The Well-Educated Mind Histories discussion
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The Histories
The Histories by Herodotus
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Anyone done with Histories or want to be done already?
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I came to the group pretty late in the month, but I read Herodotus with a 'classics' group many years ago. We did one book a month and met once a month, and I think we all agreed that Herodotus was fascinating.I was looking forward to re-reading it, because there are very few details I remember.. except that the Persian army, each time they came to a river, would "drink it dry."
Speaking of dry... Thucydides.
I remember one more detail from Herodotus.. the guy who got drunk and started dancing (was he break dancing?)- anyway, his father got mad and said "Pesipides, you are dancing away your inheritance," and Pesipides said "Not a jot cares Pesipides!," which H. says had become proverbial.(I just made up the guy's name because I don't remember it.)
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Personally speaking, this one was laborious. It was not difficult reading, but it was hard to stay interested at times b/c many pieces of ancient and Greek history were unfamiliar to me...."
Yep. You took the words right out of my mouth. Unlike you though, I was unable to push through. In fact, I had the opposite reaction: I was seriously not looking forward to my reading time and had to set Herodotus down for a while. I mean I had a deep, emotional aversion to my reading chair with Herodotus next to it, lol. I will return to him at the end of this month and aim to finish by the end of April. In the meantime, I was craving spending time on other works.
My reading life has got sidetracked by real life and my Hobbit LOTR readalong. I've had to be realistic about how much I can do!So for now I will put Herodotus on hold until I have the time to do justice to my reread.
I'm glad I was able to fit in Travels with Herodotus though. It gave me a reminder of why I loved it so much during my first read 30 (yikes!) years ago. If you're striggling with it, perhaps Kapuscinski's book might help you - it gives you a basic run down of The Histories as well as showing how one man can love it for a lifetime.
http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/20...
I've let it lapse lately and need to get back to it! Poor neglected Herodotus. But between LOTR and DWJMonth, I don't know how much time I'll have. I should have tried harder to finish that dang Faerie Queene; I've got a canto and a half to go....
I've been sidetracked by some other books, but I'm definitely still interested. I'm pretty close to done, I'm reading book 7. I think I will finish in 1-2 weeks.I'm keeping notes in my personal thread for another GR group (All About Books). I don't think it can be read by non-members, but I will use what I write there for my review, which I will share in this group.
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I'll be gone from about the 16th-23rd so starting The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War around Apr 1 works well for me.
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I'm laughing and crying with you. Poor Herodotus. Let's give it another month, as Cleo has suggested, so those who want to continue The Histories, carry on! I'm cheering you on.
In the meantime, I am going to make an effort to write a blog post, which will be more like a review of my experience, as opposed to the book. And if you produce a blog post of your experience, share with us. (Cleo's been doing a book by book review. Anyone else?)
We'll meet back here to attempt Thucydides (I can't believe I typed that) beginning April 1st.
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So we're giving it another month, if you think you'd like to reread The Histories in that amount of time. You're a champ if you can do that. Or you can join us in a month for Thucydides, which sounds like maybe not. (Hey, I may not make it through if I can't hack it.)
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I'm with you. If you crave something to read, it's not easy to ignore.
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I read your review of Travels with Herodotus, and it seems like great "before or after book" before or after reading The Histories. I would recommend it to anyone who really loved the book. (Cleo would probably like it.)
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No problem. Looks like we're going to take a break until April 1.
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You're the champ on this one. You did a super job reviewing EACH BOOK! I was like, "Just get me through this." Ugh!
So, thanks for suggesting a break. I want to focus on my Russian Lit.
A Great Book Study wrote: "Thanks, Christopher! So we're giving it another month, if you think you'd like to reread The Histories in that amount of time. ...
Thanks. I have taken on so many challenges since getting active at goodreads, but I do appreciate the extra time.
I read Kapuscinski's short book SHAH OF SHAHS and thought it was great. I think I have TRAVELS WITH HERODOTUS around somewhere.
