You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Incredibly well-written! It feels like you spent months in Egypt when you finish reading this. I've read it twice now, and both times the experience was so rich.
Full review here: https://amandasbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/backlist-bonus-the-memoirs-of-cleopatra/
Full review here: https://amandasbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/backlist-bonus-the-memoirs-of-cleopatra/
I looooved this book...but yet I didn't finish it. I will definitely be reading more Margaret George down the road, but the sheer length requires dedication, especially since, at least in the this case, her books lack a traditional narrative arc.
Cleopatra's story has always been intriguing to me. This book provides a richly detailed and wonderfully imaginative idea of what her life could have been like. George strikes a nice balance weaving creative hypothesis with historical facts and interesting insights into Ancient Egyptian culture. I very much enjoyed getting lost in this one.
I started this book in February 2018... and now 4 months later, I have finally ended my journey with Cleopatra. And what a journey! This book was so detailed, and entertaining. It was beautifully written, and I never felt like I had to force myself to continue reading. If you are a fan of historical fiction, Ancient Rome or (of course) Cleopatra, you will be a fan of this book! I will say it will certainly feel odd not carrying around a 1000 page book anymore!
It's an interesting story, but not particularly well written. The love scenes between Cleopatra and Cæsar are awkward, to say the least. It has its moments, but not enough to warrant more than 1100 pages.
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
medium-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 is a delicious, sumptuous treasure. I picked it up randomly from a pile of used books, and I am so thrilled I did! This took me nearly a year to get through in completion, taking breaks here and there. But what a delightful storyteller George is! The attention to detail left me breathlessly immersed in a foreign time and place...but it felt familiar, as well. The people and places feel very nearly part of my life and memories. I nibbled every paragraph, loved every glimmer of silk, oceanic breeze, and bloody battle. If you have a love for historical fiction at all, this should satisfy your imagination for quite some time.
I enjoyed this intelligent, interesting reading of Cleopatra’s life. It’s meticulously researched, and the many details of landscape and daily routine make it more vivid. I was fascinated by the explorations of culture and community, both inside and outside Egypt. At the same time, it’s a personal account, a hypothetical memoir, written as she lived it, and so it’s emotional and open. Cleopatra’s personality, as presented here, rings true for me: a strong, passionate, creative women with a talent for leadership.
Simply, one of my all time favourite reads. One woman almost brings Rome to its knees and resists being swallowed into the empire until the bitter end.
Her mesmerising personality and charm really comes to life in Margaret Goerge's retelling of this well known story. This historical fiction is littered with Cleopatra's bold and daring plans, which shockingly happened in real life!
A real insight into a brave and beautiful woman and will leave you wanting more.
Her mesmerising personality and charm really comes to life in Margaret Goerge's retelling of this well known story. This historical fiction is littered with Cleopatra's bold and daring plans, which shockingly happened in real life!
A real insight into a brave and beautiful woman and will leave you wanting more.
Despite being a REALLY long book, and already knowing the major points of the story, it never dragged, I kept wanting to turn the pages. The author puts the best spin on certain things - for example, Cleopatra is historically supposed to have poisoned her youngest brother; in this version, she takes solicitous care of him and he dies from consumption (TB). Which could be what truly happened, impossible to tell from this vantage point.
She also smoothly works in many of Cleopatra's skills, in language, for example, having her switch from one language to another to try to communicate with someone. Most people don't know Cleopatra was fluent in nine languages (which means she had to be pretty brilliant). This takes the bare bones of the historical story and adds flesh, color, sound and scent. She is a sensual woman, she is a woman in love, and in heartbreak, but Egypt always comes first.
Cleopatra as portrayed here is thoroughly likeable and sympathetic, a smart if tough woman willing to use every tool at her disposal, including sex, to attain her goals and protect her kingdom.
As one would expect of a Queen.
She also smoothly works in many of Cleopatra's skills, in language, for example, having her switch from one language to another to try to communicate with someone. Most people don't know Cleopatra was fluent in nine languages (which means she had to be pretty brilliant). This takes the bare bones of the historical story and adds flesh, color, sound and scent. She is a sensual woman, she is a woman in love, and in heartbreak, but Egypt always comes first.
Cleopatra as portrayed here is thoroughly likeable and sympathetic, a smart if tough woman willing to use every tool at her disposal, including sex, to attain her goals and protect her kingdom.
As one would expect of a Queen.