Thursday, Oct 30, 2008

Book Tour: The Lost Diary of Don Juan

Not knowing much about the history of Don Juan Tenorio or being a fan of world history, this book was somewhat out of my “genre” of what I would normally elect to purchase off the shelf at a local bookstore. Being that I was offered the opportunity to be a part of the Book Tour for The Lost Diary of Don Juan, I was elated to face the opportunity to step “outside my ‘norm’ ” and lose myself in a tale of history, pride, power, lust, jealousy, and most of all, true love.

In visiting the novel’s website, you can discover articles pertaining to the differences between the great lovers Don Juan and Casanova. Truthfully, I was so taken by Abrams’ account of Don Juan’s journey, that Casanova simply didn’t interest me! Along with this article, fans of the novel can review photographs and articles from the author, Douglas C. Abrams, himself.

The Review: The Lost Diary of Don Juan

Abrams in the Gardens in Alcazar, Seville - Spain

Author: Douglas Carlton Abrams

Author’s Website: www.lostdiaryofdonjuan.com

Publisher: Washington Square Press, a Division of Schuster & Shuster, Inc.

Type: Fiction

ISBN-13 #: 978-4165-3250-7

ISBN-10 #: 1-4165-3250-1

Pages Including Glossary: 306 (Paperback Version)

For my readers who are accustomed to my “direct approach” to book reviews, I will stay true to my style in giving you my most truthful opinion of this novel. I was expecting it to be one of those historical (yawn), boring, and another “way-exaggerated” romance novels that was filled with tales of the improbable, and most likely, impossible. The beginning of this book seemed to prove me right. It was quite the unveiling of the characters, the setting, the history, etc. Time for my nap! But, then, out of nowhere, this book takes a turn for me… and I understand why it is that Abrams took such attention to the detail in outlining the facts of the story. They all are completely relevant and key to the overall connection that I had to the book. Then, I went back and re-read the beginning… and, loved it!

Carmona, Spain

I read this novel on paperback and understand that it was published in 2007. With that being said, many of you have had an opportunity to pick up this work and read it. For those who have not, I fear to give up too much of the story line in the event that you decide to read it for yourself… which, if you believe in true love, you definitely should. However, there are main elements of the story that I will reveal in this review… but, I won’t share the ending!

The Palace

This novel is based upon the supposed diary of Don Juan Tenorio in the late 1500’s in Seville, Spain. Don Juan’s beginnings are as tragic as his ending… he was born to a prostitute and his life was considered a liability for her profession. She left him at the doorstep of a convent in Carmona, Spain. Due to the fact that he was born with a slightly lamed leg, the nuns elected to raise him within the convent as the overflowing orphanages would surely not care for him properly and they feared he would die. He is raised by these Priora Francisca and Padre Miguel Antonio until his young teens. At that time, he was determined to live a life of worship and devotion to God as a priest in the Church. That was, until he discovered his secular needs as a man via his interest in a girl who entered the convent, Hermana Teresa… a ripe, beautiful 16 year old who he

Interior of The Palace Garden

falls deeply in love with. Despite the laws of chastity within the confines of the convent, he and Teresa form a physical relationship in addition to their emotional commitment. Eventually, they are caught by Hermana Marta and Don Juan was exiled from this convent to a monastery in Seville, Spain. There, he was admonished for his sins.

Tour of Heaven

We come to love Don Juan and become entranced by his adventures with the women he loves. He is such a compassionate man, let me tell you! He finds great pride in utilizing his skills and pleasing the women he seduces. The readers are introduced to Dona Ana, who will become the one woman who can transform Don Juan’s heart into one of a monogamous man… loving only one. Of course, there are obstacles he is faced with involving his brotherhood with the other noblemen, the Marquis, The Inquisitor (I just hate that guy), and the Commander (Dona Ana’s father). But, Don Juan is quite clever and the way that he arranges to win Dona Ana’s heart, escape death, and live “happily ever after” is a tale that had me completely engrossed. There are other characters within the story that I grew to love including Alma, Seville’s greatest courtesan. The ending of the story… simply, I approve!

Statue of Don Juan in Spain

The diary is filled tales of passion, grief, adventure, and provides little “pearls of wisdom” in Don Juan’s self-discovery. Reader be warned… there are some very “steamy” scenes in this novel that, well, got my heart beating a bit faster. Abrams writes them with such passion and delicacy… bravo!

Interestingly enough, the photos displayed herein are from Abrams’ tour of Carmona and Seville. The author took many years in understanding the layout of Seville, the history, the legend… and it shows in the intricacy of the book.

Now, for my favorite lines of the novel:

“A woman’s desire does not die before her last breath.”

“Indeed, although pleasure and pain are often impossible to separate.” (they’re discussing physical encounters)

“How easy it is to satisfy a woman’ how great are the rewards and gratitude for any man who makes even the slightest effort. But how few are those in this cruel age who seek to understand womanhood, and so my lust finds countless women who yearn for even the most basic kindness.”

“The greatest power in the world, greater than kings and people, is the desire of women. Love, the priests tell us, rules the heavens, but does desire not rule the earth? One who understands the workings of desire understand the very secret of life…”

“… But to live, a man must have a purpose or his life is a rudderless ship.”

“Woman is the masterwork of God, the last Creation and endowed with the divine power to create new life.”

“The priests tell us that the body is like a thorn to the soul, but I have seen the truth-it is only from the body that the soul blossoms, and our soul cannot be separated from it in life.”

“… The true passion of which you speak could occur only in marriage, for without love, there is only lust, forever fleeting and empty.”

“Seduction and passion are simply Life longing for Life.”

“There is a time for reading, and there is time for living.”

“When the truth is blasphemy, then deception becomes dogma.”

My thoughts on the author:

In the Author’s Note at the end of the book, he explains:

“My desire in writing the book was not only to resurrect this greatest of historical lovers and to give voice to his true motives; I was also moved to write a book that would explore the tension between lust and love and that would confront the human question of how any man or woman can find lifelong satisfaction in one committed relationship.”

Although this is Abram’s first novel, he has co-authored other books on love, sexuality, and spirituality. He lives in Santa Cruz, CA with his wife and three children.

Final Thoughts:

There is a very helpful Glossary at the end of the book in addition to a provided synopsis. For book clubs, there are provided questions and topics for discussion. My most favorite question was #10… “Who is your favorite female character in the book? What did you like about her? Did you identify with any of her struggles? What do you think her life was like after knowing Don Juan?” Let’s just say… my answer is Alma and I could go on for pages about why and in answering the subsequent questions.

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale”:

If your interest is historical romance novels… I’d put this one up there with a 9.5! (Ole!) If that isn’t the genre that you favor and you’re testing the waters, like I did… I’d have to say I was pleasantly surprised and would give this an 8.5… nearly a 9. Why? Abrams was able to take my mind out of myself and into a story that I became lost in, I felt for the character, and now I want to go to Seville!

The Book Tour:

Oct 20 – Denyse Bridger’s Fantasy Pages
Oct 21 – The Literate Housewife
Oct 22 – Age 30 – A Year of Books
Oct 23 – Denyse Bridger’s Fantasy Pages (book giveaway)
Oct 24 – Kathleen’s Book Reviews
Oct 27 – Fictionary
Oct 28 – Stephanie’s Confessions of a Book-A-Holic and The Dark Phantom
Oct 29 – Fyrefly’s Book Blog
Oct 30 – A Novel Menagerie

Buy The Lost Diary of Don Juan at Amazon.com.

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