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A Song for Nero
History tells us that in 69 AD, Nero fled his palace in Rome, stabbed himself in the throat with a pen, and was trampled to death by horses in a muddy ditch. But here's another possibility: Nero did not die in that ditch, but somebody who looked very much like him did. This gives Nero the opportunity to start a new life in pursuit of his first love—music. But Nero is being pursued by two people who have reason to suspect he is still alive—one wants him dead, the other is a passionate fan of his dreadful music and wants his genius recognized.
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
7 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Tom Holt
98 books1,176 followersTom Holt (Thomas Charles Louis Holt) is a British novelist.
He was born in London, the son of novelist Hazel Holt, and was educated at Westminster School, Wadham College, Oxford, and The College of Law, London.
Holt's works include mythopoeic novels which parody or take as their theme various aspects of mythology, history or literature and develop them in new and often humorous ways. He has also produced a number of "straight" historical novels writing as Thomas Holt and fantasy novels writing as K.J. Parker.
He was born in London, the son of novelist Hazel Holt, and was educated at Westminster School, Wadham College, Oxford, and The College of Law, London.
Holt's works include mythopoeic novels which parody or take as their theme various aspects of mythology, history or literature and develop them in new and often humorous ways. He has also produced a number of "straight" historical novels writing as Thomas Holt and fantasy novels writing as K.J. Parker.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 18, 2022
Nero - a mad Roman emperor or a young guy who just wanted to have fun
What if he did not die, but turned incognito to escape his executioners. This story tells what he did afterwards as a regular citizen...
A musical interlude with stone quarries
One of the things that creep Nero did was, he’d hold these parties for all the high-up Romans, and when he’d got them trapped in that huge palace of his in Rome, he’d make ‘em all sit there for hours and hours while he played his harp at them and sang. Sheer murder it was, by all accounts, because he couldn’t play the harp worth pigshit and his voice was something like a cat in an olive press. So he’s doing one of these parties, and there sitting in the front row is this fat old Roman senator. I can’t remember his name, not that it matters worth a fart. So this old senator’s been there for three hours or more, on top of a big dinner with a lot to drink, and the music’s going on and on, and finally he can’t keep his eyes open a moment longer, and he nods off to sleep and starts snoring. Well, that turd Nero catches sight of him and does his nut, what a terrible insult to his singing and all that crap, and he calls for his guards and sends the poor old fat bloke off for five years in the quarries.
‘How terrible,’ I said. ‘Carry on.
‘Well,’ said the carter, ‘a couple of years go by, and one day Nero’s sitting on his golden throne chatting to some people, and he asks, whatever became of old So-and-so, haven’t seen him round here in a camel’s age. Well, of course, everybody gets very twitchy, until someone says, don’t you remember, Caesar, you had him chucked down the pit for falling asleep during your wonderful concert.
Now old Nero, he’s had a drop to drink already that day, he’s feeling a bit soft, so he says, We can’t have that, send a messenger and have him released at once. So off the messenger goes, and back he comes with the senator, who’s still just about alive but not nearly as porky round the tum as he used to be; and he’s still wearing the rags of his senator’s purple gown, and everybody’s real
sorry for him, and there’s this big sloppy scene where Nero forgives him, and everybody’s sobbing their eyes out, and it’s all fine. But then Nero says, I’ve got an idea, let’s have a nice party to celebrate old what’s-is-name’s getting out of the can, and everybody thinks, Oh shit, because they know what’s coming, but they all say, What a clever idea, Caesar, let’s do that. So they bring on
the booze, and as soon as everybody’s sat down, up gets Nero and he starts doing a concert. Well, he’s done one song and he’s halfway through the next when the old senator gets to his feet and slowly starts walking out of the room. Nero’s absolutely furious. He swings round and he says to the senator, Where the bloody hell d’you think you’re going? And the senator lets go a great big sad sigh, and he says, Back to the stone quarries, Caesar, where do you think?’
Family wisdom
I remembered what my old mother used to tell us when we were kids: what you can’t buy, steal.
When dealing with people from my past who show up out of the blue, I’ve always been guided by two rules. When in doubt, lie. When not in doubt, lie anyway.
Nero incognito and his friend Galan wander through the Roman empire always just one jump ahead of their enemies. With many references to "The Odyssey" and the hero Ulysses. Dark comedy at its best!
Enjoy!
What if he did not die, but turned incognito to escape his executioners. This story tells what he did afterwards as a regular citizen...
A musical interlude with stone quarries
One of the things that creep Nero did was, he’d hold these parties for all the high-up Romans, and when he’d got them trapped in that huge palace of his in Rome, he’d make ‘em all sit there for hours and hours while he played his harp at them and sang. Sheer murder it was, by all accounts, because he couldn’t play the harp worth pigshit and his voice was something like a cat in an olive press. So he’s doing one of these parties, and there sitting in the front row is this fat old Roman senator. I can’t remember his name, not that it matters worth a fart. So this old senator’s been there for three hours or more, on top of a big dinner with a lot to drink, and the music’s going on and on, and finally he can’t keep his eyes open a moment longer, and he nods off to sleep and starts snoring. Well, that turd Nero catches sight of him and does his nut, what a terrible insult to his singing and all that crap, and he calls for his guards and sends the poor old fat bloke off for five years in the quarries.
‘How terrible,’ I said. ‘Carry on.
‘Well,’ said the carter, ‘a couple of years go by, and one day Nero’s sitting on his golden throne chatting to some people, and he asks, whatever became of old So-and-so, haven’t seen him round here in a camel’s age. Well, of course, everybody gets very twitchy, until someone says, don’t you remember, Caesar, you had him chucked down the pit for falling asleep during your wonderful concert.
Now old Nero, he’s had a drop to drink already that day, he’s feeling a bit soft, so he says, We can’t have that, send a messenger and have him released at once. So off the messenger goes, and back he comes with the senator, who’s still just about alive but not nearly as porky round the tum as he used to be; and he’s still wearing the rags of his senator’s purple gown, and everybody’s real
sorry for him, and there’s this big sloppy scene where Nero forgives him, and everybody’s sobbing their eyes out, and it’s all fine. But then Nero says, I’ve got an idea, let’s have a nice party to celebrate old what’s-is-name’s getting out of the can, and everybody thinks, Oh shit, because they know what’s coming, but they all say, What a clever idea, Caesar, let’s do that. So they bring on
the booze, and as soon as everybody’s sat down, up gets Nero and he starts doing a concert. Well, he’s done one song and he’s halfway through the next when the old senator gets to his feet and slowly starts walking out of the room. Nero’s absolutely furious. He swings round and he says to the senator, Where the bloody hell d’you think you’re going? And the senator lets go a great big sad sigh, and he says, Back to the stone quarries, Caesar, where do you think?’
Family wisdom
I remembered what my old mother used to tell us when we were kids: what you can’t buy, steal.
When dealing with people from my past who show up out of the blue, I’ve always been guided by two rules. When in doubt, lie. When not in doubt, lie anyway.
Nero incognito and his friend Galan wander through the Roman empire always just one jump ahead of their enemies. With many references to "The Odyssey" and the hero Ulysses. Dark comedy at its best!
Enjoy!
December 24, 2019
In 68 AD, the world believed that Nero Caesar, the nefarious last emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, committed suicide in a ditch. A Song for Nero posits a hypothetical in which that death was a ruse, and Nero lived on.
Narrarated by Galen, an Athenian ne'er-do-well, grifter, and thief who is saved from the cross by his emperor, we follow Nero as he flees a complex web of assassins who know the truth, and who seek to either use him for their own ends or hold him accountable for the atrocities he (may or may not have) committed while on the Roman throne.
It's a fascinating premise, subtly and masterfully enacted. It's told in a darkly comedic tone, a bit more KJ Parker than Tom Holt; after reading such a wide body of the author's work, however, comparisons rank it neither above nor below par. It speaks a great deal about the worth of friendship (and the neuroticism of relationships), survival for the sake of itself, and the mental trauma that comes from seeking both.
The ending was pure Parker, totally unexpected, and a solid 5 stars; the story as a whole ranged slightly above 4 for me. Highly recommended, especially for those interested in Roman history!
