As I mentioned in a previous post I’m re-reading my Robert Ludlam books. Yesterday I finished The Aquitaine Progression and I must admit it was heavy going at the start.
Those familiar with the book know that it is rather a long drawn out story; there’s almost 700 pages to plough through. The first two or three days I found myself plugging away picking it up and putting it down. I know Mr Ludlam put a lot of work into this story and I know that there is a stage where suddenly everything seems to click and I get right into and involved and of course it happened and I found it hard to put the book down.
I think perhaps the author should have left out the romance in the story, his efforts at writing romantic segments can best be described as “corny” and unrealistic almost childish and he would have been much better off by leaving it out and the ‘Epilogue” should have been left out altogether; it was just so much drivel!
It’s a wonder his editors didn’t advise him to cut it out when reviewing his final draft.
I am now building up the courage to read “The Matarese Circle” again, this being Friday I’m hopeful of finishing it by next Tuesday after which I shall take on James A. Mitchener’s “The Covenant”; any suggestion that I’m a masochist will be vehemently denied! 😉
.
LordBeariOfBow 
When I was in my thirties I went through a Robert Ludlum phase. Then I discovered Jane Austen and the Georgian era, and the rest, as they say, is history. I do occasionally turn to a rare mystery when the past’s musty details become too stodgy.
LikeLike
I’m sorry it took me so long to acknowledge your comment Vic. This is the first time I’ve revisited this post since 13th July 2012. I must have been busy in the interim.
I didn’t start to enjoy Miss Austen’s works until I was in my 70’s, When I’d had them pushed at me as a boy, it was silly girls stuff, little do silly boys know what they are missing out on.
I only popped by as I’m about to have another crack at Mr Ludlum and a big error I found in one of his stories.
LikeLike