characters. I learned a lot about about some people from history which was interesting but in general the rambling style of writing made reading this book a chore. I would not recommend it.

Learning the history was a big draw for me. I knew nothing - or next to nothing - about the historical characters in the book and now I at least have a grasp on some very basic information about them. Of course, I'm bothered by knowing what's real and what's fictional, as is always the case when I read fictionalized historical novels but I do have a feel for the characters I may never have gotten, otherwise. But, I agree, it was a dense novel that required a lot of re-reading for me, as well.

I put this book down 3 times and all 3 times I picked it back up to try and continue, I eventually gave up; I found that it didn’t have a flowing story only disjointed chapters with no continuity; I want a book that transports me somewhere else, that keeps me intrigued and interested with characters that I can identify with or I’m fascinated by, this book was a struggle of trying to understand what was going on, if anything…I gave up, I did not finish reading this book, I couldn’t; I do not recommend it…

When I heard about the book I thought 'what could be better...spies and scifi'. Two genres I enjoy and mixed together. However, disillusionment soon set in. Found the back and forth and lack of continuity frustrating, to say the least. Also, found some of the content totally unncecessary and it seemed the author was fixated on certain aspects of human deviation. I'm not a prude but, the same thing over and over? Give me a break. So, have to say, all in all this was not my cup of tea. Very disappointed because I had great expectations.

I am not able to say I enjoyed it. Most of the characters were people I totally did not like. The switching to different times, places and people was very difficult and I had to keep notes just to keep track of who people were and where and when. Sort of felt like I was back in college again taking a difficult class. Also, there seemed to be so few people that weren't like almost too weird to be real. I do have to admire the mind that could entwine so many characters, real and fictional, over so much time and so many locales.

I was really looking forward to reading this, and did complete it. I had to do a little flipping back and forth. It was a unique way to tell a story and I think the fact that it was unexpected threw me at first. The author is probably brilliant.

The book was a little hard to follow at first but I finally got into it. I enjoyed it. Loved how he wove the story around the characters.

I didn't really care for this book. I found the writing didn't flow well for me, and seemed stilted and overdone. I know that different people have different tastes, so I am sure it will appeal to a different audience than me. I went back more than three times, because I really thought it sounded good. But even starting at different parts didn't make it me like it any more.

I cannot say that I am enjoying the book. I put it down for a while and read something else, for one of my other book clubs. Strangely enough, tarot cards played a role in that own too. now on this, my second attempt to complete The House of Rumor, I still am finding it rough going, although I am almost there. Perhaps it is just that I have never enjoyed science fiction and have always enjoyed spy novels and historical novels, but blending all three genres into one doesn't do it for me. I won't be recommending this book, although it may appeal to someone who who enjoys all of the genres it encompasses, and who doesn't mind having to take notes or reread whole passages to keep the stories straight.