Narrarated by Galen, an Athenian ne'er-do-well, grifter, and thief who is saved from the cross by his emperor, we follow Nero as he flees a complex web of assassins who know the truth, and who seek to either use him for their own ends or hold him accountable for the atrocities he (may or may not have) committed while on the Roman throne.
It's a fascinating premise, subtly and masterfully enacted. It's told in a darkly comedic tone, a bit more KJ Parker than Tom Holt; after reading such a wide body of the author's work, however, comparisons rank it neither above nor below par. It speaks a great deal about the worth of friendship (and the neuroticism of relationships), survival for the sake of itself, and the mental trauma that comes from seeking both.
The ending was pure Parker, totally unexpected, and a solid 5 stars; the story as a whole ranged slightly above 4 for me. Highly recommended, especially for those interested in Roman history!
December 24, 2020
I’m a big fan of KJ Parker’s fantasy but I’m also working back through some historical fiction he wrote, under his real name of Tom Holt, some years ago.
I very much enjoyed a couple of such novels set in Ancient Greece (e.g The Walled Orchard). This one is an alternative history involving the early Roman Empire and the Emperor Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) but usually referred to in this story by his born name, Lucius Domitius. Real history records Nero reigning for 16 years, being seen as a debauched monster guilty of matricide and a tyrant. A coup overthrew him, and it’s unclear whether he committed suicide or was assassinated. A bizarre fact, referred to in the book, is that three others claimed the throne in succession that same year, all being assassinated soon after ascending the throne, with Vespasian eventually establishing himself at the end of the year - the ‘Year of Five Emperors’ in the history books.
I’m off the subject! In fact this book’s story is really that of Galen, a Greek thief and conman, who is also the first person narrator. As the flyleaf of the book says Nero escapes death (though his rivals believe him dead) and he forms a travelling companionship with Galen. Much of the first half of the book describes their subsistence level lifestyle from their thieving, one step ahead of the law, as they move around the empire. I found this section to be rather slow moving and motivations for their continuing with this lifestyle seemed vague, other than their fear that Nero would be recognised if they settled. But it establishes their relationship and circumstances.
However, the second half of the book moves faster as new events unfold. At last there’s some introspection by Galen and Nero and they look to change things. There’s some discussion of whether Nero was a monster as emperor or whether he was acting the role required, given that he’s a pretty ordinary, unambitious guy in his new lifestyle. They have so many escapes from near disaster Galen jokes that the gods of the underworld must hate him so much to keep spurning the chance to catch him.
There’s a major and unexpected turn of fortune for them which Galen eventually seems to use wisely. This leads to a particularly good ending as an apparently reformed Galen once again finds the past catching up with him.
The whole plot with its twists and turns is unlikely but then it’s an imaginative alternative historical fiction and adventure. The writing style is a sort of precursor of the later, mature, KJ Parker books with some dry wit, discussions meandering away from the main story, a chatty first person narrator expressing familiarity with the reader. There are no heroes, eyes are often shut to moral issues, and almost everyone important to the story has some good and bad points. The latter point is probably the main message the author puts across.
In the end, maybe 3* for the first half, 5* for the second half. Not a book I’d recommend as a starting point to KJ Parker (and it’s nothing like Tom Holt’s early light comedic fantasies) but certainly one for the established KJ Parker fan who fancies some alternative history.
I very much enjoyed a couple of such novels set in Ancient Greece (e.g The Walled Orchard). This one is an alternative history involving the early Roman Empire and the Emperor Nero (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) but usually referred to in this story by his born name, Lucius Domitius. Real history records Nero reigning for 16 years, being seen as a debauched monster guilty of matricide and a tyrant. A coup overthrew him, and it’s unclear whether he committed suicide or was assassinated. A bizarre fact, referred to in the book, is that three others claimed the throne in succession that same year, all being assassinated soon after ascending the throne, with Vespasian eventually establishing himself at the end of the year - the ‘Year of Five Emperors’ in the history books.
I’m off the subject! In fact this book’s story is really that of Galen, a Greek thief and conman, who is also the first person narrator. As the flyleaf of the book says Nero escapes death (though his rivals believe him dead) and he forms a travelling companionship with Galen. Much of the first half of the book describes their subsistence level lifestyle from their thieving, one step ahead of the law, as they move around the empire. I found this section to be rather slow moving and motivations for their continuing with this lifestyle seemed vague, other than their fear that Nero would be recognised if they settled. But it establishes their relationship and circumstances.
