Brayden Horrell’s Reviews > Augustus > Status Update

I love this talk of love from Octavius and comparing it to Julia’s journal

Dude every line from Octavius in book three is so beautiful, John Williams writing is at its peak here

Gooood lordddd! This final chapter of Book two made everything come together for the arc it was trying to tell. Even without being finished I fully understand why John Williams won the award he did for this, this book is a masterpiece of writing! That final bit between Octavius and Julia almost broke me, a man who created happiness for almost all, and yet he is forced to rid himself of his love closest to him…

Oh wow I think this part of her journal let me fully understand Julia. A woman who finds true pleasure and at the same time the rights of her own body and her own feelings, and yet she’s stuck in a society that forces her to hold back and subdue those purposes and pleasures. I also understand the Aphrodite statue symbolism now perfectly

Book two has fully made this book a masterpiece! I loveddd the forming acts of rebellion from Julia as she releases more and more to the prison of a world she’s been forced into

“Then the emperor will show that grief that befits an Emperor. But how shall the man show the grief that befits him?” One of my favorite things about this book so far is the recurring conversation of seperatjng man/woman from their role as a ruler (etc cleopatra and Antionous as well)

Book two is already shaping up to be even better than book one! As well as there is a fantastic commentary going on about the expectations and role forced upon women during this time and many times after. So fascinating to me how John Williams can write such a different styled novel yet still capture that beautiful inlook into the human self as he did in stoner!

Yo it just clicked WHEN HE MET HIRTIA THE ACT HE HAD TO COMMIT WAS EXILING HIS OWN DAUGHTER, THE ONE THING HE TRULY LOVED IN THE WORLD NOOOOOI

Beautiful first chapter for the second book! I loved the two opposing POVS of Claudius neros party, AND PEOPLE BE HATIN ON OCTAVIUS FOR NO REASONNN! John Williams prose is simply masterfully beautiful

“The gods in their wisdom… tell us all of our lives if we will but listen.” Maybe my favorite quote from this book yet. Stories exist to indulge and learn from to show us messages and themes that may come into our lives!