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Holy Murder: The Death of Hypatia of Alexandria
It was in the illustrious city of Alexandria that the celebrated beauty Hypatia, (Hy-pa-sha) a Fifth Century “renaissance” woman lived her brief but brilliant life as a professor of philosophy, mathematics, chemistry and astronomy. Bishop Cyril despised Hypatia and ordered her brutal death. His army destroyed her manuscripts and inventions as Cyril attempted to erase her name from history. Her trusted scribe and lover, Ramas, however hid her secret scrolls in the ancient city of Petra. Her brilliance is stated in Carl Sagan’s #1 best seller, Cosmos, “The glory of the Alexandrian library is a dim memory. Its last remnants were destroyed soon after Hypatia’s death.
284 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2006
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June 30, 2019
I read up to page 36, and stopped. Tragically, the author struggles with the same ailment many authors do:
WHY should I (the reader) CARE?
I don't care about Hypatia, or her lover Ramas (which isn't a spoiler because you know it's going to happen because the book summary says so). And when you meet Ramas, he is already in love with Hypatia and he is fighting his desire; Hypatia is resisting too. Shock. Both are boring and so is the evil Bishop Cyril. Too evil to be taken seriously. BWAHAHAHAHA! "I am so despicably evil!!"
For a brief background, this is a historical fiction about female 5th century philosopher Hypatia who lived in Alexandria. She was eventually murdered (also not a spoiler because it's in the title of the book and the summary says so).
I'll start with Bishop (Evil) Cyril because he is the first character we meet. He is getting a report from his servant, Peter. Through their dialogue, they talk about Hypatia, and how Churchmen are attending her lectures, and she is popular. If the Bishop is the villain, fine, but my goodness! He is a cartoon villain!
The dialogue is aweful!! Absolutely over the top, overdramatic like in theater. Or a cartoon.🤨 And everyone talks like that even the beloved Hypatia. A small but very silly example is how Peter addresses the Bishop.
"Your *bishopness*, I remind you that she is the daughter of Theon, the great mathematician."
NO ONE talks like that. "Your bishopness" is not a thing. I know some people might think that's how one might address a Bishop, but no. It's not. And to end the first chapter, Peter apparently captured a Jewish Boy while out killing people. It is alluded the boy is an offering to the Bishop...
Look, I know not everyone likes Catholics and thinks the WORST of them especially priests (especially in this political climate), but really? I could already tell the author wasn't fond of the Holy Church just by reading the prologue. Still, I wanted to give her a chance because she's not the first or the last, so whatever. But damn.
NOTE: I've no idea if the real Cyril is guilty of this crime. I'll have to do my own research. But if there is no evidence and this is just an evil fictional character trait because he's evil... I hear ya, Kramer.
The book is more lecturing than telling a story, which is fine...if telling a story isn't the purpose. Maybe it's not and I just missed that, but I doubt it. It's written, or tries to be, like one.
Now for Hypatia. We don't meet her until chapter 4. And she's already established as this beautiful, wonderful, gracious, graceful, blond and tall, everybody wants her, oh so awesome amazing independent strong woman. Whose also a feminist. Yay. She's already an established character before we ever meet her. We, the reader, know all about her before we see her, and THIS is the only opinion you CAN have of her. Unless you read further perhaps???? I don't know and don't care. This happens and then that happens now this will happen....😑
Overall, the book lacks relationship building from the get go, no chemistry to connect me to the characters or characters to each other except the author says. There is also two other characters introduced in chapter 2 and 3, but............I got other things I need to do.
IAM INTERESTED in the real Hypatia and Cyril. That's something positive. I also like the book cover! That's good.🙂 For me, the cover is simple and it's nice because some covers today are over the top. I like the humble drawing it reminds me of older books that had something similar.
WHY should I (the reader) CARE?
I don't care about Hypatia, or her lover Ramas (which isn't a spoiler because you know it's going to happen because the book summary says so). And when you meet Ramas, he is already in love with Hypatia and he is fighting his desire; Hypatia is resisting too. Shock. Both are boring and so is the evil Bishop Cyril. Too evil to be taken seriously. BWAHAHAHAHA! "I am so despicably evil!!"
For a brief background, this is a historical fiction about female 5th century philosopher Hypatia who lived in Alexandria. She was eventually murdered (also not a spoiler because it's in the title of the book and the summary says so).
I'll start with Bishop (Evil) Cyril because he is the first character we meet. He is getting a report from his servant, Peter. Through their dialogue, they talk about Hypatia, and how Churchmen are attending her lectures, and she is popular. If the Bishop is the villain, fine, but my goodness! He is a cartoon villain!
The dialogue is aweful!! Absolutely over the top, overdramatic like in theater. Or a cartoon.🤨 And everyone talks like that even the beloved Hypatia. A small but very silly example is how Peter addresses the Bishop.
"Your *bishopness*, I remind you that she is the daughter of Theon, the great mathematician."
NO ONE talks like that. "Your bishopness" is not a thing. I know some people might think that's how one might address a Bishop, but no. It's not. And to end the first chapter, Peter apparently captured a Jewish Boy while out killing people. It is alluded the boy is an offering to the Bishop...
Look, I know not everyone likes Catholics and thinks the WORST of them especially priests (especially in this political climate), but really? I could already tell the author wasn't fond of the Holy Church just by reading the prologue. Still, I wanted to give her a chance because she's not the first or the last, so whatever. But damn.
NOTE: I've no idea if the real Cyril is guilty of this crime. I'll have to do my own research. But if there is no evidence and this is just an evil fictional character trait because he's evil... I hear ya, Kramer.
The book is more lecturing than telling a story, which is fine...if telling a story isn't the purpose. Maybe it's not and I just missed that, but I doubt it. It's written, or tries to be, like one.
Now for Hypatia. We don't meet her until chapter 4. And she's already established as this beautiful, wonderful, gracious, graceful, blond and tall, everybody wants her, oh so awesome amazing independent strong woman. Whose also a feminist. Yay. She's already an established character before we ever meet her. We, the reader, know all about her before we see her, and THIS is the only opinion you CAN have of her. Unless you read further perhaps???? I don't know and don't care. This happens and then that happens now this will happen....😑
Overall, the book lacks relationship building from the get go, no chemistry to connect me to the characters or characters to each other except the author says. There is also two other characters introduced in chapter 2 and 3, but............I got other things I need to do.
IAM INTERESTED in the real Hypatia and Cyril. That's something positive. I also like the book cover! That's good.🙂 For me, the cover is simple and it's nice because some covers today are over the top. I like the humble drawing it reminds me of older books that had something similar.
Displaying 1 of 1 review