![]() Key Details Author: Colson Whitehead Genre: Historical Fiction Goodreads Link: Link This novel by Colson Whithead primarily narrates the experience of Cora; a runaway slave from a cotton plantation in Georgia who attempts to make a bid for freedom via the Underground railroad where in the novel it is depicted as a literal railroad. While the novel is an alternate history, the horrors of Slavery are not a fiction and it tries to depict the conditions of various protagonists who revolve around this deplorable system that has been created and which has sadly been commonplace across countries and cultures. The novel is told from multiple viewpoints and takes place at different point in time, which at times can be hard to follow. But this narrative structure also allows the author to showcase the many different experiences of the oppressed communities, particularly of the female characters who are oppressed both due to gender and racial reasons and depicts the many different paths they had taken to end up in their situation. One perspective I would have liked to have seen is perspective of the communities who serve as the house slaves, slave bosses and Homer who is a willing follower of the slavecatcher Ridgeway who is the main antagonist of the novel. An interesting point that I learnt is about the oppression of Italian and German immigrants who were brought to work as indentured servants on cotton plantations as well, which gives some context to the Gangster ism that in later era's was a feature of the communities. The novel also highlights how hope and beliefs can be such a powerful driving force both for the protagonist Cora whose mothers escaped is part of the lore of the plantation while Ridgeway; the Slave catcher is very clear on the part he plays in upholding the society they had brought about I would caution that, even thought its not needed to follow the narrative, some background information is useful and also helps you appreciate the research that has gone into it. Overall would highly recommend this novel. Quotes What did you get for that, for knowing the day you were born into the white man’s world? It didn’t seem like the thing to remember. More like to forget. - Cora on not knowing her birthday A plantation was a plantation; one might think one’s misfortunes distinct, but the true horror lay in their universality. "To see chains on another person and be glad they are not your own—such was the good fortune permitted colored people, defined by how much worse it could be any moment."
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![]() Book name: For the Most Beautiful Author: Emily Hauser Genre: Historical Fantasy/ Mythology Goodreads: Link For the most beautiful By Emily Hauser tells the story from the Perspective of two Trojan Women who are mentioned in Homer's Illiad which is the source & inspiration for many retelling of the epic conflict which is waged both amongst mortals and Gods. The two characters at the centre of the novel are Krysayis the daughter of the High priest of Apollo and Briseis, a princess of Pedasus who are taken captive by the invading Greeks and describes their experiences as they survive and attempt to shift the fate of the war. The novel is written by an author who has a historians background and hence aspects of that filter through in terms of the attention to detail given to the days of the months and time periods of the day as well as the different names used by the Trojans and Greeks who keep the same gods. At the same time the author avoids dumping too much information on the reader making it a fairly crisp and easy read. However, apart from these few details, I didn't feel like her background informed the story and characters depicted in the novel. The author doubles down on the stereotypes pertaining to different characters such as a tyrannical Agamemnon, a warmongering Achilles and a conniving Helen. Another strange aspect of the novel is the graphic descriptions of the female characters which felt like it was very much written from a Male Gaze. Would like to give the author the benefit of the doubt this is an attempt to critique the source material of the story and the context of the time period that is being depicted, though I don't see how this improves the story or what purpose this serves. The novel is written from the first person perspective of the two women and has been limited to just two characters which makes it easy follow along. However I felt that the switching between the different POV in terms of the length of each chapter felt too quick. This might have been an attempt to convey a sense of urgency and dynamism (while also trying to provide a 'cliffhanger' ending) but as a result you feel like you don't have time to sit with the character and digest what takes place. In addition, the story of the two women is punctuated by short glimpses into the life and times of the Gods who in the novel acted like Comic relief where they spoke and acted in a very modern perspective while the rest of the mortals followed a more 'classical' style which was a bit jarring. However one of the more interesting scenes of the novel was when one of the characters encountered the God Apollo and realized that the Greeks & Trojans keep the same Gods. The author decision to include the role of the Gods in the novel is also a bit of the issue is terms of the structure of the novel and the agency given to the characters who spend a sizable portion on the novel on a certain matter only for the Gods to intervene and completely throw off their planning. As a result