Journeyer

"The Journeyer" is a magnificent, wonderful story that will hook you in the first few pages and hold on for all 800 or so! In a truly inspired idea, the author created a possible story for the many unrecorded years of the merchant Marco Polo on his travels in Asia in the late thirteenth century. There are so many colorful characters and exotic locations, interspersed with wonderfully informative tidbits, that the amount of research required must have been staggering. Mr. Jennings' grasp of the English language is superb, and he always seems to find the right words to describe a person, place, ect. Another aspect of this book that is refreshing is how nothing is held back. For every beautiful, vivid description that will have you smiling as you read, there will be another scene of such misery and brutality that it will leave you cringing. The most lovely aspects this world has to offer are given equal time with the world's most repellent aspects, including graphic violence, sexuality, and disease. This leads to some heavy shifts in tone, but it can't be called anything but true to life, especially for that time period. I don't want to describe any of the characters, places, or situations because doing so could only lessen the reader's pleasure (or discomfort) when they first come across them. I will only say that anyone at all that enjoys historical fiction, and doesn't mind the effort required in a book of this size, simply must read "The Journeyer". It is an incredible achievement in every way.

I just finished reading the Journeyer, and can not say enough good things about it. I read Aztec previous to this book and was quite impressed with the author's writing ability. Although I did not think it possible, this book surpassed even Aztec in it's vivid discriptions, interesting characters and awesome adventure. The book artfully and imaginatively fills in the gaps of Marco Polo's journey across Asia, bringing to life each character as Gary Jennings does so brilliantly in Aztec as well. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in adventure, history, travel and great reading.

I admit that I thought Aztec was a better book, but I'm still giving Journeyer 5 stars. Why? Well, it really is an interesting and captivating book that draws you in as you read it. Journeyer is the story of Marco Polo and his journeys to Asia, supposedly the other half that he did not actually tell the scribe who recorded his journeys in real life. I am not familiar with the history of that period, so I cannot vouch for the historical accuracy, but I will say that this book made me want to read up on the history. There is danger and adventure on every turn as Marco and his father and uncle make their way to China. The book is at turns violent, sexy, and dramatic, but also enlightening and fascinating. I found it very hard to put down, once I had picked it up, even moving quickly through some squeamish parts. Jennings really knows how to get the reader's attention and keep it.

The time spent on reading this book, is regarded as my best spent time ever. I even enjoyed it more than I do making money! The man's literary genius is such that one could almost smell the pot of frogs boiling, or taste the pomegranate delicacies served by the supposed barbarians. The broadening of one's horizons is immeasurable. Invariably, conversations lead to this or that which I have read in THE BOOK, to such an extent that my first copy has been read to pieces by now. I myself have read it six times. Top Honours to Mr Jennings. If Your ability to spellbind could be bottled and sold, you would put Bill Gates to shame!

It's been many years since I read The Journeyer, and it still is first in line when I recommend a book to a serious reader. I am not one for historical reading; "Marco Polo?" I said, rather haughtily," over my dead body!" However, out of respect for and curiosity over my friend's glowing description, I picked it up and COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! I carried it everywhere with me, stayed up nights, read at stop lights in the car...wherever I could find a moment, I devoured the book. Jennings' descriptive prose let me feel the textures, smell the aromas, taste the delicacies, hear the crowd and the silence, and see all there was to see. I was there in all senses, immersed in the life and times of his multidimensional characters and interwoven story lines. A timeless classic!