Reviews

Civilizations by Laurent Binet

joebonnell's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

The concept of this book is fascinating: an alternative history where Vikings introduce iron, horses, and European diseases to Central and South Americas 400-500 years before Columbus arrives provides a fun domino effect of how history could have changed. However, the style of the writing made this book into a dense history text that drags through most of pages. 

The characters are viewed through a historical perspective, meaning that the reader only receives a surface level view of their actual character. Because of this, there is no character growth and the story is not character driven. 

It’s also difficult to say that the book is plot driven. The book follows a few people through their history, primarily Atahualpa, an Inca of royal blood, who is chased out of South America to Europe where he conquers Spain and Germany. All of this is just a string of events with no destination for the plot other than letting time tick past. 

I did very much enjoy the hardships that Christopher Columbus endured. Knowing the evils he committed in real life, this was a fun revenge tale. I also enjoyed the comments on the religion of the nailed god (Christianity) showing how violent and hypocritical religion in general can be. 

zikiriki's review

4.0

This was deeply imaginative and very thoughtfully done. It was a pleasure to read and although at times the side characters were harder to follow, the characters of Atahualpa and Higuénamota were such fun personalities to follow. The blend of fact and fiction was marvelously well done, I have never read a counterfactual novel before and absolutely enjoyed it.

lucardus's review against another edition

5.0

Der wahrscheinlich beste Alternate History Roman, den ich bisher gelesen habe. Wahrscheinlich auch, weil es kein Roman im herkömmlichen Sinne ist, sondern eher eine Sammlung unterschiedlicher Dokumente und Nacherzählungen, die den Leser mit der spannenden Historie vertraut machen, die damit beginnt, dass Columbus scheitert und die Umstände dazu führen, dass Europa zur Neuen Welt wird, der man endlich in der Person Atahualpas die Zivilisation der Alten Welt bringt.

luciamf's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

angus_mckeogh's review against another edition

3.0

Was certainly considering two-stars for this one. Just marginal. But the overall premise earned an extra star despite the writing style being dry and passive. An alternate history of the discovery and settlement of the New World. Had many interesting avenues of thought and much about the absurdity and cruelty of religion. However his first book was much, much better.

dillybean's review against another edition

5.0

What if Vikings introduced iron and horses to the Americas almost 500 years before Columbus arrived? And then Columbus never returned? A fun and thought provoking what if scenario that shows the Inca arriving in Europe, their leader going on a grand odyssey towards forming an empire in the vein of Alexander the Great, Augustus, and Charlemagne.

motherofladybirds's review against another edition

2.0

An interesting alternative history. What would have happened if South America colonised Europe. Some humour in the reactions to the inquisition and religious customs. Read like a chronicle and I had to persevere, but it was interesting

em_w's review

adventurous challenging informative reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The book has an interesting concept however it didn't really have any character development which hindered my enjoyment. The only character development that we see is with

Higuénamota

and it’s only a surface level mention. I wish there was more of a connection between the characters and the world around them. There is a cursory mention of relationships (a marriage here, a kid there) but not much more than that. I would have loved to see Atahualpa’s relationship with his son Charles Atahualpa and his European wife and more of Higuénamota’s relationship with with King of France

(I mean the woman nearly dies to to defend him for peet’s sake!)

The book does a good job chronicling what happens but it doesn’t really give you anything interpersonally to keep you invested in the main cast of characters.

Like I should have been saddened when

Atahualpa was assassinated

but since we weren’t given much to invest in him emotionally, it wasn’t really all that consequential. Though I think it really should have ended there… because the last half of the book with  the Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes and the artist El Greco kinda detracts from the whole first 2/3 of the novel. 

Their part leads to a rather anticlimactic ending  and the novel did not gain much from their inclusion IMO. I would have liked it to either show the downfall of the Inca’s empire or show how this affects the future history instead of the ending we got.  

henrikhofgen's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

alexsteinkampf's review against another edition

adventurous funny

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5