it felt like while the author wanted to tell a fresh story, it has led to the characters having to make choices that requires a leap of logic in order to stay true to the source material. Overall, while the novel had a promising start and placed characters who had been marginalized as the main protagonist, felt the novel didn't really add anything to the Canon of the Trojan war which is already saturated with the event being used as a staging point for so many great and not so great stories using the event. . Key Details Title: Templar Written By: Jordan Mechner Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham & Alex Puvillard Year of Publication: 2013 Goodreads: Link A brooding not so pious not so brave knight? Check A colourful cast of side characters providing comic relief and daring rescues? Check Sword fights, chase scenes & hidden treasure? Check Check and Check This was a random graphical novel that I picked up at the Big Bad Wolf sale which I thoroughly enjoyed. The story is set during the late 13th Century after the Siege of acre in 1291 where the Crusaders lost their last substantial foothold of the Holy land and follows the events leading upto the dissolution of the Knight's Templar the most famous crusading warrior monks of the time who are the centerpiece of the story. The story follows the antics of Martin; a not so pious and not so brave Templar and his band of Misfits who come together after the dissolution to locate the fabled treasure of Solomon which is supposed to have been uncovered by the Templar's in the Holy Land and was the main motive of the Phillip IV; the King of France who was deeply in debt to the Templars to dissolve the order. The novel is in the tradition of a crazy heist caper al la Ocean's Eleven, The Italian Job where Martin & Co have to band together to locate and steal the treasure literally under the noses of Chancellor Nogaret who is the chief antagonist of the novel. Throughout the novel, there are some good character developments and attempts to challenge some of the typical stereotypes of the genre such as Madame De Chalancon who is Martin's love interest who is the main (and only) female lead in the novel who is a strong character who stands her ground in a strongly patriarchal society. I was also surprised by the role of her brother who is a Bishop and where alot of the religious authority figures tend to get alot of the negativity from authors writing a few centuries down the line, it was interesting to see how his character was treated. In terms of the book, don't be fooled into thinking this is a light read due it being a graphical novel and is in fact a mammoth book with over 400 pages. Having said that the pacing of the story is good where the buildup and planning of the heist is dealt with in great detail while the action sequences deliver the punches effectively. The art style is reminiscent of other illustrated stories of Robin Hood and the artwork during some key moments really does shine through. Overall, If your a fan of the Tales of Robin Hood or Walter Scott novels like Ivanhoe this is definitely the book for you Martin & Co getting ready to embark on their heist Some of the great artwork in the novel which is keeping with the tradition of the medieval adventure novels
![]() Quick Facts Title: Jam Fruit Tree (Book #1 of the Burgher trilogy) Author: Carl Muller Genre: Historical Fiction, Humor Publication year: 1993 Further Details - Good Reads "They accepted Centuries ago, that Sri Lanka was their land. There was never any thought that they could, if things got bad, pack and hide back to Holland or to wherever they could trace back to. They were at home and where else could they 'put a party' and enjoy life as much as home?" Carl Muller on the Burghers of Sri Lanka The First Book in the Burgher Trilogy is also one of Carl Muller's most famous work which describes the adventures and misadventures of the Von Bloss's and their extended families and friends. The writer himself refers to the novel as a work of "Faction"; a work of fiction that sails very close to the fact and is believed to have partly been inspired by the authors own life. The book describes the tumultuous lives of the Von Bloss family and their many extended family and friends through the period set in a time of transition in Sri Lanka. Like the Jam Fruit Tree that grows in the Von Bloss's garden, the Burgher's depicted in the novel are a hardy, fertile lot who like the tree cannot be tamed but nevertheless bear sweet fruit. In very vivid prose, key events of their lives including a Burgher funeral, Wedding, Christmas Party among many others in a very evocative way. The process of making the Christmas Cake ahead of the Christmas Season is particularly visceral and reveals the talent of the author. "Heaven, it seemed to him, was operating some sort of a laundering service." "That Viva making noises as if someone smashing his toes with rice-pounder. getting salvation, it seems. Lamb is washing his soul. Must be paining like Hell." As highlighted above, the key strength of the books humor lies in the prose of the book which is heavily interjected with heavy use of Sri Lankan Idioms and Vernacular phrases, swear words that is distinctly Sri Lankan. As the novel primarily depicts the life of working class Burghers, some of the language is somewhat more pedestrian to reflect this, but nevertheless enhances the humor of the novel. Apart from the humor in the language itself, the novel also describes some hilarious situations like the government agents futile attempt to take away