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ralexist's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
kdmr's review
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lenny9987's review
adventurous
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The recent English translation of Santiago Posteguilllo’s novel I Am Rome is another instance where the description caught my attention and had me imagining the novel would be one thing but then it turned out to be something a bit different – still enjoyable but a very different shape to what I’d been expecting. While the heart of the novel is very much the trial that helped jump-start the career of Julius Caesar, the structure that is used to lay that story out delved so much deeper and further back in not just Caesar’s personal history but the history of Rome and its empire and politics. The jumping back and forth took some getting used to and made it difficult at times to keep details of the trial straight (especially through the first half of the novel), but in the end it was those extended flashbacks that I enjoyed more than the drama of the trial which succeeded in being infuriating and frustrating (perhaps even more than intended) given that corruption is one of the key charges.
Rome has long been ruled primarily by a powerful and corrupt group called the optimates, though they’ve often faced significant opposition by another party, the populares. But as Julius Caesar came of age, the pendulum had swung heavily in favor of the optimates and the populares were nearly wiped out after the death of Caesar’s uncle – the military hero Gaius Marius. The balance of power has swung so far towards the optimates that one of the late dictator Sulla’s most loyal supporters, Dolabella is sure to be completely cleared of the heinous he committed while acting as governor of Macedonia (crimes that include rape, desecration of the local temple to Aphrodite, and levying taxes that went solely to lining his own pockets). Julius Caesar pushes to become the prosecutor at Dolabella’s trial, even if it means making enemies of those in power. After all, it isn’t the first time he’s stood by his principles in the face of their tyranny and it won’t be the last. He doesn’t just want to make his name with this case – he hopes to uphold the legacy of his uncle who taught him so much about who, when, and how to fight.
For my full review, please visit my blog: https://wp.me/pUEx4-1lV
Rome has long been ruled primarily by a powerful and corrupt group called the optimates, though they’ve often faced significant opposition by another party, the populares. But as Julius Caesar came of age, the pendulum had swung heavily in favor of the optimates and the populares were nearly wiped out after the death of Caesar’s uncle – the military hero Gaius Marius. The balance of power has swung so far towards the optimates that one of the late dictator Sulla’s most loyal supporters, Dolabella is sure to be completely cleared of the heinous he committed while acting as governor of Macedonia (crimes that include rape, desecration of the local temple to Aphrodite, and levying taxes that went solely to lining his own pockets). Julius Caesar pushes to become the prosecutor at Dolabella’s trial, even if it means making enemies of those in power. After all, it isn’t the first time he’s stood by his principles in the face of their tyranny and it won’t be the last. He doesn’t just want to make his name with this case – he hopes to uphold the legacy of his uncle who taught him so much about who, when, and how to fight.
For my full review, please visit my blog: https://wp.me/pUEx4-1lV
claracalymayor's review
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jillkahnwald's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was just plain fun. I know it’s only semi-historically accurate and a bit overdramatic, but it was a nice ride through a turbulent time in history made palatable to modern audiences.
bookwhimsy2's review
It has taken me a while to write this review because this is one of my most disliked books of the year so far. Part of the problem is that this is a book written for men who think of the Roman Empire every day. The version of Roman history most of those people think about is the history of great men and their great deeds. As a historian, I find this history to be the least interesting.
On top of that, I have taught a course on the history of ancient civilizations and the modern world. I have spent a lot of time thinking about the version of Roman history that most people attach themselves to and why. As a result, "I Am Rome," to me, feeds on the worst versions of this history and the erroneous ways in which we seek to attach ourselves to that history.
There is nothing in "I Am Rome" that interests me, and there is nothing to learn that you can't get from a Wikipedia article on Julius Ceasar. There is a readership for this, and I am sure the book will find those readers. It just was not for me.
I read an Advanced Readers Copy that was gifted to me via NetGalley.
On top of that, I have taught a course on the history of ancient civilizations and the modern world. I have spent a lot of time thinking about the version of Roman history that most people attach themselves to and why. As a result, "I Am Rome," to me, feeds on the worst versions of this history and the erroneous ways in which we seek to attach ourselves to that history.
There is nothing in "I Am Rome" that interests me, and there is nothing to learn that you can't get from a Wikipedia article on Julius Ceasar. There is a readership for this, and I am sure the book will find those readers. It just was not for me.
I read an Advanced Readers Copy that was gifted to me via NetGalley.
chymerra's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Julius Caesar is one of those historical figures that have fascinated me ever since I could remember. But, when I tried to read books (mainly nonfiction) that described his reign over the Roman Empire, it would bore me. I also couldn’t find a historical fiction that stuck to the facts. Because of that, I was hesitant to accept the widget when Random House sent me it. But I did, and oh boy, I am glad that I did. This book was fantastic.
I Am Rome is well-written, well-researched historical fiction that captivated me from the prologue. This book is over 600 pages long, and its length can be slow. I normally cannot deal with a slow, long book, but in this case, it worked. I could process the different parts of Julius Caesar’s life without getting overwhelmed by the information given.
The story of Julius Caesar is told in two storylines. The first storyline revolves around Julius Caesar and the trial where he prosecuted Senator Dolabella, a morally and politically corrupt politician. The second storyline follows Julius Caesar from birth to the years before he took the Senator Dolabella case. I was interested in the trial storyline (I liked how Caesar pleaded his case and presented the witnesses/evidence against Dolabella), but it was a little dry. The second storyline explained almost everything brought up in the first storyline. Yes, I know that what I said is phrased awkwardly, but it will make sense if you read the book.
