Abdullah A.'s Updates en-US Sun, 20 Apr 2025 20:02:33 -0700 60 Abdullah A.'s Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7505199342 Sun, 20 Apr 2025 20:02:33 -0700 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. added 'The Odyssey']]> /review/show/7505199342 The Odyssey by Homer Abdullah A. gave 5 stars to The Odyssey (Paperback) by Homer
]]> Review7497047336 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:22:17 -0700 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. added 'Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic']]> /review/show/7497047336 Rubicon by Tom Holland Abdullah A. gave 5 stars to Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic (Paperback) by Tom Holland
Momentous and stellar. There is no better introduction to Roman History. Tom Holland’s careful and concise weave of the historical record produces a rollicking story. One which carries readers from the ascent of Sulla to the death of Augustus.

I note, however, that this book is necessarily introductory. In attaining its readability and scope, it has had to trade off detail. It is, therefore, a starting point on the history of the Roman Republic. It is perfect for the newbie or dabbler; it may be redundant for the well versed.

If one wishes to magnify the microscope, then it would be worth checking out biographies on the lead characters. Adrian Goldsworthy’s books on Caesar and Augustus, for example. Such books, however, go the other way. Though more detailed, they are also more boring. Fundamentally, it comes down to what the historian aims to achieve by their retelling.

In this book, what Dr Holland has aimed for is very clear. Tell the story of the Roman Republic in as eloquent, erudite, and enjoyable a way as possible. History as epic; history in the vein of Thucydides. And, in that, he has emphatically achieved his purpose.

5 stars. ]]> Review7418966421 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 03:16:00 -0700 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. added 'Metamorphoses']]> /review/show/7418966421 Metamorphoses by Ovid Abdullah A. gave 5 stars to Metamorphoses (Paperback) by Ovid
A monumental masterpiece. ]]> Review7369494773 Sun, 02 Mar 2025 13:42:23 -0800 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. added 'The Last Days of Socrates']]> /review/show/7369494773 The Last Days of Socrates by Plato Abdullah A. gave 5 stars to The Last Days of Socrates (Paperback) by Plato
]]> Rating831835137 Sun, 02 Mar 2025 13:42:08 -0800 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. liked a review]]> /
Abdullah A. liked Kat's review of Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1):
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
]]> Review7339854947 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:31:57 -0800 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. added 'Scalia and Garner's Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges']]> /review/show/7339854947 Scalia and Garner's Making Your Case by Antonin Scalia Abdullah A. gave 5 stars to Scalia and Garner's Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges (Kindle Edition) by Antonin Scalia
An excellent book for advocates, upcoming and extant. ]]> Review7303983961 Sat, 08 Feb 2025 19:47:22 -0800 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. added 'Apology']]> /review/show/7303983961 Apology by Plato Abdullah A. gave 5 stars to Apology (Paperback) by Plato
]]> Review7303983056 Sat, 08 Feb 2025 19:47:03 -0800 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. added 'The Apology of Plato: With Introduction and Notes']]> /review/show/7303983056 The Apology of Plato by St. George Stock Abdullah A. gave 5 stars to The Apology of Plato: With Introduction and Notes (Paperback) by St. George Stock
]]> ReadStatus9044672978 Sat, 08 Feb 2025 19:46:32 -0800 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. has read 'The Apology of Plato: With Introduction and Notes']]> /review/show/7303983056 The Apology of Plato by St. George Stock Abdullah A. has read The Apology of Plato: With Introduction and Notes by St. George Stock
]]> Review7300178973 Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:40:16 -0800 <![CDATA[Abdullah A. added 'Inferno']]> /review/show/7300178973 Inferno by Dante Alighieri Abdullah A. gave 4 stars to Inferno (Kindle Edition) by Dante Alighieri
I have been told that Inferno is the best of Dante’s trilogy. From an aesthetic standpoint, the book is masterfully conceived. The vivid imagery, pithy maxims, and prose quality � excellent. However, even as a classics lover, I must say that long stretches of the book proved tedious. This is on account of the plot, which, like Goethe’s Wilhelm Meister, finds itself understitched and unfurling loosely.

Yes, I get it, this is a poem and not a novel. And, yes, the premise is easy enough to grasp: Dante has a tourist visa for Hell and is being guided through it by the Roman OG Virgil.
Even still, where this book delivers on aesthetics, it lacks in plot development. For that reason, it’s also lacking in fun-factor.

What I mean is, you read Dickens and it’s fun. The story grips you and you’re carried along. You want to keep turning the page. With Dante’s Inferno, you’re drinking in the imagery whilst tailing a meandering and mildly repetitive story. In essence, some Italian (usually) barely known to history has done something wrong and is now writhing in eternal damnation. Yes, there are some fun spots with giants, demons, and talking trees, but I began to tire of hearing of people I cared little for briefly summarising their sins before the visiting pair quickly moved on. It’s beautiful. It’s memorable. It’s dull.

Against the charge, which I have flagged, that it is a poem and not a novel, and thereby need not so concern itself with plot, I would say this. Homer is infinitely more fun to read. The writing is clearer and the story, more directed. Shakespeare is more fun to read, despite the Bard, as Harold Bloom flags, caring little for plot.

Though timeless, I’m glad my time with the Inferno is over.

Aesthetic quality: 10/10
Wisdom: 9/10
Plot and “fun-factor�: 5/10.

Overall: 24/30. (4 out of 5 stars) ]]>