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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
In need of a good edit. Way too long for the story.
It seems like most fans of Margaret George liked this book the least of, or at least less than, her other books. So I am really excited to read more of her historical fiction. This book might be the longest I have ever read, at about 970 pages(not Harry Potter pages, either).
The first half is a quicker read, with Cleopatra's rise to the throne, saving her country from the Roman Empire, marriage to Caesar, and then her second marriage to Antony. It is filled with vivid accounts of life from 70-30 BC. It is incredible how advanced a society Ancient Egypt was, and it's so interesting to read about dirty, dark, dingy Rome in comparison to bright, intellectual, airy Alexandria. The second half of the book is a slower read, covering the demise of Egyptian rule and the end of the lives of Cleo and Antony. It is a slow, grieving, painful, hopeless demise. You know where it is going, but you don't really want to be taken there. The accounts of Antony's depression are long and torturous, but make empathizing with Cleo that much easier. Her reign and wealth and rule were great, but so were the burdens she carried. The impossible decisions she had to make! This is one amazing woman.
From what I understand, George is an outstanding researcher, and everything in the book is factual as far as we know it. If there are two equally valid paths historians take, she chooses the one most flattering to Cleopatra. I am so glad I read this book, if only for the way it gathers, in my mind, previously discrete parts of history. It gives me a framework to understand greater world events. As my book club pointed out, it makes studying history a fun accident.
The first half is a quicker read, with Cleopatra's rise to the throne, saving her country from the Roman Empire, marriage to Caesar, and then her second marriage to Antony. It is filled with vivid accounts of life from 70-30 BC. It is incredible how advanced a society Ancient Egypt was, and it's so interesting to read about dirty, dark, dingy Rome in comparison to bright, intellectual, airy Alexandria. The second half of the book is a slower read, covering the demise of Egyptian rule and the end of the lives of Cleo and Antony. It is a slow, grieving, painful, hopeless demise. You know where it is going, but you don't really want to be taken there. The accounts of Antony's depression are long and torturous, but make empathizing with Cleo that much easier. Her reign and wealth and rule were great, but so were the burdens she carried. The impossible decisions she had to make! This is one amazing woman.
From what I understand, George is an outstanding researcher, and everything in the book is factual as far as we know it. If there are two equally valid paths historians take, she chooses the one most flattering to Cleopatra. I am so glad I read this book, if only for the way it gathers, in my mind, previously discrete parts of history. It gives me a framework to understand greater world events. As my book club pointed out, it makes studying history a fun accident.
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.
Oh my gosh...I feel like I just ran a marathon with this book. It was an amazing read, but definitely not something to take on lightly. If you are a fan of Ancient Egypt like I am you will LOVE this novel :)
DNF. Honestly just got bored. This was a decent book, but the flowy descriptions got out of hand. I would pick it up for a few chapters and then put it back down for a couple months and forget what was going on, then get bored by a multi page description of the curtains or some such.
Finally finished! it took me more than 2 weeks to read this, I feel a mix of relief and accomplishment in moving the longest books from my TBR into the read folder.
I think that Cleopatra characterization was a bit off, in this novel, she seems to be moved almost exclusively by romantic passion, often complaining and sulking. Her portrayal is far from the calculating and shrewd ruler I was expecting. She was an intelligent and learned woman able to hold her enemies (both internal and external) at bay with a mix of clever strategy and alliances, who was behind the assassination of her own sister Arsinoe, and, while alive, managed to prevent Egypt becoming one of Rome’s provinces (this occurred only after her death).
Painting Anthony as a hedonistic fool, a drunkard and a hopeless winger after the defeat at Actium is also too simplistic in my opinion.
I noticed a couple of mistakes, but overall the novel is evocative, very detailed and historical accurate, which is always appreciated. While for the most part this book was enjoyable and interesting, I found it too long, unnecessary padding, e.g. Cleopatra’s rambling on and on, could have been easily avoided, and the story would have flown better IMO. Still well worth the read.
3.5 stars.
I think that Cleopatra characterization was a bit off, in this novel, she seems to be moved almost exclusively by romantic passion, often complaining and sulking. Her portrayal is far from the calculating and shrewd ruler I was expecting. She was an intelligent and learned woman able to hold her enemies (both internal and external) at bay with a mix of clever strategy and alliances, who was behind the assassination of her own sister Arsinoe, and, while alive, managed to prevent Egypt becoming one of Rome’s provinces (this occurred only after her death).
Painting Anthony as a hedonistic fool, a drunkard and a hopeless winger after the defeat at Actium is also too simplistic in my opinion.
I noticed a couple of mistakes, but overall the novel is evocative, very detailed and historical accurate, which is always appreciated. While for the most part this book was enjoyable and interesting, I found it too long, unnecessary padding, e.g. Cleopatra’s rambling on and on, could have been easily avoided, and the story would have flown better IMO. Still well worth the read.
3.5 stars.
It should've been called the Boring Memoirs of Cleopatra.
I loved the beginning and the end of this book. I listened to it as an audio book, and the narrator had a wonderful voice that really captured all the different characters. The story did drag on some during the middle, but it for my attention again by the end. When it was over I felt a sense of loss for Cleopatra, she was an amazing woman and queen.
Love this memoir!
The fact that it's written with the first person makes it instantly more interesting.
Fictional narrative always makes reading more attraying in my opinion.
took me time to finish those 1k pages because real life but I finally did. *yay me*
the author seems well aware of Cleopatra life and provoked a curiosity about all its history.
Anyway 4 stars.
The fact that it's written with the first person makes it instantly more interesting.
Fictional narrative always makes reading more attraying in my opinion.
took me time to finish those 1k pages because real life but I finally did. *yay me*
the author seems well aware of Cleopatra life and provoked a curiosity about all its history.
Anyway 4 stars.
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes