mint_the_muffin's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
vincent_coles's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
quinndm's review
4.0
A philosophical exploration that is bound together by a powerful love story and littered with the chaos of war and death.
Greek history, Greek philosophy, Greek geography, and Greek love form an unforgettable book that speaks to all our souls and our quests for meaning and our journeys to understand the Self.
Greek history, Greek philosophy, Greek geography, and Greek love form an unforgettable book that speaks to all our souls and our quests for meaning and our journeys to understand the Self.
callmethebees's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
cakereads's review
4.0
the thing abt mary renault's writing is that it steals up upon you. the book starts out slow, and gentle, which makes sense because it follows alexias' life and early childhood and the early years are always gentle on us. and gradually, the book reveals itself, with moments of clarity and beautiful writing, and at the end of it, i feel so damn attached to the characters and the book and the world, and i know this book - like the first of her books i've read, [b:Fire from Heaven|67697|Fire from Heaven (Alexander the Great, #1)|Mary Renault|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403184066l/67697._SY75_.jpg|1822595] - will stay with me.
lumo247's review
5.0
An insightful look into what pederasty was like in ancient Greece.
I found the random pieces of philosophy scattered throughout the book meaningful and thought-provoking. And, though it broke my heart many times, I loved watching Alexias and Lysis' relationship evolve over time.
A great book!
I found the random pieces of philosophy scattered throughout the book meaningful and thought-provoking. And, though it broke my heart many times, I loved watching Alexias and Lysis' relationship evolve over time.
A great book!
white_flame69's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
cruddy's review against another edition
4.0
Read this in athens which is probably why I liked it so much. Spent the entire book thinking that the character plato was nicknamed after irl plato and not just actually the guy himselfÂ
fred312's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-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? It's complicated
4.75
siria's review
4.0
The Last of the Wine, although set in the ancient Greek world, like the Fire from Heaven trilogy, it's a very different work. Even though the three works of the trilogy have some fabulous characters, and some fabulous character development, the action and the spectacle of Alexander's life is just as much as big a part of the book. The Last of the Wine is very different. Although it takes place in Greece in the fifth century BC, the time of the great upheaval caused by the Peloponnesian Wars, and though the main character, Alexias, takes part in this conflict, it's a much more subdued and sober book than the trilogy.
Renault concentrates much more on using her main characters - Alexias, Lysis, Sokrates, Plato, Myron, Kritias and others - to conjure up an image and a feel of what the city of Athens might have been like at the time. It's less a history of the state, and more a snapshot of the culture and philosophy and thoughts of the time, as transmitted and reflected through these characters. It works fabulously well, especially when backed up by Renault's meticulous scholarship. Both the substance and the style of this novel make this one to look out for.
Renault concentrates much more on using her main characters - Alexias, Lysis, Sokrates, Plato, Myron, Kritias and others - to conjure up an image and a feel of what the city of Athens might have been like at the time. It's less a history of the state, and more a snapshot of the culture and philosophy and thoughts of the time, as transmitted and reflected through these characters. It works fabulously well, especially when backed up by Renault's meticulous scholarship. Both the substance and the style of this novel make this one to look out for.