The sweeping steppe and frozen mountains definitely made for lovely views, but I felt that, for an epic, this completely missed the mark. I had anticipated a saga outlining the rise to power of the Great Khan, but, actually, it was quite a bit of love story, a little bit about brotherhood, and a quick narration at the end to say “and then I rose to power”.

meh.

It seemed as though the whole book was a very poor translation of what might have been poetic in an eastern language. Except that it was written originally in English. The story reaches for being cute, but the characters are too overdone to come across as realistic or even likeable.

I could feel the effort that went into writing this book as I read it- not relaxing, not enjoyable.

I was desparate for something to read, having quickly consumed the four books that I brought with me to Bangladesh. So, despite my concern at reading something that came free in a girly magazine, I swooped on the chance to borrow it. And was actually surprised and the interest that the story held for me and in the writing. It’s cute, a bit angsty, but holds its own against the whole generic Bridget Jones wanna bes… in the next class up, I’d say.

Austrlian humor in an American movie… brilliantly funny and no “Hollywood ending”. Gotta love it.

random, very random…. and sticky.

you’ll throw a brick through the screen after twenty minutes of channeling personal angst.

This book started out quite slow… I probably wouldn’t have made it through part 1 if I hadn’t been on a 9 hour flight. Once the characters grew up, however, the story became much more interesting. I reckon it’s worth hanging on it there through the slow start to get through to the action.

When I go to new places (or even old places) and end up in a bookstore or any type of shop with books, I like to pick a book about the local area, by a local author, which is how I ended up with a copy of The Dawning of the Day.

I will not suggest that you don’t read this book, though I will say that it’s a bit of a romance novel, with none of the exciting fiery romance. I reckon that most ladies over the age of 65 might settle quite nicely into this book. So if you find it on your bookshelf, maybe tuck it away for the future.

this began very very very slowly. very. and then, about a hundred or so pages in, it got very interesting. And then the last chapter was a cop-out.

so… take it or leave it, really. it’s an interesting idea and the descriptions of the religiously frenetic crowd are insightful. otherwise, just not the best book on the planet.

Rather than just Horlick’s on its own, which I find a bit minging, I like to make it with two parts hot chocolate to one part horlicks. MMMMMMM, malty- chocolatey goodness!