Sonnaboy's furniture in Kadugannawa. But the book isn't all humor as it doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of the time such as Colourism, racism and patriarchy to put it more mildly. The language at times becomes quite crass and direct, possibly to contrast these issues with the more colourful descriptions used in the rest of the novel. While not as grim as Carl Muller's other work 'Colombo' which is far more bleak, the novel nevertheless does not shy away from highlighting these issues. The novel is set during the early 20th century during the British Colonial period and the author manages to bring to life in vivid prose the facets of life in Colombo at the turn of the Century. The novel describes facets of life at that time including schools, Universities, the origin of road names etc. that continue to endure today and which lends the novel its authenticity Carl Muller also praises the amazing tolerance of the burgher community. In the words of the author "Sri Lankan Burghers are as Strident as the most Strident Sinhala Native and in a sense most wholly embraces the Island mentality of 'Eat, drink and be Merry'. The author attributes the peaceful coexistence the Burghers have managed to maintain while integrating with the fabric of Sri Lankan culture to their ability to fit in no matter the circumstances. The author laments the ethnic conflict and the situation that has forced many Burghers to reluctantly leave their homeland. Overall anyone looking for a somewhat exaggerated glimpse into the past and as to what life was like in colonial Colombo should check out this novel. ![]() "Maybrick was entirely within his rights to say it was Mabel layton, and that it would have been highly macabre for him to have nominated himself, even though he was the last person, and will remain so as there is no more room" Like the small churchyard in pankot which could no longer accomodate any bodies, so too was the attitude towards the British who decided to stay on after the Raj had faded away. This was Paul Scott's last novel and is chronologically set after the events of the Raj Quartet and covers the post colonial period and the experience of a retired colonel and his wife who decided to "stay on" after independence. The characters in question were featured in the Raj Quartet and intersect with the Laytons and the event that took place in Pankot. While the book is more of a short story compared with the main novel, but it in no way has diminished Paul Scott's evocative prose. "I thought perhaps after all the sun would come out again, between us but it didn't.. except once - and that paradoxically was after sunset" - The tenderness Tusker showed towards Lucy at the ceremony for the transfer of power We mainly see the story from Lucy Smalley; the military wife of an unambitious colonial officer in the British Raj. The daughter of a parson and a poor relation of a minor aristocrat who had to "suffer the indignity" of having to work a regular job, Lucy's first impression of India is that it would be an escape from the rigid hierarchical class structures at home only to subsequently find that these constraints had followed her across the seas. "I'd been brought up to know my place, but when I married Tusker and came out that all that was over... but he was only taking me back to the Vicarage" - Lucy Smalley The novel also deals with the social changes that took place post independence and the realization that some legacies of colonialism such as the rigid class structure left behind continued to endure albeit in a native form. "I don't mean this India...I sometimes don't see a great difference between theirs and the one in which I was a Memsahib, but our India, British India, which kept me in my place, ...brain-washed me into believing that nothing was more improtant than doing everything my place required me to do" - Lucy Smalley A surprising aspect of the the novel was that it felt more lighthearted than the Raj Quartet novels particularly as a result of the larger than life Villain like character of Mrs. Bhoolabhoy and the farcical relationship with "management". but it does not shy away from the societal issues and prejudices and difficulties touched on in the colonial and post colonial world. It was also a pleasant surprise to learn about the fate of some of the key characters in the Raj Quartet such as the Laytons after the event of the novel. Overall a great send off to this simply brilliant series. Favourite Quotes "Another example of how you have deprived me, of the fullness of my life in order to support and sustain the smallness of your own" - Lucy berating to Tusker on him not giving permission for her to act in a drama out of fear that she might outshine the wives of the higher ranking officials "I was always on this committee and that committee I was on it but not of it" - Lucy on the social hierachies that continued to be maintained even in India "at the end of one's life all that was left was one's dignity and one was damned lucky to have the chance to show it." - Lucy when Tusker had a heart attack at the party "It was different for the new generations of English and Indians who met and made friends with one another; ..the generation that had experienced all the passions and prejudices, there was somehow in that relationship a distant and diinishing but not yet dead echo of the sound of the tocsin" - Lucy reflecting on Mrs. Desai's welcome at their Holi party "Suddenly the powers that be say, Right, Smalley, we’re not wanted here any more, we’ve all got to bugger off, too bad you’re