Welcome to Litsy!

I recently finished a Great Courses about Roman emperors and the lecturer mentioned I Claudius multiple times as a good ‘novelization‘ of his subject. He‘s not wrong, but…

The novel can be dry and any dialogue is an info dump. Of course, Graves had no easy task and I can‘t see a better way to do it without losing integrity. And I suppose you could chalk the book‘s success up to Rome itself: it‘s telling how easily it takes you under its spell.

#BookedInTime @Cuilin
After January 6, 2021, I truly feared for our country and its democracy. I naively thought that I had witnessed humankind at its worst ... until I read about ancient Rome and the Julio-Claudian dynasty. No wonder this line only lasted until Nero: death by beheading, poison, debauchery of all kinds ... a fascinating yet violent read. I'll have to read CLAUDIUS THE GOD now to see how he turns out as emperor.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

“I, Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus This-that-and-the-other (for I shall not trouble you yet with all my titles), who was once, and not so long ago either, known to my friends and relatives and associates as 'Claudius the Idiot', or 'That Claudius', or 'Claudius the Stammerer', or 'Clau-Clau-Claudius', or at best as 'Poor Uncle Claudius' [a marginal note here adds the date 'A.D. 41'], ... ⬇️

@Cuilin
#BookedinTime

I'm going to give I, CLAUDIUS a try for our ancient Rome read this month. Now all I need is a toga emoji! Here's flag of Italy instead: 🤩🇮🇹🤣

I‘ve been on an ancient history kick lately and this didn‘t disappoint although this is an imagined narrative of real events. It‘s appropriate that Graves has Claudius say in the very last line, “Even the mature historian‘s privilege of setting forth conversations of which he knows only the gist is one that I have availed myself of hardly at all.” This was thoroughly enjoyable.

In a month of determined obstinance to not get a bingo 😆 I got one yesterday, last day of month! Every time I got close to a bingo I got distracted by a different book, but I did get a lot of my TBR complete
@thearomaofbooks

Pleasant surprise that this was a comedy. I went in not knowing much about it, but it was highly entertaining. The characters are 2 dimensional but on purpose, and the action is swift. I would love to see a play of this.

#julyjourneys #rome
A book on my TBR for this month is this Roman historical fiction book. When you don't feel comfortable traveling in this pandemic world reading books keeps your mind expanding!

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#CuriousCovers Day 8: Circles

On my TBR. Not sure if the circles in the background are meant to be coins or something else, but I think the cover design with the pattern on the neon background and the statue in the foreground is really visually appealing. I only recently learned that this was written by Robert Graves, who I was mostly familiar with his WWI writings.

A fine piece of imaginative work on the infamous Mad Emperor Caligula and the family tree before him - through the eyes of Claudius the meek (Emperor after Caligula). Ancient Roman history is the OG Game of Thrones (sans a infuriating finale thank goodness) - so any book like this that deepens the richness of characters, captures the tempests of an empire and shows the scheming, manipulative ways of those closest- brings it alive. Recommended!

I‘d seen part of the miniseries starring Derek Jacobi prior to reading this, but as good as that was, the book was better. Literal backstabbing, politics and murder among the ruling family of Rome in the first century CE.

#LitsySpringBreak Rome

Our episode on I Claudius is out! It's an intriguing novel, briskly paced and fascinating throughout. It gives you the juicer version of Roman history at the beginning of the Empire, where nearly everyone is a villain and the hero survives by keeping his head down and trying not to be noticed by the murderous psychopaths in charge. Fun stuff! Tune in to hear more.

https://open.spotify.com/show/6A6hXZ7eaOG7BtHOSJpCTI

We have chosen our January book of the month!

https://open.spotify.com/show/6A6hXZ7eaOG7BtHOSJpCTI

Thank you for the tag, @MariaW !
Hard to pick a favorite, but these are ones I keep returning to:
1. I, Claudius by Robert Graves
2. Discworld by Terry Pratchett
3. Harry Potter

Also, currently I am very much loving Murderbot and re-reading them since Network Effect just came out.
I know this is a bit old - would you like to play, @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics ?

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks #favs

I enjoyed this clever account of the lives and political machinations of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula and their families, but did not expect it to end so abruptly just as our narrator was stepping into place as the main character.

Very readable, though at times difficult to keep all the relationships straight...

Enjoying this audiobook on a long three day weekend!

This is way up high on my #modernlibrarytop100 list but is mostly pure fun. Claudius is a fun and not completely reliable narrator of his own rise to the position of Roman emperor. I think at its core it wants to make the reader think about history, the people who populate it, and how their stories are told. I‘ll definitely be reading more Robert Graves.

That‘s just, like, your interpretation, Caligula.

On August 24 I noticed the first yellow leaves on the tree outside my front window. Less than a month later, they‘ve fully changed colour and at least 30% have fallen off. I love fall, but it‘s a tough transition every year, knowing how cold and long winter tends to be in Saskatchewan.

There‘s a little used bookstore here that I always make sure to visit while I‘m here. 🏝

I really enjoyed this. The book is so much better than the BBC production. And I discovered that Graves is better known as a poet, so now I need to look up some of his poetry. #100essentialnovels

All the digs at the Germans! This novel was written in 1934, and some of the politics of that era seem to be creeping in.

I was going to get up and do some chores after one chapter, but Balthazar has other ideas. I guess I‘ll have to keep reading. 😸 #littenkitten #catsoflitsy

“By this time Augustus was an old man with all the petulance and crankiness of an old man who has been at the head of affairs all his life.”

