Antonia~ Books I took on my Honeymoon
Choosing a selection of books when going on holiday can be a daunting task. Our bookseller Jane said she would always take the books she had been meaning to read but kept putting them off so that she had no choice but to finish them. So with this in mind, I chose one book I had been meaning to read and one I could not wait to read.
The first book was ‘The Neanderthals Rediscovered- How a Scientific Revolution is Rewriting Their Story’ by Dimitra Papagianni and Michael A Morse. When I saw this book was to be published I was ecstatic. Many years ago I attended an Anthropology lecture on the Homo Naledi discoveries of the Rising Star Cave. This inspired me to become more curious about the origins of the human species. However, as an Archaeologist focusing on Roman Britain this interest in early humankind became more of a hobby than a specialism. In recent times this has become a very neglected hobby, with a bit of reading regarding discoveries here and there. So when I saw this book I knew I had to take the time to read it and taking Jane’s advice I packed it for my holiday. Following their initial discovery 150 years ago, Papagianni and Morse help the reader to understand what the archaeological record is at this time suggesting in a theoretical framework. This is the perfect read for those wanting to understand this area of research, with a clear structure for the reader to follow the story of the Neanderthals from discoveries made on sites all around the world. The use of imagery and drawings throughout further helps the reader to picture these individuals and the sites they were found on (although as described the sites look very different from how they would have been when occupied by the Neanderthals). I would highly recommend reading this book as this exciting area of research reflects on how through our DNA today, Neanderthals are still with us.
The second book I decided to bring with me was Elektra by Jennifer Saint.. I really enjoyed Ariadne, Saint’s first book, so I could not wait to read her latest when it hit our shelves. If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially that set in Ancient Greece, then look no further. Saint’s work follows the female narrative of Clytemnestra, Cassandra, and Elektra in the classic ancient tale of the Trojan War. Immersive, exciting, and heartbreaking would be the words I would use for this novel. Every page will move the reader as these women all suffer as a direct result of the injustice of the Trojan War. If you are unaware of the story of the Trojan War I would highly recommend reading the works of Homer such as the Iliad and the Odyssey, which I have linked. Brilliantly translated by E. V. Rieu.
What books have you taken/ are about to take on holiday this year? Or have you read these books? Let us know by leaving a comment below.