| CandleMoth | 
 enlarge | Author: R.j. Ellory
Publisher: Orion
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £0.45
You Save: £7.54 (94%)
New (10) Collectible (5) from £1.07
Avg. Customer Rating:  36 reviews
Sales Rank: 34706
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 5.7 x 1.2
ISBN: 0752856669
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780752856667
ASIN: 0752856669
Publication Date: July 17, 2003
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Enthralling from start to finish! August 3, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
'Four times I've been betrayed - twice by women, once by a better friend than any man might wish for, and lastly by a nation..'
36 year old Daniel Ford, a convicted murderer is on death row for the murder of his best friend Nathan. With thirty six days before he faces the electric chair, piece by piece he relates his lifestory to the Prison Chaplin Father Rousseau. His story starts in rural North Carolina when in 1952, at six years old he meets Nathan. The two boys (one born white the other black) become best friends, their friendship lasting until Nathan's brutal murder 20 years later.
I really loved this. It was enthralling, with well drawn characters and covered the history of the period, the racism, political corruption and deaths of Martin Luther King and Kennedy in an informative way without being boring.
Great drama set against the backdrop of a changing America August 1, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is one of those novels where you feel everything the main character feels, as he looks back on a once-idyllic existence that somehow went horribly wrong. Highly recommended, as is A Quiet Belief in Angels, another of RJ's works.
 Fabulous! July 12, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is RJ Ellory's first novel, published in 2004. After reading both A Quiet Belief In Angels and A Simple Act of Violence, I just knew I had to go and read his back catalogue.
Dealing with the story of two friends in 1960s and 70s southern America, I was gripped all the way through. Daniel is on death row, found guilty of murdering Nathan his best friend. Daniel is white and Nathan was black. The story starts with Daniel awaiting his execution and is related back to the reader when Daniel tells his story to Father Rousseau whilst in his cell.
The reader accompanies Daniel and Nathan on their journey through life, from meeting as 8 years old, having their first girlfriends, dodging the Vietnam draft whilst experiencing racism and hate along the way.
Roger Ellory is masterful in creating full developed, believeable characters and setting a scene so that you are transported there.
The momentum is really built up towards the end of the book, I raced through to the end, holding my breath along the way.
I also loved the story of Eve Chantry, the old woman in the town who the boys thought was a witch, yet turned out to be a great friend and influence on Daniel.
Un-Put-Down-Able! June 4, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Generally, I read at bedtime, because it lulls me off to sleep. Not this book; I read it in two sessions!
I had previously enjoyed very much, R J Ellory's 'Quiet Belief in Angels', which made me want more - otherwise, I probably would not ever have read this book, as I would not normally read thrillers. I was prepared to be disappointed (as 'Angels' was a tough act to follow), but this, his first novel, was equally beautifully written, with believable characters and almost poetic prose. Stunning.
Another triumph from Ellory June 4, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I too read Candlemoth after loving A Quiet Belief in Angels and was equally captivated. In his review of 11 April, Peter Steward encapsulates the story far more eloquently that I ever could and I agree wholeheartedly with him. Such is Ellory's impact upon me that, since finishing AQB, I've only ever read his books. If you've not experienced it yet, Ghostheart is stunning and I've still got A Quiet Vendetta and City of Lies to look forward to. Ellory's life enhancing, life affirming stories will stay with you long after you've lived them .. .. superb, brilliant, heartfelt and spellbinding.
|
|
|
