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James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 86 of 288 of Conclave
“Once, God explained all mysteries. Now he has been usurped by conspiracy theorists. They are the heretics of the age.”
“They were crowded intricately together in the centre of the board, locked in some abstruse battle now destined never to be resolved.”
23 hours, 6 min ago Add a comment
Conclave

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 223 of 541 of The Odyssey
“Rosy fingered dawn”

It’s heating up. This is a lot easier to read than the Iliad
Feb 03, 2026 03:31PM Add a comment
The Odyssey

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 63 of 541 of The Odyssey
Robert Pattinson is going to kill as Antinuous, perfect casting. I want him to give this exact speech. I can visualise him in this role so clearly.
“With all of us against him, the young puppy calmly sets out, after picking the best men in the place, and getting them to launch a ship for him! He is going to give us still more trouble. I hope Zeus clips his wings before he reaches manhood!
Jan 29, 2026 06:36AM Add a comment
The Odyssey

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 207 of 312 of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
“I’m a bony, whippet-thin, gristly, tendony strip of humanity…”
Jan 24, 2026 06:21PM Add a comment
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 185 of 312 of Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
I don’t remember the last time a book made me laugh as hard out loud as the chapter “What I know about meat”

Apocryphal - great word.
Jan 24, 2026 11:49AM Add a comment
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 559 of 614 of The Iliad
Achilles is a monster. Hector’s father’s and wife’s monologues were highlights, followed by the chase.
“There are no binding oaths between men and lions - wolves and lambs can enjoy no meeting of the minds - they are all bent on hating each other to the death. So with you and me. No love between us. No truce till one or the other falls and gluts with blood.” I want to say that to an enemy before I merk them
Jan 19, 2026 02:30PM Add a comment
The Iliad

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 488 of 614 of The Iliad
“Let bygones be bygones. Done is done. Despite my anguish I will beat it down, the fury mounting inside me, down by force.

This is a very good book but Homer is dragging it. 24 books. I’m not trying to hear people complain about franchises going on too long anymore when the bedrock of literature/ storytelling could have been significantly shortened.
Jan 18, 2026 04:26AM Add a comment
The Iliad

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 250 of 614 of The Iliad
The repetition for when a character dies of describing death as a blackness that creeps over them is a strong effect.

“Like the generations of leaves, the lives of mortal men. Now the wind scatters the old leaves across the earth, now the living timber bursts with the new buds and spring comes round again. And so with me: as one generation comes to life, another dies away.”
Jan 07, 2026 09:22AM Add a comment
The Iliad

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 164 of 614 of The Iliad
“Now Strife hurled down the leveller Hate amidst a both sides, wading into the onslaught, flooding men with pain.”
Jan 03, 2026 10:37AM Add a comment
The Iliad

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 128 of 614 of The Iliad
Ouuuuuweee. This is gonna be a heavy read. I like it so far, but chapter 2 that section that listed a hundred names and each paragraph ended with “sailed forth long black ships” was cool but annoying to read. These characters listed better all be relevant - even though I don’t remember any of them
Jan 02, 2026 12:39PM Add a comment
The Iliad

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 369 of 529 of Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
Dissertation done. Back to reading for fun
Dec 20, 2025 03:59PM Add a comment
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty

James Rowland
James Rowland is on page 245 of 529 of Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty
Only halfway… this is a heavy book. Interesting talking points about various history
Oct 04, 2025 12:32PM Add a comment
Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty

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