This storyline was fantastic. The characters interplay and the things that happen to them create a perfect story arc that is complex and intriguing. TThis storyline was fantastic. The characters interplay and the things that happen to them create a perfect story arc that is complex and intriguing. The book also happens to play on so many human experiences and emotions. The section where Henchard goes back to his place of residence to do hard labor and looks on his previous life from the stables is absolutely poignant. I really couldn't put this down. As a novel it reads so beautifully. ...more
This is such a breathtaking portrait of a character it is an instant favorite. Not to be read by people with a short attention span or a lack of care This is such a breathtaking portrait of a character it is an instant favorite. Not to be read by people with a short attention span or a lack of care for nuance. This book really is as a slow expansive work that engulfs you into the mind and ideals of Moorish Iceland. Its a reality check for ones own pride and determination, a holding place for notions of grandeur lost. Its such an absolutely beautiful book that I felt honored to have wandered through the bleak waking hours with Bjartur. Its one of those works that without explicitly saying so shows how the decisions and character traits of each person impact the greater whole of ones experiences in life. Its an incredible feat of writing and a fabulous pick for the Nobel Prize. ...more
This book was incredibly surprising. I had heard a bit about Spinoza and perhaps had a very wrong view of his outlook/philosophy due to some lets justThis book was incredibly surprising. I had heard a bit about Spinoza and perhaps had a very wrong view of his outlook/philosophy due to some lets just say pre conceived notions. Spinoza's God is amazing. If I had to choose a form of god to believe in it would be this. His point by point approach, and linking of each axiom was absolutely candy to my brain. I loved his approach and found it so clean cut. A god that had been stripped of its human tenancies, a god of nature, a god defined. Finally! I am so glad I bought this book. It deserves more study and will remain close to my bed until I can further ravage its pages. ...more
Beautiful! Beautiful writing, well compiled A+! This makes me want to dance, it makes me want to see all of the greatest ballets, it makes me want to Beautiful! Beautiful writing, well compiled A+! This makes me want to dance, it makes me want to see all of the greatest ballets, it makes me want to live eat and breathe ballet. I loved the history, I loved that she explored the connections between ballet and music and I was blown away by the ending. I thought she put together a hard case and then just blasted you at the end with the conclusion. Ballet is a dying art! How many people would quickly jump to defend the great dancers of today, but really with the history provided and the astounding revolutions and creations of the past ballet today really does begin to seem to be a hollow shell of it's once glorious self. You could tell that the author loves the ballet, you could feel her compassion as she almost admitted this loss of true ballet to herself on paper. I felt very moved by it, and could see that with the sort of research done on the history of ballet these conclusions were bound to slowly creep into her heart and leave her wondering what modern ballet is means and what it is left with, when shrouded in this protective wrapping of historical preservation. Beautiful and poignant like the ballet itself. ...more
This book was freaking amazing!!! You not only get the lives of Lycurgus, Agis, and Cleomenes some of the most amazing Spartans of all times (of coursThis book was freaking amazing!!! You not only get the lives of Lycurgus, Agis, and Cleomenes some of the most amazing Spartans of all times (of course you get some Leonidas as well). All of which covers some fairly epic moments in history, but it also includes a collection of Xenophons writings on Spartan society. You get a pretty good picture painted here of what life was like in Sparta. Man it was tough! No portion better embodies the lives and minds of the spartan than his sections on "Sayings" which is famous quotes from men of spartan society. I think Plutarch was inspired when he included this section. It really gives you a feel for what Spartans valued and honored.
Here are the gems of the bunch:
When somebody was praising an orator for his ability to magnify small points, he said
"In my opinion it's not a good cobbler who fits large shoes on small feet."
