Scan barcode
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.
bucolicbookshelf's review
4.0
I do appreciate a well plotted and written legal thriller every so often (not too often though), and I Am Rome is a high reaching, quick paced novel that proved to be one that absolutely kept me turning the pages.
I don't know enough about Julius Caesar to speak to the historical accuracy of this novel, but as historical fiction I found it very enjoyable.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the DRC
wisecraic's review
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
DNF at 5%
The writing style was completely not for me, unfortunately. The author chose to bounce in the time line and the entire narrative structure was basically delivered through very dense info-dumps in diagolue format. I am sure that the content is well-researched from the limited amount that I read, but the stylistic choice to break up the narrative into chunks to establish background, the initial petitioning of Caesar by the Macedonians for representation, then delving into the memories of Caesar's mother was just not a format I enjoy. This format continued through the rest of the book with a piece of the trial being followed by, what one would assume, is a relevant series of memories from an associated person.
I love Roman history, but will have to skip this one. I will also decline to rate this book on Goodreads/StoryGraph.
DNF at 5%
The writing style was completely not for me, unfortunately. The author chose to bounce in the time line and the entire narrative structure was basically delivered through very dense info-dumps in diagolue format. I am sure that the content is well-researched from the limited amount that I read, but the stylistic choice to break up the narrative into chunks to establish background, the initial petitioning of Caesar by the Macedonians for representation, then delving into the memories of Caesar's mother was just not a format I enjoy. This format continued through the rest of the book with a piece of the trial being followed by, what one would assume, is a relevant series of memories from an associated person.
I love Roman history, but will have to skip this one. I will also decline to rate this book on Goodreads/StoryGraph.
heidirgorecki's review
informative
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
3.0
The book was well written, and interesting from a historical standpoint. I picked it up because it was a little out of my typical choices. But I think I just lost interest because it was so detailed and lengthy, especially regarding the courtroom battle, which the whole book centered around, and mostly was about the politics and brutality of the time. There were so many characters I lost track of who was who doing what often.
It was a hard one for me to get into as well because it was just steeped in constant brutality and betrayal. And it probably was just that time period but good Lord, all these people are awful if this is accurate. It just made it hard for me to connect with or like anyone in the book.
I have read some reviews talk about the lack of historical accuracy but I know next to nothing about this time period so I can’t really speak to that. And as a fictionalized version, I would assume license has simply been taken, so that didn’t factor in for me.
It was an interesting book but not one I can say I enjoyed.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.
thejdizzler's review against another edition
5.0
Otra novela que no tiene equivalente en la lengua ingles! (es un crimen que no hay traducciones de Posteguillo en mi lengua nativa).
Este libro es sobre un periodo veradaderamente misterioso de la vida de Julio Cesar: su infancia y joventud. Como Posteguillo dice en epilogo, no hay fuentes historicas sobre esta parte de la vida de Cesar. Mucho en este libro es especulacion.
Sin embargo, es gran especulacion. Posteguillo daba vida a las figuras de Sulla, Cayo Mario y la propia como nunca antes. Espero el proximo libro.
Este libro es sobre un periodo veradaderamente misterioso de la vida de Julio Cesar: su infancia y joventud. Como Posteguillo dice en epilogo, no hay fuentes historicas sobre esta parte de la vida de Cesar. Mucho en este libro es especulacion.
Sin embargo, es gran especulacion. Posteguillo daba vida a las figuras de Sulla, Cayo Mario y la propia como nunca antes. Espero el proximo libro.
coyirr's review against another edition
5.0
Posteguillo es un maestro en contar historias, mantener el interés, hacer que te sientas dentro de ellas y, además, lograr que no te pierdas con tanto nombre y suceso.
Excelente forma de conocer a uno de los personajes más astutos e importantes de la historia. No puedo esperar para seguir conociendo la vida de Cayo Julio César. ¡Por Júpiter, Maestro Posteguillo, apúrese con el segundo libro!
Excelente forma de conocer a uno de los personajes más astutos e importantes de la historia. No puedo esperar para seguir conociendo la vida de Cayo Julio César. ¡Por Júpiter, Maestro Posteguillo, apúrese con el segundo libro!
clemenvillada1's review against another edition
4.0
Una historia épica para un hombre que hace milenios es una leyenda. Excelentemente escrito, nunca se hace pesada la lectura.
Una cuestión que me gustó muchísimo pero solo porque estudio abogacía fue ver y entender todo el proceso judicial de esa época romana jeje.
Espero con ganas la continuación porque aca no se esta ni cerca de las mejores hazañas de César.
Una cuestión que me gustó muchísimo pero solo porque estudio abogacía fue ver y entender todo el proceso judicial de esa época romana jeje.
