pickThis was very interesting- I never knew that Cicero‘s life was that remarkable and went through significant ups and downs. He survived more than Roman dictator and tried to save the Republic. This is definitely a very detailed book. To listen to the audiobook while driving proved difficult sometimes because it was easy to miss information, so I had to listen to some chapters more than once. But it was worth it.
pickOne of the astronomers helping Julius Caesar with his reform of the Roman calendar is found murdered. Caesar takes this personally and orders Decius Caecilius Metellus to investigate.
Liberal use of famous names as red herrings made this, the last book in the series, even more fun. I accidentally skipped the penultimate volume so I still have that to look forward to as well as some short stories.
so-soThis was my book club‘s May pick (though we did discuss it 6/1!). Over the years, not too many #nonfiction books have won the vote, but this delve into Mithradates‘ life was certainly an interesting one! After seeing the physical copy, I wish I had read it instead— while an interesting listen, the audio version doesn‘t include the images or the extensive endnotes. Also, the author‘s obvious admiration for her subject was a bit eye-roll inducing!
pickWhen a priest's daughter is murdered in the luxury resort of Baiae, local opinion fixes on the son of a Numidian slave trader as the culprit. Decius Caecilius Metellus thinks the young man is innocent but he only has a couple of days before the trial, which is certain to find him guilty.
As usual great twisty fun much enhanced by Metellus's comments on the action as asides in the narration.
It was a good year for me, even if it was a bad one for Rome.
#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
"So all considerations of humanity were swept away by their rage and fury; or was this, rather, a demonstration that no wild beast is more savage than man when his passions are armed with power?"
Plutarch, "Fall of the Roman Republic"
pickI thought this to be interesting. While I have learned about most of the covered material before, it was interesting seeing how an ancient author wrote on it. It was also interesting seeing Plutarch's commentary on certain issues. Main downside is that this contains half of Plutarch's "Parallel Lives" where he compares a Greek figure with a Roman, then does a summary of the two. As a result, it can be slightly difficult to follow the summaries.
