Caesars' Wives by Annelise Freisenbruch (nonfiction)

This book helped me finally understand the imperial family trees, which are pretty complicated.  This is an effort to get at the imperial ladies' real lives beyond the wild rumors and official inscriptions and statues.

Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire (DVD by The History Channel)

The eminent historians who took part in this series have really good observations to share, but the first two volumes of the DVD suffer from the very close focus on war and martial exploits.  While I agree that the army is a very important, perhaps the most important, element of the Empire's rise and fall, there is little discussion and less recreation of anything but battles.  Unfortunately there is a lot of footage used over and over again to illustrate different conflicts, and that can be distracting.  There isn't much footage of art and architecture, which would surely help illuminate the conclusions this series is making.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (nonfiction)

This has to be one of the most delightful true crime novels out there.  Many times you forget that this stuff actually happened, it is so charming and lighthearted in its racism, murder and violence.  Highly recommend this book.

Master and God by Lindsey Davis (historical fiction)

Sappy romance + detailed history = love.  The author gave a sensitive rendering of Domitian's descent into murderous paranoia.  The book had elements of comedy, tragedy and a fun love story between a hairdressing imperial freedwoman and a Praetorian guard.

The Crown by Nancy Billyeau (historical fiction)

I enjoyed this book set during Henry VIII's reign because it is just a really good novel.  All the historical details of setting, characters, and plot are simply part of the story, and the story happens to be gripping.  This book could have been classified as a mystery.

The Philosopher Prince by Paul Waters (historical fiction)

Since I enjoy this author and couldn't find the first book in the series, Cast Not the Day, I went ahead and jumped in to The Philosopher Prince.  Apparently Mr. Waters uses bisexual characters often, but I didn't think he handled it as well here as he did in The Republic of Vengeance.  Some of the love scenes between the two main characters were sappy.  On the other hand, I thought the book as a whole was very good, and gave a welcome new twist to characterizations of Julian "the Apostate."

Two Whole Cakes by Lesley Kinzel (nonfiction)

This short book about fat acceptance speaks against dieting and self-hatred, both of which can be much worse for your health than being fat.  I found it powerful and empowering.  The author is particularly good at making you feel her pain.  You also feel her joyous breakthrough after great resistance to the culture of fat self-hatred.

The Spartacus War by Barry Strauss (nonfiction)

This book was some of the best nonfiction I've ever read in terms of an exciting narrative that brings a new understanding of the topic to the reader.  Strauss achieves this by organizing the book chronologically and explaining with each new section how much we know from contemporary accounts, later ancient sources, and archaeological sources.  He's very clear exactly when he goes into what could have happened in the context of what is known. 

Saladin by Anne-Marie Edde (nonfiction)

This is a hefty tome, full of learned research and exciting exploits.  I've read quite a bit about the Third Crusade, but didn't know a thing about it from Saladin's perspective.  I learned a lot, and then Edde bogged me down in a lot of analysis of rather esoteric subjects, especially in later chapters like "The Gaze of the Other" and "Between Image and Reality."  I enjoyed the book very much until the author became wordy, and even repeated herself.

Queen of the Conqueror: The Life of Matilda, Wife of William I by Tracy Borman (nonfiction)

An intense read for nonfiction, absolutely fascinating.  Five stars.  Matilda was the first crowned Queen of England, as other ladies had been only wives of kings, and the author is able to trace Matilda's movements based on charters she witnessed, mostly for land grants.  Also mentioned were several other powerful ladies of the time, and I will have fun looking them up and reading other books by Ms. Borman.

The Great Epochs of European Art (DVD by Kultur)

This is a series of videos, and I watched The Art of the Ancient Greeks and the Art of the Romans.  I liked it because there are moments when you can enjoy looking at the beautiful things in silence.  The narration is learned, although I suspect the translation from German suffers a bit.  The Greek section showed some lovely graceful statues that had been discovered underwater within the last 60 years.

Queen without a Crown by Fiona Buckley (historical fiction)

The book takes place during the time that Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in England. This Ursula Blanchard mystery at Queen Elizabeth I's court mentions queens to set the mood, but Elizabeth shows up just a little and Mary not at all. I wasn't disappointed with the action or the author's obviously deep scholarship (while her protagonist an upper class woman, she provides detail about other social strata and life at the time), but I knew who did the murder as soon as that perpetrator appeared, which is a letdown in a mystery in my opinion.  I may try another of this series, but if the same thing happens again, won't give it a third chance.