Litsy

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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This book was a fascinating glimpse into the constantly changing politics of Ancient Rome, from a female point of view. Livia was the wife and trusted advisor of the emperor Augustus. Although I didn‘t always agree with some of the choices she made, I couldn‘t help but admire the way she worked through the constraints placed upon her as a wealthy woman, to become a powerful, influential force for the good of the Roman people.

julieclair Great choice for #LiteraryCrew , @Librarybelle ! Thanks, as always, for hosting. 22h

julieclair #Pantone2025 #GardenGreen @Lauredhel 22h

Librarybelle Yay! And good match for Pantone! 21h

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Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

It‘s time for our #LiteraryCrew discussion! And sorry everyone…I really fizzled out on this. I also really struggled with the book‘s writing, so there are only 4 questions posted. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag.

Next month‘s #BuddyRead is The Briar Club. Reminder will be posted tomorrow!

mcctrish, mjdowens, melissajayne, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Deblovestoread, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Karisa, bumpinthenight, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

CatLass007 Oh goodness. It‘s the end of the month already. I had to start this one twice but once I started it the second time I enjoyed it. It sounds like you didn‘t enjoy it so much. How are the kitties? And how are you? (edited) 2d

Deblovestoread I tried to read this last year and fully intended to try again for LC but it never happened. Sorry! 2d

tpixie Sadly I didn‘t get to it either, but it looks very interesting. I just put too much in my plate- I‘ve been doing heavy research into Barbara Newhall Follett (still only 1/4 way thru 600 pages of letters ) before reading

The Story She Left Behind: A Novel

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Karisa I tried but couldn‘t get into it either. It sounded like it would be something I‘d like too😬 2d

Librarybelle @CatLass007 Maybe it‘s the timing right now, but I just did not connect with it. Oh well! Zeke is okay at the moment, but he‘s refusing the food he needs to eat for his GI issues. Sigh…I‘m tired but hanging in there. Thanks for asking! 2d

Librarybelle I‘m really looking forward to next month‘s, @Deblovestoread @tpixie @Karisa ! 2d

CatLass007 ❤️ You are so appreciated!! 2d

Librarybelle Thanks @CatLass007 ! ❤️ 2d

CatLass007 Lots of prayers and good thoughts going out to you. 2d

Librarybelle @CatLass007 ❤️❤️❤️ 2d

julieclair I enjoyed this and was glad I read it. I never would have picked it up on my own. Sending healing hugs to Zeke and to you. Hang in there. 💙 22h

Librarybelle So glad you enjoyed, @julieclair ! And thank you! 21h

39 likes12 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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4. Admittedly, I struggled with the writing style in this novel. I just could not connect with the narrative. Any comments on the writing or the style of the novel? Did you the first person narrative enhanced or took away from the telling of Livia's story? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin Same as I said in another post, too much telling. It could have been better. I think Smith had an agenda to write Livia as a likable character. We could‘ve sympathized with her though, even if Livia had been written as cold and calculating as she was still a woman in a man‘s world trying to survive. 2d

julieclair I listened on audio, and almost gave up because I was having trouble following all the political twists and turns, and couldn‘t flip back through the pages to reread passages. I finally decided to just concentrate on Livia‘s narrative, knowing that she was helping her husband(s) navigate a rotating cast of friends and enemies. Once I did that, I really enjoyed the book. 22h

7 likes2 comments

Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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3. Moving away from the characters, let's look at the bigger picture discussed--the Roman Empire post-assassination. How familiar were you with events prior to the novel? How does the novel portray the events?

Quick reference guide from the History Channel:

https://www.history.com/articles/julius-caesar-assassination-fall-roman-republic

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin I love Ancient Rome and I‘m relearning Latin on Duolingo so this was a perfect read for me. I found it all very believable. However the style took some time to get use to. There was a lot of telling and not showing which I hate in a novel. 2d

CatLass007 I‘m afraid I don‘t know much history about Rome. What I learned, I learned in English class from studying the play Julius Caesar. And I can‘t help remembering the episode of M*A*S*H where radar was trying to impress a new nurse and he kept saying that the fall of the Roman Empire was caused from within. 2d

julieclair My knowledge of Ancient Rome is sketchy at best, some enjoyed learning a bit more of its history through this book. I would like to read more from this time period. 22h

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Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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2. Now that we have some additional facts about Livia, what did you think of her? History considers her to be cold, calculating, heartless, and ruthless. Is that a fair assessment? Think about the men in her circle. How does this novel portray them, and if you are familiar with them, is their portrayal in the novel fair? #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin I think this novel took a very different approach to Livia and posits a thesis that she was not as cold and calculating as we have been led to believe. 2d

CatLass007 It doesn‘t seem like it was very different than that it is now. Women who are ambitious, intelligent, or have any so-called “masculine” characteristics are considered cold and calculating. Women had few legal rights back then but they‘re taking away women‘s rights right now. Did I mention that I have a cat named Tiberius? 2d

julieclair Good points, @Cuilin and @CatLass007 . Because she was intelligent and ambitious, she has been considered cold and calculating. But maybe she was loving and loyal and good. We‘ll never know. 22h

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Librarybelle

I Am Livia | Phyllis T. Smith

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1. Smith allows us to go inside the thoughts of Livia as she becomes involved with the most powerful men in Rome. Were you familiar with Livia before reading this book?

History Hit did 10 facts about her: https://www.historyhit.com/facts-about-livia-drusilla/

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Cuilin Yes, I took Latin and ancient Roman civilization classes in secondary school. I think she did a good job setting the time period. 2d

CatLass007 I was not familiar with Livia. I think that may have been part of why I enjoyed this book. 2d

julieclair I had never heard of Livia, and really enjoyed seeing Roman history through a woman‘s eyes. Thanks for the History Hit link - very interesting! 22h

7 likes3 comments

Yenya1954

Mistress of Rome | Kate Quinn

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Kate Quinn brings a tale of living in Rome in the first century. The age of gladiators fighting to the death in the arena. This was a time brutal punishment and a very different way of life. There are lots of slavery and mistresses and whores. Lepida Pollia is a terrible and conniving woman with no integrity or morals. This has been my least favorite of Kate Quinn‘s novels. However, I still have it 4/5⭐️

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swynn

The Geometry of Love: Space, Time, Mystery, and Meaning in an Ordinary Church | Margaret Visser

so-so

(2000) There's disappointingly little math here for a book titled “The Geometry of Love.“ But it's interesting for what it is: a discussion of a church, Sant'Agnese Fuori la mura near Rome, from as many perspectives as possible, ranging from architecture and art history to theology, hagiography, folklore, and personal response. It's interesting and occasionally fascinating. A bit unfocused for me, but arguably that's the point. Also: no pictures?

Texreader You‘d think there would be pictures!! How sad they chose not to include any (edited) 4d

swynn @Texreader Right? Not only would pictures have been helpful, but given the subject matter and the diffuse text, it could even have been a gorgeous coffee table book. 4d

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Butterfinger

Mistress of Rome | Kate Quinn

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Ancient coliseum battleground, sacrifice, early Christians, politics, and cruel villains are written in the background where two slaves fall in love and are heinously separated. This book truly has it all. I intend to read all of Kate Quinn. TW - coliseum fights and torture are graphic #ancientRome #jubilee #FoodandLit @Texreader @Catsandbooks

Texreader Yay! I haven‘t been able to squeeze in a Jubilee read this month! Glad to see you did! And the book sounds good 1w

Catsandbooks 👏🏼🇮🇹❤️ 6d

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