Hmm. I enjoyed Banewreaker. (I have not read the second one yet.) I enjoyed the worldbuilding, which I thought was fascinating in its own right. I though the characters were real. No they did not undergo a lot of transformation, but they did reveal more of themselves as time went on. Then again I like the LOTR too, and there many complaints that it had long passages with nothing much happening too. Different views...
You guys had a riot? On account of me? A real riot?
Jayne ,'Jaynestown'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Typo Boy - Nov 05, 2005 5:40:15 pm PST #9384 of 10002
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.
lisah - Nov 07, 2005 8:18:33 am PST #9385 of 10002
Punishingly Intricate
My housemate and I are a leeetle obsessed with HBO's Rome now and both of us are bemoaning our dearth of knowledge of actual Roman history. Does anybody have any recommendations for well written non-fiction about ancient Rome?
Betsy HP - Nov 07, 2005 8:26:34 am PST #9386 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
Robert Graves's I, Claudius is a classic for a reason. For fluff, Lindsey Davis's Marcus Didius Falco mysteries are a lot of fun.
lisah - Nov 07, 2005 8:33:55 am PST #9387 of 10002
Punishingly Intricate
Robert Graves's I, Claudius is a classic for a reason.
Thanks, Betsy. Yeah I definitely want to check that out but I was looking for some non-fiction too.
Betsy HP - Nov 07, 2005 8:38:30 am PST #9388 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
- pounds head* I read "fiction" for "non-fiction".
I remember enjoying Edith Hamilton's The Roman Way, although the scholarship is probably very dated by now. (1930s)
Kathy A - Nov 07, 2005 10:01:23 am PST #9389 of 10002
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
I, Claudius was supposedly loosely based on Seutonius's The Twelve Caesars, which I have. It's quick good dish on Roman emperors, written by a near-contemporary with a love for the scandalous.
Jars - Nov 07, 2005 10:09:27 am PST #9390 of 10002
Does anybody have any recommendations for well written non-fiction about ancient Rome?
From the Gracchi to Nero by H.H. Scullard is fairly easy to read, and covers the period that the show seems to (though I've only seen the first episode so far). It's fairly long as it's a dense period of history, but it's easy enough to skim to the interesting bits.
lisah - Nov 07, 2005 10:15:29 am PST #9391 of 10002
Punishingly Intricate
It's quick good dish on Roman emperors, written by a near-contemporary with a love for the scandalous.
My brother mentioned that book last night. And then he named all of the Caesars in order. I was impressed because I only know the ones with the really bad reps.
Thanks for all the recs!
DavidS - Nov 07, 2005 10:28:06 am PST #9392 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Can anybody name 12 Caesars in order?
(Without looking it up...)
Kathy A - Nov 07, 2005 10:32:18 am PST #9393 of 10002
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil
Only the Julian-Claudians: Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. Then there's a few others before Hadrian.