However, the second half of the book moves faster as new events unfold. At last there’s some introspection by Galen and Nero and they look to change things. There’s some discussion of whether Nero was a monster as emperor or whether he was acting the role required, given that he’s a pretty ordinary, unambitious guy in his new lifestyle. They have so many escapes from near disaster Galen jokes that the gods of the underworld must hate him so much to keep spurning the chance to catch him.
There’s a major and unexpected turn of fortune for them which Galen eventually seems to use wisely. This leads to a particularly good ending as an apparently reformed Galen once again finds the past catching up with him.
The whole plot with its twists and turns is unlikely but then it’s an imaginative alternative historical fiction and adventure. The writing style is a sort of precursor of the later, mature, KJ Parker books with some dry wit, discussions meandering away from the main story, a chatty first person narrator expressing familiarity with the reader. There are no heroes, eyes are often shut to moral issues, and almost everyone important to the story has some good and bad points. The latter point is probably the main message the author puts across.
In the end, maybe 3* for the first half, 5* for the second half. Not a book I’d recommend as a starting point to KJ Parker (and it’s nothing like Tom Holt’s early light comedic fantasies) but certainly one for the established KJ Parker fan who fancies some alternative history.
January 21, 2017
Don't get me wrong, I love stories that are based in real events and made fiction by adding twists and turns which make any story more interesting. And I love mysteries.
A Song for Nero started okay, a little witty, and I thought 'thank God, I won't regret buying the book' and somehow, thankfully, upon finishing the book, I really didn't.
Firts hundred pages, the story dragged and swear, I almost put it down(but I didn't because that's just not me-I always give a book a chance). But as soon as the story was set, everything went smoothly.
It's an easy read, not too grandeur, but good enough...I can't say I loved it but it's okay.
A Song for Nero started okay, a little witty, and I thought 'thank God, I won't regret buying the book' and somehow, thankfully, upon finishing the book, I really didn't.
Firts hundred pages, the story dragged and swear, I almost put it down(but I didn't because that's just not me-I always give a book a chance). But as soon as the story was set, everything went smoothly.
It's an easy read, not too grandeur, but good enough...I can't say I loved it but it's okay.
October 2, 2015
Diarrhea, not to mention flights of ideas. The story was all over the place. But it baffled me in the end. I SOLEMNLY SWEAR I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT. Yes, that. The narrator was leading me on all throughout. I...wow, it kinda broke me to pieces you see. It was a bitter sweet ending. Mind boggling (because of the diarrhea yes, it takes away brain energy but also because of Chapter 21 - the last chapter).
The ending to the story was something I wasn't ready for. It got me there lol I love it, the ending was so good. It's not everyday I give a 5-star rating to a book just because its ending was a total WHAM..I think this is the first.
The ending to the story was something I wasn't ready for. It got me there lol I love it, the ending was so good. It's not everyday I give a 5-star rating to a book just because its ending was a total WHAM..I think this is the first.
April 14, 2019
This book, well.
Imagine if Pratchett and Mary Renault had a baby and there you go. Don't expect a focus on history. Sure the history is its more of a background to the partner-in-crime dynamic between the narrator and Nero.
Sometimes the figurative language gets overbearing, but (almost) none are stock phrases. Very colorful wordplay combines with a slapstick buddy routine to make for a very unique take on Nero.
Imagine if Pratchett and Mary Renault had a baby and there you go. Don't expect a focus on history. Sure the history is its more of a background to the partner-in-crime dynamic between the narrator and Nero.
Sometimes the figurative language gets overbearing, but (almost) none are stock phrases. Very colorful wordplay combines with a slapstick buddy routine to make for a very unique take on Nero.
July 18, 2021
A witty novel about what might have happened if Nero didn't die when he historically died, but instead lived on as a rogue and confidence trickster. It's the Holt book I've read that's most like Holt's alter-ego, K J Parker - very much like the Fencer trilogy in many ways.
I think this guy is great and everyone should be reading his books.
