[.uk] The Lady in Blue

`I believe it because it is impossible to believe.':
What are the connections between the visions seen recently by Jennifer Narody, Carlos Albert and by the Mexican Jumano tribe some 300 years ago? Is it possible that the Lady in Blue is a sixteenth century nun with powers of bilocation? And why is the US Department of Defense interested? Mr Sierra's novel is based in part on Sister María de Jesús who lived in Spain (1602 to 1665. An old Spanish historical mystery awakens the interest of a number of people including several cardinals in Rome. The novel is based on a famous legend that a strange Lady in Blue appeared to the Native Americans, informing them of the arrival of the first Conquistadores. The Conquistadores initially believed she was the Virgin of Guadalupe. This novel is an interesting blend of legend and mystery, belief and fact. To some extent, the reader needs to decide where the boundaries are. For me, it was the action, rather than the characters that created the momentum in this novel. The Chronovision Project caught my attention, and I would love to read more about it. This is not a particularly light read, but - depending on your views and values - it can be a rewarding one. Jennifer Cameron-Smith

What's missing?:
This novel could have been a riveting historical thriller but it falls flat. The elements are there: a conspiracy within the Church, a secret group, someone on the verge of discovering the truth, historical intrigue (sound familiar?). But something is missing here. Why did I manage to get through this book and still have more questions than answers. Chronovision is/was real? How, what, who, why, where? And why, only after reading reviews here did I realize I missed some important points: the Inquistion had suspected Sister Maria of witchcraft? Carlos was agnostic? The novel's ultimate main point is compelling but its impact is hindered by all the questions left unanswered. It's too bad because this book had the potential to the one that keeps you awake until 3 a.m. because you just can't put it down.

The Lady in Blue:
It is documented that a "lady in blue" converted the Native Americans of New Mexico to Catholicism about three hundred years ago. This lady turned out to be a seventeenth century Franciscan nun, who never left her convent in Spain. This interesting true story of bilocation is combined with some intriguing theories about the Catholic Church, reminiscent of Javier Sierra's other successful novel, The Secret Supper. The plot may be difficult to follow at times, because it floats between linked plots of various times and places. It is, however, worth the extra attention needed to follow the storyline.

Lady in Blue:
Javier Sierra is a great story teller. I hope more of his work is translated into English soon.

Awful: A big letdown:
I picked this up at a half-price bookstore. This book is bad, i think i'll just throw it away rather than exchange it and let someone else suffer. Here's why (a few examples): 1) It has too much "tell" and not enough "Show". The author has to tell us rather than show us the story. And the author's voice and opinion should never come to the reader thru narration. 2) It uses a variety of words when one would be best. Sometimes it is a stolen book, sometimes a purloined book. Who translated this? Ugh. 3) Jesus dismissed with this line near the end "He was half-man, half-angel" Oh boy, what a distortion. The book would have been only half-awful if he had left that out. Nothing wrong with conspiracies in the Vatican, and nothing wrong with Boyd Gaines' reading skills. I only kept listening to see if this was going to be a science-fiction novel or a faith novel. It satisfies neither.