Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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Gates of Fire
Monthly Group Reads
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DECEMBER 2012 (Group Read 1) Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
I have read this group read. It is one of my favourite historical fiction books.While not exactly doing a reread of it with the group, I will be following along with the read and looking up any pages members quote. I own a copy of the book.
I haven't decided yet whether I want to read this book or not. It might just depend on my mood in a couple weeks. :)
I'll be following the discussions as well. I loved this one however my memory sucks so I will look forward to being reminded of this book while you all read and discuss it. :)
So who will be reading this in December? I highly recommend it.
I'll totally read this one next month, it's been sitting on my shelf for an eternity and I've been excited to get to it.
*Raises hand*I have holidays the first week of December and plan to read it then. My hopes are set very high for this one as I recall others mentioning this was his best work when we were reading the Alexander one. Unlike the Alexander one, I won't be thinking about how Oliver Stone changed this, or got this perfectly right... ;)
Nate wrote: "I'll totally read this one next month, it's been sitting on my shelf for an eternity and I've been excited to get to it."That's fantastic, Nate! Your first official group read with the group....I think... :D
D wrote: "*Raises hand*I have holidays the first week of December and plan to read it then. My hopes are set very high for this one as I recall others mentioning this was his best work when we were reading ..."
It will be interesting to see how everyone feels about it. I regard it as one of the best historical fiction reads going, but then, I like the era.
It can go back and forth in time a bit also, so if the reader can cope with that and likes the era I think it should be a home run. :-)
I'm pledged. 1st week, and like D, I'm on hols. I imagine you have gobble this book once you start.
I know I could not put it down. :)(and I cried in the end, even though we all know what is coming for the Spartans...and books hardly ever make me cry)
Bronwen, it will be great to have you along. :) No pressure. Just enjoy your book at your pace and join in on discussion to whatever level you are comfortable with. I have read this one, but will still join in on the discussion.
I will be reading the other group read, the Medieval one, Azincourt. :)
One day to go... this time tomorrow, exactly, I'll be beginning on the bus to work. Then on the bus home from work, and possibly in between except I'd get the sack. As an Aussie, if I'm ahead of you elsewhere in the world, I can only say, politely, that's a pity isn't it.
Lol! Yep, not our fault we live in the future. :-)
But sometimes Terri lets us slide and use 'her' time. ;)
I just deliberately went to look at the one- and two-stars. Most said 'yuck' or were grossed out, but a few have things to say.I have one fear: that it's too rah-rah Greece and boo-hiss Persia, for the likes of me. I mean, I expect the people in the book to be this way. It's just that his Alexander book annoyed the hell out of me for that reason. (But not his Amazons!!)
A well-intentioned friend gave me a dvd of 300, which drove me out of my mind, on a few levels, but worst for boo-hiss Persia. -- I've threatened to lend GoF to that friend; he doesn't read books but wants to try, and I figure GoF might get him going.
Tasha wrote: "But sometimes Terri lets us slide and use 'her' time. ;)"Yes, I am only too happy to share my time zone. :-)
Hi Bryn,From my memory the Persians aren't shed in a bad light, in fact I really enjoyed Pressfield's version of Xerxes. I felt he told both sides enjoyably.
The book is told in part as a story by a survivor, so I guess there has to be some bias, but I do remember liking the way the Persians were portrayed.
I won't be scared, then. Thanks.
I could be wrong....but I think you will be okay with it. We will soon find out if you aren't because you start today! :D whoot!
It's a big thumbs-up so far and I'm on page eight!!
So far already!! :-)
I like this: "The captive was brought in... eyes cloth-bound so as to dissanction sight of His Majesty." I never heard that word before, Steven Pressfield. But 1) it causes you no difficulty, 2) it's just the pompous way these court Persians must speak, 3) I enjoy odd words.
I like odd words too. :-)
And you're right, I like Xerxes already.
He is a very charismatic leader in the book. very decadent, as I would imagine a Persian ruler of any era to be. Glad you like him. :-)
I am so glad to be reading discussions on this book! My memory is not the best for details of books read a while back so this will be fun for me. :)
Me too. I will enjoy the refresher.Anyone else who has read the book, please feel free to join in the discussions.
http://www.goodreads.com/videos/34062...Added a video on Spartan Weapons to the groups videos.
