Special Book Review (No. 5)

Special Book Review Number 5

Title: The Masks of God (4-book series)

Author: Joseph Campbell

Summary: The four-volume magnum opus was Campbell's most comprehensive attempt to lay out his theories of the history of myth and religion. Published between 1959 and 1968, Campbell's The Masks of God covers mythology from around the world, from ancient to modern. Where The Hero with a Thousand Faces focused on the commonality of mythology (the "elementary ideas"), the Masks of God series focuses upon historical and cultural variations the monomyth takes on (the "folk ideas"). Where The Hero with a Thousand Faces draws perhaps more from psychology, the Masks of God series draws more from archaeology and history.

Breakdown of Info: 4/5 stars

Diversity of Opinion: 4/5 stars

Minimum Bias: 4/5 stars

Use of Research: 5/5 stars

Overall: 17/20 stars

Goodreads Rating: 4/5 stars

Review: Joseph Campbell's The Masks of God series was a fantastic series. It really balances out his work The Hero with a Thousand Faces. I had a couple of issues with the series, mostly with how slow certain parts of each book felt. Additionally, there were also a couple of parts and phrases where it felt like Campbell was judging Eastern mythology from a Western perspective, which bothered me a bit. However, this only happened a couple of times throughout all 4 books, so it wasn't a major issue for me. (And considering the time when Campbell wrote this, although I don't agree with Campbell's analyses, it's understandable.) While you don't need to read each book in the order they were written and are in the series, I do recommend giving these books a read.

For the specific reviews of each book, refer to the following Instagram posts:

1. Primitive Mythology review
2. Oriental Mythology review
3. Occidental Mythology review
4. Creative Mythology review

Special Book Review (No. 5)

Special Book Review Number 5

Title: The Masks of God (4 book series)

Author: Joseph Campbell

Summary: Written between 1962 and 1968, Campbell's 4-volume work The Masks of God covers mythology from around the world, from ancient to modern. Where The Hero with a Thousand Faces focused on the commonality of mythology (the "elementary ideas"), The Masks of God series focuses upon historical and cultural variations the monomyth takes on the "folk ideas."

Dates Read: March 28 to July 2, 2021

Breakdown of Info: 4/5 stars

Diversity of Opinion: 4/5 stars

Minimum Bias: 4/5 stars

Use of Research: 5/5 stars

Overall: 17/20 stars

Review: Joseph Campbell is a fantastic writer and mythologist, and these 4 books show his dedication to the craft. While there were a few parts that definitely felt dated (and are dated), The Masks of God, however, is the only book series that take such a detailed, comprehensive look at mythology as a whole and in all of its forms. I definitely recommend giving these books a read. What makes it better is that, while they do act as a series and build upon each other, it's not necessary to read them in order. Additionally, it's not necessary to read every single book.

See the individual reviews at the following links:

1. Primitive Mythology review
2. Oriental Mythology review
3. Occidental Mythology review
4. Creative Mythology review

Special Book Review (No. 4)

Special Book Review Number 4

Title: The Fountains of Silence

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Summary: Madrid, 1957. Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain under the welcoming promise of sunshine and wine. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, the son of an oil tycoon, who arrives in Madrid with his parents hoping to connect with the country of his mother's birth through the lens of his camera. Photography - and fate - introduce him to Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War - as well as chilling definitions of fortune and fear. Daniel's photographs leave him with uncomfortable questions amidst shadows of danger. He is backed into a corner of difficult decisions to protect those he loves. Lives and hearts collide, revealing an incredibly dark side to the sunny Spanish city.

Dates Read: May 6 - June 13, 2021

Storyline: 5/5 stars

Characters: 5/5 stars

Setting: 5/5 stars

Overall: 15/15 stars

Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars

Review: Just another book to add to the list of books that have my heart and soul. I had heard quite a bit about The Fountains of Silence, along with Sepetys' other books, on booktube from some of the videos I had watched. Most of these booktubers absolutely praised the book and Ruta Sepetys' writing. I 100% agree with the praise they gave this book. The Fountains of Silence is so beautifully intricate and detailed while being exquisitely simple as well. I loved the storyline, all the POVs we get, and the entire premise of the book. As I've mentioned here quite a few times here on my blog, historical fiction is flooded with WWII settings. The Fountains of Silence was a wonderful break from seeing all the WWII historical fiction books. 1957 Spain and Franco's dictatorship is such an interesting setting to use for a novel, and Sepetys incorporates it so well. I definitely agree with many booktuber's opinions of the book, and I highly recommend it as a read.

