Visions and Longings: Medieval Women Mystics edited by Monica Furlong (nonfiction 1996)

Wonderful compilation with intelligent commentary.

The Grammar of God by Aviya Kushner (nonfiction 2015)

Amazing book about a woman who grew up reading the Bible in Hebrew and discussing it with her family.  She later takes a class about the Bible in English and is struck by similarities and differences in translations.  The book is almost a memoir, almost a linguistic analysis, all super neat.

The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard (nonfiction 2008)

All the gold stars.  Ms. Beard is my favorite classical historian because she's skeptical.  She's an expert on Pompeii and I think people should read this book before they go.  When she does go off on an analytical flight of fancy, she provides plenty of evidence to think about.

The Pope's Daughter by Dario Fo (historical fiction 2014)

This award-winning book by a theater guy about Lucrezia Borgia suffers from choppiness that may be a result of the translation, but it's a lot of fun.  It really tries to see the real girl behind all the crazy stories.

A New History of Early Christianity by Charles Freeman (nonfiction 2009)

Really great stuff, scholarly and accessible.  This is interesting.

A.D. 33 by Ted Dekker (Christian historical fiction 2015)

A.D. 30 was better, as this book suffers from a little bit of maudlin goofiness.  But it's still better than pretty much all Christian historical fiction out there. 

Still Waters by Marilyn Todd (A High Priestess Iliona Ancient Greek Mystery) (historical mystery 2010)

Ms. Todd really packs in the historical details and fleshes out the characters.  I can't say much more to recommend an historical mystery.  A few awkward phrases did nothing to take away from the fun.

And Sometimes I Wonder About You by Walter Mosley (mystery 2015)

Mosley is one of my absolute favorite living authors even though he can be uneven.  This is not one of those cases.  The story had me from the first, and I thought I figured it out.  But I did not.  Suspense, violence, beauty and love, all the hallmarks of the greatest Mosley.

Born Bad: Original Sin and the Making of the Western World by James Boyce (nonfiction 2015)

Insightful survey of the doctrine of original sin, all the way from St. Paul's and Augustine's mistakes down to Dawkins.  It really made me think about how much of our thought is underpinned by this notion.

Death in Florence: The Medici, Savonarola, and the Battle for the Soul of a Renaissance City by Paul Strathern (nonfiction 2015)

While I've certainly read a lot about these people and this period, Strathern puts it all together in an effective narrative. 

Deadly Election by Lindsey Davis (historical fiction mytery 2015)

Excellent romp, great fun.  I like this third book in the series very much.  The mystery is great and the character development this time around is central.

The Field of Swords, A Novel of Julius Caesar by Conn Iggulden (historical fiction 2005)

Really first-rate masculine violent historical fiction.  Mr. Iggulden does have a great resource in Caesar's own histories.  I enjoyed this book very much.

Neither Here nor There by Bill Bryson (travel memoir 1993)

I read this based on more than one recommendation.  People said it was really funny, but it wasn't good for me until the very end.  It was a lot of complaining.

King John and the Road to the Magna Carta by Stephen Church (nonfiction 2015)

I always love those Angevins.  Here is an interesting read about King John.  Church tries to see John's life from John's own perspective, because of course John did not go through his days thinking he would end up a big old failure.

Hannibal - A Hellenistic Life by Eve MacDonald (nonfiction 2015)

Fairly successful attempt at understanding Hannibal as a Carthaginian, a Hellenistic general who lived only 100 years after Alexander.  Our view of him is so largely shaped by the Romans, his mortal enemies, and the author tries to sidestep or augment that as much as possible with a more nuanced portrait.

Rome's Revolution: Death of the Republic & Birth of the Empire by Richard Alston (nonfiction 2015)

Alston truly convinced me it was a revolution.  He focuses a harsh light on the brutality of the triumvirate, particularly Octavian's, that in my opinion is often missing from portraits of Augustus.   Fascinating political analysis.

Thomas Cromwell by Tracy Borman (nonfiction 2014)

Ever since Mantel's fictional rehabilitation of Cromwell, I've been waiting for the nonfiction followup, and this is it.  Finally a truly nuanced study of the man, his life and actions, and his relationship with Henry, all deeply rooted in primary material.  Fascinating and necessary.

Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore by Walter Mosley (fiction 2014)

Really good novel.  A few paragraphs gave me the heart racing chills. 

Wars of the Roses: Margaret of Anjou by Conn Iggulden (historical fiction 2015)

I've read a lot about these conflicts, and this is a good effort.  A few times, I was not quite convinced that Iggulden was getting a medieval state of mind, but this is a fast-paced, well-researched book.

The Jewish Lives of the Apostle Paul by John G. Gager (nonfiction 2015)

Interesting and important survey of Jewish thought about Paul.  Lots of insight into how and why Judeo Christians have characterized him the way we have.

Strong as Death is Love by Robert Alter (nonfiction 2015)

This translation of The Song of Songs, Ruth, Esther, Jonah and Daniel with commentary is part of Alter's great project to translate the Bible.  I loved it.

Isabella: The Warrior Queen by Kristin Downey (nonfiction 2014)

Isabella is always interesting because she made the world conform to her, not the other way around.  She was religious and yet fiercely warlike, and had an unprecedented ability to use both of these qualities.  This book goes deep into her military exploits using beautiful descriptions of her iconography.

Finished Business, A Marcus Corvinus Mystery by David Wishart (historical mystery 2014)

While I enjoy the various characters, the city, and the political intrigue, Wishart almost ruins the whole thing with too many dumb jokes.  The plot is rather byzantine (if you'll forgive me) in this mystery and Gaius (Caligula) even makes a personal appearance. A reader would have to be very very familiar with Julio Claudian bloodlines and contemporary politics to get some of the clues to the murder mystery, but it was an exciting read.

Iron & Rust - Book I of Throne of the Caesars by Harry Sidebottom (historical fiction 2014)

Sidebottom is consistently wonderful, loved this book and looking forward to the sequels.  I didn't know much about Maximinus Thrax, and Sidebottom's characterization is just tops.  He actually seemed like a real  person.

Coming out Christian in the Roman World: How the Followers of Jesus Made a Place in Caesar's Empire by Douglas Boin (nonfiction 2015)

So good, so necessary.  Those interested in the Empire and in the early Christians have all heard the accepted narrative, and all need to read this book.  Boin's fresh perspective is backed up by a deep understanding of archaeology.

Inheritance of Power: The House of Medici by Edward Charles (historical fiction 2013)

Oh, well.  I tried four or five times.  It was just too silly to read through.

Esther, Royal Beauty by Angela Hunt (historical fiction 2015)

I was wary, given the silly claptrap that "Biblical" historical fiction can be.  But this book was surprisingly good, with an effective structure that alternated chapters and characters' voices.

The Fateful Day by Rosemary Rowe (historical mystery 2014)

I really like this series even for mystery lovers who aren't into the Roman world.  It's fast-paced, funny and full of great details about life.

A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain by Marc Morris (nonfiction 2009)

Edward was an amazing man, very long-lived as well as long-limbed.  This book follows the ins and outs of his adventurous and global life, and it does a great job of connecting the threads of his experiences throughout time.  Highly recommended especially for the attempt to put Edward's more notorious acts in the context of the times.

The Middle Ages by Johannes Fried (nonfiction 2015)

Mr. Fried is obviously a very learned person.  This is a giant book that kept me reading many times when I was supposed to be doing something else.  It covers military, social and political history but my favorite parts are about transmission of ancient thought through the Middle Ages.  Mr. Fried has convinced me that these times were not "dark," that in fact the foundation was laid then for who we are today.

The Woman who Would be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt by Kara Cooney (nonfiction 2014)

Ms. Cooney takes an exciting and interesting approach to telling Hatshepsut's story.  Since the queen is so far in the ancient past and many of her monuments were destroyed, the author takes care to spell out when she is riffing off the evidence, which she does throughout the book.  I thought it was pretty effective.

The May Bride by Suzannah Dunn (historical fiction 2014)

Pretty good stuff about Jane Seymour's late teens.  Dunn takes on a story with thin evidence and turns it into a believable narrative.