When a snake had coiled round the key on the inside of the gate and the seers were declaring this to be a portent, he remarked;
"It doesn't look like that to me. If instead the key had coiled round the snake, that would be a portent"
To the man who declared his admiration and affection for him;
"I have two oxen in a field; even though neither says anything. I'm fully aware of which one idles and which one works."
and the women are equally skilled and cutting
When asked by a woman from Attica: "Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?" she said; "Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men".
and this is the best burn of all time
To the wretched character who frequently kept asking him who was the best Spartiate, his response was; "The one least like you"
Oh you got told! Of course you also get to read many of the famous lines from the Battle at Thermopylae. So pretty much this is a must read. ...more
As theater goes I have read nothing of higher caliber than this. Prometheus Bound especially stirs great emotion in the reader and would be amazing toAs theater goes I have read nothing of higher caliber than this. Prometheus Bound especially stirs great emotion in the reader and would be amazing to see live. The conversations with the Ocean, the nature of the gods, mans relation to fire. It is all very poetic and lovely. It was a sheer pleasure to read these works of Aeschylus. ...more
I am such a sucker for beautiful prose. Virgil writes like no other. What a rare treat to find the story of Orpheus at the end of this collection! StuI am such a sucker for beautiful prose. Virgil writes like no other. What a rare treat to find the story of Orpheus at the end of this collection! Stunningly written I must say. I had the K.R. McKenzie translation. An instant favorite. ...more
So what if he is a little full of himself? It's Richard Feynman for crying out loud! He gets to be ok? Frankly I thought this book was hilarious. I loSo what if he is a little full of himself? It's Richard Feynman for crying out loud! He gets to be ok? Frankly I thought this book was hilarious. I loved reading about him cracking safes especially, I thought that was just too much! Best biography/autobiography ever! This was so lighthearted and fun, and anyway who doesn't want to be this guy? I do!...more
This was an absolutely beautifully written story. The pacing is slow but very lovely. The scenes are beautiful. You will fall absolutely in love with This was an absolutely beautifully written story. The pacing is slow but very lovely. The scenes are beautiful. You will fall absolutely in love with Reine. It is a very well conceived love triangle, and is infused with all of the longings, and heart wrenching moments that occupy the mind of the love struck. I wish I could have read this in French, I am sure it would come across even more elegantly in this language. ...more
Why am I always surprised at his endings! Gosh I am incredibly gullible. I always fall for the characters and find myself shocked that it must all endWhy am I always surprised at his endings! Gosh I am incredibly gullible. I always fall for the characters and find myself shocked that it must all end this way, but it's so perfect! Dang it!~ ...more
Finally! Brian Greene you are the master at delivering exactly what I have naturally been pondering and lack the scientific mind to undertake. Thank hFinally! Brian Greene you are the master at delivering exactly what I have naturally been pondering and lack the scientific mind to undertake. Thank heavens it wasn't another science book that I had to sit through the whole of physics from Einstein onward. Way to know your audience. We are sick of the constant repeating of every major scientific breakthrough of modern times. We have heard it all a dozen times, we know the history and want to know what is going on now! Yet again you deliver in your classically simply elegant style the various avenues mathematics has led us to opening up different scenarios for parallel universes in every flavor under high investigation. Giving comparisons for each approach and tackling them all in turn. Its such absolute brain candy. You are so damn brilliantly perfect for presenting this type of information. Bravo! This is why you are one of my all time favorite authors. ...more
I devoured this book. Behe you fool! You can come up with no greater argument than Cicero's own watchmaker hypothesis? Idiot. The same so called "ReasI devoured this book. Behe you fool! You can come up with no greater argument than Cicero's own watchmaker hypothesis? Idiot. The same so called "Reasons" for the gods are still the best we can do with all of our technological advances since Rome? Bastards. In praise of Cicero who for his time was highly critical in his critique of not only the existence of gods but what their inherent nature must be. Good for you Cicero and shame to all those who have done no better since him, prattling the same so called "proofs" when so much has been gained as of late.
