Review: The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Random House, 2010
276p

Postponing his dream of succeeding Plato as the leader of the Athenium Academy, Aristotle obeys Philip of Macedon's order to tutor his son, Alexander. Despite his reluctance, the celebrated sophist is drawn to the boy's intellectual precocity, but Aristotle's influence is fiercely tested by the ingrained warrior culture of Alexander's inheritance. He hopes that the philosophy of the Golden Mean - the elusive balance between extremes - can temper the boy's will to conquer, a will that threatens to lead Alexander to destruction - or greatness.

I first came across The Golden Mean when it was on the shortlist for the ALA Historical Fiction Award and afterwards discovered that was only one of the many awards it had been nominated for. So my expectations were high that this would be a book I'd love .......

You can't win 'em all...............very mixed feelings keep me swinging like a pendulum and unable to find that 'golden mean'.

What I Liked...................the writing was sparse which took me a while to get used to but it still manages to achieve some very nice descriptive prose and it was easy to read. The subject matter was something I was naturally interested in and I enjoyed the relationship between Aristotle and Alexander and the humour contained in much of the dialogue.

What I didn't like................it took me four days to read 276 pages which is not exactly an indication of riveting reading. The story wanders along , confusing at times with the flashbacks, at a very even pace offering no highs or lows to keep the reader entertained. Because it's so short there is no real depth or substance to the historical background and no time for the characters to develop fully.

What I really didn't like!............there was too many scenes of men discussing their sexual preference for pretty young boys and what they would like to do to them if they took them home.
There is a lot of very foul language.
I have no problem at all with erotica or swearing provided it fits the context of the story or the personality of a character. In this case I thought it was totally unnecessary, it felt far too modern and actually had a startling effect when it suddenly appeared.

So I have to disagree with those who hand out prizes and say that overall I was disappointed.

Historical Fiction Challenge

Review: The Wedding Shroud by Elisabeth Storrs

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: MurdochBooks, 2010
479p


Torn Between Two Worlds

Rome, in 406 BC was a righteous , austere and male dominated society. Women were not encouraged to have a public life, to dine with men or dare to drink wine. They were expected to live virtuous and frugal lives focused on the role of wife and mother.
This is the environment in which the young Roman woman Caecilia has been raised but then, to seal a tenuous truce, she is married to Vel Mastarna, an Etruscan nobleman from the city of Veii. The fledgling republic  lies only 12 miles across the Tiber from its neighbour but the cities are from opposing worlds, so different are their customs and beliefs.
 Caecilia is determined to remain true to Roman virtues while living among the sinful Etruscans but as she travels with Mastarna to her new home she has her first glimpse of a very different relationship between men and women than the one she knows.

'For the sharing of the mysteries of a night sky and two cities' fates was something rare after being denied anything other than the warp and weft of a woman's life. Tonight Mastarna had woven threads of war and history and politics into the fabric, a fabric that usually only clothed a man.'

In the days to come she finds herself tempted by a mystical, hedonistic culture which offers pleasure and independence to women as well as a chance for the Gods to delay her destiny. Yet Mastarna and his people also hold dark secrets and, as war looms, Caecilia discovers that fate is not so easy to control and she must finally choose where her allegiance lies.

It is a growing-up story and it isn't hard to relate to Caecilia as she struggles to stay loyal to what she has been taught while her heart calls her to form her own beliefs. The prejudices and intolerance she faces in Veii also exist within herself and her marriage and will take courage and determination to overcome.

Political intrigue, a love story but what I enjoyed most about The Wedding Shroud was the history . While I have some knowledge of Rome I knew very little about the Etruscans and sharing the discovery of this ancient culture with Caecilia , seeing it through her eyes, made for a marvellous learning experience. The city, the people , the clothes and food, the gods and the religious rituals all came to vivid and colourful life and the book kept me engrossed all the way through.

Beautiful historical fiction - I loved it - I hope you will too!

I recommend a visit to Historical Tapestry where there is an article by Elisabeth Storrs Why I Love Etruscan Art - wonderful art and background history to the book. And Marg has added links to Australian bookstores where you can buy The Wedding Shroud.

Historical Tapestry ABC Challenge


W is for Wedding.

Review: Queenmaker by India Edghill

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, 2002
376p


The story of Michal, King David's first queen.


Daughter of King Saul and sister to Jonathan , Michal becomes the first wife of the young favourite of the king, David. Together for only one night before David falls from grace and is forced to flee leaving Michal behind. Her father then marries her to an older man, an obscure farmer and she is abandoned as an outcast for over ten years. Although initially grief stricken at her separation from David, over time she learns to love her husband and to find happiness in her simple life. Until David, now king of Israel , and despite having a harem of wives ,decides he wants her back and she is taken to his court where she will spend the rest of her days.

