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aestro's review against another edition
3.0
I am just done reading the Golden Mean and I can’t stop thinking how this book could have been so much more. This is the story of Aristotle and his role as Alexander the Great teacher, during the years the old teacher spent in Macedonia. While the book tries to keep the reader involved through the eyes of Alexander teacher, both of the main characters are showed to be damaged by their life and their upbringing.
This is not bad in itself, but I was expecting a book about one of those rare moments in time when great minds and pioneers comes together to change the world. This is still a good story, but it could have been a great one about changing the world instead of famous characters personal faults.
This is not bad in itself, but I was expecting a book about one of those rare moments in time when great minds and pioneers comes together to change the world. This is still a good story, but it could have been a great one about changing the world instead of famous characters personal faults.
eososray's review against another edition
2.0
I did not like this book. The story was harsh and coarse, from the writing to the words to the characters. The storytelling felt forced and I have never been a fan of historical fiction that attempts to use modern words and sensibilities to tell an ancient tale. It somehow reads like a false story for me.
batbones's review against another edition
4.0
'Soon I'll be alone in a quiet room where, for the rest of my life, I can float farther and farther out into the world, while my student, charging off the end of every map, falls deeper and deeper into the well of himself.'
egbella's review against another edition
3.0
Objectively, this was a pretty well-written book, with an intriguing premise, rich setting, and fascinating imaginings into some of history's largest figures. Personally, I couldn't get it into it as much as I'd hoped, due to the - at times very explicit - content, large cast that took me until the end of the book to get a grasp on, the very reflective writing style, and an overall disinterest for the protagonist (from which we witness the entire story).
I was also continuously pulled from the story by the modernizations all throughout. From modern curse words to modern scientific theories being stated by ancient philosophies that wouldn't have known about it yet, it seemed like the story was being pulled in two different directions.
Overall, I wanted to love this book, but it wasn't my favorite. Still, I admire the author's historical research for the most part, and her strong grasp of creating interesting characters and a very well-detailed, rich setting.
CW: Sexual content, strong and frequent language, detailed, slightly gory, and frequent descriptions of surgeries and medical experiments, war, and death.
I was also continuously pulled from the story by the modernizations all throughout. From modern curse words to modern scientific theories being stated by ancient philosophies that wouldn't have known about it yet, it seemed like the story was being pulled in two different directions.
Overall, I wanted to love this book, but it wasn't my favorite. Still, I admire the author's historical research for the most part, and her strong grasp of creating interesting characters and a very well-detailed, rich setting.
CW: Sexual content, strong and frequent language, detailed, slightly gory, and frequent descriptions of surgeries and medical experiments, war, and death.
kirtim's review against another edition
3.0
A little slow going and the characterization of Aristotle drove me crazy. Could he really have been such a nob? That being said I became intrigued by the era and have started reading more Aristotle and more historical fiction set around this time.
romantiques's review against another edition
5.0
"you will write me great letters," i say. "they will last a thousand years, and forever after all the thinkers will know that you were also one of us."
kate_cunningham's review
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
simmonsmry's review against another edition
4.0
Told in the voice of Aristotle during the time when he became tutor to the Macedonian prince who would become Alexander the Great, The Golden Mean gives readers an intimate glimpse into the well-respected philosopher’s thoughts and experiences. This historical figure, considered to have one of the greatest minds in history, comes off as an ordinary, unsure human being, with flaws, doubts and a tendency towards depression.
Canadian literary author Annabel Lyon takes some dramatic license with the historical events, figures and circumstances; however, she succeeds in capturing the era and going deeper into the lives of these people who have shaped the history of the modern world. Rather than concentrating on the philosophical writings of Aristotle or the epic battles of Alexander the Great, this novel explores their everyday lives, taking us into Aristotle’s household, where we get to meet his wife, his children, and his servants. We are also treated to flashbacks in which the great thinker remembers his childhood when he accompanied his physician father to the homes of his patients.
The Golden Mean is at times erotic, violent and disturbing, in a refreshing way that brings the characters to life rather than depicting them weakly through the historical lens of all they accomplished. The language is curt and somewhat analytical, not tending towards poetic or beautifully descriptive passages. This seems appropriate as the narrator is a man who sometimes thinks without seeing and observes without immersing himself in his subjects. He is apart from the world rather than deeply ensconced in it. As a scientist and analyst, he is somewhat detached from that which he studies. His emotions, while often being close to the surface, are bewildering and troubling to him. He views them as an illness, a bothersome aspect of his makeup that he wishes to avoid and correct. While enlightened in many aspects of the world, he is rather naive in others. Since Lyon chose to write the novel from Aristotle’s viewpoint, all of the other characters are depicted through him and it is interesting to speculate on the accuracy of his judgements. There are times when Lyon hints that Aristotle’s views are arbitrary and mistaken, cleverly written in such a way that the character is not aware of them, although astute readers will make their own conclusions.
The title refers to Aristotle’s philosophy that goodness comes from a general point between two extremes, and much of the book falls into this category. Lyon suggests that Aristotle attempted to live his life in this manner and also expected it of those around him. Extreme behaviour is considered unpleasant and unnecessary, and yet it is in the extremes that true emotions and depths of feeling are experienced. By attempting to avoid the extremes, they become all the more obvious and inevitable. An intelligent and carefully written novel, I would recommend The Golden Mean and look forward to future works by Annabel Lyon.
Canadian literary author Annabel Lyon takes some dramatic license with the historical events, figures and circumstances; however, she succeeds in capturing the era and going deeper into the lives of these people who have shaped the history of the modern world. Rather than concentrating on the philosophical writings of Aristotle or the epic battles of Alexander the Great, this novel explores their everyday lives, taking us into Aristotle’s household, where we get to meet his wife, his children, and his servants. We are also treated to flashbacks in which the great thinker remembers his childhood when he accompanied his physician father to the homes of his patients.
The Golden Mean is at times erotic, violent and disturbing, in a refreshing way that brings the characters to life rather than depicting them weakly through the historical lens of all they accomplished. The language is curt and somewhat analytical, not tending towards poetic or beautifully descriptive passages. This seems appropriate as the narrator is a man who sometimes thinks without seeing and observes without immersing himself in his subjects. He is apart from the world rather than deeply ensconced in it. As a scientist and analyst, he is somewhat detached from that which he studies. His emotions, while often being close to the surface, are bewildering and troubling to him. He views them as an illness, a bothersome aspect of his makeup that he wishes to avoid and correct. While enlightened in many aspects of the world, he is rather naive in others. Since Lyon chose to write the novel from Aristotle’s viewpoint, all of the other characters are depicted through him and it is interesting to speculate on the accuracy of his judgements. There are times when Lyon hints that Aristotle’s views are arbitrary and mistaken, cleverly written in such a way that the character is not aware of them, although astute readers will make their own conclusions.
The title refers to Aristotle’s philosophy that goodness comes from a general point between two extremes, and much of the book falls into this category. Lyon suggests that Aristotle attempted to live his life in this manner and also expected it of those around him. Extreme behaviour is considered unpleasant and unnecessary, and yet it is in the extremes that true emotions and depths of feeling are experienced. By attempting to avoid the extremes, they become all the more obvious and inevitable. An intelligent and carefully written novel, I would recommend The Golden Mean and look forward to future works by Annabel Lyon.
megan_prairierose's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 Stars. I really wanted to love this book. I found the story and characters hard to follow and to connect with. I did enjoy the exchanges between Aristotle and his wife, but the rest of the story fell a bit flat for me.
I think if you are interested in this time period then this would be a good book for you to read.
I think if you are interested in this time period then this would be a good book for you to read.