The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

10.3. Beware the Ides of March : March 15 is the Ides of March. Read a book about, or set during, the time of the Roman Empire (44 BC to 476 AD)

Julius Caesar
The Ides of March
The Gates of Rome
Mistress of Rome
Roman Dusk
Medicus
A Body in the Bathhouse
The Course of Honor
The Light Bearer
The Silver Chalice
The Kingdom and the Crown, Vol. 1: Fishers of Men
Lily of the Nile
Tiger, Tiger
Memoirs of Hadrian
Quo Vadis
Ben Hur

Sorry, won't work:
The First Man in Rome
Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow
Nobody's Princess

could we read shakespeare's Julius Caesar...or is that just too easy?? :)

would The Ides of March by Thorton Wilder be okay? Don't know for sure when it takes place but it is in ancient Rome.

I plan to use The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden. I read the first book in his Genghis Khan series for the Winter challenge and really enjoyed it.

I don't have exact dates for when this book takes place -- but it seems like it would work. Mistress of Rome

Is it Ok without precise dates?

kiki wrote: "could we read shakespeare's Julius Caesar...or is that just too easy?? :)"

When I read it in high school, it didn't seem "too easy," LOL!

Sure, it works for this task.

Christine US wrote: "I don't have exact dates for when this book takes place -- but it seems like it would work. Mistress of Rome

Is it Ok without precise dates?"

Yes, from the description it sounds like it takes place during the right general time frame.

Robin wrote: "would The Ides of March by Thorton Wilder be okay? Don't know for sure when it takes place but it is in ancient Rome."

From the description, it sounds fine.

Beth F. wrote: "I plan to use The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden. I read the first book in his Genghis Khan series for the Winter challenge and really enjoyed it."

sounds good!

Just to clarify, when you say "set during the time of the Roman Empire," does that mean the book can be from that time period but not have anything to do with the Roman Empire? I'm don't think this is what you mean, but I wanted to make sure. Thanks!

i'm planning on doing The First Man in Rome if it works...I think it does based on the description

Sandy wrote: "kiki wrote: "could we read shakespeare's Julius Caesar...or is that just too easy?? :)"

When I read it in high school, it didn't seem "too easy," LOL!

Sure, it works for this task."

lol, it really ISN'T easy, i agree, and i'm actually dreading it, but it's the only book i have related to the task. i just meant it seemed like the obvious choice to read! :)

Is it OK to read a book written during the Roman Empire? - Ovid's Metamorphoses, "a Latin narrative poem in fifteen books by the Roman poet Ovid describing the history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar" completed in the year 8 AD

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "i'm planning on doing The First Man in Rome if it works...I think it does based on the description"

Unfortunately, from the description, it appears that this is about Gaius Marius, who pre-dated the Roman Empire - he died in 86 BC, 40 years before the period of the Roman Empire began. So this is still during the period when Rome was a Republic, not during the time of the Roman Empire.

travelgirlut wrote: "Just to clarify, when you say "set during the time of the Roman Empire," does that mean the book can be from that time period but not have anything to do with the Roman Empire? I'm don't think thi..."

It should have some connection to the Roman Empire, but it doesn't have to be set in Rome. The Empire spread itself all over the place, and it's fine to read a book set somewhere else as long as there's some connection.

Rosemary wrote: "Is it OK to read a book written during the Roman Empire? - Ovid's Metamorphoses, "a Latin narrative poem in fifteen books by the Roman poet Ovid describing the history of the world from its creatio..."

yes, that would be okay.

ahhh nuts! only the last one in the series actually fits that time period...i might go with the Iggulson one then since its already approved...and i've liked his previous books

Sandy wrote: "Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "i'm planning on doing The First Man in Rome if it works...I think it does based on the description"

Unfortunately, from the description, it a..."

Will this work? Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow

Valorie wrote: "Will this work? Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow"

Unfortunately, no - the Trojan War was much earlier than the time of the Roman Empire.

Would Roman Dusk work for this task?

will this work? Nobody's Princess

Jenn Renee wrote: "will this work? Nobody's Princess"

no, the Trojan War was much earlier than the Roman Empire, so Helen of Troy isn't going to work.

Kimifly wrote: "Would Roman Dusk work for this task?"

from the description, it sounds as if it's in the right time frame - talking about the Roman Empire being in its waning days, and the "new" religion of Christianity.

Will this work? Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire

Lahni wrote: "Will this work? Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire"

Ohh, that one looks good, I hope it's approved so I can read it!

Lahni wrote: "Will this work? Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire"

it sounded fine, and I was also able to find a description on Amazon that said it's set in 117 AD - so it's good.

I'm glad you reminded me of this one! It was either free or really cheap to download on kindle in early January, so I've got it on my kindle - and it sounds pretty good.

Thanks, Sandy. I got mine free around then too.

Would Nobody's Princess work? I saw it on someone's reading plans but wasn't sure?

★Meghan★ wrote: "Would Nobody's Princess work? I saw it on someone's reading plans but wasn't sure?"

that was already disapproved.

Would Mistress of Rome work for this task? Thanks.

Erin (NY) wrote: "Would Mistress of Rome work for this task? Thanks."

yes. Already listed in post 2 as approved.

Can I use a book about Cleopatra? Maybe Cleopatra Rules! - her rule falls during the beginning of the Roman empire.

I was wondering about Cleopatra: A Life myself -- is that too tangential?

Sandy wrote: "Erin (NY) wrote: "Would Mistress of Rome work for this task? Thanks."

yes. Already listed in post 2 as approved."
Sorry, didn't see that! Thanks!

Gayla wrote: "I was wondering about Cleopatra: A Life myself -- is that too tangential?"

Fran wrote: "Can I use a book about Cleopatra? Maybe Cleopatra Rules! - her rule falls during the beginning of the Roman empire."

Cleopatra works - she's in the right period, and she was certainly entangled with the key players in the Empire

Sandy wrote: "Gayla wrote: "I was wondering about Cleopatra: A Life myself -- is that too tangential?"

Fran wrote: "Can I use a book about Cleopatra? Maybe Cleopatra Rules! - her..."


Great- thanks Sandy!

Thank you!

How about A Body in the Bathhouse? I have it lying around for some time now as audiobook and have nearly made my mind up to listen to it. From the description it sounds as if it's set in Emperor Vespasian's time.

Isabell wrote: "How about A Body in the Bathhouse? I have it lying around for some time now as audiobook and have nearly made my mind up to listen to it. From the description it sounds as if it's set..."

The GR descriptions starts out "AD 75" so that works!

Checking the English description would have helped me a lot (I read only my German edition's description).
Thanks.

does this one work:

The Course of Honor - from the description:

Ancient Rome's most turbulent period is recreated in this story of the Emperor Vespasian and his mistress, Antonia Caenis, a freed slave. As their forbidden romance blossoms, she is embroiled in political intrigue, while he embarks on a glorious career.

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "does this one work:

The Course of Honor - from the description:

Ancient Rome's most turbulent period is recreated in this story of the Emperor Vespasian and his mistress, Antonia Cae..."

yep. Vespasian was emperor from 69 to 79 AD, so that's within the timeframe.

thanks! as an aside - i think most of Lindsey Davis's books are set during that time period - Body in the Bathhouse is one of the later ones in the series and I saw that it was approved

Would The Light Bearer work

Beth NC wrote: "Would The Light Bearer work"

yes - it apparently takes place in the lst century AD, so the time is right, and it certainly seems to involve the Roman Empire.

I'm pretty sure this qualifies, but just to be positive, will The Silver Chalice work?

Nancy wrote: "I'm pretty sure this qualifies, but just to be positive, will The Silver Chalice work?"

Yep.

Would this book work?

The Kingdom and the Crown, Vol. 1: Fishers of Men