Espero con ganas la continuación porque aca no se esta ni cerca de las mejores hazañas de César.
umrapazquele's review against another edition
5.0
10 estrelas ❤️
O melhor do ano, e um favorito da vida (e quem me conhece sabe que eu não digo isto muitas vezes)
Para além de ser uma aula de História e um retrato perfeito dos primeiros 23 anos da vida de Júlio César, é também uma narrativa muito emocionante, poderosa, enriquecedora, iluminante e precisa.
Com uma escrita irrepreensível e um domínio histórico sobre o tema de louvar, Santiago Posteguillo escreveu a melhor história que já li sobre esta época.
Neste livro não só nos é contada a história do famoso julgamento de Dolabela com Júlio César como accusatore, mas também tudo o que antecede a vida deste homem, e a razão pela qual ele ser como é. Sem esquecer o seu principal tutor e inspiração, o seu tio Mário.
Perfeito, brilhante e único
O melhor do ano, e um favorito da vida (e quem me conhece sabe que eu não digo isto muitas vezes)
Para além de ser uma aula de História e um retrato perfeito dos primeiros 23 anos da vida de Júlio César, é também uma narrativa muito emocionante, poderosa, enriquecedora, iluminante e precisa.
Com uma escrita irrepreensível e um domínio histórico sobre o tema de louvar, Santiago Posteguillo escreveu a melhor história que já li sobre esta época.
Neste livro não só nos é contada a história do famoso julgamento de Dolabela com Júlio César como accusatore, mas também tudo o que antecede a vida deste homem, e a razão pela qual ele ser como é. Sem esquecer o seu principal tutor e inspiração, o seu tio Mário.
Perfeito, brilhante e único
constantreader471's review
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4 stars for an excellent historical fiction book about the young Julius Caesar. This book was first published in Spain. The translation was very well done. The book goes back and forth between variuos time periods in Caesar's early life, showing the influences that shaped him, including his Uncle Marius, a Consul and victorious general, his mother, and his best friend, Titus Labienus.
Caesar takes on Dolabella, who was governor of Macedonia. Caesar agrees to be the lawyer for a group of Macedonians, who accuse Dolabella of raping a teenager, exorbitant taxes for road repair which were siphoned off into Dolabella's pockets and plundering a sacred temple.
But Dolabella is a senator and member of the optimates (elite of Rome). He proceeds to buy off all 52 judges. Earlier time periods explain how Caesar tangles with Sulla, a ruthless dictator and mentor of Dolabella. How Caesar survives multiple attempts to kill him makes for a rousing story.
One quote: "Sulla had bent laws and pressured senators to obtain command against Mithridates. He'd battled his way across Greece and Asia and all the way back across the Italic peninsula. Now, with Rome finally under his control, he dammed well wasn't going to lose it all to a cursed Samnite rebellion. "Victory or death!' he howled at the top of his lungs. Hundreds of men around him answered his cry: "Victory or death! Victory or death! Victory or death!' Lucius Cornelius Sulla was a selfish, social-climbing senator, a shrewd military strategist, a pillager of sacred temples. he was willing to purchase loyalties, break promises, and betray anyone to achieve his aims. He was a miserable corrupt, politician who would stop at nothing to satisfy his persona ambitions But there was one thing that Sulla was not: he was not a coward.."
Thanks to KATHLEEN QUINLAN at Penguin Random House Publishing for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#IAmRome #NetGalley
Caesar takes on Dolabella, who was governor of Macedonia. Caesar agrees to be the lawyer for a group of Macedonians, who accuse Dolabella of raping a teenager, exorbitant taxes for road repair which were siphoned off into Dolabella's pockets and plundering a sacred temple.
But Dolabella is a senator and member of the optimates (elite of Rome). He proceeds to buy off all 52 judges. Earlier time periods explain how Caesar tangles with Sulla, a ruthless dictator and mentor of Dolabella. How Caesar survives multiple attempts to kill him makes for a rousing story.
One quote: "Sulla had bent laws and pressured senators to obtain command against Mithridates. He'd battled his way across Greece and Asia and all the way back across the Italic peninsula. Now, with Rome finally under his control, he dammed well wasn't going to lose it all to a cursed Samnite rebellion. "Victory or death!' he howled at the top of his lungs. Hundreds of men around him answered his cry: "Victory or death! Victory or death! Victory or death!' Lucius Cornelius Sulla was a selfish, social-climbing senator, a shrewd military strategist, a pillager of sacred temples. he was willing to purchase loyalties, break promises, and betray anyone to achieve his aims. He was a miserable corrupt, politician who would stop at nothing to satisfy his persona ambitions But there was one thing that Sulla was not: he was not a coward.."
Thanks to KATHLEEN QUINLAN at Penguin Random House Publishing for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#IAmRome #NetGalley
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Rape, Sexual violence, and War