Chris > Recent Status Updates

I am 11% of the way through complete book, and 77% of the way through the first book Swann's Way. I clearly don't know how I want to log this book. As 6 individual books, or 1 super long book. I have been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. If I keep reading 10 pages a day, will I have enough time to finish the book? This has changed how I approach my reading goals so much. Thank you all who read this and follow me.

I feel like Goldilocks with history books. Either too dry, or assumes too much. I want somewhere in the middle. I want to feel like I'm reading academic and authoritative analysis of history, while still finding it readable. This one is very readable, but assumes so much.

So many names, dates, and battles. The book is divided up into chapters that are short enough I feel like I'm making progress. I loved the use of "she" for an imaginary traveler in one chapter. Even I might have written that as "he" not thinking about other options.

I have never read a history book like this! It's science and history, and not at a surface level either. I'm having to look up word meanings, which I love. The book has touched on everything from economics to historic weather patterns and more.

Roman history is so vast, that it's virtually impossible to cover in one book. This book about Carthage and the Punic Wars gives some glimpses of Roman failures, which I don't recall reading so much about in the books I've read. I do question the Roman sources on their neutrality about Carthage.

The first half of the book is mostly prior to the Punic Wars with Rome. I found the archeology very interesting. Parts of the book are very descriptively graphic.

This book starts during the Bronze Age, which I find fascinating. The Introduction is a bit violent, so trigger warning there. There's so many connections to be explored, such as Phoenicia and Assyria. Much of the writing is from archeological finds.

I am really enjoying the quotes from Roman authors. Very eloquent and dramatic. I haven't really read any of the ancient Romans.

The writing flows well and holds my interest. Some of the language is very casual, and I'm fine with that. I am fascinated at the citations to ancient authors and quotes from them. Every paragraph has citations! One of my questions is, how accurate the ancient citations are, and what other options there are.

War is so heartbreaking, and it plays such a role in so many history books.

I appreciate that the author tries to debunk common stereotypes of different groups of people. I appreciate the effort. Think it's mandatory for good history. I still wish for more history by members of the cultures.

I like how this author writes. I like his descriptive phrases, the words he uses. I like how he doesn't narrow everything down to just one idea, but lets them be a glorious multitude of sometimes conflicting ideas.

I love the variety of topics covered. I have been introduced to musicians, singers, poets, and of course, politicians. These topics are well integrated.

Each chapter starts with a period photograph, and they are fascinating. The descriptions in this book are also very well done. So many details, but also broader topics covered. A delight to read.

The writing is very descriptive and a pleasure to read. A lot of the focus is on the Western influence, though general history of the city is also being covered.

The writing is very descriptive and a pleasure to read. A lot of the focus is on the Western influence, though general history of the city is also being covered.

I really enjoy the Chicago and Illinois references. Fun seeing those little details make their way in.

I really enjoy the Chicago and Illinois references. Fun seeing those little details make their way in.

I am chuckling. This author tends to not have complicated storylines, which has it's own appeal at times. I'm reading some of the Hugo and Nebula short listed best novels, or I wouldn't have picked this one up. It is always nice to chuckle!

This book is a fun read. A lot of things have been filled in, but it does make the story flow better. Not sure that's proper for history. I do enjoy the superstitions and folk tales that are related.

The writing is like that of a good story. There are no footnotes, and much is assumed that could not be known.

I could do with a whole book of the journal excerpts explaining history and culture.

I am loving this book. There's a lot to figure out politically about who is good or bad. There are 2 timelines, and they keep me so hooked. I am sad when 1 timeline stops and the other restarts, but I want to know that story so badly lol. It's so hard to predict when I will love a book.

I love the humor in this book. It's a bit dark, and then something snarky is said and makes me smile. This is my first book by Martha Wells.

I am reading the kindle ebook version of this book, and the spelling, grammar, and editing errors are terrible. Something is glaringly out of place every few paragraphs. Maybe it is just my copy of the ebook, but this really takes away from a book for me.

I don't want this book to end. This book isn't my reality, but parts of it are. It stuns me to see myself reflected somewhere. Thank you to the author for this.