7.12.2014

Review: The Steady Running of the Hour

Title: The Steady Running of the Hour

Author: Justin Go

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BlurbIn this mesmerizing debut, a young American discovers he may be heir to the unclaimed estate of an English World War I officer, which launches him on a quest across Europe to uncover the elusive truth.

Just after graduating college, Tristan Campbell receives a letter delivered by special courier to his apartment in San Francisco. It contains the phone number of a Mr. J.F. Prichard of Twyning & Hooper, Solicitors, in London--and news that could change Tristan's life forever.

In 1924, Prichard explains, an English alpinist named Ashley Walsingham died attempting to summit Mt. Everest, leaving his fortune to his former lover, Imogen Soames-Andersson. But the estate was never claimed. Information has recently surfaced suggesting Tristan may be the rightful heir, but unless he can find documented evidence, the fortune will be divided among charitable beneficiaries in less than two months.

In a breathless race from London archives to Somme battlefields to the Eastfjords of Iceland, Tristan pieces together the story of a forbidden affair set against the tumult of the First World War and the pioneer British expeditions to Mt. Everest. Following his instincts through a maze of frenzied research, Tristan soon becomes obsessed with the tragic lovers, and he crosses paths with a mysterious French girl named Mireille who suggests there is more to his quest than he realizes. Tristan must prove that he is related to Imogen to inherit Ashley's fortune--but the more he learns about the couple, the stranger his journey becomes.

The Steady Running of the Hour announces the arrival of a stunningly talented author. Part love story, part historical tour de force, Justin Go's novel is utterly compelling, unpredictable, and heartrending.

Review: I read this book due to the recommendation of a great friend of mine. I was certain it was going to be good due to the fact that the preview that I read was GRIPPING! I couldn't wait until the library or Amazon got the book in so I could devour it in one sitting. I have never been more wrong in my entire life.

The first 1/3 of the book held me, switching back and forth from present day to WWII. Then it got to be a little old. I put the book down 2/3 of the way through and vowed I would not finish the book. The book lover in me decided that I couldn't leave a book unread no matter how much I didn't care for it. So I read it all the way through to the end.

I have never been so disappointed in my entire life. The ending literally SUCKED. OK, it can't literally suck since it's not a vacuum or black hole, but it was not good. If my boyfriend had not been in the bed asleep beside me when I finished the book I would have thrown it.

What looked to be a promising start to a new career turned out to be a sad ending to a would be novel.

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