Rubicon - The Last Years of the Roman Republic by Tom Holland (nonfiction 2003)

I enjoyed this book - I've always loved reading about Julius Caesar and Augustus, and it had something new (to me) to offer.  His analysis of the Roman "mindset" of the times is fascinating.

Funeral Games by Mary Renault (historical fiction 1981)

It's about what happened among Alexander's generals and relatives once he died.  It's so good, go get it.  The details are lovely.

The Great Fire of Rome: The Fall of the Emperor Nero and his City by Stephen Dando-Collins (nonfiction 2010)

This is a really interesting analysis of Nero's entire reign and the famous events that shaped it.  Having been studying this very subject for 15 years, I learned a lot.  The discussion of the informing crisis after the Piso Plot was great.  Very exciting prose, though deeply learned.

Palace of Darkness by Tracy L. Higley (historical fiction 2014)

This is supposed to be about the lives of the first Christians, set in Petra in about 104 AD.  Some parts of it are interesting, but the story overall is lacking.  The struggle between the powers of good and evil were never so dumb, evil queen gnashing her teeth and all.  I didn't finish it.

The French Executioner by CC Humphreys (historical fiction 2014)

An Anne Boleyn cameo, evil Italian churchmen, cross dressing, an opium-smoking alchemist, a pet raven, a sea battle, the Palio in Siena, romance, and more.  This book is crazy, silly and super fun.

A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker (historical fiction 2014)

Many times, historical fiction with a Christian message can be pretty silly, and this book has its moments.  But it also has really interesting depictions of life in Arabia, Jerusalem and Palestine, and a pretty plucky heroine.  It looks forward to a sequel and I would probably pick it up, especially because the next bit will necessarily involve the Romans more.

The Romans and their World: A Short Introduction by Brian Campbell (nonfiction 2011)

Five stars.  For an overview, Mr. Campbell gives us a beautiful narrative.  And he's great at picking out details that explain his more general conclusions. 

Blood in the Arena: The Spectacle of Roman Power by Alison Futrell (nonfiction 1997)

This book is for people who already know a lot about the Romans, and want to understand them better.  It is well-researched and carefully argued, and I loved it for what it taught me about Augustus.

The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, the Power behind Five English Thrones by Thomas Asbridge (nonfiction 2014)

Humanity was lucky enough that someone found the only copy of Guillaime de Mareschal's biography, and this book uses that and other sources to reconstruct Marshal's long and amazing life.  It's a great read especially for non-fiction, even if you know nothing about the Angevin Empire.

The Battle that Stopped Rome - Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the Legions in the Teutoberg Forest by Peter S. Wells (nonfiction 2003)

I've read and enjoyed Wells' The Barbarians Speak, and this one is very exciting too.  While there isn't much new or different in the part about Augustus, the sections on Varus and Arminius are wonderful.  The reconstruction of what happened at the battle based on the extensive evidence is absolutely gripping, horrifying, amazing.

The Zealot by Simon Scarrow (historical fiction 2006)

Overall Scarrow writes a pretty good yarn, and it's fun to tramp through a different landscape with Macro and Cato this time.

The Roman Guide to Slave Management: A Treatise by Nobleman Marcus Sidonius Falx by Jerry Toner (nonfiction 2014)

Sometimes when authors try to summarize thousands of years' and millions of people's experiences, it gets muddy, but this is really good.  The format of the book sees Toner take on a persona of a Roman nobleman, then give analysis in his own voice at the end of each chapter.  It works because the explanations do explain without being long-winded, and Toner gives references to multiple primary sources.

Attila: The Barbarian King who Challenged Rome by John Man (nonfiction 2006)

Engrossing study of the times and the land that knew Attila.  Long aside about shooting arrows astride horses and the technical aspects of the Hunnic bow, nice for military information.

Legionary: The Roman Soldier's Unofficial Manual by Philip Matyszak (nonfiction 2009)

Full of illustrations, takes pains to identify changes over time in many aspects of the army.  Ruined by too many stupid jokes.