You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

If the two chosen group reads don't take your fancy, feel free to read a book of your choice which is set in Ancient Rome, written by an Ancient Roman author or set somewhere which was conquered and takes place during the reign of the Roman Empire. Please discuss your book in this thread.

Also let us know how your book links to the theme if it's not obvious.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have completed the book before or during August 2015.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread.

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

I think I'm going to read Tiger, Tiger, though Curses and Smoke looks really good too. I doubt I'll have enough time to read both of them. August is looking to be a busy month.

Kristie wrote: "I think I'm going to read Tiger, Tiger, though Curses and Smoke looks really good too. I doubt I'll have enough time to read both of them. August is looking to be a bu..."

Curses and Smoke looks interesting I added it to my TBR

I decided that I need to pick from my rather large list of books I own. I have Antony and Cleopatra gathering dust, so I'm going to give it a go even though it's a bit of a chunkster.

Janice wrote: "I decided that I need to pick from my rather large list of books I own. I have Antony and Cleopatra gathering dust, so I'm going to give it a go even though it's a bit of a chunkster."

McCullough's is my favorite version of the story.

Antony and Cleopatra was my least favorite of the series, but it wasn't horrible.

If anyone is in the mood for non-fiction, The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard was quite good.

I don't think Antony and Cleopatra should be included as part of McCullough's Masters of Rome series because The October Horse: A Novel of Caesar and Cleopatra touched on the story. If you view it as the final installment of that series, yes, it's the weakest, but if you view it as a stand alone, I loved it.

Am I understanding it correctly that The Masters of Rome series are connected by the theme as opposed to the storyline? I generally view those types of series as standalone books.

Janice wrote: "Am I understanding it correctly that The Masters of Rome series are connected by the theme as opposed to the storyline? I generally view those types of series as standalone books."

They begin with Gaius Marius who re-vamped the Roman army and end with Octavian, and we all know what he did. They are tied together in that they chronologically tell the history of Rome for that period. You could read them as stand alone novels, but you would only get a glimpse as opposed to the big picture.

Does that make sense?!

I didn't feel Antony and Cleopatra was part of the series because not only did it expand on a story told in an earlier book, but it wasn't about Rome, whereas the rest of the series was, no matter what the various locations were.

Yes, it makes sense. Thanks for that clarification, Kandice.

Janice wrote: "Yes, it makes sense. Thanks for that clarification, Kandice."

I hope you read it (them)!

I've read the Masters of Rome series and you really should read them in order, even Antony and Cleopatra. (Unless you're very familiar with that time period in Roman History, I think you'd miss things.)

I'll read the third of Manda Scott's Rome series: first two were brilliant.

Deborah wrote: "I'll read the third of Manda Scott's Rome series: first two were brilliant."

Is that this series, Deborah? Dreaming the Eagle? With a rec like that one, I want to make sure I'm adding the right series!

I'll be starting The Shadowy Horses today.

Rusalka - that's the Boudica series. The other was published under M.C. Scott and the first is Rome: The Emperor's Spy. However - I love Manda Scott and the Rome series follows the Boudica one - slightly, there are a couple of crossover characters. I love the Boudica series even more and recommend it very highly - but she seems to be one of those writers you either love or hate.

So, if you add both you will have a double series of 8 books to keep you happily reading for some time! :)

I also highly recommend A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii by Stephanie Dray et al

I am also currently reading Marius' Mules: The Invasion of Gaul - feedback to come.

I like the sound of The Shadowy Horses

I started Dreaming the Eagle which is book #1 in the Boudica series a few months back, but I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it, so I tucked it back away to attempt another time.

Cheers, big ears. Explains why I was slightly confused. To the to be read list!

Hm, I wonder whether The Shadowy Horses will fit. I thought it would be at least 75% set in the past, like other Kearsley books I read, but I'm now 20% through and it's all in the present. It's about a group of archaeologists digging at a site where one of them thinks they will find artifacts of the missing Roman Ninth Legion. I'm about to start part 2 of the book which I hoped would be set in the past, but turns out to be also present-day.

Oh dear Peggy. I guess it's still Roman themed, just not set in Ancient Roman times.

Too bad :( At least I'll get another book off my TBR :)

This will be the first time since joining this group though that I will not receive a group read badge.

