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Augustus
Augustus | John Williams
WINNER OF THE 1973 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD By the Author of Stoner In Augustus, his third great novel, John Williams took on an entirely new challenge, a historical narrative set in classical Rome, exploring the life of the founder of the Roman Empire. To tell the story, Williams turned to the epistolary novel, a genre that was new to him, transforming and transcending it just as he did the western in Butchers Crossing and the campus novel in Stoner. Augustus is the final triumph of a writer who has cometo be recognized around the world as an American master.
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sisilia
Augustus | John Williams
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5 glorious ⭐️!!! Wow! I love this epistolary format, and I admire John Williams for weaving different POVs and timelines effortlessly. It‘s so lively and refreshing I could almost see all the hand gestures 🤌

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Deblovestoread
Augustus | John Williams
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Pickpick

#BookedinTime I am fascinated by this time period and enjoyed this audio version of Augustus told through letters and diary entries of family, friends, enemies and the man himself. That being said the cast of characters was hard to get a handle on in the beginning and the entries were not linear which added to my confusion. Of course, this might be a me problem and not the books.

Cuilin Roman Civilization ✅🎉 I read Wolf Den (I have a copy of Augustus, if I‘ve time I‘ll read it this month). 1y
ChaoticMissAdventures I am hoping to read this one also! I am just waiting on the library, glad you enjoyed it. 1y
58 likes2 comments
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sisilia
Augustus | John Williams
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Starting this for book club meeting this weekend. I have been procrastinating because this is my last John Williams. I‘m a big fan of Stoner and Butcher‘s Crossing, and I‘m sure Augustus won‘t disappoint

Ruthiella I‘ve heard good things! I‘ve only read Stoner but definitely want to read his other books. 1y
Tamra Me too, big Williams fan. 💙 I wish he had written more. (edited) 1y
sisilia @Ruthiella @Tamra It‘s sooo good! I like that he told the stories via journals, letters etc. What a brilliant approach! 1y
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Hamlet There‘s one more by John Williams! It‘s his first novel: Nothing But the Night. I have it in a NYRB edition. 1y
sisilia @Hamlet I read that and didn‘t like it. Williams didn‘t like it either and disowned it🤪 1y
Hamlet @sisilia Thanks for the info! I just grabbed it off a shelf when I saw his name. 1y
30 likes6 comments
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Deblovestoread
Augustus | John Williams
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Final decision for our next #BookedinTime topic. Looking forward to the audio book,

Cuilin I have a copy of this too. I‘ll see if I can get to it. I‘ve narrowed down some choices. 1y
37 likes1 comment
blurb
Twainy
Augustus | John Williams
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The best of November. It didn‘t feel like an awesome reading month but when I sat down to choose my favorites I found it really difficult to choose!

30 audiobooks with hardcover/kindle companions. Here are 12 I‘d read or listen to again.

This is SO unusual but I finished 3 TV seasons/series this month. I loved The Sandman, Wednesday & 1899.

Did anyone watch any remarkable TV?

Meshell1313 1899 was FANTASTIC! 2y
Twainy @Meshell1313 YESSS! Director also did … Dark 😈 2y
Meshell1313 @Twainy yup! As soon I saw the Captain I had to look it up! Another fav! 2y
27 likes3 comments
review
Twainy
Augustus | John Williams
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Pickpick

🎧 epistolary format! Gripping tale, bounces around in time, POV & type of content.

It covers 60-ish years between the death of Julius Cesar to the death of his great nephew/adopted son Octavius AKA Emperor Augustus who took over at the age of 18 & died at 76.

The political scheming! Julia, the daughter of Augustus! Maneuvering & positioning by marriage/divorce & then being bartered off to marry someone you hate. It was crazy! Duty.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Twainy
Augustus | John Williams
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Library loans I‘ve gotten without waiting on hold?! Well. Hello November! 😁 A mixed bag … they looked interesting last night ... has anyone read any of these?

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Woozy-Shooz
Augustus | John Williams
Pickpick

Best historical novel I‘ve ever read.

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Therewillbebooks
Augustus | John Williams
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More stuff I hope to get to in 2021. Cautiously optimistic that it can be done. We'll see!

https://open.spotify.com/show/6A6hXZ7eaOG7BtHOSJpCTI?si=G_jbkpu5SBucN6P9n3H94w

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kelli7990
Augustus | John Williams
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These are all the books I read this month.

katy4peas What did you think of Girls Burn Brighter? 4y
kelli7990 @katy4peas I didn‘t like it. 4y
16 likes2 comments
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Emma3
Augustus | John Williams
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Better than last month I suppose but still slacking 😕 gonna struggle to meet my GR reading challenge this year if I don't pick up the pace

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GoneFishing
Augustus | John Williams

It is fortunate that youth never recognizes its ignorance, for if it did it would not find the courage to get the habit of endurance. It is perhaps an instinct of the blood and flesh which prevents this knowledge and allows the boy to become the man who will live to see the folly of his existence.

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quote
GoneFishing
Augustus | John Williams

A man may live like a fool for a year, and become wise in a day.

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GoneFishing
Augustus | John Williams

Mankind in the aggregate I have found to be brutish, ignorant and unkind, whether those qualities were covered by the coarse tunic of the peasant or the white and purple toga of a senator. And yet in the weakest of men, in moments when they are alone and themselves, I have found veins of strength like gold in decaying rock; in the cruelest of men, flashes of tenderness and compassion; and in the vainest of men, moments of simplicity and grace.