What I loved about this book is that the author included footnotes at the end of each chapter. He also gave direct quotes about where cities would be in the present day and other interesting tidbits of information, so I was not left wondering about anything.
The undercurrent of I Am Rome is a love story between Cornelia and Caesar. I don’t know if Caesar truly loved Cornelia in real life, but he adored her in this book. And she returned his feelings. They did run up against a few obstacles, but love trumped everything. I adored reading their interactions because Caesar truly seemed to consider what Cornelia said.
I Am Rome is violent and bloody. The author didn’t attempt to sugarcoat the violence. He laid it all out there. Some scenes made me retch, and others made me furious. But, I kept in the back of my mind that it was in context with the period in which it was written. I did provide a list of trigger warnings above.
The end of I Am Rome was very suspenseful. The author merged the two storylines at the perfect moment. While the trial ended in a way that I expected, I was not expecting what happened after. The author left the book open for book 2; I can’t wait to read it!!
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine, NetGalley, and Santiago Posteguillo for allowing me to read and review this ARC of I Am Rome. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
modolectora1981's review against another edition
5.0
Brillante!!
Otra historia de Posteguillo que vale la pena leer.
La forma de narrar, los personajes fuertes, bien desarrollados y el trasfondo histórico hacen que las 700 páginas de este libros parezcan pocas.
Altamente recomendable :)
Otra historia de Posteguillo que vale la pena leer.
La forma de narrar, los personajes fuertes, bien desarrollados y el trasfondo histórico hacen que las 700 páginas de este libros parezcan pocas.
Altamente recomendable :)
therearenobadbooks's review
medium-paced
5.0
I am Rome is a fabulous well written historical fiction set in Ancient Rome one of my top favorite sets for this kind of novel.
The structure and format are clever with short chapters or sometimes scene breaks, different points of view, and flashbacks that balance the trial (in the novel's present time) with Caesar's childhood. It adds information on the characters and historical events (battles, betrayals, arranged marriages, or even murders) that justify and explain how young Caesar is prosecuting one of the cruelest, dishonorable, and corrupt senators putting justice for Rome above the safety of his life of his family.
Focused on show-not-tell the author gives us detailed insight into many aspects of Caeser's life but also goes to the length of proving a point by describing an entire battle in detail just to let us know (for example) why Marius advises his young nephew never to enter a battle he can't win.
These 600-and-something pages display a profound knowledge of the culture and historical events the fiction helps not making it a dull textbook. At the same time it has a very modern feeling and fighting corrupt politicians who silence witnesses with death or threats is still very relatable (unfortunately) to our times.
Caesar and Cornelia are my favorite characters and I loved their relationship. Everyone expects the young Caesar twenty-three years old to fail but he will accept to face this senator in trial with honor and powerful tools: knowledge and intelligence.
This will remain one of my favorite historical novels for a long time.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this e-ARC.
The structure and format are clever with short chapters or sometimes scene breaks, different points of view, and flashbacks that balance the trial (in the novel's present time) with Caesar's childhood. It adds information on the characters and historical events (battles, betrayals, arranged marriages, or even murders) that justify and explain how young Caesar is prosecuting one of the cruelest, dishonorable, and corrupt senators putting justice for Rome above the safety of his life of his family.
Focused on show-not-tell the author gives us detailed insight into many aspects of Caeser's life but also goes to the length of proving a point by describing an entire battle in detail just to let us know (for example) why Marius advises his young nephew never to enter a battle he can't win.
These 600-and-something pages display a profound knowledge of the culture and historical events the fiction helps not making it a dull textbook. At the same time it has a very modern feeling and fighting corrupt politicians who silence witnesses with death or threats is still very relatable (unfortunately) to our times.
Caesar and Cornelia are my favorite characters and I loved their relationship. Everyone expects the young Caesar twenty-three years old to fail but he will accept to face this senator in trial with honor and powerful tools: knowledge and intelligence.
This will remain one of my favorite historical novels for a long time.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this e-ARC.
confusedmagpie's review against another edition
1.0
Solo porque el autor decidio que Cesar NO sea la reina se Bithinia en su novelizacion deberia poder darle a este libro 0 estrella. Terrible.
En realidad, la falta de caracterizaciones, la excesiva exposicion de informacion, la torpe manera de presentar datos historicos, la confusa estructura de la historia, la tediosa cantidad de flash forwards y la innecesaria repetición de escenas sexuales protagonizadas por Cornelia a los trece años vuelven a este libro tedioso de leer, aburrido incluso tratando de probablemente el tema mas interesante de toda la historia antigua, y hasta perturbador. Realmente, si no fuera por mi interes en Roma y Julio Cesar, no hubiera leido mas alla de la pagina 20.
En realidad, la falta de caracterizaciones, la excesiva exposicion de informacion, la torpe manera de presentar datos historicos, la confusa estructura de la historia, la tediosa cantidad de flash forwards y la innecesaria repetición de escenas sexuales protagonizadas por Cornelia a los trece años vuelven a este libro tedioso de leer, aburrido incluso tratando de probablemente el tema mas interesante de toda la historia antigua, y hasta perturbador. Realmente, si no fuera por mi interes en Roma y Julio Cesar, no hubiera leido mas alla de la pagina 20.