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#constantinople
review
Texreader
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Pickpick

For 50+ days, Constantinople defended itself and its 1200+ years of history as the eastern-most bastion of Christendom against the Turkish Ottomans‘ assault. This is a very detailed account of the siege and battle, and some of the aftermath. Sultan Mehmet was only 21 when he felled the city that had withstood many previous attempts. I suspect age aided his endurance. But he was also a young military genius and had extraordinary control of the ⬇️

Texreader men who fought his battles, both by use of carrot (you get to plunder the city) and stick (you will die a lingering death if you fail to fight). The author writes in never boring detail, but it is a slow, monotonous read—the nature of a siege. The atrocious killing, taking of slaves, and plunder—the author is quick to note—was common at the time, regardless of creed or religion. I strongly recommend the book and its evenhandedness in its telling. 2d
sisilia I‘m so going to read this!!! 2d
Texreader @sisilia It‘s good. 10h
52 likes2 stack adds3 comments
quote
Texreader
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The author of the tagged book describes the sources he most trusted to write this historical account of the siege and fall of Constantinople, Doukas being one of them. How crazy that Doukas‘s account stops mid-sentence!

GingerAntics I still have a question with that. If he was captured. If he was executed. Whatever it may be, then they would have destroyed his account. I always question the validity of anything that says “oh they were there when it fell, and we just don‘t know what happened to them.” Yeah we do, because if they had been captured, the account would have been captured too. 2d
38 likes1 comment
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Texreader
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“If there is any moment at which it is possible to recognize a modern sensibility in a medieval event, it is here in the account of reactions to the news of the fall of Constantinople. Like the assassination of Kennedy or 9/11 it is clear that people throughout Europe could remember exactly where they were when they first heard the news.”

blurb
Texreader
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I realize how inappropriate this is but in the chapter when Constantinople fell, I had to play this song. Now everyone will have this song stuck in your head. Sorry, not sorry. It is a good song.

40 likes1 stack add
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Texreader
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#two4Tuesday Thanks @TheSpineView for the tag

1) Easy, stripes. I have some very nice work blouses with subtle stripes. Hard to imagine being subtle with spots

2) Tagged. Checked out from Libby. It‘s an interesting but slow read. I‘ll likely have to renew my loan

TheSpineView YW! Thanks for playing! 1w
43 likes1 comment
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Texreader
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Constantinople in the early 15th century. It had declined quite a bit by then, especially after its sacking by the Venetians.

I‘m also reading this one for the #comfortreadathon. Just switching around what I‘m reading depending on my mood at any particular moment. @BookwormAHN

BookwormAHN Absolutely 🧡 2w
43 likes1 comment
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Texreader
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My next ebook. I read Cloud Cuckoo Land, which in part was about the siege of Constantinople, so this one looked good to me. So far, the writing style is excellent

40 likes1 stack add
review
Roary47
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Pickpick

4✨ With multiple POVs it was difficult at first to keep them all straight. They are in different time lines, and some I enjoyed more than others. I paid more attention the story lines I liked, but it‘s important to understand all of them when you get closer to the end. I have to say it was my favorite escape this week especially. #FoodandLit 🇹🇷 @Catsandbooks @Texreader

Texreader I agree with everything you said. Including it being a great escape. 3mo
CBee I loved this book! 3mo
Catsandbooks I enjoyed this one too! 🇹🇷 3mo
27 likes3 comments
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Roary47
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My girls go to dance twice a week. So I at least get 2 hours of uninterrupted reading time, each week,this semester. 🥰

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Karisimo
Cloud Cuckoo Land | Anthony Doerr
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Eggs Excellent 👌🏼 3mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 💛💙💛 3mo
Lesliereadsalot I loved this one! 3mo
28 likes3 comments