BIGGS BOOK
As part of my intercalation year, I have to do a lot more reading than I’
my reading speed considerably. As a result of this, the number of boo
inordinately. I thought I’d review a few of these here for you, just in ca
SPQR by Mary Beard:
I realise I’m a little late to the proverbial party with this one, but I only recently read this absolute
gem and I just can’t recommend it enough. I have to caveat this by saying that I realise not
everyone is into pop history books, and if you aren’t then you’re welcome to skip this one (actually,
pretty much all of these reviews if you aren’t picking up a pattern already). That aside, this book is
a masterclass in writing about history, analysing a key theme of ancient roman history within each
chapter, while still maintaining a sense of the chronological order of events. She makes astute
parallels between the Roman world and subsequent societies and makes a compelling case for
the importance of being aware of Rome’s failures and triumphs (accidental pun there). The
author’s prose is engaging yet succinct, and she paints a beautiful picture of the realities of
Roman life, without becoming bogged down in the intricacies of certain sources.
Verdict: 100% must read for anyone with even a passing interest in ancient history!
The Handmaid’s tale by Margaret Atwood:
I picked this one up at the airport prior to leaving for a long weekend in Amsterdam, and I enjoyed it
so much it almost (almost) overshadowed rest of the holiday. I was already a fan of the dystopian
genre, so you might argue that I was bound to enjoy this book irrespective of its quality, however I
was surprising upon reading the book at how distinct it feels from any other dystopian novel I have
come across. I think this is a result of Margaret Atwood’s refusal to add any aspects of futuristic
devices to the story, making it feel significantly more grounded than the likes of Nineteen Eighty-four
or Brave New World. This sense of reality is combined with a restricted viewpoint on the part of the
narrator, with the reader never being entirely certain of the events leading up to the story’s opening,
or of the overall makeup of Offred’s world. These two aspects combine to make a very relatable
story, and a building tension as the narrative unfolds.
Verdict: the parallels to current world events are unnerving, and the subject matter doesn’t make for a comfortable read.
However, Margaret Atwood writes beautifully and makes the book as much of a joy to read as any book based upon a
future America in which ultra-right wing religious extremists take over, hang doctors and suppress the rights of women to
do anything independently, could be. However, if you are short for time I hear the series of the same name is also a good
watch, though it denies you the sense of superiority at having read the original material.
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande:
Last one now. I kind of cheated a little here because I actually read this book just prior to finals,
but I wanted to review it here because I think it’s a stunning book. Dr. Atul Gawande discusses
the topic of aging, cognitive decline, and the inevitability of death in this thought-provoking and
profoundly moving book. These are topics that I feel everyone should think about, especially
future doctors! I’m obviously not telling you all that you need to read this… but you should,
because it’s great.
Also, it isn’t very long so possibly a purchase for a train journey home or just generally waiting
around for stuff.