Rather weak historical fiction, October 14, 2014This review is from: Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore: A Novel (Paperback)Somewhere between a 2.5 and a 3 *A very light read, chronicling the life of Empress Theodora of Byzantine, from her childhood as an actress/ dancer, soon propelled into prostitution; her rise in fortune as the mistress of a politician in Libya; her religious conversion in the desert and return to Constantinople...the book finishes with the commencement of her reign as consort to Justinian.Now I quite like historical fiction, but somehow this didn't work for me. I accept Ms Duffy's note that this is a novel and bits are fictionalized, but that's not the issue. I just found Theodora very 'flat' and unbelievable. The dialogue is terribly 21st century ("Nothing escapes you, does it, big guy?" Theodora smiled...So you'll see this is the seal of the Patriarch of Alexandria. And yes, I am a day late, and no doubt I'll get a b****cking for it." ')Events don't seem quite logical (the 'conversion' of which much is made is swiftly followed with our heroine back in the city, sleeping with men and women.)It reminded me somewhat of Jean Plaidy's books - but not as good.I've certainly learned something about the Byzantine royals, but don't feel motivated to read the sequel. Sadly, the title is the best part of this novel. Why the author even bothered to include "Empress" is beyond me, since the book ends as Theodora is crowned. What?!?! Even if the author is planning a sequel, that's a terrible idea to stop the book there. That was the part of her life I most wanted to read about.The book is written terribly. TERRIBLY! At times I felt like I was reading a Wikipedia entry rather than a novel. Apparently no one ever told Duffy that a writer should show, not tell. Instead of showing me how Theodora loved someone or how she was witty or kind or whatever, Duffy told me. Ugh. Every once in a while the book would stop summarizing the plot and actually have a scene between characters. Those scenes were, for the most part, lacking in believability. The language Duffy chose to have the characters speak was jarring and off-putting. I have no problem with swearing, I do it all the time, but the characters spoke as if they lived in 2014, not 530. Just....no, stop it.Even though the style of the novel consisted of the author summarizing life events of Theodora, she did a half-assed job of actually explaining what was going on at that time. I know very little about the early church or the end of the Roman Empire and was hoping to learn more. Nope. Luckily Professor Google was able to fill me in on major historical points Duffy chose to gloss over or flat out ignore.Really, I have to hand it to the author - she managed to write a historical novel that teaches the reader very little about the period at hand, she managed to create unpleasant & vague characters and she managed to do it all in a style of that of a college freshman pulling an all nighter. I can never get back the time I wasted reading this book.
What do You think about Theodora Actress, Empress, Whore (2011)?
This was pretty good. Sometimes confusing but well written. Reminded me of my Greek history.
—Juveria
Fascinating trip back into a world of dancers, actors, holy men and harlots.
—charan
