The History Book Club discussion

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the historical fiction discussion of FORTUNE'S FAVORITES
by Colleen McCullough.

Week 12 - Oct 3-9: Final Thoughts

This is the ninth historical fiction group selected book.

We will open up a thread for each week's reading. Please make sure to post in the particular thread dedicated to those specific chapters and page numbers to avoid spoilers if you are catching up.

This book was kicked off on July 18th.

This discussion is being led by assisting moderator for Fortune's Favorites - Vicki Cline.

We always enjoy the participation of all group members. Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other noted on line booksellers do have copies of the book and shipment can be expedited. The book can also be obtained easily at your local library, but this is not available on Kindle or audible.

This thread opens up Monday, Oct. 3 for discussion.

Welcome,

~Vicki

TO ALWAYS SEE ALL WEEKS' THREADS SELECT VIEW ALL

Please feel free to research the complete Table of Contents and Syllabus on this thread:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/5...

Colleen McCullough

While there were a lot of interesting events in this book, I didn't find it as satisfying as the previous two, I guess because there wasn't an overarching theme.

Colleen McCullough dealt with the rise of Marius and Sulla, and
Colleen McCullough was about the fall of Marius and the further rise of Sulla. Sulla continues to dominate the first part of Fortune's Favorites, but overall the book seemed a little disjointed. Caesar and the pirates, Cicero vs. Verres, Pompey vs. Crassus - all great stories but, again, no theme.

I have to agree, Vicki, I didn't find it as riveting or interesting as the other ones. Possibly because Sulla and Marius have left the stage.

Here are some other works of fiction set in this time period.

by Steven Saylor is a collection of short stories about Gordianus. "The White Fawn" deals with Sertorius' fawn.

by Howard Fast is the most famous version of the Spartacus story, and I think it's the one the movie with Kirk Douglas was based on. I don't like his portrayal of Crassus and Cicero, but it's a good story aside from that.

by Lewis Grassic Gibbon (no photo). I haven't read this one yet, but the beginning paragraphs are good.

by Steven Saylor is a Gordianus novel featuring Crassus during the Spartacus war.

I'd love to hear about any others you know of.

Great adds Vicki; I am playing catch up but still love this series. You are doing a great job with it. And I am learning oh so much about the Romans this way.

Yes, Vicki - great job and great suggestions. I was particularly fascinated by the white fawn, so I'll be interested in checking that one out.

I argee that this book wasn't as satisfying. I feel like she wanted her theme to be the different people who felt they were "fortune's favorites." So far the only person who called himself that and didn't end up with egg on his face was Sulla. A few of the characters left at the end remain to be seen . . . but then we mostly know how they end up. Maybe the real theme of the book is the fickleness of fate.

I do have an odd feeling at the end of this one. I feel like an immortal watching everyone I've come to know and care about die, generation after generation, kind of like Anne Rice suggested her characters feel about the passing of the ages in her vampire series. The level of detail Colleen McCullough gives about her characters makes them feel familiar, and after spending so much time with them I feel a little sadness at their passing. Weird?