Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is wonderful. A contemplative reflection on destiny and humanity through a historical fiction lens.
An exceptional book, a modern “I, Claudius” with the story beats we know and love from Rome’s transition to empire, but with a stunning characterisation of the central figure, external and then internal (no spoilers). I loved the epistolary style and the gradual reveal of Augustus. A slow start, but it took a while to sink into the style (reading it through COVID isolation didn’t help)
To write about the history of Rome and make it so delicately tender requires of an author great empathy, and Williams succeeds splendidly.
adventurous
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Best piece of fanfiction I ever did read.
In all seriousness, this sucked me in. I virtually couldn't put it down, which puts serious risk to my collections next week...
The epistolary form was so well executed by Williams, although I certainly was not surprised by his skill. I can admire how much dedication it must have taken to research the book's source material, given the letters are spread across so many characters. Boy did I enjoy this.
Julia's exile was so bittersweet. I loved the exploration of Octavius' compassion in ultimately banishing her... although I was taken by surprise in Ovid's lack of involvement, even though it was teased at some point.
In all seriousness, this sucked me in. I virtually couldn't put it down, which puts serious risk to my collections next week...
The epistolary form was so well executed by Williams, although I certainly was not surprised by his skill. I can admire how much dedication it must have taken to research the book's source material, given the letters are spread across so many characters. Boy did I enjoy this.
Julia's exile was so bittersweet. I loved the exploration of Octavius' compassion in ultimately banishing her... although I was taken by surprise in Ovid's lack of involvement, even though it was teased at some point.
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
An I, Claudius wanna-be without being actually compelling. Or maybe I've just read too much about this era and it all seemed derivative.
A beautifully-written epistolary treatment of Augustus' life, ranging from the death of Julius Caesar to his own death at the age of 76, after decades of Roman peace. The first section concerns Augustus' astonishing and bloody rise to power beginning at the age of 19, the second part details the tortured and quietly devastating family relationships he had particularly concerning Julia the Elder, his willful and intelligent daughter whom he exiled for treason, and the third book his plans for his eventual succession and the Rome he made ready to leave behind.
Throughout the novel, characters muse on the inscrutable Augustus, who is historically attested to have initially adopted a sphinx as his symbol and reportedly asked on his deathbed if he'd played the part well.
In the third part of the book, Augustus finally speaks in a lengthy letter to an old friend, the last old acquaintance he has. Though he explains himself, to the end his motivations and inner life remain a rich mystery, neatly illustrating why Augustus captures so many today.
"For it seems to me now that when I read those books and wrote my words, I read and wrote of a man who bore my name but a man whom I hardly know. Strain as I might, I can hardly see him now; and when I glimpse him, he recedes as in a mist, eluding my most searching gaze. I wonder, if he saw me, would he recognize what he has become?"
Throughout the novel, characters muse on the inscrutable Augustus, who is historically attested to have initially adopted a sphinx as his symbol and reportedly asked on his deathbed if he'd played the part well.
In the third part of the book, Augustus finally speaks in a lengthy letter to an old friend, the last old acquaintance he has. Though he explains himself, to the end his motivations and inner life remain a rich mystery, neatly illustrating why Augustus captures so many today.
"For it seems to me now that when I read those books and wrote my words, I read and wrote of a man who bore my name but a man whom I hardly know. Strain as I might, I can hardly see him now; and when I glimpse him, he recedes as in a mist, eluding my most searching gaze. I wonder, if he saw me, would he recognize what he has become?"
informative
reflective
tense