« previous next »
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27   Go Down

Author Topic: Mary Renault Book Discussion  (Read 81207 times)

Offline Front-Ranger

  • BetterMost Moderator
  • The BetterMost 10,000 Post Club
  • *****
  • Posts: 30,330
  • Brokeback got us good.
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #30 on: January 01, 2007, 03:10:26 pm »
For my first Mary Renault book, can you recommend one? I'd love to read and discuss. Shall we have a poll?
Logged
"chewing gum and duct tape"

injest

  • Guest
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #31 on: January 01, 2007, 03:31:06 pm »
The Last of the Wine!!  ;)

or you can do a poll; I had thought that reading them in the order of the dates of the novels would be best...and if you did that The King Must Die would be the first...

in order by the dates of the events in each

The King Must Die - Theseus
The Bull From the Sea - a continuation of The King Must die
The Praise Singer - Aristigieton and Harmodias
The Last of the Wine - Socrates and the Spartan war
The Mask of Apollo - Plato
Fire From Heaven - Alexander the Great's childhood to ascension
The Persian Boy - Alexander's reign
Funeral Games - events immediately following his death

and she has a novel set during World War 1 "The Charioteer"
Logged

Offline Jeff Wrangler

  • BetterMost Supporter!
  • The BetterMost 10,000 Post Club
  • *****
  • Posts: 31,187
  • "He somebody you cowboy'd with?"
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #32 on: January 01, 2007, 04:01:22 pm »
Quote from: injest on January 01, 2007, 03:31:06 pm
The Last of the Wine!!  ;)

or you can do a poll; I had thought that reading them in the order of the dates of the novels would be best...and if you did that The King Must Die would be the first...

in order by the dates of the events in each

The King Must Die - Theseus
The Bull From the Sea - a continuation of The King Must die
The Praise Singer - Aristigieton and Harmodias
The Last of the Wine - Socrates and the Spartan war
The Mask of Apollo - Plato
Fire From Heaven - Alexander the Great's childhood to ascension
The Persian Boy - Alexander's reign
Funeral Games - events immediately following his death

and she has a novel set during World War 1 "The Charioteer"

Tell you what, as fond as I am of The King Must Die, I'm going to second Jess's recommendation for The Last of the Wine.  :)
Logged
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

injest

  • Guest
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #33 on: January 01, 2007, 04:14:12 pm »
It is a very special story isn't it? that scene in the mountains when Alexis has run away from home and the old priest shows him the statue in the temple....

brings me to tears to think of it...and so true...there is no name for that pain in our language but we all recognise it..
Logged

Offline Jeff Wrangler

  • BetterMost Supporter!
  • The BetterMost 10,000 Post Club
  • *****
  • Posts: 31,187
  • "He somebody you cowboy'd with?"
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #34 on: January 01, 2007, 04:55:29 pm »
Quote from: injest on January 01, 2007, 04:14:12 pm
It is a very special story isn't it? that scene in the mountains when Alexis has run away from home and the old priest shows him the statue in the temple....

brings me to tears to think of it...and so true...there is no name for that pain in our language but we all recognise it..

Indeed. And no intent to be a smart-aleck, but thinking of The Last of Wine reminds me of: "Can't please my old man no how."
Logged
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

injest

  • Guest
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #35 on: January 01, 2007, 06:39:22 pm »
LOL!!

That line where he was saying he couldn't wait to introduce Lysis to his father "Here was one thing of mine with which he would find no fault"
Logged

injest

  • Guest
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #36 on: January 01, 2007, 06:43:40 pm »
There are SO many great scenes in that book...the more I think about it...

Lee how long will it take you to get a copy and read it??!! LOL!!

the scene where Lysis sees Alexis for the first time...
the one where Alexis runs into Socrates while fleeing a suitor..
oh! the one where Socrates faces down Kritos...*whew*

I love in all her books how she casually drops in figures from all the tales like in this book she has Agathon...
Logged

Offline Kerry

  • BetterMost Supporter!
  • BetterMost Moderator
  • BetterMost 5000+ Posts Club
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,076
  • ^ In pursuit of Captain Moonlite - 5 Sept 2009
    • Google Profile
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #37 on: January 01, 2007, 10:07:15 pm »
Quote from: Front-Ranger on January 01, 2007, 03:10:26 pm
For my first Mary Renault book, can you recommend one? I'd love to read and discuss. Shall we have a poll?

A big thank you to Injest for creating this wonderful new thread. I first discovered Mary Renault some 30 years ago and have read many of her books over the years. However, having said that, it has been some years since last I did so (except for "The Persian Boy," which I re-read often - it's my favourite). I'm going to have to dust off my old editions, in order to keep-up with y'all erudite Renault scholars! I have a feeling there'll be lots of fun to be had in the process - sharing with you guys. Thank you again, Injest.

Kerry

P.S., Front-Ranger, if you've not read Renault before, I suggest you start with "The Persian Boy." It can happily be read out of sequence. Alternatively, you could read the entire Alexander trilogy in sequence.
Logged
γνῶθι σεαυτόν

injest

  • Guest
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #38 on: January 01, 2007, 10:20:54 pm »
The Persian Boy was my first one too...we have developed a passion for used book stores...and D can spot a gay novel at twenty paces!  :laugh:

I am trying to get all hard backs of her books...and my pride and joy are four first editions!

no you can't go wrong with any of her books...The Persian Boy and The Last of the Wine have so many layers and such depth....

we really Do have to settle on a particular one and work our way down...

Lee since you are the newest and haven't read any...tell us which you want to do first!
Logged

Offline Kerry

  • BetterMost Supporter!
  • BetterMost Moderator
  • BetterMost 5000+ Posts Club
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,076
  • ^ In pursuit of Captain Moonlite - 5 Sept 2009
    • Google Profile
Re: Mary Renault Book Discussion
« Reply #39 on: January 01, 2007, 11:52:51 pm »
Quote from: injest on January 01, 2007, 10:20:54 pm
I am trying to get all hard backs of her books...and my pride and joy are four first editions!

 :o  Wow! Four first editions! You ARE serious! LOL  :laugh:

Kerry   :)
Logged
γνῶθι σεαυτόν
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27   Go Up
« previous next »