The reasons this work must be read: 1. To gain an appreciation for the vastness of ideas surrounding the so called "gods" of his time, including those not taking human form such as worship of the sun, the universe, and various elements and virtues. 2. The identification with another human living at such a vital time in Roman history who as is very apparent not only possesses the rational arguments best equipped to him in his own human form but brilliantly presented as extended dialogue between characters. 3. To enjoy the views of the Epicureans and the Stoics of the day huzzah! 4. To gain an appreciation for what Rome had gained in knowledge from the Greeks as early as this! They knew that the stars were the same as the sun. That the sun was bigger only because of relative view! They knew that the earth was a sphere~! They knew that there were other universes similar to our own that were uncountable. What treasures we lost since then and what pains had to be taken to recover this information. The dark ages truly were dark indeed!
To be fair I will warn you Cicero does not fully develop all of his ideas, in fact he does not finish the book and many parts of it are rumored to be missing. The main flaw is that despite his rigorous challenges to a general belief in god he falls back on what seem to be long old assertions because perhaps of social pressure as many atheists were killed at this time and also perhaps because this is the best he can do. What a sad and unappealing ending to so many good thoughts and so much willing banter. Ah Cicero would you have been born in our times the greatness of your mind could more fully have been used to continue your eloquence on these matters! Tragedy! For Tragedy!
If you want to read a book to be convinced on the nature of god yourself, the existence of or the disproving of (despite the authors intent) this may not be the read for you as the book is for obvious reasons outdated in many of its references. But if you want to hear ancient philosophy in tow and marvel at the mind of man and his cognitive abilities to think through circumstance when heavily steeped and pressured by society to avoid such by all means enjoy as did I this short work. ...more
No words. Each and every member of that "family" and ahherm non family who acquired that infamous title ceasar is such a massive wrecking case of extrNo words. Each and every member of that "family" and ahherm non family who acquired that infamous title ceasar is such a massive wrecking case of extreams that I can't even begin to fathom that these men are real. Let alone contemplate what citizens must of thought of them in their day. Really? If Suetonius is to be belived how many of these men would in our day be catergorized as legally insane? I literally about fell out of my chair this weekend when I read that Nero had the gates blocked during his preformances and women were forced to bear children in the audience while listening to his work with the lyre. Its hysterical, and who is around to counter suetoniuses descriptions of these men? No one. Therefore he gets five stars because seriously this is the best ancient gossip column still in print. ...more
I forgot about this book, but oh my what a lovely character story. I can still remember vividly his treasure store with so little prodding. This is onI forgot about this book, but oh my what a lovely character story. I can still remember vividly his treasure store with so little prodding. This is one I would definitely reread. ...more
I am absolutely floored that people did not give this book five stars. I was so impressed that now that I am done with the book I am planning on turniI am absolutely floored that people did not give this book five stars. I was so impressed that now that I am done with the book I am planning on turning right around to read it immediately again. Absolutely a new favorite. I have studied the more ancient philosophers very heavily and have never read such beautiful correlations between great minds as put forth by Gottlieb. Extremely simple and very elegant. This is exactly what I was looking for to solidify time periods and thinkers together. I don't care what anyone else says this book was hands down fantastic! ...more
What a sensual, torrid, and beautifully composed set of work is this? I am speechless. Catullus your words are like silk. Your stories and musings on What a sensual, torrid, and beautifully composed set of work is this? I am speechless. Catullus your words are like silk. Your stories and musings on human behavior are debauchery at its best. And Ha! The poem regarding your defense of flowery rhetoric. For you are fed wine and grapes in abound and surrounded by ladies night and day. In truth who could fault you for such as this! Oh a man who knows women, and knows his way around the written word is a rare and delicious treat. ...more
Magnificent! Such a beautiful collection, Cogito I feel that I know you! Some of these were extremely memorable, the professor turning into a bug, theMagnificent! Such a beautiful collection, Cogito I feel that I know you! Some of these were extremely memorable, the professor turning into a bug, the spinning over Nefertiti's head, lots of buttons, eyelids and nails. What more could you want from poetry than this? I loved it! ...more
Cassandra Kay
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