“The gift of independence once granted cannot be lightly taken away again.”
(Bust of Claudius‘ father, Nero Drusus, from Wikipedia.)

1. My cat decided to sleep on the treadmill;
2. Probably Paris Combo;
3. Skipping the gym;
4. Nothing in particular;
5. I just started I Claudius, so I‘m not thinking about the next book yet.
#humpdaypost @MinDea

While I‘ll take the dust jacket off to read, I wanted to show the 1961 edition I‘m reading from. It was my mother-in-law‘s and I‘ve already found some highlighting she did. 😀

I don‘t know about the Roman Emperor Claudius, but my Claudius has #angeleyes. 😻 #ABBAinAugust

Looks who's still alive and finished a book. Woot! Woot! I can't imagine finding a better book to be my companion through life's incredible stresses and distractions. Nothing in my life can really compete with the what-the-fuckery of ancient Rome's ruling families.

K, I need to find the next book in the Claudius series.Then I should rewatch the show. Then I should reread and give this book the focus it deserves because it was a great read.

Essential reading for historical fiction fans

The reading slump continues. Maybe this will break the spell? I watched and loved the 1976 BBC adaptation back in the day so the book will probably be even better. Right?

I have played this game before but so many new littens have joined since... 😊 #meetthelittens
1. I live in Illinois, USA but originally I am from Hungary
2. I, Claudius
3. Discworld, Harry Potter
4. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
5. Game of Thrones, Project Runway
6. Queen, Arctic Monkeys
7. yellow and red
8. Everything but romance
9. At a small nano-tech company
10. Two rabbits, Emmet and Wild Style 🐰🐰🐰

Rather sweet beginnings for such a horrible person.

Fascinating discussion between Livy and Pollio on the right way of writing history.

Clau-Clau-Claudius the stammerer was known as a buffoon and a pitiful fool.' And he is the narrator of these novels.
#unusualnarrators #anditsaugust
@RealLifeReading
@batsy @leahbergen @saresmoore @Dragon @merelybookish

#ItsHistory Roman and Greek edition. The Graves book is a fictionalised autobiography of the Roman emperor Claudius, and the Renault is a fascinating novel about ancient Athenian society during the time of Socrates. Both were smart, enjoyable reads and I keep meaning to read more by the authors but other books tend to get in the way. *stares at the TBR* #AndItsAugust @RealLifeReading

I was supposed to pack my bookshelf, BUT instead I noticed that my neighbor discarded a large pile of books along with some practical things I could care less about, like furniture. I quickly added to the "to be packed" pile. Also, I think that I missed out on an opportunity to befriend a fellow art history major ?

#junebookbugs Day17: #cheers
I am hoping this is the year I finally read this one. It was adapted into a TV show baaaaack in the day. My dad and I loved the show.
@RealLifeReading

1. I live in Urbana, IL, USA, but I was born and raised in Hungary.
2. Lots! I, Claudius; Harry Potter; Discworld by Terry Pratchett.
3. Discworld & HP
4. Monthy Python & the Holy Grail
5. Don't watch much
6. Queen, Arctic Monkeys
7. Yellow, Red
8. Any if well written, but mostly classics, fantasy, humor
9. I develop software
10. Two Dutch bunnies - Emmet and Wild Style 🐰

Borrowed the picture from @AndreaReads - thanks!
#MeetTheLittens

Not sure why everyone is posting the weather in their neck of the woods, so I'm just going to get on here and brag about Florida. I'm actually a little chilly. I'm wearing a sweater and settling in to finally (after many years of wanting to) read I, Claudius. #TheWeatherOutsideIsFrightful

The winter months are always series months for me, one of my favorites being I, Claudius...THE BEST dysfunctional family ever. I have been jonesing for a rewatch after reading Cleopatra, and I REALLY need to finally just read the book. For those of you who've read and seen them both, how do they compare? Is it worth the read? #dysfunctionalfamilies #photoadatnov16

'I, Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus This-that-and-the-other (for I shall not trouble you yet with all my titles) who was once, and not so long ago either, known to my friends and relatives and associates as "Claudius the Idiot," or "That Claudius," or "Claudius the Stammerer," or "Clau-Clau-Claudius"...'

Today's 2-for #booktober catch-up: #firstlines and #awardwinning To a reformed(ish) classicist, this book is quite impressive.

I started reading this book as I walked from my bedroom door to my bed, twenty minutes later I realise I'm still standing. The book sucked me in so hard and so fast I forgot to sit down. After finishing it, in one sitting, I felt disoriented. Hadn't I just been in ancient Rome, having a cosy gossip about his Machiavellian family with Claudius himself. What was I doing back in my bedroom?

#augustphotochallenge #alltimefavoritebooks
I took a screenshot of my favorites shelf on Goodreads.
My all time favorite is I, Claudius by Robert Graves, with its sequel. I read it many times. My favorite authors and series are represented here by one book. Terry Pratchett, Alison Weir, Harry Potter series, Christopher Moore, Margaret Atwood, Dosoyevsky, Jane Eyre, etc. I read everything.

I, Claudius is just so much damn fun. Graves takes us through complex Roman history, balancing the exposition and characterization through the strength and consistency of Claudius' voice. It's very exciting, and makes this book one of my favorite pieces of historical fiction.🤘🤘🤘

I loved this book so much I guess it is fair to say that it is my all time favourite. I think I reread it already 5 times.

This was practically the first time I had been in love since my boyhood; and when a not very clever, not very attractive man of fifty falls in love with a very attractive and very clever girl of fifteen it is a poor look-out for him.