Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

Congratulations to Galen Watson. His book The Psalter has been selected by Member Athors as "the Recommended Book of the Month" for February 2013.

The Psalter



"A medieval prayer book, a religious prophecy, and a forgery that changed the church—forever.

Father Romano has run afoul of the modern inquisitors before. This time, it leads to a manuscript and murder. Was it an ordinary theft gone wrong or something more? The police would like to know.

Michael Romano is an American priest working in the Vatican’s Secret Archives with a penchant for stepping over the line. Church Inquisitors have noticed -- and they aren’t happy. Nevertheless, Romano is also the Church’s senior paleographer, an expert in ancient manuscripts, and his expertise is needed to examine a ninth-century prayer book known as a Psalter.

Father Romano’s examination leads him into the past as he uncovers an historical narrative of medieval forgeries, Saracen invasions and a legendary fight for the richest kingdom on earth. Yet he has unwittingly become a target for those who will stop at nothing to possess the secret of the Psalter.

*Untraditional Christianity Warning

Please post your thoughts, commments and questions about The Psalter on this thread.

Since surprises are often a huge part of the enjoyment of any book, please, consider what you are posting and use Spoiler tags to preserve effect for anyone reading.

Thank you, Hugh, and thanks to member authors for selecting The Psalter as the Book of the Month for February. I so appreciate the Action/ Adventure Aficionados for creating a platform where indie authors can display their novels and connect with readers.

Looking forward to this one Galen! Finishing up a couple others first, but will definitely read before the month is out.

This sounds like a good one I'll be sure to read it eventually

Congrats, Galen! I'll be starting your book next week.

I've already read it... so I know it's a treat!

Is it available online outside of Amazon? I can't seem to find it on Kobo or Smashwords.

Hi Grant,

It's not on Smashwords, but it is on Kobo. Here's the link to Kobo:

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Ps...

Or just type The Psalter Galen Watson and it comes up.

Galen

Congrats for having your book selected, Galen.

Cheers. The Kobo search engine is unnecessarily literal.

Ready to read and review...

I’m glad you found it, Grant. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes and, certainly, for reading. I look forward to the discussion.

http://io9.com/5984209/popes-resignat...

It looks like somebody's been reading Galen Watson's mail.

There seems to be something in the air lately. There's a lot of talk about the world ending. Someday the world might end and when it does there will be no one around to finally take credit for knowing when it did end.

Eileen wrote: "There seems to be something in the air lately. There's a lot of talk about the world ending. Someday the world might end and when it does there will be no one around to finally take credit for know..."

That's an amusing way to look at it. I like it. So you know when the world's going to end... "good for you" now shut up and get back to work, we'll still have to pay taxes until we get there!

(You know what they say about Death and Taxes.)

Eileen wrote: "There seems to be something in the air lately. There's a lot of talk about the world ending."

Public Service Announcement: Don't stand under falling Russian meteorites. Asteroids are nature's way of saying, "how's that space program coming along?"

Hugh wrote: It looks like somebody's been reading Galen Watson's mail.

The timing is right...for a change.

I'm a quater of the way done and I've got a good mystery in my hands. Looking forward to discussing as I get farther along.

I'm waiting for others to finish. I've already read it. : )

I just finished last night. Wonderful story! Please let me know where discussion will be held. Though I'm a bit shy about my ability to adequately discuss the finer points of literature (English 101 PTSD still, after all these years!), I certainly enjoyed this novel enough to wonder what others think.

Well, I had finished Patient Zero and absolutely loved it. After reading your comments about this one, The Psalter, sounds like it should be a good read as well. Just finished another light read in between so will start to read this today.

The discussion can be right here. I posted my review on it. What questions do you think might be fun to tackle here?

Well, the vexing question of the moment is about the practice written about at the ends of the last two chapters, in which (view spoiler)[ Johanne, Bishop of Ostia at the close of chapter 45, and Pacal at the close of chapter 46 each pour boiling water into metal bowls. It certainly seems a mystical practice on the part of Johanne. Does this reflect something explained early in the story that I missed? Is it meant to suggest more than a coincidental tie between Johanne the son, and Pascal? (hide spoiler)] Just wondering its importance to this story...or, perhaps, another to come(?).

Should I answer questions as they appear, or wait until the end of the reading period?

Bill, I'm gratified that you enjoyed the story.

Gallen, you may answers questions anytime you'd like.

After attending Catholic school for 12 years it's all come flooding back. It's been an enjoyable read so far.

Eileen wrote: "Gallen, you may answers questions anytime you'd like.

After attending Catholic school for 12 years it's all come flooding back. It's been an enjoyable read so far."

Thanks, Eileen. I'm fascinated by the opinions and observations of readers with a Catholic education or background.

Bill wrote: "Well, the vexing question of the moment is about the practice written about at the ends of the last two chapters,..."

Peering into a bowl of water is an ancient divination practice known as hydromancy or water scrying, like crystal ball gazing. Nostradamus described the practice as his tool for peering into the future to write his prophecies, the Centuries. The first scene with the copper bowl on a tripod is at the end of chapter 9, just after Rabbi Avraham meets Johannes. He combines the technique with a chant for communicating across time and space, described in Kabbalah tradition (Jewish mysticism). It’s Avraham’s call to arms across time to those who are destined to help Johannes and the scriptures achieve their modern-day destiny. Pascal receives the message in the dream sequence at the end of chapter 17, and makes a telephone call for help.

The characters in The Psalter who use the copper bowl are aware of the ancient practice, and are listening or perhaps destined to help, as the Grand Inquisitor opined. And while The Psalter story comes to an end, the adventures of Fr Romano, Isabelle, and Pascal do not, so Pascal needs to keep in touch with those in the past who can help Fr Romano achieve destiny.

Galen wrote: "Peering into a bowl of water is an ancient divination practice ..."

Thanks so much for expanding on that story element. It was, as I suspected, a wee bit of lazy reading on my part. I had forgotten about the earlier instances. I'm pleased to hear that the adventures of Fr Romano, Isabelle, and Pascal have not come to an end. For whatever it may be worth, I would not hesitate to pick up the threads of any forthcoming stories about them.

Bill wrote: "Thanks so much for expanding on that story element. It was, as I suspected, a wee bit of lazy reading on my part."

There are so many pieces of information in the story, Bill. No one can see them all or know what they mean, except the writer--I think. The Psalter will say different things to different people, depending on religious or non religious backgrounds; whether they’re the faithful, agnostic, or atheist, or depending on political and cultural backgrounds. Catholics will see very different things than atheists and so on. In the end, it's how well the story works.

The Psalter is my first novel and I’m grateful to the Action/Adventure discussion group for creating a platform that allows readers and writers to connect. It gives writers a chance to see their work through the eyes of readers, and hear their impressions. I appreciate your observant question. I was wondering when someone would mention the copper bowl.

Let me say right off the bat that I'm a huge skeptic about End Of Time predictions, but I love reading Dan Brown and Rollins novels. Manly because I like to run down some of their research. That being said, I found a web site that REALLY stopped me in my tracks and made my ears stand up. Just google 119ministries, all one word. They are being pretty bold in their statements and have OBVIOUSLY done their homework. I'm not selling their site, but if you like to research stuff like I do check it out. Some very spooky science there.

I am halfway through the Psalter and am really enjoying it. Very intriguing and thought provoking novel. I love the way it weaves the story from the past, to give the reader an understanding of the background regarding the Psalter, and then ties it into the present mystery.

Oh, to my surprise, I actually found myself crying, tears were running down my face, when Sergius was dying and said" I just wanted to make music, but they wouldn't let me." Even though he was a weak unlikable character, this one sentence just made clear how sometimes a person life goes in one direction tied to circumstances and individual dreams are lost.

I just joined the book club within the past month and must say the books you picked for the February reads are both excellent. I may not be the most eloquent when writing reviews etc. but I certainly enjoy reading the novels. This month I have barely turned the tv on. The books are so much better.

Magiccats wrote: "I am halfway through the Psalter and am really enjoying it. Very intriguing and thought provoking novel. I love the way it weaves the story from the past, to give the reader an understanding of the..."



