I don't know why, but I quite enjoyed the book.
I think it was all the faux-historical stuff that made me look up actual real history stuff that I found very interesting.
( Noit happy baby orangutan, Sun 10 May 2009, 16:28, archived)

So it wasn't the book itself, but the indirect joy you got from it.

( Master Of Turnips. Only gays and morons believe in ghosts., Sun 10 May 2009, 16:29, archived)

I enjoyed it the first time I read it
as the plot moved sufficiently quickly to prevent me from thinking about any of it, but I tried reading it again a while later and hated it.
( minimum fuss - an all time favourite, Sun 10 May 2009, 16:29, archived)