While Babylonia is based on ancient histories very little is truly known about Semiramis’s life and reign. What do you think of the way the author filled in the gaps, and how she depicted her heroine and those around her?
I think the author did a very good job. There was obviously a lot of research of the time and places. The way it was “filled in” seemed quite real.
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I think the author did an excellent job. I feel like I really know Semiramis. She was an extremely intelligent, and brave woman.
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I felt that the author did an excellent job of creating a character who was consistent with what we actually do know about the time period and the location in which Semiramis lived. She really brought the character to life in a believable way.
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The author found a relatively unknown woman from a little known historical period and wove a compelling and cohesive story of her life and the times in which she lived. Semiramis was a woman who defied the expectations of her time period and, somehow, was able to achieve fame and power. Until she showed her abilities as a leader in battle, no one really seemed to treat her as an intelligent, capable human being.
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I felt like I came to know her. Documentation for any daily life in this time period was scarce, so I’m amazed at the seamless weaving of fact and “fiction” supplied throughout the book. Great read!
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I think the author did an amazing job writing this book. I had never heard of Semiramis. Her writing made me want to know more about her.
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I think the author did a terrific job of imagining what Semiramis’s life would have been like. Her portrayal of Semiramis’s life both in the village and later in the royal court ring true and are full of compelling detail. And her use of quotes and plot material from the ancient epics adds depth to her portrayal.
The authors perspective on female historical figures is enlightening. While history can minimize the place and treatment of women in seminal events, writing from a female perspective is enlightening and provides such a unique perspective on events.
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I thought her additions were about as close as one can get without an actual history to work from. I felt she filled in the gaps quite realistically.
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I thought the author did a remarkable job of seamlessly weaving in her ideas among the known facts. I felt I knew what life was like with the comprehensive descriptions of the food, clothing, decorations, and daily life. It made all of my senses feel I knew the world. I was impressed she was able to do this with so little known information.
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I think the author made Semiramis real and interesting. I was disappointed by her lack of morality regarding Ninus, but otherwise I liked her character. She struggled with fitting into the royal crowd, and with the brutality of the Assyrian people, and I think these traits made her compassionate and relatable.
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