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You're the champ on this one. You did a super job reviewing EACH BOOK! I was like, "Just get me through this." Ugh!
So, thanks for suggesting a break. I want to focus on my Russian Lit."
Perhaps I'm the only insane one in the group but I'm loving it! ;-) Yes, the Russian Lit Challenge. Yipes! I need to focus on this one soon; thanks for the reminder! :-)
Sandy wrote: "Beth wrote: "I'm keeping notes in my personal thread for another GR group (All About Books). I don't think it can be read by non-members."For the record, non-members can read threads in AAB, but ..."
Fantastic, I didn't realize that. Link to my notes so far, books 1-6:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I'm on Book 5 or 6 of Herodotus. I like it, but I've been taking my time with it and reading lots of other books interspersed with it. (I started it in November.) I have The Landmark Herodotus to help me with maps, as otherwise too much is completely without context for me -- which makes the book unbearably difficult. And I have The Histories on Audible, so I can listen to a lot of it instead of reading every word. Hoping to finish around the end of March, but if it takes a bit longer that's fine too.
I don't think I will be starting Thucydides right away after Herodotus. Maybe next year.
I've just started The Histories, so I'm not sure if I will be finished by April 1. But no matter, I'm planning on taking my time with these. I read Thucydides about 30 years ago for a class, so it shouldn't be a problem to read it again. I'm reading The Histories: The Landmark Herodotus and really like it (maps and notes are always good, imo), so I think I will pick up a copy of The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War as well. Looking forward to both of these!
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No problem. Do you think you'll be joining us for the other books on the list this year, while saving Thucydides for next year?
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Thanks for joining us.
A Great Book Study wrote: "Hi, Sharon,
Thanks for joining us."
Thanks very much! Looking forward to it.
Thanks for joining us."
Thanks very much! Looking forward to it.
A Great Book Study wrote: "Do you think you'll be joining us for the other books on the list this year, while saving Thucydides for next year?"Maybe so. If I can fit them in. Many are on my to-read list.
I think I can finish in March....just finished IV. So maybe.
Finished! Overall, I loved it. I decided to start a topic answering some of the suggested questions, in case anyone's interested.
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I'm a bit late to the party, but yes I finished! I actually really enjoyed it (or at least most of it... ). Mind you, I expected to struggle every moment so maybe that helped. I'll be ready for Thucydides in April.
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Glad you joined us. I know what you mean about expecting to struggle, and instead enjoying it or appreciating most of it.
Ruth
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I'm only 100 pages in (w/ Thucydides), and already the tone and focus is much different. I think you'll do just fine w/ it. You got this. : )
Cleo wrote: "I just finished Herodotus! Yay! I loved it but I must say that I'm glad that it's over. Thucydides intimidates me more but I'm encouraged by the positive reviews on it. We'll see ...."Congratulations Cleo! Yay! Did you read the Landmark edition?
Yes, Herodotus is certainly more anecdotal, while Thucydides is a panorama of intrigue and strategy. I wonder if I will be able to keep track of all the alliances (and their continuous shifting dynamics) of the Greek city states.
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I did read the Landmark edition, Haaze, and honestly, it was indispensable. I don't know how Herodotus can be read without maps.
I'm having a couple of days break and then back to Thucydides!
The Well-Educated Mind Histories
Books mentioned in this topic
The Histories (other topics)The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War (other topics)
The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War (other topics)
Personally speaking, this one was laborious. It was not difficult reading, but it was hard to stay interested at times b/c many pieces of ancient and Greek history were unfamiliar to me. I only got excited when I was reading what was known already; in fact, in my homeschooling years, we have used The Story of the Greeks by H. A. Guerber, and I was able to see how Guerber took right from Herodotus' Histories.
What I liked most about reading Histories were the people stories, the stories about the cultural practices - some outrageous, some outlandish - but to each his own. I appreciated the war stories between the Persians and the Greeks to a degree, but it became tedious in the last two books. I was done long before the book ended.
I totally admit that I am NOT looking forward to reading Thucydides' book.