I love the story in the past, and the connection breifly mentioned in the first chapter that connects Father Mike to the Anti-popes. The threads linking present to past are really wonderfully done.

And, keep your box of tissues handy, there may be a few more tears to shed yet!

I'm jus' sayin'

Bill wrote: "Well, the vexing question of the moment is about the practice written about at the ends of the last two chapters, in which [spoilers removed] Just wondering its importance to this story...or, perha..."

There are a few links to Pascal and the past that are worth wondering about. His chosen faith fits neatly in there. The fact his history is very similar to Mike's and some that...I just don't want to spoil yet. I'm really interested in where the story thread about the past goes in the next book!

Um, Galen, there is a "next book" in the works right?

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "Um, Galen, there is a "next book" in the works right? "

Indeed, there is. Father Romano hasn't achieved his destiny, and Pascal and Isabelle are destined to help him get there. The three unlikely companions will forge ahead to whatever fate awaits them.

I'm just posting to say I'm almost finished, looking forward to the discussion. Not looking at the other posts, just yet.

Just starting but I must say, well done Galen, you've got me hooked after 5%. Trying to catch up.

Galen wrote: "I, Curmudgeon wrote: "Um, Galen, there is a "next book" in the works right? "

Indeed, there is. Father Romano hasn't achieved his destiny, and Pascal and Isabelle are destined to help him get ther..."

Cool, and I'm on record, well after this, twice on record, as being a Pascal fan. He's a cool supporting cast character!


I'll formulate some questions and post them as a possible discussion guide... of course, we can always add too, change and modify anything... discussion is sort of a "free range" thing.

@Hugh. Everyone should have a Pascal character in their life. He’s a fascinating guy who only believed he had retired. His real job is just beginning.

@Ctgt. Thank you. I hope you find the next 95% as compelling.

@Magiccats. I got very attached to many of my characters. To think I have imaginary friends at my age. I too shed tears as I typed some of the events in the story. I knew they were coming, and was surprised that I was so affected.

Galen wrote: " I got very attached to many of my characters."

As a reader, I'm glad to see this. One of the aspects of a story that either propels me through the reading, or causes me to abandon the book is simply whether or not I care what happens to the characters. I have long held a hypothesis that if the writer didn't care for them all that much, I don't stand a chance of caring, either. I certainly cared a great deal, as a reader, about all of your characters (even the villains, though in a different direction from the heroes). In a very real sense, I'm even still (view spoiler)[ mourning Johannes/Johanna! (hide spoiler)] :) I'm looking very forward to finding out what happens to them next!

Okay, we have just a few days before the end of February (of course discussion goes on as long as there's people and things to discuss).

Let me post some questions for those who read this.

Discussion Questions (For Inquiring Minds)

1. Did you feel that this was a good Action/Adventure Novel novel?

2. Action scenes. How did they work for you? What kicks the action up a notch for you?

3. What about the Historical thread of the story...did you like this better, less than the modern thread, or did you like both equally well? What did you like most about each?

4. Characters? Who did you like the most, the least? Who was least complete, and who the most?

5. The History. Was it accurate? Did Watson do a good job of explaining things without slowing the story down?

6. Pacing? Too good, not good, perfect?

7. The There were some provocative questions raised in this book, what did you think?

8. Favorite moments.

9. Overall rating: out of 1-10 or 1-5 stars?

10. Books you'd recommend like this one?

11. There will be more. Will you continue the series?

I'm almost finished reading! Busy month for me and no extra time for reading...I hate when that happens!

I'll be a little slow to finish but I'll get there :)

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "Okay, we have just a few days before the end of February (of course discussion goes on as long as there's people and things to discuss).

Let me post some questions for those who read this."

1, 2 & 3. I definitely enjoyed this as an action/adventure story with regard to the present-day plot line, and political intrigue (with elements of action/adventure) in the historical. Great "can they save the day" tension in both. I found myself most drawn in to the historical story (my wife, too).

4. I liked scrappy Johannes the best. The character I feel I know the least about is Isabelle. Looking forward to more "fleshing out" in subsequent novels.

