Official Review: Playing Chess with God

LV2R · Post by **LV2R** » 19 Jan 2020, 20:20

I like that Henning Dietzel is a good guy and stays on track when searching for gold without exploiting others. That must have been a rough time and place to live during the Gold Rush with no law or order and many hungry to get rich quick.

Aan Granados · Post by **Aan Granados** » 19 Jan 2020, 20:24

I don’t mind that there is no villain in this book. It’s like real life, you have your ups and downs but none that you would call a villain. I love your review and your enthusiasm about this. It makes me excited to read this botd. Thanks for your review!

Washboard · Post by **Washboard** » 19 Jan 2020, 20:38

While I sometimes enjoy historical fiction, I am not a huge fan of the era this book is set in. It sounds wonderfully written though! Great review!

konazoe · Post by **konazoe** » 19 Jan 2020, 20:52

Good review, but I might be biased because I too despise punctuation and grammatical errors.

The sample was elegant in its style and although some reviewers didn’t care for the characterizations and detail, it fit the time period and the tone of the book.

It made me want to read more and that’s saying something in this day and age of unedited instant publishing. I want to know what happened when he got to San Fransisco. I want to know what happened, if anything, to their relationship. I want to read the book!

Kishor Rao · Post by **Kishor Rao** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:07

The fact that the lead is nearly ideal subjects him to more scrutiny and when bad things happen to him, people can connect to him instantly and anticipate his further action. I am particularly not a fan of historical fiction, so I'm gonna pass. Very good review.

Sheila_Jay · Post by **Sheila_Jay** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:08

The books title got me interested in the book, and after reading the well-written review, I am convinced that I need to read it as soon as possible. Thank you for such an insightful review.

Mrunal Tikekar · Post by **Mrunal Tikekar** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:11

I love historical fictions but I am not sure I like the setting of this one. Apart from a character that can at time difficult to relate with I feel that I might not enjoy the period the drama unfolds in. Thanks for your review.

Ekta Kumari · Post by **Ekta Kumari** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:11

Although I'm not particularly interested in the genre, the book looks like it'll be a good read for someone who likes historical settings and idealistic protagonists. Plus, I like the author offers historical details to immerse the readers in the book. Thank you for the detailed review.

Post by **Jennifer Donovan Smith** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:14

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Being from California, I enjoy reading about my state's history. This sounds like a well-researched novel and I look forward to reading it.

navyapindi · Post by **navyapindi** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:21

Historical fiction always grabs my attention. The plot seems intriguing. The review was so good that I can't wait to read the book. Congrats on BOTD!

LyorBoone · Post by **LyorBoone** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:41

Thanks for answering the question of how the title fits the novel. Though as a chess player, I don’t see how one would compare prospecting to a chess match. I think Battleship would fit better, had the game been around then... Of course, the chess analogy has something going for it with multiple antagonist pieces for God to move around. Do you really need a arch nemesis of sorts as long as every ant as monistic is well developed?

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 19 Jan 2020, 21:50

I can see the value of the aspects you praise in the book, such as the historical accuracy but I don't know if I would be able to enjoy black and white characters that are either heroes or totally evil. As humans, we have many more nuances than that.
But I'm always glad to read an enthusiastic review, thanks!

Melchi Asuma · Post by **Melchi Asuma** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:53

I am intrigued by this title. This is the main reason that I cannot wait to read this book. Also, your enthusiasm doesn't hurt. It makes it seem like it is a truly enjoyable read. Thank you for this review

siusantos · Post by **siusantos** » 19 Jan 2020, 21:58

I'm not a big fan of historical fiction novels but I would read one if the story is good. But per this review, my interest is not piqued yet. Maybe because there are no antagonists that stand out.