I loved this book and became completely immersed in Michal's life. Each chapter begins with a simple bible verse  like this one from Samuel 1 " And Michal Saul's daughter loved David....." and from these few words India Edghill creates a rich biblical background and vivid characters that truly brings this long ago time to life.

As Anita Diamant does in The Red Tent she gives a voice to the women...........takes the reader into their everyday lives.........the clothes, the food and the conflicts, jealousies and unhappiness of being one wife of many sharing one man.

I liked the way she interprets David's character. We remember him as the lad who slayed Goliath, the beloved friend of Jonathan and the gentle psalmist who sang at the king's feet but a man must have a certain of ruthless ambition to rise from a shepherd's son to be man who united Judah and Israel and become a great king.
Michal loved him but she learnt to know his flaws...........to see the the truth behind the songs of praise and the selfishness behind his beauty.

From a young girl betrayed by the man she she loves to a woman of great strength and wisdom - this is the story of Michal , King David's queen.

Recommended to all historical fiction lovers.

Historical Tapestry ABC Challenge

Q is for Queenmaker

Show Me 5 Saturday: Black Ships by Jo Graham

A weekly meme hosted by Alipet at That's a Novel Idea

1 Book I Read: Black Ships by Jo Graham

2 Words that describe the book:  Ancient Times

3  Settings where it took place or characters you met:

1. The story is set in the time following the fall of Wilusa (Troy) and is based on the The Aeneid - the search by Prince Aeneas and his surviving people for a new homeland. Their journey in the black ships takes them to many places around the Mediterranean.
2, Gull - her mother is a Wilusan , captured and taken as a slave to Pylos where Gull is born. When a childhood accident leaves her with a crippled foot her mother knows she will never be able to work in the flax fields so places her in the care of Pythia, an oracle and priestess of the Goddess of the Dead. When it is discovered she has the gift of Sight Gull is trained to become the next Oracle.
3. Prince Aeneas, a man carrying the burden of responsibilty for the future of his people...........Xanthos , his friend and advisor .

4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:

1. I liked the way the author has taken one of world's greatest epic poems and and created a world of real people and the real events they were involved in.
2. I liked the author's prose style. It's simple but with a beautiful, lyrical quality ....." Long before it touched the rocks where I sat it cast the mountains as long shadows across the plain, across the shape of the river. Beyond, it kindled the sea like a mirror, silver in the morning. Making toward Pylos in the bright sun were nine black ships".
3. I liked the development of the relationships between the three main characters. A beautiful love story and the deep bonds of loyalty and honour of friendship .
4. I liked, as always, the extras. A map and a glossary to help with the strange names and places, an interview with the author and a reading group guide.

5 Stars or less for your rating?

4 Stars - a lovely historical novel and I look forward to reading more from Jo Graham.

Review: Mistress Of Rome by Kate Quinn

Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Headline, 2010

512p

Big, bold and beautiful.........."a vivid, richly imagined saga of ancient Rome from a masterful new voice in historical fiction."

For once the blurbs aren't exaggerating. Kate Quinn's novel of Ancient Rome is like a giant carnival of sight and sound that sweeps you into its midst and won't let you go until it's over. I haven't read anything so exuberant for a long time and I loved it!

It's the vividly portrayed characters that bring the book alive . Each one with a role depicting a person familiar in Roman society and it's through their daily activities and their relationships with each other that the reader gains insight into what life in Rome was like in the first century AD.

Thea - a young Jewish girl, survivor of a massacre of her people and sold into slavery. Outwardly quiet and obedient her inner thoughts keep her defiantly strong and she has her own small ways at getting her revenge on her mistress.....

Lepida Pollia........the same age as Thea and the nastiest little madam you can imagine.

The heroine and the anti-heroine .......the one you love and one you hate. And of course there is a hero and the man they both fancy.

Arius the Barbarian........the greatest gladiator of all. Share his world and you have a front row seat at the Colisseum to view the horror and barbaric cruelty of the fights in 'blood n guts' detail.

The abusive Emperor Domitian, his niece the gentle Vestal Virgin Julia, the noble Marcus and his military son Paulinus.............and many more.

Several of the characters have a voice in telling the story but most of the time it alternates between Thea and Lepida and I really liked the changing points of view - not only does it make it more interesting but sharing the thoughts and feelings of people draws me closer to the characters on an emotional level. I also thought the use of modern expressions of speech had the same affect - it's very easy to relate to the picture of  'Lepida swanning around the place'.

There weren't many emotions I didn't experience reading this story - it is the traditional rollercoaster ride from the lows of horror, tragedy and sorrow to the exhiliarating heights of personal victory and the joy of a beautiful love story.

Wonderful storytelling - highly recommended.

Historical Tapestry ABC Challenge

L is for Lepida Pollia