Jonathan > Recent Status Updates

Happy new year everyone.

The second book in the trilogy continues the story of Alexander from the point of view of Bagoas, a eunuch originally from the household staff of Darius, the Persian King. Here it is with Bagoas that Alexander has a more rounded sexual relationship. I am in two minds about how much I actually like Bagoas. He is quite young though, so his jealousies and the suffering he has endured go some way to understanding him.

I have been reading Fire From Heaven for my book group, dealing with Alexander's early life, beginning his story with his warring parents, his school life with Aristotle as his teacher, and meeting and falling big time for Hephaistion. Mary Renault was an expert in ancient history. She points out that her sources were limited but her passion and prose style make it easy to believe that what she wrote was all true.

Very excited! I was just watching Barbra Streisand's latest concert on Netflix and she revealed that she is currently writing her autobiography. Now I am not one to think that it will be a definitive life of (anybody read Marlon Brando's autobiography?), but as a huge Barbra fan it cannot come soon enough.