Sign in with Facebook
Rosh's Reviews > Kane & Abel
Kane & Abel (Kane & Abel, #1)
by
by
Rosh's review
bookshelves: 4-5-stars
Jan 04, 2019
bookshelves: 4-5-stars
Read 5 times. Last read March 22, 2022 to March 24, 2022.
Looking at an old book with modern lenses isn't easy. I have read this classic at least 4-5 times but more than fifteen years ago. This reread (which will probably be a final reread) took me down nostalgia lane.
In many ways, I have grown as a reader so I could see all the flaws of the book standing out glaringly - the umpteen coincidences, the "Bollywood potboiler" kind of drama, the lack of attention to the daughters,... These elements haven't stood the test of time. At the same time, nothing can deny the magnitude of the historical, social and political coverage of the book. Nor can one ignore how wonderfully the story is built up in parallel between the two main characters, each of them getting the spotlight for an almost equal time. That ending is also perfect. I would have been disappointed if it had gone the more clichéd way.
Kane and Abel are both grey characters in many ways. Regardless of their disparate start in life, they have so much in common, especially in their determination, drive and demands. I don't love the characters but I love their intricate character sketching. Only Jeffrey Archer can make you root for such complicated characters.
If I view this book through my 2022 perspective, I might rate it a 4. But considering the era it was written in, and keeping in mind the almost perfect blend of fact and fiction, I will go with 4.5. The fact that I could complete this 550 pager within two days shows how much I have loved this classic. It's still going to be one of my favourite Archer works, despite the myriad flaws. 😊
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
In many ways, I have grown as a reader so I could see all the flaws of the book standing out glaringly - the umpteen coincidences, the "Bollywood potboiler" kind of drama, the lack of attention to the daughters,... These elements haven't stood the test of time. At the same time, nothing can deny the magnitude of the historical, social and political coverage of the book. Nor can one ignore how wonderfully the story is built up in parallel between the two main characters, each of them getting the spotlight for an almost equal time. That ending is also perfect. I would have been disappointed if it had gone the more clichéd way.
Kane and Abel are both grey characters in many ways. Regardless of their disparate start in life, they have so much in common, especially in their determination, drive and demands. I don't love the characters but I love their intricate character sketching. Only Jeffrey Archer can make you root for such complicated characters.
If I view this book through my 2022 perspective, I might rate it a 4. But considering the era it was written in, and keeping in mind the almost perfect blend of fact and fiction, I will go with 4.5. The fact that I could complete this 550 pager within two days shows how much I have loved this classic. It's still going to be one of my favourite Archer works, despite the myriad flaws. 😊
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Kane & Abel.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Comments Showing 1-43 of 43 (43 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Sakshi
(new)
Mar 23, 2022 09:24PM
Jeffrey Archer. I've read his A Prisoner of Birth, and it blew my mind away. He is really something! 😍
reply
|
flag
I am thrilled for you that this is a Five star reading experience, Rosh:) You deserve it and I wanted to say a Huge Thank you for letting me join the Facebook group. xo
Sakshi wrote: "Jeffrey Archer. I've read his A Prisoner of Birth, and it blew my mind away. He is really something! 😍"He's one of favourite authors, Saksh. And "Kane and Abel' is his best work. Do try if you get a chance. :)
Karen wrote: "I am thrilled for you that this is a Five star reading experience, Rosh:) You deserve it and I wanted to say a Huge Thank you for letting me join the Facebook group. xo"Thanks, Karen. I've actually read this many times. Doing a reread as it is the Botm in the group. Am enjoying it as much as I did then. :)
RoshReviews wrote: "Sakshi wrote: "Jeffrey Archer. I've read his A Prisoner of Birth, and it blew my mind away. He is really something! 😍"He's one of favourite authors, Saksh. And "Kane and Abel' is his best work. D..."
Huh. I have got so much to do and read in this chotu sa lifetime!!
I promise you I shall read 'Kane and Abel' too. In this lifetime... 🙇♀️
Ohh I feel like I may need to read this one, I have always wanted to try this author! I am so glad this was able to whip up some nostalgia for you Rosh! Amazing review! 🧡
Ellie wrote: "Ohh I feel like I may need to read this one, I have always wanted to try this author! I am so glad this was able to whip up some nostalgia for you Rosh! Amazing review! 🧡"Thanks, Ellie! ♥ Oh, this would be a wonderful book to begin your Jeffrey Archer journey with. It is the best of his full-length works. (You must also try his short story collections - they are too good. 😊)
Great review Rosh, I have never read this author, I'm ashamed to admit!
I wish I was as fast a reader as you are, Rosh! Great review.
Fantastic review, Rosh!🧡 I read this one decades ago!
Great review! I loved this book.
Excellent review Rosh. I agree - over time our reading & reviewing styles change with the times. I also decided not to be coloured by that while rating.
Dorie - Cats&Books :) wrote: "Great review Rosh, I have never read this author, I'm ashamed to admit!"Thanks, Dorie! Oh, no shame in that; there are so many books and so little time! ♥
You are in for a treat if you try his earlier works. "Kane and Abel" and "As The Crow Flies" are both such amazing sagas. You can also try out his short story collections. He's among the best in contemporary short fiction. :)
Raj wrote: "I wish I was as fast a reader as you are, Rosh! Great review."Thanks, Raj. You'll reach there. I've had many more years of practice. ;)
Jayme wrote: "Wonderful review! 💖"Thanks, Jayme! 💙
Maiden Misty's wrote: "Excellent review 💞"Thanks, Misty! 💙
Sujoya wrote: "Fantastic review, Rosh!🧡 I read this one decades ago!"Thanks, Sujoya! Oh, me too. This was a reread for my fb group as it was the BOTM. Enjoyed it almost as much as before. :)
Stacey B wrote: "Great review! I loved this book."Thanks, Stacey! I'm glad you enjoyed it too. :)
Bharath wrote: "Excellent review Rosh. I agree - over time our reading & reviewing styles change with the times. I also decided not to be coloured by that while rating."Thanks, Bharath! Completely agree with that. A book must be judged based on the year it was written in. No point castigating past authors because we are more aware now. :)
Excellent review, Rosh! I don’t know if my faves would stand the test of time lol. But I’m glad this one has for the most part!
