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lynne61's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's obviously a bit of Roman propaganda, and for me the battles are too gory. The notes were helpful in explaining a lot of the characters and places of significance. It's a great epic work. My favourite part was Aneas visiting his father in the underworld. I found it odd that suicides were despised yet later Romans often took this as the honuorable way out. Perhaps as they were forced in to this the God's relented. A powerful work.
elydy's review
3.0
SB's translation is beautiful. That said, the first half felt like an Odyssey rehash and the second half like an Iliad rehash. I wanted to read more of the interesting stuff - end of the Trojan war, and Dido.
desdemona13's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Pious Aeneas travels the seas. I loved this am high rn but I loved this and it def inspired the end of cardinal prayers. slay vergil.
carcookie12's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
potterpav's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
this book would have been so much better if there was 24 books and each book was 12 pages. i think it was an interesting choice to have 6 books like the odyssey and 6 books like the iliad, but it just didn't have the same ring because i simply didn't care for the characters enough like i did in the iliad. the only thing that kept me reading was the thought of another diomedes and achilles reference. i just think it was too slow and the final battle chapters had way too many names for me to care and i didn't think turnus was a good villain. virgil do better. virgil? more like virgin LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
flisss's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
arthurbdd's review
4.0
Excellent new translation of the classic, with useful notes. Bartsch is able to give the best parts of the poem extra shine, and does what she can with the more interminable sections. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/2022/03/06/adrift-at-the-dawn-of-empire/
octavii42's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My 5* review goes to the translator, Shadi Bartsch, for such a beautiful and thrilling translation of this epic poem - my favourite so far! As for the story (written by Vergil) it can be tough to get through at times, the latter half especially which is more battle scenes than anything else. Incredibly violent in places and because you don't really get to know any of the characters, you don't feel anything when all the violence and death is taking place. Book II is my favourite which recites the fall of Troy in such vivid detail (from Aeneas's perspective) that you feel like you're really there!
berethnetqueen's review
Took a too long break. I'll probably continue sometime soon, but I'll just start at the beginning