not ten years younger or ten years older. I thought about this a lot at the time and it seemed to me I’d invested in India, not money which I’ve never had, not talent (Ha!) which I’ve only had a limited amount of, nothing India needed or needs or has been one jot the better for, but was all I had to invest in anything. Me." - Tusker reflecting on his life in a letter to Lucy Book Details - Goodreads ![]() "she looked at her seed as if she had never seen one before, and suddenly she knew that it was not the planet above that governed her life: It was this miniscule orb - at once bountiful and all devouring, merciful and destructive, sustaining and vengeful. This was her Shani, her Saturn." - Deeti reflecting on the poppy seed and its implications "Opium is what has made the industrial age possible; without it the streets of London would be thronged with coughing, sleepless incontinent multitudes. .. Is it not apposite to ask if the Manchu tyrant to deprive his subjects of the advantages of progress?" - Mr. Burnham extolling the virtues of the Opium trade As a fan of James Clavell's Asian saga, Amitav Ghosh's Ibis trilogy which deals with the poppy trade in 19th Century India and the transport of economic migrants to Mauritius seemed like a natural fit. The sweeping nature of the novel which relates the experiences of both European and Asian protagonists of different backgrounds instantly draws you in and keeps you firmly engrossed. The author seamlessly blends the various languages and dialects in a way that is reminiscent of Rushdie while at the same time being comprehensible to an average reader. The use of different voices for the characters which reflects their backgrounds and past experiences makes the novel feel particularly authentic. At the same time the novel deals with a critical period in history which is often neglected and continues to influence us today. The introduction of mono culture by the colonists and the propagation of "Economically useful plants" of which the repercussions were ecological devastation and creation of a sub group of economic migrants who went far afield to escape poverty resonates with the experience of South Asian experiences even today. Favourite quotes "We are no different from the pharaohs or the Mongols; the difference is only that when we kill people we feel compelled to pretend that ts for some higher cause". Captain Chillingsworth on the announcement that there is to be war with china "Are not all appearances deceptive, in the end? Whatever that is within us - whether good, bad or neither - its existence will continue uninterrupted, will it not, no matter what the drape of our clothes, or the colour of our skin?, What if it is the world that is a Duperie, mr. Reid and we are the exceptions to its lies?" - Paulette aftwr finding out Neels true origin Book details - Goodreads ![]() The title of the book refers to the Zoroastrian tradition that is followed by the Parsee's where the dead are not buried but are rather placed on elevated platforms to be picked clean by vultures. It is an apt title that foreshadows the end of an era and the impending end of the British Raj. From the stone that is thrown at Teddie Bingham's car on the day of the wedding, it foeshadows the fates of the characters which coincides with the decline of the Raj which culminates with the death of Teddie Bingham in the defense of an ideal, the empty chair left by Mabel Layton at the reception. The novel also raises the point as to whether in the whole business of empire, whether there were any values to start with. Quote "There went the Raj, supported by unassailable criteria of necessity, devoutness, even of self-sacrifice... but what was being perpetrated was an act of callousness: the sin of collectively not caring a damn about a desire or an expectation or the fulfillment of a promise so long as personal dignity was preserved and at a cost that could be borne without too great an effort.. and so it will be in regard to our experience here. And when we are gone let them colour the sky as they will. We shall not care. It has never truly been our desire or intention to colour it permanently but only to make it as cloudless for ourselves as we can." - Barbie reflecting on Mabel's funeral In the novel we are also introduced to the character of the missionary school teacher Barbie Bachelor which adds a new dimension to the story of Pankot which has mostly been told from the perspective of the varied members of the Layton family. Her connection to Edwina Crane also neatly connects the events in Mayapore with the developments in Pankot. A key technique that is used in the novel is to juxtapose the developments in Pankot with the incidents in Mayapore. For instance, the month that Susan and Teddie's engagement is announced in the papers is also the month that the death of Daphne Manners is announced in the papers. Further the arrival of Merrick on the scene further compounds the sense of impending doom. This is underscored by the fact that after his wedding when Teddie is transferred to Mirat he is billeted with Merrick who for various circumstances he is unable to meet for days on end. It is almost as if Teddie had so many opportunities to avoid the encounter but once it is done, his fate would seal his fate. Despite this it is also interesting that the painting of the Jewel in the Crown which Barbie inherits from Edwina Crane is presented to Merrick. Probably because she understands the fact that Merrick sees the true face of what the business of empire entails and is not blinded by all the pomp