Jasmine wrote: "Excellent review, Rosh! I don’t know if my faves would stand the test of time lol. But I’m glad this one has for the most part!"Thanks, Jasmine! I too am not sure how my old favourites would feel to me now. Some loyalties are better left untested. ;)
And I was awed by the scope of his research..imagine having to research so much in the days without the internet.
Nisha wrote: "And I was awed by the scope of his research..imagine having to research so much in the days without the internet."Absolutely agree! It is also probably why his factual elements seemed such a perfect fit in the story. No random copy-pasting.
This is a superb review Rosh 💖
Margaret M wrote: "This is a superb review Rosh 💖"Thanks, Margaret! 💕
Maybe not everything aged well, but that doesn’t you can’t enjoy it. Considering how many times you’ve read this one, me thinks it’s a story that will stay with you forever. Good review, Rosh.
Thibault wrote: "Maybe not everything aged well, but that doesn’t you can’t enjoy it. Considering how many times you’ve read this one, me thinks it’s a story that will stay with you forever. Good review, Rosh."Very true, Thibault. One just needs to go into these old reads with the right mindset. The cancel culture is pointless for works that were written before broadening of general awareness.
This one is a classic for a reason. :)
Sounds amazing! Wonderful review, Rosh😄
Five re-readings is not minor, that speaks volumes about your liking for the book. I find interesting what you say about the narrative centered on two friends with equal doses of time in the narration, something difficult to achieve from what I've seen.I had no idea of this author's existence (as with Colin Firth, lol), and now thanks to your great review, I know and even wanted to give him a chance with his books.
Deeksha wrote: "Sounds amazing! Wonderful review, Rosh😄"Allison (hiatus-playing catch-up) wrote: "Fantastic review, Rosh!! 🤗"
Thanks, Deeksha and Allison! 💚
Feli_H wrote: "Five re-readings is not minor, that speaks volumes about your liking for the book. I find interesting what you say about the narrative centered on two friends with equal doses of time in the narrat..."Feli!!! What are you saying, little fellow?!?!?! 😮😮😮😮 With such comments, you honestly make me feel like I am a senior citizen! 😂😂
Okay, kidding., Not everyone knows (or needs to know) Jeffrey Archer, but he has some excellent books in his repertoire. Some might be a bit dated now. 'Kane and Abel' and 'As the Crow Flies' are two of his very best. Written in the times before the internet, they show what great writers can do with the magic of planning and plotting. I hope you try them some day, and with the right approach, because they will not be as satisfactory if read with modern eyes. 😊
Rosh wrote: "Feli_H wrote: "Five re-readings is not minor, that speaks volumes about your liking for the book. I find interesting what you say about the narrative centered on two friends with equal doses of tim..."Hahaha, the Colin Firth thing will never get boring for me to mention.
More than the time in which it was written, I have to like the person who wrote it.
So I will go with the best of intentions to meet your dear Jeffrey🤞
Thanks for the recommendation, Rosh :)Was quite a fast read for such a long and not so action-packed book.
Thibault wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation, Rosh :)Was quite a fast read for such a long and not so action-packed book."
My pleasure, Thibault. I am happy you liked it. :)
I don't think it was meant to be action-packed. More like a character-oriented saga. Archer never writes anything slow-paced - always a saving grace. :D
Very intelligent review Rosh! I’m just about to reread after 20+ years. I can’t agree with you about the lack of attention to daughters considering that’s how it was back in that era!
Carol Anne wrote: "Very intelligent review Rosh! I’m just about to reread after 20+ years. I can’t agree with you about the lack of attention to daughters considering that’s how it was back in that era!"Thanks, Carol! I hope you too find the reread as memorable as it was the first time around.
I have a hazy memory now, but I think I wrote that line more to highlight that Abel's sisters and daughters barely find a mention in the story. it was almost as if Abel was a sole child!
Jeffrey Archer rectified this imbalance with Florentyna's arc, especially in the remaining two books of this series. :)
This must be some wonderful book to garner so many readings!! It’s got me intrigued even more after reading your excellent review. Adding it!! 😎
Heidi wrote: "This must be some wonderful book to garner so many readings!! It’s got me intrigued even more after reading your excellent review. Adding it!! 😎"Thanks, Heidi! The rereads are because there was no social media and Kindle those days! :D But definitely give it a go. It is a classic if you keep in mind the era it was written in. :)
Great review with a touch of nostalgia, Rosh! I too think that we should usually consider the era in which a story was written when reviewing or just thinking of it. :)
Nika wrote: "Great review with a touch of nostalgia, Rosh! I too think that we should usually consider the era in which a story was written when reviewing or just thinking of it. :)"Thanks much, Nika! I so agree! It is only right that these authors shouldn't be judged severely for what doesn't suit the woke era. Of course, extremist thinking must still be censured, but I guess we can be forgiving of relatively minor biases. :)
