Literature Review

I tried. I really did. I always have high hopes for these books which have fabulous reviews, that are recommended to me, but damn, this was the slowest book ever. I spent two weeks trying to trudge through it and finally, this morning, I gave up. I'm a little more than halfway through, and the action has only barely started. Here's a brief synopsis:

It's told from the perspective of two (three) people:

1. IP Lawyer Mischkin, told in the first person, past tense. He's in hiding because Russian mobsters are out to get him.

2. Bookstore accountant and inventory clerk (aspiring director) Carlotti (is that even right? so forgettable I can't even remember the dude's name). Written in the third person.

3. Richard Bracegirdle, a 17th century man supposidly spying on Shakespear. His sections are written in italics in old English and are in the form of letters, first to his wife Nan, and then to his Lordship (for whom he is spying).

This ancient manuscript is found, alludes to an undiscovered play by Shakespear, Russian mobsters want it, it's stolen, yada yada yada. When it comes down to it, the plot is unbelievable, lengthy, slow and downright insipid.

Yet another disappointment in the treasure hunt genre.