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librumlegos's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
smashproduct's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-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? No
4.25
trve_zach's review against another edition
I have no general interest in ancient Rome, the emperors, or their political intrigues. No, I learned a bit about those things over the years and have been happy to leave it at that, but this book pulls you into said world with such ease that I think you’ll enjoy the ride even if, like me, you don’t particularly care about the setting because this book is the work of a master, and it appears to be his masterpiece.
In broad strokes, this book is about Caesar Augustus and how he came to power and what his reign was like, especially for those closest to him. It is told in epistolary fragments, and this is something brilliant and dangerous. On one hand, it forces you to constantly shift perspectives and to place yourself in different settings and frames of reference, some of which you might be less invested in. On the other hand, it places you directly in the action, getting to see so many varying perspectives, acting as refractions for a central narrative.
It could easily not work, but Williams makes it look like child's play. He is able to talk around the central character of the book, Augustus, and this is brilliant because it means that you get to form your own opinion about him based on his actions and interactions with those around him. It also brings you closer to his friends, family, and enemies, getting to see their inner motivations. There is no central statement or judgment about Augustus’ character, only that he was and that he did these things. You decide what to make of it.
You also do get to hear from him directly, and, at the end of the book, at the end of his life, he ruminates on what it has all amounted to. This makes up the last thirty pages of the book, and it is such a satisfying end, with Williams throwing heater after heater, just laying in one incredible thought/sentence after another until you find yourself slightly in tearful wonder about how he was able to do it.
Williams is a master of subtlety. He doesn’t use big, sweeping metaphors or grand language. Rather, he hits you between the eyes with small details and phrases that slowly build until you find yourself reacting. Make no mistake, this is the work of someone who has refined each page over and over, and it is an absolute joy to read. I read this slowly, and I’m glad I did. It allowed me time to consider the narrative and its themes (of which, it covers most of the big ones) and how Williams put it all together. I couldn’t find fault with any part of it. I experienced a slightly lesser version of this same feeling while reading Stoner, and now I can’t wait to read Butcher’s Crossing.
I’m going to leave a few beautiful quotes to cap off the review and to let the book speak for itself:
“I remember that I wept, knowing that my father would die, whom I had known only as a child, and I came to know that loss was the condition of our living. It is a knowledge that one cannot give to another.” (173)
“I have determined that this shall be a leisurely journey. We shall depend upon the wind to carry us; and if the wind refuses, we shall wait upon it, suspended by the vast buoyancy of the sea.” (266)
“After all these years, I cannot be angry at a body that fails, despite its weakness, it has served me well; and it is perhaps appropriate that I should attend its demise, as I might attend the death of an old friend, remembering as the soul slips away into whatever immortality it might find, the mortal soul which could not in life separate itself from the animal that was its guest.” (286)
In broad strokes, this book is about Caesar Augustus and how he came to power and what his reign was like, especially for those closest to him. It is told in epistolary fragments, and this is something brilliant and dangerous. On one hand, it forces you to constantly shift perspectives and to place yourself in different settings and frames of reference, some of which you might be less invested in. On the other hand, it places you directly in the action, getting to see so many varying perspectives, acting as refractions for a central narrative.
It could easily not work, but Williams makes it look like child's play. He is able to talk around the central character of the book, Augustus, and this is brilliant because it means that you get to form your own opinion about him based on his actions and interactions with those around him. It also brings you closer to his friends, family, and enemies, getting to see their inner motivations. There is no central statement or judgment about Augustus’ character, only that he was and that he did these things. You decide what to make of it.
You also do get to hear from him directly, and, at the end of the book, at the end of his life, he ruminates on what it has all amounted to. This makes up the last thirty pages of the book, and it is such a satisfying end, with Williams throwing heater after heater, just laying in one incredible thought/sentence after another until you find yourself slightly in tearful wonder about how he was able to do it.
Williams is a master of subtlety. He doesn’t use big, sweeping metaphors or grand language. Rather, he hits you between the eyes with small details and phrases that slowly build until you find yourself reacting. Make no mistake, this is the work of someone who has refined each page over and over, and it is an absolute joy to read. I read this slowly, and I’m glad I did. It allowed me time to consider the narrative and its themes (of which, it covers most of the big ones) and how Williams put it all together. I couldn’t find fault with any part of it. I experienced a slightly lesser version of this same feeling while reading Stoner, and now I can’t wait to read Butcher’s Crossing.
I’m going to leave a few beautiful quotes to cap off the review and to let the book speak for itself:
“I remember that I wept, knowing that my father would die, whom I had known only as a child, and I came to know that loss was the condition of our living. It is a knowledge that one cannot give to another.” (173)
“I have determined that this shall be a leisurely journey. We shall depend upon the wind to carry us; and if the wind refuses, we shall wait upon it, suspended by the vast buoyancy of the sea.” (266)
“After all these years, I cannot be angry at a body that fails, despite its weakness, it has served me well; and it is perhaps appropriate that I should attend its demise, as I might attend the death of an old friend, remembering as the soul slips away into whatever immortality it might find, the mortal soul which could not in life separate itself from the animal that was its guest.” (286)
kgrund's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lumikki's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lakmus's review against another edition
4.0
Notes to self:
- would have gone down easier if I read a recap of the Roman history of the period first.