and circumstance that is used to cover up their own inadequacies and fears Quote "That represents one of the unfulfilled ones. Oh, not the gold and scarlet unifroms, not the pomp, not the Obeisance. We've had all of that and plenty. We've had everything in the picture except what got left out. .. I'll call it the Unknown Indian". - Barbie Bachelor on whats missing from the painting While the novel is a bit short on historical details such as the Indian National Army, Subhas Chandra Bose, The Japanese attempted invasion at Imphal which the novel is interwined with, it is overall a beautiful written book about the human condition and all its flaws. The aftermath of the end of the era which is marked by this novel reaches fruition in the final novel of the Raj Quartet; The Division of the spoils Favourite Quotes "The reality of this shabbiness, this evidence of Detritus behind the screens of Imperial power and magnificence. The feeling she was not of glory departing or departed but of its original and continuing irrelevance to the business of being in India" - Barbie in Mr. Maybricks house "What Teddie tried to do was worth the whole bloody war put together... she had gone straight to the heart of the matter, cutting through such irrelevancies as divisional annoyance, the cost of a jeep, the loss of a prisoner and Merricks arm, leaving one with Teddies blameless death, his praiseworthy sacrifice for a principle the world no longer had time or inclination to uphold. - Mildred on teddie's death "You are now native roses,.. The garden is a native garden. We are only visitors. That has been our mistake. That is why God has not followed us here. - Mabel Layton "there is no God. Even on the road from Dibrapur" - Merrick reporting to Barbie on what was in Edwina Crane's suicide note Book details - Goodreads ![]() The concluding novel to Manfredi's Alexander Trilogy is the biggest in the series which reflects Alexander's growing ambition as he turns his sights on the Persian empire and beyond. Like the first few books, the novel moves at a brisk pace and deals with the struggles that the army endures both from the environment and every varying foes. The author must be commended for the exhaustive effort that has gone into the background research for this book as well as for depicting the events of the novel in a way that is easy to follow due to his choice to use contemporary language while depicting the events of the novel in as realistic a way as possible. While it is understandable that anyone who goes to such lengths to research and understand a character, should view him or her in a positive light, the author however seems to give Alexander the benfit of the doubt with regard to the burning of Persepolis where it is portrayed as a tactical decision rather than the result of a drunken orgy. While the author himself admits that this is his version of the event and there are no accounts of what the real circumstances were as to what took place, it felt in a way that the actions of Alexander were detached from the rest of his generals and men which may in fact be what the author was trying to convey. Indeed, when Alexander first entered Persepolis he was even embarrassed to sit on Darius's throne but after the burning of Persepolis in quick succession he married Darius's daughter, adopted Persian customs and his ambitions grew with it. By the end of the novel, Alexander went as far as to create a spectacle out of the funeral pyre for Hephaeston which was a clear example of his excesses. One criticism I have of the novel is that it seems to follow the received wisdom that the downfall of Alexander can be attributed to is embracing of the Persian culture which is presented in a way that is characterized by excess. This is quite surprising particularly given the fact that Macedonian culture for all its aspirations of being a martial culture does give way to these same excesses. One of the things I would liked to have seen in the novel would have been to get a glimpse of what the sentiment was back in Macedon and how Alexander's immediate family coped with his absence. It was also quite disappointing that the story involving Aristotle and his quest to find the true culprits behind the murder of Phillip was left in an unsatisfactory manner. However apart from these, the novel is punctured by some great emotional moments.One of my favourite scenes is the scene of Alexander's companions saluting and standing by Alexander's decision which was a throwback to a scene depicted in the first novel. The scene underlies the role reversal that has taken place from when they first gave the Salute to a Young prince Alexander in the first book when they were fugitives from King Phillip to now where they were masters of their own destinies world. The other strength of the novel is the depiction of the changing landscape and the wonderment of the troops as they push the boundaries of the known world and travel towards the "Ends of the Earth". The ending and the epilogue of the book is bittersweet and it seems that this objective of reaching the ends of the earth does prove to be an elusive goal. Overall, well worth the read. ![]() I've read a few fictional and non fictional accounts of the rise of Rome but I must say that Tom Holland's book Dynasty: The rise and fall of the House of Caesar is a natural sequel to his previous book Rubicon. The book is both entertaining and informative of the early days of Imperial age of Rome. The introduction of the book sets the scene brilliantly and I wish there was an epilogue after the suicide of