I think this guy is great and everyone should be reading his books.
June 6, 2010
The subtlest historical novel by the author; starts a bit slow and takes a while to fully appreciate both its subtlety and its powerful themes, though the darkly ironic tone of the narrator keeps it going
A powerful ending to boot
A powerful ending to boot
August 22, 2016
OK, it's actually 4.5 stars, but who cares: I liked it. So why not 5 stars? Would have been, if this book counted - say- 75 pages less. Still: very enjoyable. Highly recommended if you like your historical novels with a nice dose of tongue-in-cheeky humor.
December 31, 2025
What if—just for a laugh—Nero didn’t die and lived on to pursue his dream career as a musician?
Lucius Domitius (Nero) and Galen are in a prison cell in Damascus, waiting to be crucified. ‘Is it true you murdered your mother?’ Galen wants to know. ‘What about your wives?’ And what happens after a person dies? Nero should know; ‘half your rotten family are gods’.
Galen, our narrator, regales us with tales of his and his brother Callistus’ youth as thieves in the streets of Athens and how Lucius Domitius showed up. It had to do with a hilarious mishap, a cart and a chain of slaves nearly going over a cliff edge.
According to ancient Roman sentiment, any sort of corruption or debauchery, fratricide, patricide, matricide, kicking your pregnant wife to death, was par for the course when done in private, but standing up in the amphitheatre alongside a bunch of riffraff singing songs about the fall of Troy was a bridge too far. The ‘purple-stripe boys’ senator class have it in for Nero, and when push comes to shove, Galen and Callistus pull a switcheroo.
Now Galen and Lucius Domitius traipse around the Empire, pulling petty confidence tricks—Nero’s an actor, after all—getting into scrapes and blagging their way out of trouble. And then, some Sicilian and this rabbit-faced bloke are following them, and one of them’s a music fan. The plot gets complicated, and there’s a buried treasure up for grabs.
A rattling tongue-in-cheek yarn in the entertaining Voice of Galen. Our Nero listens to some funny retellings of funny stories about himself that went down at the time—eg punishing people for falling asleep during his concerts. Now, he complains, ‘I’m not even as good as the lies they tell about me’.
The tone and the gags are to tickle a modern funnybone, yet culturally referencing the olden Roman days, which is especially funny (eg ‘beats me why we aren’t all speaking Carthaginian’; ‘playing… pass the hemlock soufflé with [his] ghastly mother’; f*** a goat six ways to Nicomedia’).
The editor tended not to put spaces after full stops and commas, which was distracting.
Lucius Domitius (Nero) and Galen are in a prison cell in Damascus, waiting to be crucified. ‘Is it true you murdered your mother?’ Galen wants to know. ‘What about your wives?’ And what happens after a person dies? Nero should know; ‘half your rotten family are gods’.
Galen, our narrator, regales us with tales of his and his brother Callistus’ youth as thieves in the streets of Athens and how Lucius Domitius showed up. It had to do with a hilarious mishap, a cart and a chain of slaves nearly going over a cliff edge.
According to ancient Roman sentiment, any sort of corruption or debauchery, fratricide, patricide, matricide, kicking your pregnant wife to death, was par for the course when done in private, but standing up in the amphitheatre alongside a bunch of riffraff singing songs about the fall of Troy was a bridge too far. The ‘purple-stripe boys’ senator class have it in for Nero, and when push comes to shove, Galen and Callistus pull a switcheroo.
Now Galen and Lucius Domitius traipse around the Empire, pulling petty confidence tricks—Nero’s an actor, after all—getting into scrapes and blagging their way out of trouble. And then, some Sicilian and this rabbit-faced bloke are following them, and one of them’s a music fan. The plot gets complicated, and there’s a buried treasure up for grabs.
A rattling tongue-in-cheek yarn in the entertaining Voice of Galen. Our Nero listens to some funny retellings of funny stories about himself that went down at the time—eg punishing people for falling asleep during his concerts. Now, he complains, ‘I’m not even as good as the lies they tell about me’.
The tone and the gags are to tickle a modern funnybone, yet culturally referencing the olden Roman days, which is especially funny (eg ‘beats me why we aren’t all speaking Carthaginian’; ‘playing… pass the hemlock soufflé with [his] ghastly mother’; f*** a goat six ways to Nicomedia’).
