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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Margaret George has written an amazing account of the life of Cleopatra. At over 950 pages in length, I was a bit intimidated to start reading this book. However, it held my attention every evening when I sat down to read it. No nodding off for me, I was completely spellbound!
The tale begins as Cleopatra details the earliest memories of her life. When she was very young she lost her mother to drowning in a boating accident. In her youth she is befriended by Olympus and Mardian, a eunuch. They will be among her closest confidantes her entire life. Cleopatra came from the line of Ptolemy whose members were known for their infighting and competition for the throne of Egypt. When she is a bit older she watches as her sisters steal the throne from her father. But it is Cleopatra who will become Queen after her older sister Berenice is executed. In her teens she meets Mark Anthony in Alexandria, and journeys to Rome where she meets Julius Caesar. Both will become her significant other at different points in time. The cast of character is huge, the sequence of events in her life story is constant, and her motives and emotions lead her to her final destiny. Great read!
The tale begins as Cleopatra details the earliest memories of her life. When she was very young she lost her mother to drowning in a boating accident. In her youth she is befriended by Olympus and Mardian, a eunuch. They will be among her closest confidantes her entire life. Cleopatra came from the line of Ptolemy whose members were known for their infighting and competition for the throne of Egypt. When she is a bit older she watches as her sisters steal the throne from her father. But it is Cleopatra who will become Queen after her older sister Berenice is executed. In her teens she meets Mark Anthony in Alexandria, and journeys to Rome where she meets Julius Caesar. Both will become her significant other at different points in time. The cast of character is huge, the sequence of events in her life story is constant, and her motives and emotions lead her to her final destiny. Great read!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My absolute favourite telling of Cleopatra's birth, life, and death.
Well researched and a book for committed readers! I started this nearly 2 years ago and then put it down as it wasn't really grabbing me. I promised myself I'd read it in 2016 & here I am in March having finished it. We all loosely know the story of Cleopatra it being told in over-dramatised 1970s movies. I'm pleased that Margaret George took the time to delve deeply into the relationships she had with her lovers, attendants and children. Whilst no historical piece can be 100% true and gaps need filling I felt this was well done - a Queen but also a woman, mother and lover. Yes this is demanding but at the end I very much felt like I'd not been robbed of a complete story and I'd describe it as an intelligent women's 'Woman of Substance'.
Beautiful. My heart aches as I feel as though I have lost a friend through the demise of Cleopatra.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
4 stars because I didn't finish the whole thing cause I got bored.
emotional
informative
relaxing
sad
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:
Yes
This is my second M George book. I'm also aiming to read her Mary, Queen of Scotland, Elizabeth I and Helen of Troy books this year too but the 3 books I mentioned are about 2000 pages all together as George has a very descriptive prose. Because these books are chunky, I always try to put months between them but I'm hoping I'll get to all 3 this year.
I enjoyed this. I couldn't stand Antony. I didn't see what Cleopatra saw in him. George's writing is very descriptive and I look forward to reading some of her other novels, listed above, throughout the year.
I enjoyed this. I couldn't stand Antony. I didn't see what Cleopatra saw in him. George's writing is very descriptive and I look forward to reading some of her other novels, listed above, throughout the year.