Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I remember loving this...everything about it. From it's weightiness, to the fact that it took place in Egypt, to the fact that it's Cleopatra, for heaven's sake! If you like this time period, read this brilliantly written novel.
4.5 stars.
I'm finally finished with this book. I can't believe it.
First off this book was wonderful. Don't mistake me taking a year reading this as a bad thing. When I read history heavy type books I normally take it in chunks because I like to savor and process it. I get a richer experience that way.
Secondly, this book and I have been through a lot together. I seemed to want to read this novel when I was going through a lot of personal and professional changes/issues. I started reading it in January after the two stores I'd worked at for a nearly 2 years (same company) closed and I didn't have a solid place to go yet. Then when I had a temporary position at another store (same company) Memoirs of Cleopatra joined me there and while I was learning my way through new tasks, Cleopatra was planning on meeting Caesar in an effort to get his help. This book has been with me through a couple new job titles, a promotion, death of family members, and happy times with family and friends. Even if this book wasn't as great as it is, I would still treasure it because it went with me on a lot of ups and downs.
I'm a romance lover and I loved both Caesar & Cleopatra and Antony & Cleopatra's romance. Both men brought out different qualities with her but she always remained Cleopatra, woman, queen, and mother.
This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who likes or loves history. Of course there were some liberties taken here and there and some guesses made but this is a solid Cleopatra novel.
The only downside, downside's not really the right word, but I did want to read about Caesar's, Octavian's, and Antony's side of things. However I realized going in that this was all from Cleopatra's point of view. So I'll have to read other books that show more of their side of things. Which won't be a hardship because I love ancient history, especially Greek, Roman, and Egyptian history.
I'm finally finished with this book. I can't believe it.
First off this book was wonderful. Don't mistake me taking a year reading this as a bad thing. When I read history heavy type books I normally take it in chunks because I like to savor and process it. I get a richer experience that way.
Secondly, this book and I have been through a lot together. I seemed to want to read this novel when I was going through a lot of personal and professional changes/issues. I started reading it in January after the two stores I'd worked at for a nearly 2 years (same company) closed and I didn't have a solid place to go yet. Then when I had a temporary position at another store (same company) Memoirs of Cleopatra joined me there and while I was learning my way through new tasks, Cleopatra was planning on meeting Caesar in an effort to get his help. This book has been with me through a couple new job titles, a promotion, death of family members, and happy times with family and friends. Even if this book wasn't as great as it is, I would still treasure it because it went with me on a lot of ups and downs.
I'm a romance lover and I loved both Caesar & Cleopatra and Antony & Cleopatra's romance. Both men brought out different qualities with her but she always remained Cleopatra, woman, queen, and mother.
This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who likes or loves history. Of course there were some liberties taken here and there and some guesses made but this is a solid Cleopatra novel.
The only downside, downside's not really the right word, but I did want to read about Caesar's, Octavian's, and Antony's side of things. However I realized going in that this was all from Cleopatra's point of view. So I'll have to read other books that show more of their side of things. Which won't be a hardship because I love ancient history, especially Greek, Roman, and Egyptian history.
I love Egyptian historical fiction novels. This one is long, but definitely worth the read. I actually read this a few years ago and still recommend it to people as I fell in love with Cleopatra by the end of the novel and was loathe to finish the book because history has already written out her demise.
fascinating life and a fascinating story. It's a bit long-winded but I loved reading about Cleopatra's life.
challenging
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a heartfelt and lovingly crafted account of Cleopatra's life that it's hard to fault it, even though there are many parts that could've been trimmed down for a more concise story. Surprisingly, though, the parts that seemed to drag the most were where you'd expect the climax to be: the battles and standoff between Cleopatra and Octavian. George's strength was not in her accounting of these times, which often come across as dry and read like a history textbook.
Rather, the writing shines its brightest when accounting of Cleopatra's more regular life -- her visits to various places, her bonding with her children. They all had a lovely touch of humanity to the woman who, to many, lost her humanity throughout history and instead became a caricature of herself in their minds. This is as whole an account of Cleopatra's life as one could hope for, and given how rich the writing is in her most tender moments, it more than makes up for the dry pages that give historical facts by rote.
Rather, the writing shines its brightest when accounting of Cleopatra's more regular life -- her visits to various places, her bonding with her children. They all had a lovely touch of humanity to the woman who, to many, lost her humanity throughout history and instead became a caricature of herself in their minds. This is as whole an account of Cleopatra's life as one could hope for, and given how rich the writing is in her most tender moments, it more than makes up for the dry pages that give historical facts by rote.
for someone who died so young, she takes an awfully long time about it.
WOW, this book truly feels like an accomplishment to complete. My edition totalled 1137 pages, which probably makes it the largest book I have ever read. I'm also sad that it's actually over too, as it was a surprisingly engrossing read.
I think my enjoyment of this novel was helped out by the fact that I knew very little of Cleopatra's life before reading, I knew of the basics of course. Her affairs with Caesar and Anthony, and her chosen form of death, but other than that I was completely ignorant. The writer does extremely well in creating ancient Egypt, in fact at times, it felt like if I was to magically appear there, that I would easily be able to find my way around. The descriptions were beautiful, the Nile, the Temples, everything was grand and well described.
If I have any criticisms, it is that certain points do become slightly repetitive. Cleopatra finds herself telling Anthony and Ceaser that she loves them many times, and from the Author's notes it's clear that those relationships have become a lot more romanticised, and the last two hundred pages are an agonising wait to the conclusion (but considering this is historically accurate that can't be helped)…but, overall it truly is a wonderful novel, I don't especially see myself reading it a second time but I can't recommend it enough.
I also have George's 'Helen of Troy' novel, so that will be in the to-read pile, although I think a break from historical fiction is due for a while.
I think my enjoyment of this novel was helped out by the fact that I knew very little of Cleopatra's life before reading, I knew of the basics of course. Her affairs with Caesar and Anthony, and her chosen form of death, but other than that I was completely ignorant. The writer does extremely well in creating ancient Egypt, in fact at times, it felt like if I was to magically appear there, that I would easily be able to find my way around. The descriptions were beautiful, the Nile, the Temples, everything was grand and well described.
If I have any criticisms, it is that certain points do become slightly repetitive. Cleopatra finds herself telling Anthony and Ceaser that she loves them many times, and from the Author's notes it's clear that those relationships have become a lot more romanticised, and the last two hundred pages are an agonising wait to the conclusion (but considering this is historically accurate that can't be helped)…but, overall it truly is a wonderful novel, I don't especially see myself reading it a second time but I can't recommend it enough.
I also have George's 'Helen of Troy' novel, so that will be in the to-read pile, although I think a break from historical fiction is due for a while.
What an absolutely wonderful book about the entirety of Cleopatras life. I picked this book because I absolutely adore historical fiction and Cleopatra (and ancient Egypt) was one subject I hadn’t read many books on! George does a wonderful job sucking the reader into Cleopatra’s time. I felt like I was there beside her experiencing everything. The last hundred pages are so are very depressing but i felt was needed. I wanted to cry when I finally finished it because of the finality of it all. Definitely will have a book hangover for weeks after this one!
Overall I really enjoyed Memoirs of Cleopatra. I always find a lot of enjoyment in reading historical fiction because it makes the generic "names and dates" into real people I can not only relate to but understand as well.
While reading this novel, I read another biographical Cleopatra novel out of curiosity to compare the historical acurateness of the memoirs and besides the major events such as battles and dates, it was a pretty poor depiction of the queen. I felt like the author made this previously confident and strong woman incredibly weak at the end having to rely and trust Antony more than I would have liked. I understand youre in love, but how did your fierce warrior personality take a complete turn to a sap? I guess the major problem with this book is the fact we really just don't know that much about Cleopatra.
Basically I thought it was a fun read but knowing that so much of the novel was completely fictional, not even loosely based on history, really troubled me espcially considering how long the book was.
While reading this novel, I read another biographical Cleopatra novel out of curiosity to compare the historical acurateness of the memoirs and besides the major events such as battles and dates, it was a pretty poor depiction of the queen. I felt like the author made this previously confident and strong woman incredibly weak at the end having to rely and trust Antony more than I would have liked. I understand youre in love, but how did your fierce warrior personality take a complete turn to a sap? I guess the major problem with this book is the fact we really just don't know that much about Cleopatra.
Basically I thought it was a fun read but knowing that so much of the novel was completely fictional, not even loosely based on history, really troubled me espcially considering how long the book was.
Wow, I can't believe this book is over...I feel a sense of accomplishment for having finished it (it's really, really long) and a sense of loss that it's over. The writing is so beautiful and real that it isn't a stretch at all to imagine that Cleopatra wrote it herself. There are so many incredible sentences in this book I could write page after page of quotes. Some of my favorites: "Always carry a limited gold service with you, was my motto." and "When fate offers you no choice you must appear to relish it." and "Goddesses do not grow old." Those are just quick samples of some sentences that made me smile. My only small complaint about this book would be the length, but, after thinking about it, this book would not have felt complete or like a true memoir if it was any shorter. By spending so much time with Cleopatra you really feel like you know her by the conclusion. And, you can't help but feel a dramatic sense of loss by the end even though you know it's coming. Knowing doesn't make her fate any less lamentable. 5 stars.