Review: The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina

The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina by Caroline Lawrence

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Five stars because the author was brave enough to make "shocking" character decisions [considering that this is a children's (or does it qualify as YA?) book]. And I learned more Greek myths. And the origin of the Tarantella (interesting and relevant to the book's theme!). On to The Enemies of Jupiter!



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Review: The Dolphins of Laurentum

The Dolphins of Laurentum by Caroline Lawrence

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Four words: Greek myths, dolphins, forgiveness.

I say the book was amazing because it made me cry. All the while I was thinking of L. B. Smedes' quote: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you."

I'm glad that I didn't have to go far into the series before giving one of its books a five-star rating. This book proves that The Roman Mysteries is not just any children's series.



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Review: The Golden Dice - A Tale of Ancient Rome

The Golden Dice - A Tale of Ancient Rome by Elisabeth Storrs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



There was a comment I read somewhere in Goodreads comparing The Wedding Shroud's Caecilia with Bella Swan of Twilight. I couldn't disagree more. And disagree violently, I will. From what I've read on Ancient Rome (and I've read lots), proper Roman women were supposed to be virtual wallflowers—simple, hardworking and most of all, subservient to their men. Having brought up in this stringent world, it was expected of Caecilia to be confused and conflicted when she was thrust into the colorful, "loose" world of the Rasenna. Imagine the horror she felt, the depression, as she was confronted with the reality that she was supposed to go against every fiber of who she thought she was. And Caecilia was forced to change her values because she was not married to just any Etruscan, she was married to a noble. Caecilia is an unforgettable heroine, and one of my all-time favorites.

Ms. Storrs deftly continues her beautiful, indelible story in The Golden Dice. She is a great storyteller, with a knack for choosing the right words that never fail to strike the right note in the Ancient Rome lover's heart. I love stories set in the late Roman republic, but now I feel exhilarated to explore a new Ancient Roman world. I can't wait to read the next installment in this (trilogy? series? please, please say series).

I couldn't thank the heavens enough for self-publishing. Ms. Storrs, please don't stop writing.



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Review: The Persian Boy

The Persian Boy by Mary Renault

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I suppose that the author succeeded in telling the Persian boy's story with her exquisite words and vivid storytelling. However, the book was a bit too flowery for my taste—I found my eyes glazing over a couple of times while reading through the chapters. Maybe that's the point, because the book is all about the beautiful Bagoas and his ardent (no other word for it) relationship with the mighty Alexander, and isn't love flowery, anyway? I liked it, and I liked the way it was told, because I believe it wouldn't have been effectively told any other way. But I wouldn't choose it over Robert Graves' I, Claudius.



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The Year That Was

I had planned to write about 2012 (the Year of the Bookworm) at the start of this year. It wasn't really meant to be a highbrow enterprise, as everything can be summed up in a few sentences, BUT. I surprise myself. Laziness is a killer. 

So here are the few sentences: 

Sifting through my "read" virtual bookshelf on Goodreads, I can only make one conclusion. I took my obsession with Ancient Rome to nerd-shattering heights. I finished two historical fiction series (Roma Sub Rosa and SPQR) and many non-fiction, Roman-related books. There were OTHER books, of course. But I was so lucky that I enjoyed them all (well, ALMOST all. Yes, Matched, I am talking about you. I still can't believe you got 4 stars on Goodreads). 

To paraphrase Anne Lamott, I am going to resurrect this blog book by book now. Note to self: you need not impress anyone, least of all yourself, so write goddammit.