- I.can't.process.Latin names. Not the fault of the author, what could he do about Roman name conventions, but GOD. Everyone has at least three names, selected from a pool of like ten options, so a lot of people have at least one overlapping name, it feels like.
- i need a chart of who was whose child and cousin and who married whom. Because dear god. The familial and marital relations get reshuffled like a deck of cards.
- I like what he did with the mosaic structure of various historical writings, letters, journal excerpts, etc. No reliable narrator, ever .
- I might be hallucinating, but Book 1, the first 200 pages out of 400 in my edition, were written in this crusty outdated language, with too many 'whence' and 'thence'. I thought the book was 'just like that', but then Book 2 and 3 switched to something a lot more readable – so that was definitely A Choice and On Purpose, but it makes the book a tough start. Maybe it's to convey that the stories in that part of the book represent mostly official history and events that are old even to the contemporaries?
- Augustus is almost absent from Book 1 (official history & his presence in politics), a lot more present but still distant in Book 2 (his presence in the family), and Book 3 is mainly his own words. Tells you how much of a facade he wore in these different aspects of life?
- Did or did not Julia conspire to his murder? If we believe her words in journals written in permanent exile, then not – in which, even this unusually loving father (for the time and place), could believe she was involved. Didn't believe her, but loved her enough to save her? This is something.
-the book is chewing a lot on the opposition of personal wants and political needs. I wonder if Williams' Octavius would be a relatively peaceful person if he lived in modern or near-modern times, or is he lying to himself about what he thinks is political necessity.
- laughed at the very last page when the speaker was expressing hope that the string of shitty emperors past Augustus is over, and Nero will be a nice guy. A little bit of horror sprinkled in through historical hindsight.
- would have gone down easier if I read a recap of the Roman history of the period first.
- I.can't.process.Latin names. Not the fault of the author, what could he do about Roman name conventions, but GOD. Everyone has at least three names, selected from a pool of like ten options, so a lot of people have at least one overlapping name, it feels like.
- i need a chart of who was whose child and cousin and who married whom. Because dear god. The familial and marital relations get reshuffled like a deck of cards.
- I like what he did with the mosaic structure of various historical writings, letters, journal excerpts, etc. No reliable narrator, ever .
- I might be hallucinating, but Book 1, the first 200 pages out of 400 in my edition, were written in this crusty outdated language, with too many 'whence' and 'thence'. I thought the book was 'just like that', but then Book 2 and 3 switched to something a lot more readable – so that was definitely A Choice and On Purpose, but it makes the book a tough start. Maybe it's to convey that the stories in that part of the book represent mostly official history and events that are old even to the contemporaries?
- Augustus is almost absent from Book 1 (official history & his presence in politics), a lot more present but still distant in Book 2 (his presence in the family), and Book 3 is mainly his own words. Tells you how much of a facade he wore in these different aspects of life?
- Did or did not Julia conspire to his murder? If we believe her words in journals written in permanent exile, then not – in which, even this unusually loving father (for the time and place), could believe she was involved. Didn't believe her, but loved her enough to save her? This is something.
-the book is chewing a lot on the opposition of personal wants and political needs. I wonder if Williams' Octavius would be a relatively peaceful person if he lived in modern or near-modern times, or is he lying to himself about what he thinks is political necessity.
- laughed at the very last page when the speaker was expressing hope that the string of shitty emperors past Augustus is over, and Nero will be a nice guy. A little bit of horror sprinkled in through historical hindsight.
mastersal's review against another edition
5.0
Peer pressure for the win … or the biggest surprise of my reading month.
Read as part of a group read, I am still not sure if the rating is because of the community aspects or the fact that I was so pleased I could still read. Either way I loved this book. So smartly written, with such economy that I am still thinking about it.
The thematic concerns about the dichotomy of private and public lives is one which personally resonates and one which has come up a lot in nonfiction - but I don’t remember it being so clearly communicated in historical fiction.
Well not in the recent historical fiction I’ve read - could be a sign that I’m reading the wrong books but whatever. Still loved this.
Plus the writing was lovely. The author manages different character voices so well. The epistolary format helped here quite a bit which allowed this intimate tone with the reader but also to is performative aspect to the letters which I loved. So smart in structure.
I had lots of notes on the book - mostly gushes which I will spare everyone and just encourage you to read it. Plus, the audiobook is great too so double benefit.
Read as part of a group read, I am still not sure if the rating is because of the community aspects or the fact that I was so pleased I could still read. Either way I loved this book. So smartly written, with such economy that I am still thinking about it.
The thematic concerns about the dichotomy of private and public lives is one which personally resonates and one which has come up a lot in nonfiction - but I don’t remember it being so clearly communicated in historical fiction.
Well not in the recent historical fiction I’ve read - could be a sign that I’m reading the wrong books but whatever. Still loved this.
Plus the writing was lovely. The author manages different character voices so well. The epistolary format helped here quite a bit which allowed this intimate tone with the reader but also to is performative aspect to the letters which I loved. So smart in structure.
I had lots of notes on the book - mostly gushes which I will spare everyone and just encourage you to read it. Plus, the audiobook is great too so double benefit.
pigmoose's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25