However, after a second run I suspect that he is hoping to find a way to un-undead himself (after all, the wizard who owned the place was hellbent on achieving true resurrection, not just making zombies) - and the book plays a major role in his playthrough.
Ooh, I like that theory. It's a better explanation than Astarion being power hungry, desperate and a little stupid - which he is, don't get me wrong, but his desire for the book seems disproportionate to anything we know about its importance.
