Must Read: The Eight

Just this morning, for perhaps the fifth time, I finished one of my most favorite books, The Eight by Katherine Neville. I was so engrossed that I was standing out in the hallyway outside of my office reading the last few pages. It is amazing how much you can read on the Metro. I believe the first time I read this book was in 1995 or 1996 on a recommendation from my mother. My Aunt Nancy had recommended it to her. It has since been passed around my family and some friends for consumption.

Here is a review from Amazon.com and sums up the story in a the shortest way possible:

Katherine Neville's debut novel is a postmodern thriller set in 1972 ... and 1790. In the 20th century, Catherine Velis is a computer expert with a flair for music, painting, and chess who, on her way to Algeria at the behest of the accounting firm where she is employed, is invited to take a mysterious moonlighting assignment: recover the pieces of an old chess set missing for centuries.

In the midst of the French Revolution, a young novice discovers that her abbey is the hiding place of a chess set, once owned by the great Charlemagne, which allows those who play it to tap into incredible powers beyond the imagination. She eventually comes into contact with the major historical figures of the day, from Robespierre to Napoleon, each of whom has an agenda.

The Eight is a non-stop ride that recalls the swashbuckling adventures of Indiana Jones as well as the historical puzzles of Umberto Eco which, since its first publication in 1988, has gone on to acquire a substantial cult following.

I picked it up again to read because just last year a sequel was published, The Fire. I am a little hesitant to read The Fire because a) I've read Ms. Neville's other two books and I wasn't impressed; and b) I love The Eight so much I don't want to have it runied by a sloppy sequel. I will most likely end up reading the sequel anyway, so I'll keep you all up to date.

If you have read The Fire please don't tell me anything about it!