Also viewable on the groups main page.
It's poetry. Finished 1st chap before work. Not a quick read, because I go over most sentences twice. Don't want to miss them. He's on his game with this one.
I think that indicates that D has also started. :)
Bryn wrote: "It's poetry. Finished 1st chap before work. Not a quick read, because I go over most sentences twice. Don't want to miss them. He's on his game with this one."
Fantastic. This is exactly what I hoped you would see. The poetry.
Damn! it makes me want to read it again...only I am to read Azincourt this month.
It took me a while to read it when I first did. It is not the kind of writing you can burn through quickly if you truly want to soak it in.
Terri wrote: "I think that indicates that D has also started. :)":D
haha! :D
Just pulled this one off the shelf. The maps are pretty neat-o.
Good stuff. I must go get my copy. I don't remember the maps...maybe my edition does not have them.
Terri wrote: "This is exactly what I hoped you would see. The poetry."I do. In the right scenes he's an absolute poet - like this:
Chapter One (view spoiler)
I'm up to chap 7
Good, good. very good. :)
Arg. Painful for you. If you are anything like me, waiting is not my forte.
I have finally gone downstairs to grab my copy from the bookcase.I can see now the maps that Nate mentioned.
One map of Greece and the Aegean, one map of Thermopylae.
I thought my copy was the same as the one in the discussion heading. Wrong. My copy has this cover
Yeah, that spoiler scene Bryn mentioned was pretty moving, seems like another instance of this theme it seems like he keeps touching on, the whole "how important camaraderie is" thing. Also Terri, I went to my local big bookseller chain and they had no catalog entry for The Last English King. Kind of weird, I'm not sure if it had limited publishing here in the States or what. Amazon wants like 20 bucks for it.
That does sound like it is no longer published in the U.S. Or maybe it never was because it is so naughty. As a last resort try The Book Depository. It will be cheaper and free postage around the world, but I am not sure it will be cheap enough for you to take a gamble on.
Okay, at first I found it weird that a Greek dude in this book insulted another guy by calling him a "dick-stroker" but then I did some research and I guess he could just be insulting him by saying he takes a passive role in sex? It's confusing.
I haven't got to that bit yetBut, they can slag each other for getting 'gay', as far as I know
Um..I think Bryn dropped some Aussie slang in there. :-) Slag is slang for 'put down'.
Nate wrote: "Okay, at first I found it weird that a Greek dude in this book insulted another guy by calling him a "dick-stroker" but then I did some research and I guess he could just be insulting him by saying..."It is my understanding that homosexuality was a normal part of society in many of these early cultures. And I guess by referring to another man as a 'dick stroker' it means they are the effeminate one in the coupling. Not the dominant and more masculine one. Is that what your found in your research, Nate?
Bryn wrote: "I haven't got to that bit yetBut, they can slag each other for getting 'gay', as far as I know"
For 'getting gay'...lol!
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
Stonehenge (other topics)Last of the Amazons (other topics)
Agincourt (other topics)
Agincourt (other topics)
The Afghan Campaign (other topics)
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Thousands of years ago, Herodotus & Plutarch immortalized Spartan society in their histories. Today, little is left of the ancient city or the social structure of this culture. One of the few antiquarian marks of the civilization that has survived lies scores of miles away from Sparta, at a narrow Greek mountain pass called Thermopylae. It was there that three hundred of Sparta's finest warriors held back the invading millions of the Persian empire & valiantly gave their lives in the selfless service of democracy & freedom. A simple engraved stone marks their burial ground. Inspired by this stone and intrigued by the lore of Sparta, author Steven Pressfield has brilliantly combined scholarship with storytelling. Narrated by the sole survivor of the epic battle--a squire in the Spartan heavy infantry--Gates of Fire is a mesmerizing depiction of one man's indoctrination into the Spartan way of life & death, & of the legendary men & women who gave the culture an immortal gravity. Culminating in the electrifying & horrifying epic battle, Gates of Fire weaves history, mystery & heartbreaking romance into a literary page-turner that brings the Homeric tradition into the 21st century.