Settings Your quotes are different characters speaking? 7y
24 likes1 comment
quote
GoneFishing
Augustus | John Williams

...the moralist is the most useless and contemptible of creatures. He is useless in that he would expend his energies upon making judgments rather than upon gaining knowledge, for the reason that judgment is easy and knowledge is difficult. He is contemptible in that his judgments reflect a vision of himself which in his ignorance and pride he would impose upon the world. I implore you, do not become a moralist; you will destroy your mind.

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GoneFishing
Augustus | John Williams

One does not deceive oneself about the consequences of one's acts; one deceives oneself about the ease with which one can live with those consequences.

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Silvia_Ficco
Augustus | John Williams
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Neale
Augustus | John Williams
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Neale Back into the sketching. Augustus looking pensive. :) (very rough draft) 7y
AceOnRoam @Neale well if that's a rough draft, then I would have no hope 😀😀 7y
Redheadrambles Wow that‘s so impressive 7y
Redwritinghood Rough draft? You must be kidding! Those look great. 7y
Neale Very rough but thanks for the kind words. :) 7y
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Karen
Augustus | John Williams
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shawnmooney
Augustus | John Williams
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The next several are books I picked up at a thrift shop for three dollars or less apiece. This is by the author of Stoner, one of the best novels I've ever read - this one is quite different, set in ancient Rome.

saresmoore Neat! 7y
LeahBergen Lucky duck! I want to read this, too. 7y
Zelma I really want to read Stoner; need to move that up my TBR. 7y
ReadingEnvy I'm always so torn about reading another novel from an author who wrote one I LOVE. I'll wait for your review. 7y
36 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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AppuNthebooks
Augustus | John Williams
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Superlative! Regret not having discovered Williams' work earlier. Such a joy to read!

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KaatjeH
Augustus | John Williams
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This book was #recommendedby my boyfriend (who doesn't read, but read this one because it was for free and digital...). I have to say he has good taste 👍

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I-read-and-eat
Augustus | John Williams
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Today is Saturday and that means another bookpair for #historymonth! This time we turn to the Roman Republic. Mary Beard has written an amazing book on the history of ancient Rome. It is huge and very detailed but well worth the read. The republic officially came to an end when Augustus became the first roman emperor. John Williams has written a lovely fiction book about his life. It is made up out of fake letters and diary entries. I loved it!

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review
queenbee
Augustus | John Williams
Pickpick

tolles buch

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QueenAnne
Augustus | John Williams
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Good news for me! My first selection of books to bring to Switzerland weighs only 6 kilograms 😍 after I'm done packing I'll probably stuff in more wherever I can! (If needed leave many unnecessary things, likes shoes and whatever behind! 😝😝) Shampoo and stuff I'll just buy there

My family and friends (except @Noonnie who helped me pick a selection) think I'm crazy! Some even told me to get a Kindle.. not my thing though..

Shemac77 Not mine either. I try but I just don't feel like I'm reading. Have so much fun in Switzerland! 8y
Kathrin Well, I am sure they sell books in English in Switzerland too! 😆 8y
Lindy Maybe you will find a shop where you can swap the books you have finished for other ones. Hope all goes well. 8y
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RinaBrahmbhattBarot Great pile!! All the best with move, as for the #BookSwap I do hope you find one, If not if you are on FB connect - My BookSwap Club group (there might be someone in Switzerland) which one are you reading first? 8y
QueenAnne @Shemac77 no exactly, I like to touch the pages and find awkward reading positions while laying in bed hihi 😄 8y
QueenAnne @Kathrin hihi I'm sure they do, but I don't really know if they do where I'm going, it's really high in the mountains 8y
QueenAnne @Lindy @MyBookSwapClub thank you! But I'm really not a book swapper, I'll feel like giving away a puppy 😉 I think I'll start with The Stand! High time I read that one! 8y
[DELETED] 2232195534 The Stand is really good! Have a good trip!! 😀 8y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag It's only crazy if you don't read them while you're away (or at least that's how I justify my packing choices) I'm all about paper books at home but I quite like my kindle for travel - I have a case for it that makes it look like an old leather bound book ☺️ or for when my handbag just isn't quite big enough for the book I'm reading (why are handbags often way too small or ridiculously large? 8y
Lindy It's good that you've got some nice fat books to keep you occupied. No need to swap. 😀 8y
List_addict Re-reading The Stand at the moment - love it! Enjoy Switzerland 8y
QueenAnne @thegirlwiththelibrarybag that case sounds amazing! I'm searching one of those for my phone! Handbags are always ridiculous, either nothing fits, or your dragging it over the floor with so much junk.. 🙄 long live those canvas bookbags 😍 8y
87 likes13 comments
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QueenAnne
Augustus | John Williams
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A true friend= someone who knows you like books, who knows your kind of books, forgets your language preference is English hihi 😍 so thankful to one of my best friends who came to visit me today ❤️

Might take some getting used to, reading in my native tongue, but can't wait to get started! 😍📚

tricours Why would you have to get used to reading in your native tongue?? 8y
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pbechm
Augustus | John Williams
Pickpick

Endnu en fantastisk John Williams roman

6 likes2 stack adds