Rating: 
Summary: The Jester is a loser
Review: Very few times have I started a book, got half way thru it and gave up. The book stinks, To use modern day terms in a time period such as this book was in, is really dumb! An example, calling some one a "Dick", as if they used that term in the Biblical times. I have and will continue to read James Patterson,but if this book is at a garage sale for [money amount], don't bother to buy it!
Rating: 
Summary: First Stab at Historical
Review: James Patterson takes his first stab at historical genre with co-author Andrew Gross in a medievial tale set in 11th century where an impoverished inn-keeper Hugh De Luc decides to fulfil his destiny in joining The Crusades to Jerusalem. Patterson's punchy style sets the frenetic pace of the tale and pitches the massacre with action and violence. He arrives back to discover his wife Sophie and son kidnapped by black 'faceless' men. Hugh battles his way in search of his wife and leads the townspeople to revolt against two oppressive dukes. Little did he know that Filled with doses of humour and warmth, Patterson's characters shine with wits and intelligence regardless of the genre. Though the history in the book comes across as fleeting, it is nonetheless an entertaining romp galvanized with energy.
Rating:
Summary: Primitive trash
Review: I like historical fiction, and I was deceived by the editorial review. This book would do for an early teenage boy audience, if it had less graphic descriptions of gore, violence, and sexual actions. The editorial review pointed out that one could learn about medieval life from this book. All I could learn that they often had sex (in various ways), many of them enjoyed sadistic torture, murder and rape, and that contemporary ladies were not offended by the outpouring dirty jokes jesters indulged their audiences. Indeed, much of the book consisted of nothing but these three components, and heavily loaded with foul language. The plot was simple-minded, and far from being original. The punchline (the identity of Lady Emilie) was obvious well ahead of the "revelation". The style of the book hits a new low. Most of it is written in the first person, as if the book was written by Hugh de Luc, the Jester/Inn-keeper. Well, he might have written it, because it does not read like anything written by a professional writer. The reason I know it was not written by Hugh de Luc is that he would have been less contemporary in his "insights" and jokes. Oh, yes, the jokes. I knew most of them - or at least a variation of them. It seems that there is nothing new under the sun, and the same jokes make (some) people laugh for over a thousand years. Or is it perhaps (?) the other way around, and the authors waste pages on borrowed contemporary jokes dressed in a jester's costume? The book was supposed to be a page-turner. To make sure it happened (and not to exhaust the limited attention span of a certain segment of the reader population) the chapters were very brief. To be sure, one could write a page-turner also by captivating the reader, and keeping him/her engaged with excellent story-telling and style. The short chapters are poor substitute for literary quality. Some of the chapters were not written in the first person. These chapters were disperesed throughout the book to describe events the Jester could not have known, and were written by "the authors". The mixing of the two viewpoints was not confusing, but was an easy way to escape the difficulties inherent in telling the story from the viewpoint of the main character. I was not convinced that this mixed form of storyline works well, but it certainly was not stylish. At least that's a consistent feature of the book.I can't believe that this book was intended to serve any other purpose than to cater to the least common denominator in order to sell more copies and to make more money. In fact, I found "financial incentive" attached to the pages of the book to promote it among my friends. Unfortunately, the book's trashy values ('values' may not be the right expression) just make a negative dent on some developing readers' aesthetic concepts. I am happy to decline the financial gain. Knowing my friends, I could not recommend this book to any of them. I would lose their respect for good... I took this book to the beach, and although I thoroughly despised it, I forced myself to read it from cover to cover. That way, at least, I could honestly write my opinion about it. I would strongly recommend anyone against wasting money on this piece of trash. Some commented that this book was prime Patterson. If this is prime, how bad are the rest? I think I read two books by him, when I read The Jester. The first and the last. I just can't see myself spending on any of his books.
Rating: 
Summary: WHAT A GREAT BOOK!!!
Review: i LOVED THIS BOOK. IT WAS MY FIRST JAMES PATTERSON BOOK, MY HUSBAND IS READING IT NOW, IT'S HIS FIRST JAMES PATTERSON BOOK AS WELL. jUST A GREAT STORY WHILE ASLEEP I WOULD DREAM ABOUT IT AND THEN HAVE TO WAKE UP AND READ THE REST.
Rating:
Summary: 20th century plot filled in a 11th century bottle
Review: I doubt that any research at all had been done about the 11th century that this book is supposed to have pictured.
The plot is too boring and monotonous.
I just cannot understand why so many people - judging from the number of reviews - bought this book.
Spend your money on Michael Crichton's timeline instead.
Rating:
Summary: AWFUL!
Review: If I could give this book a zero rating I would. It is awful...trite plot, shallow characters, endless blood and gore, which, in many cases, doesn't advance the plot...just seems to fill time/pages.
I LOVE the Alex Cross series, but James Patterson should be taken out and beaten for this one. Over-blown plot line and silly hypothesis.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Book
Review: The Jester, was definitely a different book, but it was interesting. I couldn't put the book down. The plot was different, about during the roman days. I recommend reading this book to all James Patterson fans.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting idea, weak execution...
Review: The basics of the story is interesting enough, but the authors did not do a good enough job of conveying the feel of the period, whether in social/physical details or in conversations. Perhaps this book is an example of research-lite.
Rating:
Summary: I think these authors play too many video games
Review: While reading this Patterson/Gross novel I felt as though I was playing a video game...I have read all of Mr. Patterson's previous books and totally enjoyed them. This one..not so much. I found it to be almost a child/teen novel. Maybe they flet they could compete with Harry Potter in that venue, but I don't think it works.
Rating:
Summary: A graceful and enthralling leap from one genre to another...
Review: can only be achieved by a writer such as Patterson. At first glance it seems like the old 'good against evil' theme. But this novel goes deeply into the history of the times; miles and miles of research, I am sure. And exquisitely done. The characters are alive and real and the stylish writing makes it so easy to follow along in the JESTER'S footsteps. Love of his family, slaughtered while he is off on the quest of what could only be a myth,lead him on the search for the villain that has caused his gut-wrenching pain and lead us down a path of blood, murder and mayhem....and would you believe laughter? How skillful of Patterson and Gross to intertwine so many emotions and episodes and end up with such an entertaining story. I found it mesmerizing and somewhat enchanting. A wonderful book companion that did not put me to sleep, but awakened many deep feelings and tickled my funnybone at the same time! The ending is masterful and I hope you will get to enjoy Hugh, the JESTER, who feels that 'to make people laugh', while still accomplishing all that needs to be done, 'that is the thing..that is what it is all about'. Laugh, cry, suffer, love, yearn for,lose love and find anew, along with our JESTER hero and you will have a great time.
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