Ancient Times (Oct-Dec 2025)

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm having trouble getting into The King Must Die. It may be that with three deadlines in under a week, I'm not able to focus on anything else!

Edit: Got stuck into it now that the hemlock has started to flow!

[Kate, Moderator]

I've cheated a bit with this one and picked up a book I've been meaning to finish for some time. I started it in the Summer and wish I hadn't stopped as it was such great fun: A Classical Education: The Stuff You Wish You'd Been Taught in School I gave it 5 stars in the end and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Leni]

I didn't realise this challenge had started over! I've had the Iliad on my to-read-list for years. I've only read excerpts before. So I guess I should take this opportunity to get to it. Only have December to do it, but I should manage if I just put a break on some of my other challenges.

[Kate, Moderator]

Feeling a bit guilty about only finishing A Classical Education: The Stuff You Wish You'd Been Taught in School for this challenge so I've now picked up Centurion and 40 odd pages into it I'm loving it so far. Set in the first century in Syria (bagging another country at the same time!) I've already got hooked!

[Kate, Moderator]

Just finished which I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Leni]

I wish I'd had the time to read The Odyssey as well as The Iliad. I read an illustrated, abridged version for children when I was quite young and it was the start of a life long interest in Greek mythology, and somehow I have never gotten around to reading the full version. For shame.

At the same time, I found the Iliad to be a bit of a slog, so maybe it's just as well I take a break before ruining my childhood memories with the Odyssey.

[Andrew]

I've just finished which was a belated but perfect read for this thread. Really good retelling of King David 1000 BC.

[Em]

Looking ahead.... I'd really like to read Circe by Madeline Miller for Ancient Times. I adored The Song of Achilles so have high hopes!

[Liz, Moderator]

Em, do you think Beowulf counts? I can't remember where we placed the cut-off last time around.

I must take a look through my to-read list, as I added some great titles last time around that have been waiting...

[Kate, Moderator]

Ooh Em, I didn't know about Circe. I also loved The Song of Achilles so I'll be on the look out for that one!
I'm still reading The Iliad (Now on book 4) for poetry so I'll claim it for ancient times too!

Liz - according to my list we said Middle Ages was 5th -15th C so you might just be able to sneak it in as I think its around the 5th isn't it?

[Em]

I think we can count it Liz!

[Mercia]

I'm afraid that Beowulf can be clearly dated to happening in the early sixth century. It definitely falls after the cut-off, which I believe was the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476. Although the Geats were not part of the Roman Empire, so why should they be judged by Roman standards or dates?

[Liz, Moderator]

Yes, the actual date of Beowulf is a bone of contention. There's the date of the surviving manuscript, but the poem itself is thought to be older...
You couldn't describe it as fitting in 'The Middle Ages' either.
I think this might be the reason I ended up not reading it last time around. It doesn't fit comfortably anywhere, it's sort of on the cusp - what about 'The Dark Ages'?

[Liz, Moderator]

Next book will be easier to place in this period. I'm trying to get hold of a copy of The Lost Books of the Odyssey by Zachary Mason, which I spotted last time around....

[Liz, Moderator]

Just starting 'The Lost Books of the Odyssey' - so far, so good...

[Kate, Moderator]

I'm still reading the Iliad (Book 8 now).

But I've also picked up The Silver Pigs which is set in Rome: AD70. It seems to be a bit of a detective story too as the main character is a private eye so I can nab it for crime/detective month too! The first couple of pages give a "Dramati Personae" and I just have to share a couple of the character descriptions with you:

Vespasian Augustus: A jovial old cove who has jumped up from nowhere and made himself Emperor of Rome.
Titus Caesar: Aged 30. Vespasian's elder son; popular and brilliant.
Domitian Caesar: Aged 20. Vespasian's younger son; not so brilliant and not so popular.

And later on:
A gardener's horse: Disposition unknown.

LOL I can't wait to get stuck in - thats such a good beginning I hope it doesn't disappoint.

[Kate, Moderator]

Now finished The Silver Pigs and thoroughly enjoyed it. Gave it 5 stars and am now on the look out for more in the series.

The Iliad is much slower going but I have progressed to Book 10.

[Kate, Moderator]

Still ploughing on with The Iliad.
Have convinced Mum to join the challenge as she loves historical fiction (we'll cross the Futuristic bridge when we reach it in 2020!) she's started with The Rhyming Bible: From the Creation to Revelation :)

[Mercia]

My June is shaping up to be less busy than May so maybe, just maybe, I might get to read William Golding's The Inheritors, which I have owned for years.

[Em]

Eeek, we are nearly in June!! I’d better get a move on with my ancient read! I’ll start next week for sure, it’s half term so have some time off!

[Liz, Moderator]

For some reason, I got all mixed up and thought we were moving into the Medieval world in June, so I've started The Wake which was shortlisted for the Booker, a few years back.

I didn't realise until I'd started that it's written in the author's own version of Olde English, so maybe it's a good thing I started it a whole month early!

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm reading far too many slow-burners and door-stops this year. My yearly challenge is suffering - I'm way behind my target of 50. I must focus more on page-number when I choose up-coming books. Must, must, must!

[Liz, Moderator]

I'm looking forward to heading back in the time machine. I've been looking through my to-read list for options for 'Ancient Times' and I realise I still have Robert Harris' Pompeii which I meant to read first time around in the Time Traveller challenge (so how many years ago was that???). If I have time, I might also read Eagle in the Snow: A Novel of General Maximus and Rome's Last Stand.

