Introduction
It's been quite a while since I've had the pleasure of reading a historical fiction novel, and when author Verne R. Albright brought me Playing Chess with God in exchange for an honest review, I knew that it would be a good idea to accept. And I was right! Focused on the California Gold Rush of 1848 and 1849, Playing Chess with God follows a humble young man through thick and thin in his own personal adventure of seeking fortune and finding himself--and I loved every page!
My Rating: ★★★★★
Synopsis: "Henning Dietzel, at the urging of a Chilean prostitute named Encinas, investigates rumors of gold in California prior to the 1849 rush. Intrigued he heads to the Gold Country to stake his claim. When others flee a brutal winter, Henning perseveres, and by the time the Forty-Niners arrive, he's already a wealthy young man. His saga is a sweeping tale of fortune and misfortune, discovery and tragedy, love and loss. From the backwaters and boardrooms of early San Francisco to malaria infested jungles and a guano island off the coast of Peru, Henning's search for meaning and purpose eventually brings him to realize that all that glitters is not necessarily gold." (via Goodreads)
Thoughts and Comments
Pros
- It is immediately apparent that the author did his research--the historical setting and theme of the book breathes life into the Gold Rush of the late 1840s, and then later into nineteenth-century San Francisco and Peru.
- The writing is spectacular and displays the author's enormous talent in the craft--I was extremely impressed with the eloquence that Mr. Albright conducted his prose.
- The main character, Henning, is instantly likable, and although he is only in his late teens throughout the majority of the novel, the book certainly classifies as adult historical fiction rather than a YA genre--but I sincerely believe that teenagers and adults alike would find this read enthralling.
- The dialogue is always natural and appropriate for the time period--it never sounds forced or manipulative, which I believe can be hard to accomplish in historical fiction.
- The culture throughout the novel is lush and delicious regardless of the location that Henning is in during the scene at the time, and it leaves the reader longing for any sort of solo travel or adventure in an unfamiliar place.
- The theme of becoming stronger and more tenacious in only your own company is a beautiful, powerful pillar of the novel, and it truly inspires confidence of overcoming any obstacle as long as a man believes in himself.
Cons
- As far as content and writing is concerned, I truly could not think of a single "bad" thing to say about this novel. The writing is superb, the characters are detailed and in-depth, and the plot is constantly encouraging the reader to keep going. I suppose I will say, though, that the cover of the novel might benefit from a touch-up as far as the font goes--the Monotype-Corsiva-esque script, at the top of the cover, makes the cover seem slightly amateur in my opinion. However, I will say that the art of the cover is lovely and does indeed capture the spirit and setting of the novel, so if the cover were to be touched-up, I would certainly still keep the art in the revision.
Conclusion
I can honestly say that Playing Chess with God was undoubtedly the best historical fiction novel I've read since An Inconvenient Romance last January. The novel is so moving and exciting, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction or books surrounding the history of California, the California Gold Rush, or America in its pre-Wild West days. Mr. Albright, thank you for giving me the opportunity to review your work. I look forward to seeing more from you in the future!
Amazon Link: See here
Goodreads Link: See here
Riffle Link: See here
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