My Thoughts on Mary Beard's SPQR After Reading and Taking Notes on It

Last reading dates: May 3-17, 2018

Most recent reading dates: March 18 - May 18, 2021

Rating: 5/5 stars

Updated Review: I definitely enjoyed this book way more during this second time reading it. I picked up on a lot of things that I didn't quite remember from my last time reading it. I also picked up on a lot of points that I missed during my first read of the book. A lot of this was due to taking notes on SPQR while I read it this time around,  Beard really did a good job in focusing on as much as she could in the book. However, she also admitted that it is virtually impossible to truly focus on every single detail of Rome's history due to its vastness. I truly applaud Mary Beard in getting all the information she did on Rome within a 536-page book (606 pages including further reading, a timeline, acknowledgements, a list of illustrations, and an index).

An image of my copy of Mary Beard's
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

So what are my general thoughts after re-reading Mary Beard's SPQR and taking notes on it? I definitely think that it benefitted me in the long run. Will I remember all of the information that's in the book? Probably not off the top of my head. But that's why I took notes on it.

But, for me at least, here's why the re-read and note-taking was beneficial:

1. It gave me more to think about when I take in information about Rome. It also gave me something to contemplate when someone says or refers to "Rome," because it can honestly mean so much.
2. I learned the really fun fact that Cicero and Catiline had a debate on my birthday in 63 BCE. This is a piece of information I missed in my first read. So now I can just blurt this out randomly.
3. I can easily refer to my thoughts on the book if and when needed.

Special Book Review (No. 3)

Special Book Review Number 3

Title: The History of England (5 book series)

Author: Peter Ackroyd

Summary: Over the course of 5 books, Peter Ackroyd discusses England's history from its earliest beginnings to Queen Victoria. Covering wars, the Tudors, revolution, and empire, Ackroyd explains in depth the history of a island nation at the northwestern edge of the European landmass.

Dates Read: Jan. 1 to March 1, 2021

Breakdown of Info: 4/5 stars

Diversity of Opinion: 4/5 stars

Minimum Bias: 5/5 stars

Use of Research: 5/5 stars

Overall: 18/20 stars

Review: When I first picked up this series, I initially picked up the 2nd one, not realizing it was the 2nd book in a 5 part series. I finished it, realized it said "Book 2," and then found the first and third books in the series on Goodreads. And in January of this year, I found out that this was a 5 book series. I wasn't disappointed or freaked out by this knowledge, just happily surprised. This was a fun, informative series on the history of England. Each book focused on a different segment of English history, and the books were appropriately placed to focus on the different time periods of England's long presence on the historical stage. You don't necessarily need to read all of these books - if you just want to read one or two, that works fine. These 5 books act perfectly fine as stand-alone reads, and you don't necessarily need to read them in order (although reading them in order definitely helps with understanding the chronology). Although Ancient Egypt will always have my heart, England definitely holds a place and soft spot in my heart. These 5 books definitely enriched my understanding of England's complex history and its place in the world.

See the individual reviews at the following links:

• Foundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors Review
• Tudors: The History of England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I Review
• Rebellion: The History of England from James I to the Glorious Revolution Review
• Revolution Review
• Dominion: The History of England from the Battle of Waterloo to Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Review

Special Book Review: Series Overview

Say hello to a brand new series here on my blog!

In this series, I will be reviewing books that have had (or need to have) a special impact on society. These book reviews will be exclusively on my blog - i.e., these reviews won't be showing up over on my Bookstagram.

These reviews will be similarly set up to my Bookstagram: my own review breakdown (20 stars total), Goodreads rating (5 stars total), and Goodreads review. However, there will be two main differences; I will be including the dates read, and the review portion will be more detailed here on my blog. Reviews (my actual thoughts on the book) will have quite a bit more details about what I liked and didn't like. (See below for the overview of how these reviews will look.)

I hope you enjoy this series!

Title:

Author:

Summary:

Dates Read: 

Breakdown of Info: 5/5 stars

Diversity of Opinion: 5/5 stars

Minimum Bias: 5/5 stars

Use of Research: 5/5 stars

Overall: 20/20 stars

Goodreads Rating: 5/5 stars

Review:

Note: The above star ratings are just part of the example. They are likely to change depending on the book being reviewed.