I have started reading Augustus by John Williams for this theme and am 18% of the way through. This is the first book by Williams that I have read and I think it is pretty good so far. I am not normally a fan of epistolary novels but the format works quite well here and I am enjoying seeing the life and times of the emperor Augustus come to life as seen through the eyes of his friends, relatives and enemies. The only problem I am having at the moment is keeping track of who's who as there is a lot of political intrigue and manoeuvring going on and a lot of characters flitting in and out. I have some knowledge of this period which is helping but it's still giving me a bit of a headache.

I liked Augustus

I may be reading The Ides Of March

Nope, my book is definitely not set in ancient roman times. Too bad!

I am finding the Ancient Rome theme really hard to find a book I think I may have to skip this one :(

It is indeed a hard theme Tasha. Even more so if historical fiction isn't your thing.

I had the same Tasha. I love hf but all those ancient rome books didn't appael to me. Many seem so political and I don't like that, and for some reason I expect them all to be a bit long-winded and slow.

Tasha☺ wrote: "I am finding the Ancient Rome theme really hard to find a book I think I may have to skip this one :("

Do you like mysteries? The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis is quite good. Humorous at times.

Kate Quinn wrote a series that a lot of hardcore HF readers don't like- I've heard people say it's like Chit-Lit set in Ancient Rome. (I liked them, though). Mistress of Rome is the first of the series. There's a fair bit of romance, which is another strike against it for many HF readers.

A lot of people who don't normally like HF have liked these books: Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray (I didn't really like this one, too woo-woo) and Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Nothing wrong with chick-lit in Ancient Rome - I'm pretty hardcore re HF but Kate Quinn is so entertaining! I can forgive a good storyteller anything, I find. I also love the Stephanie Dray and Michelle Moran books.

Peggy - I have the same expectation for many books in this theme.

Kate Quinn is an amazing storyteller. I absolutely recommend Mistress of Rome.

I rec Kate Quinn too if the other Rome reads don't appeal. Mistress of Rome was a great read. Michelle Moran's Cleopatra's Daughter is a good rec too. I liked The Song of Achilles too. I think these are all 'softer' reads and would be great alternatives to the more 'harder' reads out there. 'Harder' meaning rougher, not too advanced. ;)

I'd suggest Medicus by Ruth Downie. It's a mystery, it's funny and it has a kick-ass female character.
It's a great audiobook too.

I recommend the books of Manfredi, they are awesome.
But can also recommend the SPQR series from Maddox Roberts The King's Gambit, they are very entretaining and not slow at all.
There is also the books about roman costums, like L'Alimentation Et La Cuisine a Rome and others alike

I haven't read it, but Dreaming the Eagle by Manda Scott. It's about Boudica.

I just ordered that one ^^ the other day. It's been on my radar for a while now.

Dawn, I've had Medicus on my radar too and considered nominating it for the theme but went with Pompeii instead.

Dreaming the Eagle is one I still have to get too as well.

I liked Medicus better than Pompeii myself. I thought Pompeii was too predictable, Harris's Cicero series was better.

I'll check that one out as well.

Medicus is lightweight but very readable - for me, as I work in health, his long-suffering and rather limp-wristed cynicism is very true to life - and amusing too. I find the female character not as credible, though.

Deborah wrote: "I find the female character not as credible, though...."

I agree, it's my big problem with the entire series but it's still fun and I do like that she's bossy like that.

I'm going to read either Tiger, Tiger or Detectives in Togas.

Thanks for the recommendations! Tasha, I nominated song of achilles but it turned out to be set in ancient greece ;-)

oh yeah! I forgot. :)

I have so many things I want to read this month, and I'm in a lighter mood like a lot of others. Lindsey Davis has two mystery series set in Ancient Rome. The second one is kind of a continuation with the daughter as the MC. I think I'll try one of of these.

Janice wrote: "I started Dreaming the Eagle which is book #1 in the Boudica series a few months back, but I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it, so I tucked it back away to attempt another time."

I saw your comment in the Review list, Janice. At least it helped you sleep, so the title was doing the job. Maybe you shouldn't take the "Dreaming" books to bed and read. :) Added to my TBR/Series list. Marcus gave it 4 stars.

Marcus has been pretty quiet. Haven't seen a post from him for some time. Scott either. Anyone ever hear from Marnie?

Hey Peggy - did we decide to do a buddy read for Song of Achilies? I know it doesn't apply to this group read, but I know I bought it for something....

Cherie wrote: "Hey Peggy - did we decide to do a buddy read for Song of Achilies? I know it doesn't apply to this group read, but I know I bought it for something...."

The buddy read thread has been set up and it's in the calendar.

Lol Cherie, yes we did. It starts Saturday :)

Whew, I haven't completely lost it. Thanks!