The editor tended not to put spaces after full stops and commas, which was distracting.
October 8, 2017
Tom Holt is very witty and knowledgeable, but you pretty much learn after while that things are never going to work out for his protagonists. This is a rough and tumble, world crossing and back again alternative history adventure about Nero escaping from his death. Complicated characters and complicated moral situations abound. A lot of ups and downs, and it is slow at times, but worth spending some time with.
March 14, 2022
Well that was... I don't know. If you read this book for a story about Nero, you'll come away empty. It was barely even a Rome story. I hardly know what to call it. But the humor in the story-telling was good, and somehow it kept me interested to see what these crazy people were going to do next.
July 8, 2024
This was a very mixed read for me. I enjoyed the story style as it's quite witty but at the same time, it also went on and on and on when Galen was speaking about the past. It was also oddly sympathetic to any of Nero's flaws including SA and murder.
I'd definitely read another Tom Holt book if the style is similar.
I'd definitely read another Tom Holt book if the style is similar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2019
I know it’s meant to evoke the stories of the time, the references to the odyssey are right there, but the level of coincidence can be hard to follow. Still, apart from that and the fact that Mr. Holts Greeks and Romans sometimes feel very British, it is a great story well told.
January 12, 2018
N.B. I loved this a lot and would probably give it 4.5 stars, but, without spoilers, the end was extremely detrimental to my enjoyment.
Read
May 19, 2022DNF
June 29, 2012
The opening "about the author" piece was hilarious! I thought, wow, this is going to be a witty and fun story! But without a clear goal after 100+ pages, I just didn't want to keep reading. There are so many other books out there! This book just does not carry the time period or interesting characters, sadly.
Nero was a tyranical and cruel emperor. While he increased the arts and had a reign of peace abroad, there was much more chilling episodes to his reign. And while I've never had a problem with stories revolving around these ancient rules and exploring their motivations, etc., this book is just a little too sarcastic and "ADHD" for my tastes.
First of all, the main two characters (one being Nero) are just plain mean to each other. They're cussing up a storm and responding to each other like they hate each other (and perhaps they do). I know people cuss, but this was a bit overly done for me. And their just so nasty! Its not fun to read after 50 pages.
Second, the narrator steps back and forth through times so much that I'm never sure where the actual story is supposed to take place. I read 144 pages, and the goal/point of the story was still unclear! The plot never intersects with significant events in history (in fact, it tries to avoid anything interesting about the time period) and only mentions emperor changes as if saying, "oh yeah, this is supposed to take place in ancient Roman times. Emperor check!"
The characters are 1-dimensional. The narrator is sarcastic and funny, but there is no substance to him and no redeeming qualities besides being "lucky" to get out of situations time after time. His brother has him hold the knife which the brother than kills himself on, and there are no resonating emotions about this other than the initial shock. Its frustrating how there is no emotional reaction to this other than "losing control of bowels." The two main people are constantly mean and theiving and escaping, and there are no discernable emotions to either one, again, besides mentioning bowel movements along with fear. That seems to be the author's only references, bowel movements or spitting.
If the author wants to explore the mind of Nero, I'll read it! But the characters had no other motivations other than running. It was just not as intersting as I had hoped! There were good one-liners, but not a good story that pulls you in and keeps you reading. I returned it to the library without finishing it.
Nero was a tyranical and cruel emperor. While he increased the arts and had a reign of peace abroad, there was much more chilling episodes to his reign. And while I've never had a problem with stories revolving around these ancient rules and exploring their motivations, etc., this book is just a little too sarcastic and "ADHD" for my tastes.
First of all, the main two characters (one being Nero) are just plain mean to each other. They're cussing up a storm and responding to each other like they hate each other (and perhaps they do). I know people cuss, but this was a bit overly done for me. And their just so nasty! Its not fun to read after 50 pages.
Second, the narrator steps back and forth through times so much that I'm never sure where the actual story is supposed to take place. I read 144 pages, and the goal/point of the story was still unclear! The plot never intersects with significant events in history (in fact, it tries to avoid anything interesting about the time period) and only mentions emperor changes as if saying, "oh yeah, this is supposed to take place in ancient Roman times. Emperor check!"
