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Temple of a Thousand Faces John Shors Books

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Temple of a Thousand Faces John Shors Books

John Shors says 65% of this novel is based on hard facts - all the royal characters were real people and acted as they did in the book. So he's used a bit of "poetic licence" to tell a good tale. It's certainly worth a read, so long as you are not pedantic about historical fiction being 100% accurate.

But this novel is more than historical fiction I think. Beautifully written (in the first person narrative through the eyes of Princess Jahanara), with evocative imagery, it is an epic story depicting the downfall of a royal empire. In a similar vein to Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth (but much shorter), it covers powerful emotions - greed, lust, power, resilience, love - between siblings, parents and children and of course, men and women. I enjoyed it more than I expected to. I also felt it has relevance to today's world, by illustrating the societal impact of liberal versus orthodox perspectives in religion and using the latter to justify discrimination, war and genocide.

It's a captivating read. I highly recommend it


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Temple of a Thousand Faces John Shors Books Reviews

Learning about tribal clashes in Cambodia more than 1000 years ago told through the stories of different characters whose varied lives intersect in an epic battle... might not seem like your cup of tea. But, the tea tastes wonderful and goes down fine while you meanwhile learn about a culture and period of time unknown by most of us. A unique a very satisfying book that makes me want to visit Cambodia.
Another great book by this Author. John shors always brings a story with interesting characters and settings. This one takes place in Cambodia, with Angkor Wat being it's main focus. The year 1177 and the story which was based upon a few true to life people Prince Jayavar of the Khmer people and his mystical wife Ajadevi and the Cham king, Indravarman, and a battle which took place. Since little is known of this time period, the author took liberties with how he felt life was in those times and how the people would be. He has given the novel a very present day feeling with the way the people think and talk, which made it very readable.
The author visited Angkor Wat and surrounding areas, and has been able to give us a wonderful feel of its beauty, and workmanship. The novel concentrates on a battle between the Chams who invaded Angkor Wat and its people, and not so much on the history of the country. I liked how it focused more on the characters and their thoughts and connections.
The story of the main characters, ranges in their different positions in life, from the prince and his wife to warriors, slaves and a fisherman's family, each of the main characters have faith in both destiny and reincarnation, which gives each of them a sense of peace about their destinies. The author also portrayed the main characters, as having an equality between the men and woman, a trait I liked..The love between the prince and his wife, both sharing thoughts, ideas, and emotions with each other. The Cham warrior Asal, and Voisanne the Khmer woman given to him, developing a mutual respect and love, and the fisherman's family, parents Boran and Soriya and twin sons Vibol and Prak, depend on each other for their survival.
The story was riveting and even though it was over 500 pages it will keep you wanting more.
I read this book prior to a trip to Angkor Wat. I thought it would help me understand the history a bit better, since it had been mentioned in some articles as a good book to read prior to a visit. But let's face it, the term "bodice ripper" comes to mind. It's a romance. So it was a bit of a disappointment in that regard. But entertaining just the same.
I just finished reading "Temple of a Thousand Faces" after returning from Cambodia on a delightful, exciting trip visiting many of the temples, the jungle and the floating villages on the gigantic lake that are the setting for this book. Reading the book, I felt as if I were really living in Ancient Cambodia. The people John Shors created were so human and the site so true to what I had been in that I felt I was actually there with them. I did wonder if it would have been better to read the book before I went to Cambodia, for then I might have felt I was experiencing the story unfolding as I walked through the Jungle and could see the characters Shors had introduced me to. However, I decided that there was also an advantage to reading it after I was in Cambodia for, as I read the book, the locations and settings were so familiar to me that I was able to live the whole experience with the book's characters!

I was equally impressed with Shors' book Beneath a Marble Sky which I read before I went to India. Having read it, and getting to know the characters and being introduced to the settings before went, I felt that I enjoyed the Taj Mahal more than most of the people on the trip I was on, for I felt I was visiting people who lived there, who I knew intimately and I could picture them in each now bare room and setting but as it had been furnished when they lived. Now I wonder if it might have been equally fun or even more rewarding to have read the book when I returned from India and was familiar with the settings!
"Temple" is the sixth (of six --yes, I'm a fan!) books by John Shors that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. He is an especially imaginative and creative writer. The plots and characters in each of his novels are totally different and well developed. He does not use the same theme over and over again, just renaming the characters and locations. Shors also seems equally adept at writing convincingly in both modern and ancient genres. He is able to make me feel part of the "action" in every plot. Shors skill at building to a dramatic climax, brings his readers right along. In the last part of "Temple", I actually found myself holding my breath as I turned the pages! (Breath-holding usually only happens to me in very suspense-filled movies). I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who relishes stories that are unique, compelling and masterfully written.
John Shors says 65% of this novel is based on hard facts - all the royal characters were real people and acted as they did in the book. So he's used a bit of "poetic licence" to tell a good tale. It's certainly worth a read, so long as you are not pedantic about historical fiction being 100% accurate.

But this novel is more than historical fiction I think. Beautifully written (in the first person narrative through the eyes of Princess Jahanara), with evocative imagery, it is an epic story depicting the downfall of a royal empire. In a similar vein to Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth (but much shorter), it covers powerful emotions - greed, lust, power, resilience, love - between siblings, parents and children and of course, men and women. I enjoyed it more than I expected to. I also felt it has relevance to today's world, by illustrating the societal impact of liberal versus orthodox perspectives in religion and using the latter to justify discrimination, war and genocide.

It's a captivating read. I highly recommend it