Catilina's Riddle
3 journalers for this copy...
Another in Saylor's excellent "Roma Sub Rosa" series of historical novels about Gordianus the Finder (a sort of proto-detective working in ancient Rome), this book's a lot heavier on politics and conspiracies than on the mystery du jour. I admit that politics and conspiracies are not my favorite plot elements, but I did enjoy the way Saylor used them, mixing historical accounts of the strife between Cicero and Catilina with Gordianus' own personal struggles.
In this book, Gordianus has come into a nice little legacy from a friend - a farm well outside of Rome, where he has decided to retire with his wife, adopted son Meto (who's about to turn 16 and take his place as an adult by Roman law), and young daughter Diana. [His oldest son Eco has married, and is now living in Gordianus' former house in Rome; Eco's also adopted Gordianus' profession and is doing some "finding" of his own.]
So far, so good - except that Gordianus isn't really cut out for the tranquil country life, even when it turns out to be not so tranquil. He's approached by a man who claims to be a double agent, working for Cicero while trying to spy out Catilina's plans. He asks a favor from Gordianus, who has reason to be in Cicero's debt; while Gordianus wavers - the favor could put his family at risk - a headless corpse turns up on his little farm, and he suspects he no longer has a choice...
The story touches on a number of things: Meto's struggles to change from boy to man, his father's difficulty in accepting that his little boy is growing up, loyalty to old friends vs. the realization that they may have changed beyond recognition, questions of charisma vs. honesty - and whether what's best for the country matches what's best for one's own family. (There's also an interesting conversation between Gordianus and Catilina that treats more explicitly with romantic and sexual feelings than is usually the case in the Roma Sub Rosa series; whether Catilina is trying to seduce Gordianus or just come to an understanding is left to the reader to decide.)
The elections in Rome form a major sub-plot, and since this is a presidential election day in the US I found it quite timely. Apparently the Roman elections had quite a few things in common with the modern ones, and I found some eerie parallels in the speeches, smear campaigns, and other tactics of the candidates and the powerful folk behind them. [I can only hope that modern elections are a bit less likely to involve bloodshed and overt threats - and also less likely to result in revolution and riot.]
In the end, Gordianus solves his domestic mystery, but it pales next to the story of Catilina and his attempt to shake up the Roman powers-that-be. Without ever being sure whether he was a valiant crusader, a charming rogue, or a potential tyrant - or possibly all of the above - I found myself (as did Gordianus) liking him very much. The book's well-titled, though, and applies both to the riddle that Catilina told and the riddle that he was...
In this book, Gordianus has come into a nice little legacy from a friend - a farm well outside of Rome, where he has decided to retire with his wife, adopted son Meto (who's about to turn 16 and take his place as an adult by Roman law), and young daughter Diana. [His oldest son Eco has married, and is now living in Gordianus' former house in Rome; Eco's also adopted Gordianus' profession and is doing some "finding" of his own.]
So far, so good - except that Gordianus isn't really cut out for the tranquil country life, even when it turns out to be not so tranquil. He's approached by a man who claims to be a double agent, working for Cicero while trying to spy out Catilina's plans. He asks a favor from Gordianus, who has reason to be in Cicero's debt; while Gordianus wavers - the favor could put his family at risk - a headless corpse turns up on his little farm, and he suspects he no longer has a choice...
The story touches on a number of things: Meto's struggles to change from boy to man, his father's difficulty in accepting that his little boy is growing up, loyalty to old friends vs. the realization that they may have changed beyond recognition, questions of charisma vs. honesty - and whether what's best for the country matches what's best for one's own family. (There's also an interesting conversation between Gordianus and Catilina that treats more explicitly with romantic and sexual feelings than is usually the case in the Roma Sub Rosa series; whether Catilina is trying to seduce Gordianus or just come to an understanding is left to the reader to decide.)
The elections in Rome form a major sub-plot, and since this is a presidential election day in the US I found it quite timely. Apparently the Roman elections had quite a few things in common with the modern ones, and I found some eerie parallels in the speeches, smear campaigns, and other tactics of the candidates and the powerful folk behind them. [I can only hope that modern elections are a bit less likely to involve bloodshed and overt threats - and also less likely to result in revolution and riot.]
In the end, Gordianus solves his domestic mystery, but it pales next to the story of Catilina and his attempt to shake up the Roman powers-that-be. Without ever being sure whether he was a valiant crusader, a charming rogue, or a potential tyrant - or possibly all of the above - I found myself (as did Gordianus) liking him very much. The book's well-titled, though, and applies both to the riddle that Catilina told and the riddle that he was...
Journal Entry 2 by 
GoryDetails
at New Searles Elementary School, 39 Shady Lane in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, November 2, 2004
GoryDetails at New Searles Elementary School, 39 Shady Lane in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Released on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 at about 4:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at New Searles School, 39 Shady Lane in Nashua, New Hampshire USA.
RELEASE NOTES:
Since the book includes young Meto's very first opportunity to vote, I thought this would make a good election-day release (although as Meto was disappointed in the results, perhaps it's not the best of omens!). I left the book on one of the benches in between the tennis courts across the street from the school, at about 3:45. [It's inside an official BookCrossing plastic bag to protect it from the weather.]
RELEASE NOTES:
Since the book includes young Meto's very first opportunity to vote, I thought this would make a good election-day release (although as Meto was disappointed in the results, perhaps it's not the best of omens!). I left the book on one of the benches in between the tennis courts across the street from the school, at about 3:45. [It's inside an official BookCrossing plastic bag to protect it from the weather.]
Journal Entry 3 by GoryDetails at Shell Station At Exit 4 in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, November 3, 2004
GoryDetails at Shell Station At Exit 4 in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Released on Wednesday, November 03, 2004 at about 3:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Shell Station at Exit 4 in Nashua, New Hampshire USA.
RELEASE NOTES:
I went by the previous release spot today and found that the book, plastic bag and all, had been pitched - but [hurrah for the plastic bag!] the book was quite unharmed, so I retrieved it and re-released it inside the ATM booth at the Shell station at about 12:45.
RELEASE NOTES:
I went by the previous release spot today and found that the book, plastic bag and all, had been pitched - but [hurrah for the plastic bag!] the book was quite unharmed, so I retrieved it and re-released it inside the ATM booth at the Shell station at about 12:45.
Found this long before I knew what BookCrossing was and didn't know to register it, lost it in my car. Found it this morning. From the other journal entries I see it's been in the trunk for a year and a half. Guess it's time to give it some air.
Journal Entry 5 by thestoren at Burlington Bay Cafe in Burlington, Vermont USA on Friday, May 12, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (5/12/2006 UTC) at Burlington Bay Cafe in Burlington, Vermont USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
As I write this I am still in Nashua NH but will be in Burlington at about that time and plan to release the book there. Hopefully THAT will get it traveled and maybe, just maybe, the person who finds it will note the release here and keep it moving on.
As I write this I am still in Nashua NH but will be in Burlington at about that time and plan to release the book there. Hopefully THAT will get it traveled and maybe, just maybe, the person who finds it will note the release here and keep it moving on.
soo good!
CAUGHT IN BURLINGTON VERMONT USA
CAUGHT IN BURLINGTON VERMONT USA
