I finished,  it is a great story, and CI is a amazing story teller.  I will be truthful I didn't expect to like it, but I am glad I was wrong.

I hate when you are a show off...

I can't wait to finish, is my jealousy showing a bit?

You have a full time job.  If I want to stay up until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning, the only person to suffer for it is DH and he has to get up and take Tiki out and make his own coffee.  Which most mornings he is fully capable of doing! ;p

I'm almost finished - figured that I should slow down. It is a great book and now I'm wondering if I want to get the DVD movie "Mongol"! Or...do I want to get the next book in the series? Oh, these terrible decisions!

Will is becoming a first class husband! Now if we could just get him to give pedicures...

Jeanne, I'm also trying to decide if I want to continue the series.  Like Letty I didn't really expect to like the book as much as I did.  My brother told me to read it a couple of years ago, but I said it wasn't "my kind of book".  But I did enjoy it,  I liked Temujin.  One reason I'm semi-inclined to continue the series is my curiosity about Temuge - I figure he will overcome his immaturity and have a role to play.  Also curious about the futures of the other two brothers; also Arslan and Jelme, and Borte.  Glad we had the read-along.  I already had the book, but probably would not have read it for a long time to come.

Linda

Linda - I ended up ordering the next in the series - Lord of the Bow or whatever the title is. After reading the prologue at the end of Birth of an Empire, I figured "what the heck - the worst that can happen is for it to sit on my shelf "!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think that the main reason for that is Iggulden's writing. This is the first book of his that I have read. His characters really come to life and it's true, you get to wondering what happens to them in the future. Even if he "fudged" a little on some of the history, I still feel that I now know a lot more about Genghis than I ever have! Great read. Great choice!

I did see "Mongol" when it was out in theaters a couple of years ago and it was very good but quite different from the book.  I think it was a Chinese production if I remember correctly and it was beautifully filmed.  I'm nearly done with this book as well and I have really enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.  I also am mulling over getting book #2 in the series.

This is only the 3rd book of of Iggulden I've read.  I agree I do want to continue reading the story for all the reasons Linda gave.  But the other thing is that the a sign of a really good writer IMO is that he finishes the story that he is telling,   So if you choose not to go on, you can walk away satisfied. 

I wonder how you all feel about him editing history?  In this case I really didn't mind because I don't know what I am missing. 

Is there any thing that really "surprised" you about Temujin?

I read Birth of an Empire last year, and I didn't expect to really like it, either.  (I'm pretty sure it was for a challenge ;) )  But I ended up glued to the book and finishing it in no time.  I have Lord of the Bow waiting on my TBR and if anyone wants to read it, too, in the not-too-distant future, I'd join in a buddy read.

It seems like every writer edits HF a bit, but in this case, I think that if Iggulden stuck to exact history, his book would be so convoluted and confusing, trying to remember who everyone was; how many wives and kids they had; the exact names of everybody; the exact names of the tribes, etc. Also, it is historical fiction, so he dressed it up a bit (e.g. the death of Togrul) - makes it even more readable.

Temujin certainly was his father's son and it seemed that he took many chances with his life, similar to his father taking him to the Olkhun'uts by himself, with no other guards or bondsmen. In some ways it seems he had to do these things, but I found myself wondering if he gave any thought to what the people would do without him - especially early on!

I have to agree Jeanne.

There is one part missing in this story that I have found in "movie" versions (including the well done Chinese version) that I just found curious but not bothersome.  Temujin has a friend/rival named Jemuga (not sure about spelling here) that isn't mentioned at all in this first book.  Maybe he appears later?

I really appreciated how he changed names to ones we could pronounce! It makes for much easier reading. Loved the book and will read him again...

Nope Cheryl, Jemuga does not make an appearance in this book!

I read this last year, for the challenge. I enjoyed it very much, though as others have said, it isn't "my kind" of book.  One thing I found though was I didn't feel like I really understood much more about Genghis by the end of the novel.

I have the second one, but haven't read it yet. Are there three? 

Mimi, So far, there are four books in this series! Genghis, Lords of the Bow, Bones of the Hills and Empire of Silver. I'm beginning to think that nobody writes stand alone books anymore - it's always a series! sheesh!

Thanks

I agree - sometimes, one is all you need :)

Well,it's been a long time since I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish a book, but I did it last night for this one!  I really do want to know what happens to Borte's baby and if things ever thaw between her and Temujin.  Linda, I think he gave us a hint at the end about how Temuge fits into the plan...I bet he becomes the healer of the tribe.  I loved the way that CI put the teaser for the next book in his author's notes, rather than at the end of the main book.  The book did have a feeling of being finished and although I want to read the next want, I don't feel like I have to rush off and read it right away to find out what happens next.

Great book, and great choice for the readalong!

I agree Christa, that he did "finish it" I respect him for that.

mary

Yay  Mary!  What did you think?

Great writing, but the details of how they lived is too "yucky" for me. I know it is history, but  I do not want to think about the blood sucking, etc that was normal .

Mary

So I just finished this yesterday and am really glad it was chosen for the readalong. I was really hesitant about starting it at first. I mean really hesitant. But this was so well written that it just sucked me in right away. There was something great happening in each chapter and I grew to like the characters (or hate in some instances) so much I just had to keep reading.

I agree with Christa about Temuge. I think he'll be a shaman or something when he grows up. I also wonder how CI will incorporate Temujin and Borte's kids into the story, given the afterword details. I think I will put the second book on my TBR and check it out soon.

(And yes, I finished this late. Oops! April was a terrible reading month for me. Hoping May is going to be much better!)