The Secrets of Ephesus by Izabela Miszczak

In preparation for our upcoming trip to Turkey I've been wanting to read some books about the specific sites that we are visiting.  I've been reading about Turkey for 25+ years, so it's not new territory for me, but I felt like a refresher on these sites would deepen the experience of actually visiting them.

I feel like I've struck a little bit of gold with Ms. Miszczak, a Polish scholar who has written several books about historic sites and regions around Turkey.

I've never seen this book format before, part history and part travel guide for the serious history audience.  It's exactly what I was looking for.

This particular book on Ephesus was a joy, taking me much deeper into the site than I've ever read before.

Looking at our itinerary, I'm sure I will enjoy her other books on Istanbul, Troy and Antalya, at a minimum, before we leave in September.

The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion

I'm winding down my study of ancient Greek religion with this massive "handbook" - word that seems misplaced in a 750 page analysis of 43 chapters - from the venerable Oxford.  It's been interesting, informative, mostly enjoyable, and very thorough.

With the exception of the last section, which discussed the relationship between Greek religion at the center of the Greek world and that of the outlying regions (The Black Sea, Egypt, the Near East, etc.), I've found it quite compelling.

I thought I might continue on with another book or two on the subject, but the thoroughness of this book renders that unnecessary.

My only criticism is that some chapters spent more time talking about the history of the study of a given topic than the history of the topic itself.  I found this off-putting at times.  I don't need to know how scholars were misinformed during the 18th century; I just want to know what scholars believe now, based on the accumulation of research.

Still a great read, all 43 chapters!

And that brings me to my final topic on Classical Greece: Art & Architecture (coming soon)!

Black Echo by Michael Connelly

Loving this detective book!  Not surprising, since we loved watching all of the Bosch TV series which was based on this series by Michael Connelly.

I'm sure I will read more of them over time, whenever I need a break from my study of ancient history.

Greek Religion by Walter Burkert

Widely considered the essential volume on Greek religion, I knew I had to read this.  Originally published in German in 1977, it still stands as the great work on the subject.

Throughout the book I was repeatedly reminded how many similarities there are between ancient Greek religion and modern day Christianity.  Although nothing is exactly the same, many symbols and rituals betray a hidden connection.

Examples include the use of wine, food and incense during rituals; ritual processions of icons of deities through the streets and communities; ritual cleansing; the sacrifice of animals to suffer for the citizenry, just as Jesus sacrificed himself for humanity; and so many more.

I'm reminded of the quote that all religions are essentially different doorways to the same house.

And just as widely divergent religions tell stories of a worldwide flood over millennia, religions over time have evolved in ways that leave traces of the past in their modern versions.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Hmmm.  

I have to say that I was a bit disappointed, at least in comparison to my enjoyment of War & Peace and the subsequent anticipation of Anna Karenina.  That anticipation was also based somewhat on my memory of the 2012 film Anna Karenina with Keira Knightley, which made an impression on me.

The book was fine, but to my mind somewhat akin to a good Jane Austen novel.  The storylines on the Russian social and political scenes set it apart, but they didn't grab me.  

Anyhow, I'm glad I read it.  However, I need to think about whether or not I still want to read the Cambridge Companion to Leo Tolstoy.  

And now I'm a little hesitant to dive deeper into Russian literature beyond Tolstoy, a notion that will undoubtedly fade away in time.

Now on to ancient Greek religion.  

Plus I need to think about what I should be reading in preparation for our trip to Turkey in September, just eight months away.  Very exciting!

Ha! The Science of When We Laugh and Why by Scott Weems

I can't remember how or why I even found this book several months ago, but it was incredibly interesting.

I still don't understand the science behind humor in detail, but that's really the point of the book.  No one does.  Even though humor has been studied by researchers working all around the world, no one totally understands how it works.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that laughter exists to help the brain resolve conflict.  It's a sudden burst of endorphins and pleasure, marking that resolution.

The book brings to life exactly how incredibly complex, powerful and beautiful the human brain is.  

Anyhow, the book served as a much-needed palette cleanse during our trip to Vienna.

Ithaca by Claire North

I'm not quite 2/3 of the way through this book, but feel the need to write a few notes before we head to Paris and Austria this week, for fear I will never remember to do so after our return.

I love this genre of mythological fiction, but Circe, the first I read, is still my favorite so far.

Perhaps I'm too busy right now to fully appreciate Ithaca, but it has been a little bit of a struggle to fully engage with the book.

What I do like is that the story takes place prior to Odysseus' return to Ithaca, about two years before that well-known story takes place.  This is all new ground to me.

What I'm unsure of is whether or not North is making up this story completely on her own, or if it's simply a retelling of a lesser-documented part of Penelope's story.  It makes me nervous to think North is completely making it up on her own.

But another feature I love is its narration by Hera.  In fact she is telling two stories in parallel: That of the human actors on Ithaca, but also the story of Athena and Hera's (and more broadly, the Olympians') involvement with those affairs.  The latter perhaps interests me more than the former.

Anyhow we shall see how the story unfolds.  Regardless, I'm happy to be reading the book and will continue to explore the genre.