Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

This is the thread for the Ancient themed monthly group read.


The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great by Steven Pressfield

I have my request in at the library for this, so I'm hoping to have enough time to read it.

I hope so too.
I am going to reserve it at the library (online) today.

I've literally just read this

Got my copy! YAY!!!

M.D. wrote: "I've literally just read this"

Cool. You'll be able to buy into the discussions if you feel like it in August. :)

Crystal wrote: "Got my copy! YAY!!!"

YAY!!

Better make sure mine isn't on reserve at the library..yikes..

Done and done. :) It was available and I have reserved it.

it was available on my Nook tablet. Which meant I got it instantly. That is a gratification I love... Though waiting for a book to arrive is like waiting for Christmas. :)

And ordering it via the library online catalogue is like shopping for a book...only I didn't spend anything. That always gives me a thrill.

..or should I say..'a cheap thrill'. :)

Totally agree, I ordered 6 from the library (online) and it's almost as good as buying. :)

Almost. Bummer when you have to send them back, but on the other hand, when they are disappointing that too is a thrill. That you can simply send them back to where they came from and you have no buyers remorse.

I love online library 'shopping'. :)

It's like being given a free no obligation book voucher...for thousands of dollars of free books..(only with a temporary owning clause).

Hey guys I've read this and would absolutely love to participate in the discussion about it, I'm guessing I'll need to wait awhile until more people have time to read it? Thanks, sorry for my naivete!!

Feel free to start the conversation, just please use the spoiler function.

Okay gotcha... alright I don't want to spoil anyone's experience but it was pretty close to Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae but not exactly up the same alley.

Definitely enjoyable if you liked "Gates," I suppose I'd be talking to myself at this point so I'll hold off until more have read it!!

Good to know! I'm def a fan of .

This will be my first Pressfield book so that sounds promising.

I read this a while ago and it was very good. I may need to read it again!

Hi Kyle,
You are more than welcome to join in the discussions. Absolutely! And that goes for others too.
If others have read the book and want to join in on the discussion please feel free. Come one, come all.
As Dawn says though, please use the spoiler feature (go to group read guidelines for more info on the spoiler feature http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7... if you are not familiar with it), then please mark your spoilers like this...

*******************spoiler Chapter 12**********************

Or another example if you don't remember the chapter but do know where in the book you want to mention. Do this...

************spoiler**do not read unless you've made it halfway******


But really, it is so much easier to hide it all in one of these (view spoiler)[ just to be safe rather than ruin someone's experience with the story (hide spoiler)].

I loved Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae so I'm amped for Virtues of War.

I have even had a quote from this book in my profile quotes for over a year.

I just ordered my copy from half.com. Shipping costs more than the book (which was $1.00) I also ordered

Everyone has said they like it.
There's also a book by Pressfield about Alexander's Afghan campaign, which sounds interesting.

My copy arrived this morning. I flipped through it. Very well written - I think this will be another winner like Killer Of Men.

August is going to be busy. I may just read here and there... Can't wait to read Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae.

I've had my copy on reserve at the library for the ,ast week. It is still showing as 'available' in the catalogue and there are now two of us with resernes on it.
When this happens usual.y it means there is a missing copy. It isn't common for a book not to have been transported to my local library for pick up by now. It usually gets put away ready to send over the same day I reserve it.

This means I'll either have to buy a copy or read it later in the month if the library order a new copy.

Diana,

The Afghan Campaign by Pressfield is GREAT!

M.D. wrote: "Diana,

The Afghan Campaign by Pressfield is GREAT!"

M.D. -

Excellent! I can see my shelves filling up (must start pruning..)

Have sent my library an email to see why Virtues of War hasn't been sent to my local library yet. Hoping it isn't missing and I don't have to buy a copy. :(

Good luck! :)

I have put a copy on hold.

Maybe you'll have more luck than I!

Seems fitting that you read it the same time as me. Seeing as all those years ago here on GR, you and I read Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae together as a buddy read. :)

i will definitely wait until you get your copy to read it. I have the other one out already so will start with that one, after our current BR. :)

Good plan. Then I won't feel so alone if others start before me. :)

I'm having a hard time holding off until it's officially August. LOL

*throws a rope around Crystal and ties her hands and feet together*

:)

I don't know why the feet, by the way, that's just how we rope calves around here so we can brand them. I figure it might also work on humans trying to start Virtues of War too early. :D

i done been hog-tied! :D

Hahaha! :D You stay down!

Bummer. Library rang me in response to my email enquiry. The book is missing. They are putting in an Inter Library Loan request for it and I won't get it for a few weeks. :(

Those starting start of the month can start without me. I'll catch up a couple weeks after.

UPDATE: Library rang again. They have sourced Virtues of War from a library about 2 hours away and I will have next week!
They made a special effort apparently because I told them it was for my book club group read. :D
What nice library people they are.

Lucky you, mine is supposed to be really good when sourcing books for groups too. I love helpful libraries. :)

I've already got mine. It came in a bit faster than I thought it would.

They did seem to jump all over it when I said it was for a book club. is that a policy do you think with libraries?

I said in my email that I needed it by August 1 for a book club read. When they rang me a few hours later to say it was missing they really wanted to help me get this book in time for the book club start date. She even said "if you ask another member to speed read maybe you'd be able to borrow their copy" I gently laughed and said "I wish" and explained it was international book club organised online. She then offered me the ILL option but was disappointed that she wouldn't be able to get it to me in time to start August 1 with the group. That's nice isn't it. :)
Then just before a different lady rang me to say she'd sourced close by for ILL. she then went on to say sort of excitedly.."so we should get it in Monday then we send it to your nearest library and you will have it in time for your book club August 1!".

They were all so sweet. :)

Wow, they are very nice. My ILL's take months.

Have added a video to the group to get us in the mood for the upcoming group read.
See them at the top of the group main page, or go here.
This video is long. 44minutes. I didn't watch it all, only enough to get in the mood for the read. :)
http://www.goodreads.com/videos/27615...

Me, I downloaded the sample and hope he's going to persuade me to purchase the ebook. It's a bit pricey at $10. I too have resolutely not started until official August.

$10 for the ebook. Ouch. That is a bit much. I can buy it new as a book for about that I think.

Glad it's coming, Terri! Worked out well. :)

Now....when will you start yours? lol. I would wsit for you, but, well, being ILL, I won't be able to extend it. It will have to go back before 3 weeks.

I'll probably have mine by early next week so I could do that first.