Author: Michelle Moran
Format: Audio book
Published: Tantor Media; Nov., 2009
Narrated By: Wanda McCaddon
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: F
Source: audible.com
Synopsis: Moran's latest foray into the world of classical history (after The Heretic Queen) centers upon the children of Marc Antony and Cleopatra . After the death of their parents, twins Alexander and Selene and younger brother Ptolemy are in a dangerous position, left to the mercy of their father's greatest rival, Octavian Caesar. However, Caesar does not kill them as expected, but takes the trio to Rome to be paraded as part of his triumphant return and to demonstrate his solidified power. As the twins adapt to life in Rome in the inner circle of Caesar's family, they grow into adulthood ensconced in a web of secrecy, intrigue and constant danger. Told from Selene's perspective, the tale draws readers into the fascinating world of ancient Rome and into the court of Rome's first and most famous emperor. Deftly encompassing enough political history to provide context, Moran never clutters her narrative with extraneous facts.
My Take: I'm going to keep this review short and blame this one not working for me on the audio. Bottom line, this book bored me. I've been loving audio books this year and I had heard great things about this book and this author so I had finally decided to sign up for an account on audible and this one popped up on sale and I thought: sweet! I got about half way through it before I had to throw in the towel.
Here's why I think it would have been better if I had stuck with the print. There were a bunch of characters in this novel with names that were foreign to my ears. I'm not talking about Cleopatra and Cesear but I am talking about their myriad of relatives and advisors and Cleopatra's children, whom this novel centers around. To keep all of these characters straight in an audio book was very difficult. Also, I do believe the narrator was poor choice for this book. I mean no offense by this but the narrator of the story, Selene, is an eight year old girl, the narrator of the audio book is an old British woman, like something you'd find in a BBC architectural dig documentary. It seemed like an incongruous choice. Finally, as much as I wanted to route for Selene and her girl power message, the only message I got from the book was Egypt is better than Rome (nah nah nah!) and it seemed like they were beating me over the head with it. I'm not sure that's the message I was supposed to get so I put the audio down.
Regardless I am sure the book would have probably been more of a success for me and I plan on reading more of Moran's work in the future (in print!).
Cover Lust: I do like the cover. It's definitely what I think of when I think of Rome and Italy in ancient times.
For other opinions about this book:
Caribous Mom
At Home With Books
Medieval Bookworm
Yeah, some books don't translate well as audios. Sorry this didn't work for you.
ReplyDeleteSome books are better read - I actually really liked this book (I read it). Hope the next audiobook is much better for you.
ReplyDeleteOh pooh, let's just blame it on the audio. Cos I do like Moran's voice but who knows if it works in audio..oh and why was an old woman telling it when Selene was a kid?
ReplyDeleteI hope you try the print version soon. I love Michelle Moran's books.
ReplyDeleteI could see how the audio would make this one a bit hard to handle. It was really good in print and don't count Moran out just yet.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty hard to get around a problematic narrator. Hopefully you will enjoy her other work in print.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing worse than a poor fit between book and reader in an audiobook. Except maybe a downright bad performance. I still have this book on my TBR, but will go right to the Kindle!
ReplyDeleteGood for you that you abandoned this one. Life is too short to stay with a book that is this bad for you.
ReplyDeleteI can see how a book with so many names can be difficult to listen to. Heck, sometimes, I have a hard time keeping track when I read in print -- I frequently have to take notes to keep track of names in books like these. Still, I agree, I have heard really great things about this book and I'll remember when I pick it up to make sure I grab it in print, not audio.
ReplyDeleteOh no I'm sorry you didn't like this book. I do get your point though. I loved this book but I had to go back and refer many times. I hope you enjoy rest of Moran's work.
ReplyDeleteI read this one and loved it!
ReplyDelete