[Kate, Moderator]

Excited to be setting off for ancient times again.

I also have a copy of Pompeii Liz so if you let me know when you're starting I'll have a crack at it too.
I have also got Venus in Copper because I enjoyed The Silver Pigs so much last time round.
And I have River God but that's a whopping 662 pages (although I do have 3 months so I guess it is an option).
Oh and I suppose I shouldn't forget my epic journey through The Iliad which is still going. I'm now on book 17.

[Liz, Moderator]

Kate wrote: "I also have a copy of Pompeii, Liz, so if you let me know when you're starting I'll have a crack at it too."

I picked up my copy of Pompeii from the library yesterday, Kate. I'm nearly finished my current book, so I might just start it tomorrow or Wednesday...

[Kate, Moderator]

Perfect Liz, I'm just finishing my current read and then I'll start Pompeii probably tomorrow so won't be far behind. :)

[Liz, Moderator]

How are you getting on, Kate? I am racing through 'Pompeii', it's a real page-turner. I'm enjoying all the period detail and the information about volcanoes!

[Kate, Moderator]

I'm about a third of the way through Liz.
Certainly is a page turner. I can really picture the old Roman way of life with the public baths etc. It makes sense to focus on the water system as that undoubtedly would have been one of the first signs of trouble. I haven't read anything by Robert Harris before but he has a knack of rounding out his characters. The italic volcano info at the start of each chapter really presses home the reality of it.

[Liz, Moderator]

This is my first Robert Harris too. I'm impressed how much storytelling is squeezed into such a slim book! After reading so many doorstops, this has been a welcome change :)

[Kate, Moderator]

My copy has 397 pages, I'm not sure I'd call it slim although my other current read is 766 pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix so maybe you're right!

[Liz, Moderator]

Curious. My edition's only got 274 pages - but the font is tiny!

Just finished 'Pompeii'. I really enjoyed it. Some historical novelists throw in all their research and it swamps the story. I think he occasionally teetered on the brink of too much information, but managed to maintain the balance overall.

I have a couple more of his books ('Conclave' and 'The Second Sleep') on my to read list, so I'll be looking forward to those :)

[Kate, Moderator]

Its almost time to start up the time machine and head back to Ancient Times again. Are you ready to jump aboard?

Did you know Em started this challenge in 2013 and we've been round 4 times?! So lets head out on our 5th trip!

I've got three books in mind: Shadows in Bronze will take me back to Rome AD 71. Meditations is another ancient classic and finally there is River God which will take me to Ancient Egypt. The last of these has been on my bookshelf for sometime, mainly because its 662 pages with small print!

Are you joining this trip? If so, which Ancient World are you visiting? Which book are you planning to read?

[Liz, Moderator]

Ten years - wow! I'm definitely back aboard the time machine with you, Kate.

[Liz, Moderator]

I think I might read The Beacon at Alexandria by Gillian Bradshaw this time around.

[Liz, Moderator]

That reminds me I will need to set up the next thread for the genre challenge....

[Kate, Moderator]

Liz wrote: "I think I might read 'The Beacon at Alexandria' by Gillian Bradshaw this time around."

This book looks intriguing Liz.
Yes, 10 years! I can't believe it. And there are so many great recommendations in each of the threads. Its worth reading back through to see what we all read before.

[Abigail]

I’ve been wanting to try Madeline Miller so I think I’ll read Circe.

[Kate, Moderator]

Oh good choice Abigail. I loved that one and Song of Achilles. Hope you enjoy it.

[Liz, Moderator]

So, I'm about a third of the way through The Beacon at Alexandria. It's good so far, although a little predictable...

[Kate, Moderator]

I'm part way through Shadows in Bronze. It's set in ancient Rome. It's nice to see Falco again. I read the first in the series then went to a couple of later books in the series and now I'm back to book 2. Not sure if I spoilt it for myself knowing about the characters development but I'm still enjoying it.

[Kate, Moderator]

Just finished Shadows in Bronze which I gave 4 stars.
Not sure if I'll have time to read another but there is still June so we'll see.

[Bill]

I hope to read the The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby in Jun. I think it might qualify.

[Abigail]

Finished Circe and I’m glad I read it, though antiquity is not an era I often visit. Madeline Miller is a corking writer. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Kate, Moderator]

We're nearly at the end of June so how has everyone got on with their ancient times read? Are you ready to move on to the next era?

[Abigail]

Looking forward to it! I already have an idea.

[Liz, Moderator]

Oh yes, I'm ready! :)

[Kate, Moderator]

Welcome back to Ancient Times!
So we are spending the next 3 months here - Oct, Nov & Dec.

I've still got River God sitting on my shelf so that has potential for Ancient Egypt.

For Ancient Greece I have The Children of Jocasta or Troy

And my books set in Ancient Rome are: Dictator and I, Claudius

What will you be reading?

[Liz, Moderator]

Kate, I am so excited that you've rewound the clock! I have to say though, the jetlag is hell!

You've got a nice selection there. I've been digging around my to-read list to find a couple of contenders...

I've been meaning to read The War at Troy by Lindsay Clarke for ages and more recently, Circe, by Madeline Miller. I also have E.H. Gombrich's A Little History of the World which I might start and read the relevant chapters as we travel through time...

[Kate, Moderator]

Liz, you have to read Circe! I gave it 5 stars. Madeline Miller is a great author, I wish she would write more!

[Adrienne]

I have a copy of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller