The Augusta Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 And now I've come away from the ancient world for a little while, and am revisiting the excellent The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon K. Penman - a novel I first read years ago. Like an old vintage it has matured beautifully with the distance of years, and captures the character of Richard III so beautifully that it must rank as THE definitive Dicky 3 novel. I need lots of escapism at the mo - my working life has taken a huge upturn, which is nice for a gal my age, but by the gods, I'm busy! Try organising twelve orthopaedic surgeons and learning an accounting course on for size! Still, at least I know I'm not on the scrap heap. My long bus journeys, during which I can curl up on the seat with a book, have never been so precious to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonic Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 (edited) I have Amazon UK open on another window, and I am about to order our very own Sonic's Belisarius!! I hope you like it. I'm just annoyed that you weren't contacted by the publisher. Oh well, never mind ... I've just finished the Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe Trilogy in four parts. Very funny. Edited March 6, 2009 by sonic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klingan Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 (edited) R. Ling's Pompeii: Life, death and afterlife. I will try to write a short review on it! Edit: Next book finished, B. Santillo Frizell's 'Pastorala landskap' (Rural landscapes) about Roman shepherding. I finally found time to catch up on some books as my essay now is finished. Edited March 10, 2009 by Klingan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Currently reading "Antony and Cleopatra" by Colleen McCullough. It's not as good as the previous novels in her Masters of Rome series or perhaps it's just me having trouble concentrating. Mark Antony, in particular, is extremely annoying and I often find myself wanting to slap him across the face. I guess the author has intended for his character to come across as weak and whiny but boy, there are limits. As for Octavian, even though she tries hard to breathe some life into him, he still seems a bit one-dimensional. Not so previously with Sulla, Marius and Caesar! I don't normally go for bestsellers but there are a few authors, such as C. McCullough, that I genuinely enjoy. Her writing is objective but with a dash of dark humour, which I appreciate. However, I guess I'll go for something different next time I buy a novel by her. Perhaps "The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet" will do, hehe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlapse Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 I just finished Rant by Chuck Palahniuk and its, well... a Palahniuk book. Enough said. Though, the theme is a bit different from previous novels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladius Hispaniensis Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I am now reading Michael Grant's "Herod the Great". Looks promising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanista Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 I've just read Douglas Jackson's "Caligula" novel which was a bright, entertaining novel. Very pacy and engaging, I'd recommend it throughly. Cheers Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonic Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 And now I've come away from the ancient world for a little while, and am revisiting the excellent The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon K. Penman - a novel I first read years ago. Like an old vintage it has matured beautifully with the distance of years, and captures the character of Richard III so beautifully that it must rank as THE definitive Dicky 3 novel. It's not bad, but I much preferred her book 'Here be Dragons' about Llewelyn Fawr, Prince of Wales during the reign of King John. I think she captures my vision of John, as well as enhancing my love of Welsh history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.P.Q.R. Posted April 1, 2009 Report Share Posted April 1, 2009 And now I've come away from the ancient world for a little while, and am revisiting the excellent The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon K. Penman - a novel I first read years ago. Like an old vintage it has matured beautifully with the distance of years, and captures the character of Richard III so beautifully that it must rank as THE definitive Dicky 3 novel. It's not bad, but I much preferred her book 'Here be Dragons' about Llewelyn Fawr, Prince of Wales during the reign of King John. I think she captures my vision of John, as well as enhancing my love of Welsh history. I've got about 10 pages left in Christian Meier's biography: "Caesar". After that i'm gonna need to decide what I want to read next. Either: Rome And Her Enemies, by Jane Penrose or American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880-1964, by William Manchester Such tough decisions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artimi Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 I tend to read a couple of non fiction books in tandem. right now I am still reading Cottrell's book on Rome and a book on Ukrainian history. The book on Ukrainian history is very good. I just got 'Working IX to V' by Vicki Leon. Very much in tone and style as 'Uppity Women of Ancient Times' One day (I always promise myself this), I will finish non fiction books as fast as I do fiction ones. Not drag it over months like I usually do. For fiction, I am reading Susanna Gregory's 3rd book in the Thomas Chaloner adventure series in Restoration London. S. Gregory has 2 series that I know of. The first one is the matthew Bartholomew series (about 1200's?? ). I enjoy her books, the history is very accurate and the murder mysteries quite intriguing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursus Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 One day (I always promise myself this), I will finish non fiction books as fast as I do fiction ones. Not drag it over months like I usually do. I seem to be the opposite: I can't get into fiction books unless they are very well-written. I have several books on the way (Reading List). I just got through the first few chapters of "Learn Ancient Greek" by Peter Jones. But having now mastered the alphabet, I don't see myself as having the time or inclination to progress. I'll stick to English and my very basic Latin. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladius Hispaniensis Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 I just finished reading "The Spartans" by Paul Cartledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medusa Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 I just started reading "Gladiators - Violence and Spectacle in Ancient Rome" by Roger Dunkle. So far of course nothing new on this topic only interesting prespective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sylla Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 (edited) Alan Moore's The Watchmen. A fascinating depiction of an alternate history for the late XX century. Edited April 19, 2009 by sylla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ingsoc Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Virgilius' Aeneas, translated to Hebrew by Shlomo Dykman, his translation is superb and I find myself enjoying his Hebrew as much as the plot of Virgilius. Alan Moore's The Watchmen. A fascinating depiction of an alternate history for the late XX century. I've read it, I think it's the most interesting and original depicting of super-heroes in comics books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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