Nero as well. Apart from that the book proceeds to effectively shed light on the inner workings of the House of Caesar while debunking some of the myths surrounding that it period. It's quite amazing how so many incidents in history that are embedded in our collective psyche may in fact be purely rumours and have no historical basis. This is particularly true for the the reign of the House of Caesar's at the beginning of Rome's imperial age. The famous claims that Nero played the Lyre while Rome burned or Caligula unable to invade Britain had his soldiers collect sea shells may in fact be nothing more than malicious gossip. However the main objective of the book is not to debunk everything we know about early days of Imperial Rome but instead highlights the a healthy dose of skepticism is essential when reading into the history of the house of Caesar which for the most part was penned many years later by people who sought its downfall. In fact some events were in fact stranger than fiction such as Nero killing his mother Agrippinia with a booby-trapped yacht and Caligula making his horse a Senator did in fact take place. The book is also not an attempt to promote a particular approach to history as encapsulated in the approach taken by Herodotus writing which mixes fact with myth and the more no nonsense fact based approach of Thucydides in his account of the Peloponnese war. Tom Holland seamlessly combines these two approaches by on the one hand providing evidence to assess the validity of a rumour/gossip while on the other hand portraying the affairs on earth being mirrored as a struggle of the Gods and the role prophesy plays in it. For example, the conflict between Octavius and Mark Anthony and Nero having his mother killed has an attempt I like how the book briefly digresses to the past or jumps ahead into the future to connect the story with socio political developments that took place over Rome's history. Was particularly interested to learn the Utopian ideal and the Martial tradition of the Roman people that was promoted with stories about Romulus which was viewed as a golden age of Rome. Was also quite surprised to learn about the conservative attitude Romans had towards sexuality and on the importance of tradition and values. The novel shows how the progress of the House of Caesar mirrored the changes in the social attitude over time beginning with the conservative Augustus and his obsession with purity to the flamboyance of Nero's reign. As Nero rightly pointed out "Everything we now believe to be the essence of tradition, was a novelty once" Favourite Quotes "The best cure for a civil war is to forget that t ever happened" - Seneca The Elder For someone like Nero, scandal was corrosive to the authority of a natural showman if there was an attempt to cover it up So perished the line of Caligula: Dead of a Joke taken too far "No matter how many people you put to death, you can never kill your successor" - Seneca "The surest punishment was not death but to be consigned to Oblivion" "Time erodes both steel and stone" .."The written word defines the Years" Book Details Dyansty: Rise and fall of the House of Caesar - Good Reads Tom Holland talk on the House of Caesar - Youtube ![]() The middle novel of any trilogy tends to be the most unsatisfactory of the lot, and this seems to be the case with the Sands of Ammon; the 2nd novel in Manfredi's Alexander series. The pacing of the novel is at times very uneven where a considerable portion of the story is devoted to character development only to be resolved in a fairly brisk manner. On the other hand, an aspect where the novel handles particularly well is the descriptions of the battles and the battle tactics employed which feel very authentic. While the battles and sieges seems a bit detached as we mostly see things from Alexander and his companions perspective, this may have been the intention of the author to highlight the way the high command of Alexander's forces perceived things as going on a grand adventure, with frequent references to Xenophon's the March of the ten thousand, in contrast to the hardships at the level of the individual soldier. It also underlies the fact that the success of Alexander's troops depended a lot on his inexhaustible and boundless energy he seemed to display when faced with a problem as well as in the case of the Battle at Issus, a good dose of luck.Most of the story follows the journey of Alexander's troops through the Persian empire I would have liked to have seen more of a glimpse into the situation back in Macedonua with the only hint given by Aristotles continued investigation into Phillip's assassination. It was interesting to observe that Alexander's character is not swayed by the contact with the opulence and decadence of the Persian empire which foreshadows what is to come. Some of the emotional high-points of the novel such as the cutting of the Gordian knot and the fate of Memnon of Rhodes was handled very well. However I felt that the ending could have been handled better as the encounter at the a temple of Ammon in Egypt which is generally considered a turning point for Alexander character was not expressed as well. However, overall a entertaining read and I would like to see how the different subplots and the foreshadowing of the fate of Alexander that is setup in the first two novels gets resolved in the final book of the Trilogy : The ends of the Earth Book details https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62355.The_Sands_of_Ammon |
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