jerihurd's review against another edition
3.0
An I, Claudius wanna-be without being actually compelling. Or maybe I've just read too much about this era and it all seemed derivative.
emmiejayne's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
citrusclient's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tomislavus's review against another edition
4.0
August is a novel of incredible depth and complexity. That is contrasted by a central story and surrounding themes that are simple and almost prosaic, and that's where lies the genius of Williams's writing. He weaves and writes with such intricacy and precision about human nature and spirit it is on another level.
His characters feel alive and tangible, and yes, I know they are all based on real people here, but their letters, diary entries, and thoughts are all original. Every character from Cicero to August reads like a unique and different persona. Situations and relationships presented to us feel lived-in. August is a work of art and another and final masterpiece by Williams on themes of the banality of our actions and choices made.
The futility of our lives, no matter at what level of the pecking order we find ourselves by happenstance from birth, is soul-crushing. It doesn't matter if you are a young student like William in Butchers Crossing, an English professor like Stoner, or an emperor of the world, father time grinds everything and everyone down to fine dust and leaves nothing behind.
But all that leaves no room for despair in William's writing, as he has said in an interview, 'leave some space for faith'.
His characters feel alive and tangible, and yes, I know they are all based on real people here, but their letters, diary entries, and thoughts are all original. Every character from Cicero to August reads like a unique and different persona. Situations and relationships presented to us feel lived-in. August is a work of art and another and final masterpiece by Williams on themes of the banality of our actions and choices made.
The futility of our lives, no matter at what level of the pecking order we find ourselves by happenstance from birth, is soul-crushing. It doesn't matter if you are a young student like William in Butchers Crossing, an English professor like Stoner, or an emperor of the world, father time grinds everything and everyone down to fine dust and leaves nothing behind.
But all that leaves no room for despair in William's writing, as he has said in an interview, 'leave some space for faith'.
pulphead's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dayface's review
5.0
1/3 - absolutely phenomenal. Inspiring, immersive, engaging; I'm addicted to reading it. The pace is swift but certain, not too fast, perfect. The action is somehow dynamic and orchestral in the mind. Dialogue is stellar. Interactions, subtext, character motivations, scale - near unmatched in a novel of this size with a concentration like this. Octavius is fascinating, his friends just as fascinating. Atnonius is a brilliantly written foil. The historicism is eye-opening, I've learned so much already. Somehow, this might be better than *Stoner*.
Book One - yes, this is a new favourite. All of Book One was stellar and engaging. My only complaints are a desire for even more depth and insight, but that's the beauty of Williams's storytelling, not a flaw of it; the depth and insight is just that plentiful and addictive. Quotes on morality and justice run everywhere, and I'm constantly made to think of how much personal injustice one must suffer to be worthy of ruling with justice.
2/3 - Horace's Orpheus-lidden speech, sublimely invoking the muse of poetry, was... Absolutely stellar. And Octavius' reaction, moreso. This book is incredible - I rarely say this, but I'm shocked it hasn't been adapted to film, in many respects, it suits it. Though, as a book, this is near-perfect. The feminist angle courtesy of Julia; the death and poetic reciting of Vergil; the forlorn aging of Augustus, alienated by power and responsibility; the splintering of a family.
Book Two - Julia's oppression is heartbreaking; forced to repress feelings of honest emotion because of her title. Everything has become insidious.
3/3/ Book Three - at last, we are given insight into Augustus's mind; a discussion directly on dramaturgy, lifting lines from Jacques as I often have; a meditation on the affection, compassion, and reflection attributed to the poet, and why he sought their company; and a deliberation on the sea, the ocean, the infinite, the collective consciousness.
'It was my destiny to change the world, I said earlier. Perhaps I should have said that the world was my poem, that I understood the task of ordering its parts into a whole.'
The epilogue devastated me... Words can't do it justice.
Book One - yes, this is a new favourite. All of Book One was stellar and engaging. My only complaints are a desire for even more depth and insight, but that's the beauty of Williams's storytelling, not a flaw of it; the depth and insight is just that plentiful and addictive. Quotes on morality and justice run everywhere, and I'm constantly made to think of how much personal injustice one must suffer to be worthy of ruling with justice.
2/3 - Horace's Orpheus-lidden speech, sublimely invoking the muse of poetry, was... Absolutely stellar. And Octavius' reaction, moreso. This book is incredible - I rarely say this, but I'm shocked it hasn't been adapted to film, in many respects, it suits it. Though, as a book, this is near-perfect. The feminist angle courtesy of Julia; the death and poetic reciting of Vergil; the forlorn aging of Augustus, alienated by power and responsibility; the splintering of a family.
Book Two - Julia's oppression is heartbreaking; forced to repress feelings of honest emotion because of her title. Everything has become insidious.
3/3/ Book Three - at last, we are given insight into Augustus's mind; a discussion directly on dramaturgy, lifting lines from Jacques as I often have; a meditation on the affection, compassion, and reflection attributed to the poet, and why he sought their company; and a deliberation on the sea, the ocean, the infinite, the collective consciousness.
'It was my destiny to change the world, I said earlier. Perhaps I should have said that the world was my poem, that I understood the task of ordering its parts into a whole.'
The epilogue devastated me... Words can't do it justice.
jimmypat's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. This book both had a broad scope, but also felt very intimate; Williams very successfully paints a picture of the historical events as well as the people. I loved the use of the epistolary form which really helped bring historical perspective and rich character development. I’m definitely going to read more Williams and I’m also going to go grab my copy of Graves’ I Claudius for a re-read.