5. According to my Wikipedia foray, the history checks out.

6. It was a page-turner for me!

7. The provocative questions were what attracted me in the first place. I have a long interest in the elements that coalesced to create modern religion (especially Christianity), and what elements were cast aside.

8, 9, 10, & 11.. Ran out of time!! Overall rating, 4.5 stars out of 5. Will most certainly buy any novels that continue the story of Father Romano, Isabelle, and Pascal!

Thanks Bill, I'm with you. I liked Scrappy Johanness and wanted to know more about Isabelle. And I enjoy a provacative novel!

I'm also curious about the Anti-popes and how they come into the picture (one in particular).

I finished up several days ago but am still working on my review. Really enjoyed the story, especially the Johannes storyline. Really liked Baraldus.

Galen. My only small personal issue would be with how you integrated the alternating storylines. I like the switches between stories to be quick and short. What was your process in deciding how and when to switch back and forth. Did you write the stories separately and then put them together afterwards?

With a few more minutes at my disposal this morning, and by way of further explanation, the only reason I didn't give this book the full 5 stars might very well be my own (or my imagination's) fault. The mental image I'd conjured of Johanness did not jibe at all with (view spoiler)[ the revelation that he was, in fact, a she. It left my thoughts a-spin, and I had to regroup before plunging ahead. I know that I can often let details slip by me in reading, and perhaps the author prepared us readers a bit, but, while I did see Johanness as somewhat small, I didn't picture "him" with any feminine traits at all. So, the reading "triple-take". (hide spoiler)] It didn't even come close to hurting the overall story, though. A great, fun read, and a very easy recommendation to friends.

I finished and perfect timing for this months author read. Being raised a Catholic and today waiting for a new Pope to be elected, I've been doing a little research myself to answer some of my own questions.

The Psalter was both thought provoking and intersting the way Galen moved between the old and modern times. I thought it flowed nicely.

I'm in agreement with everyone here. I really got attached to Johanness,Pascal and Fr Romano and can't wait to see what happens next.

There were some provocative questions raised in this book, what did you think?

One that comes to mind. Should priests marry? I never understood why they couldn't. I always thought a priest and a nun would make a perfect match.

I will continue with the series!

Bill wrote: "With a few more minutes at my disposal this morning, and by way of further explanation, the only reason I didn't give this book the full 5 stars might very well be my own (or my imagination's) faul..."

and, I'm with you on the (view spoiler)[ the big reveal. It got me and I went... hey! What did this person look like again? of course I was thinking this was about to go in a totally different direction and I was... like "oh.. no dude don't go there!" so, for me, what a relief! (hide spoiler)]

Ctgt wrote: "My only small personal issue would be with how you integrated the alternating storylines. I like the switches between stories to be quick and short. What was your process in deciding how and when to switch back and forth. Did you write the stories separately and then put them together afterwards? "

Many thanks to everyone for reading and being interested in The Psalter and the issues it considers.

My overriding intent with each grouping of chapters was to show the effect the past had on the present—or at least the present’s relationship to the past. I wrote approximately ten chapters in order but afterward, I started to get lost. So I wrote long stretches of the modern story and the same for the past story. When I finished, I assembled groups of present-day and historic chapters that made the most sense. It was a bit like playing cards: dealing out chapters to see whether it was a winning hand. I tried long sets of chapters and very short ones, trying to keep the tension going in the story. In the beginning of the novel, the groups of chapters are longer before I switch time periods. Toward the end, I shortened the number of chapters to increase the pace and tension. When I was satisfied with the sequence, I rewrote and edited.

Thanks Galen. I appreciate the feedback on your process, it's nice to get a peek behind the curtain.

I have often thought about the process of copying ancient texts and what was "lost in translation" over the years either by accident or intent.

I know I'm a little behind schedule, but I am starting this book today...really looking forward to it!

Lisa wrote: "I know I'm a little behind schedule, but I am starting this book today...really looking forward to it!"

The thread's gonna stay open. I'm dying to hear what you think of it, Lisa.