The characters are 1-dimensional. The narrator is sarcastic and funny, but there is no substance to him and no redeeming qualities besides being "lucky" to get out of situations time after time. His brother has him hold the knife which the brother than kills himself on, and there are no resonating emotions about this other than the initial shock. Its frustrating how there is no emotional reaction to this other than "losing control of bowels." The two main people are constantly mean and theiving and escaping, and there are no discernable emotions to either one, again, besides mentioning bowel movements along with fear. That seems to be the author's only references, bowel movements or spitting.
If the author wants to explore the mind of Nero, I'll read it! But the characters had no other motivations other than running. It was just not as intersting as I had hoped! There were good one-liners, but not a good story that pulls you in and keeps you reading. I returned it to the library without finishing it.
April 24, 2016
A Song for Nero follows the adventures of Galen, a con artist from a small village just outside Athens, as he travels around the Roman Empire with none other than Nero Caesar (believed dead). Their exploits see them escaping from gangsters, involved in a treasure hunt, and escaping certain death on numerous occasions.
My main issue with this book is that it really doesn't hold your attention, despite everything the author throws at you. As our protagonists are involved in increasingly desperate situations, I found myself growing more and more bored as the story never seems to be going anywhere. There is a lot of humour in the book, with the whole thing told in first person and the comedy deriving from the narrators ironic commentary on his life, but even this starts to grate after a while as it seems like we are seeing the same thing over and over again: something 'exciting' happens, and the narrator makes a wry remark about it. The book does seem to be attempting something deeper than it appears on the surface, with a number of aside and philosophical discussions about Stoicism, the Odyssey and other Greek and Roman literature, but never quite gels (other than the idea that sometimes things happen you have no control over).
I am a fan of this author's work, having read and enjoyed a number of his comic-fantasy novels (ever since finding "Overtime" in the school library), and I would highly recommend "The Walled Orchard", a book that is similar to this in style but with a much more engaging protagonist and plot. I give this some points because there are some genuinely touching scenes, and a few good comedic moments, but over all it should have been much shorter.
My main issue with this book is that it really doesn't hold your attention, despite everything the author throws at you. As our protagonists are involved in increasingly desperate situations, I found myself growing more and more bored as the story never seems to be going anywhere. There is a lot of humour in the book, with the whole thing told in first person and the comedy deriving from the narrators ironic commentary on his life, but even this starts to grate after a while as it seems like we are seeing the same thing over and over again: something 'exciting' happens, and the narrator makes a wry remark about it. The book does seem to be attempting something deeper than it appears on the surface, with a number of aside and philosophical discussions about Stoicism, the Odyssey and other Greek and Roman literature, but never quite gels (other than the idea that sometimes things happen you have no control over).
I am a fan of this author's work, having read and enjoyed a number of his comic-fantasy novels (ever since finding "Overtime" in the school library), and I would highly recommend "The Walled Orchard", a book that is similar to this in style but with a much more engaging protagonist and plot. I give this some points because there are some genuinely touching scenes, and a few good comedic moments, but over all it should have been much shorter.
February 20, 2016
It reads like a Greek comedy, and I laughed my way through it just as much as I did through I, Claudius, though this one is much more approachable for people who are not classicists.
[For IC, you don't get why it's funny unless you read a lot of classics and their translations.]
[For IC, you don't get why it's funny unless you read a lot of classics and their translations.]
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March 2, 2011It reads like a Greek comedy, and I laughed my way through it just as much as I did through I, Claudius, though this one is much more approachable for people who are not classicists.
[For IC, you don't get why it's funny unless you read a lot of classics and their translations.]
[For IC, you don't get why it's funny unless you read a lot of classics and their translations.]
December 17, 2009
One of the greatest books I believe...
January 13, 2011
This book was bloody great! I took it off the community bookshelf at my local pub on a whim and finished it in hours. Brilliant!
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August 21, 2015I read this ages ago, before Goodreads, and I'm not going to read it again just to review it. And the only reason I know I read it is because my husband remembers me going on and on about it.
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