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shanaqui's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
First things first: as a physical object, Caroline Vout's Exposed: The Greek and Roman Body is beautifully done. There's lots of images included, arranged around the text in a usually sensible manner, and in colour. (I generally don't ever look at the glossy included pages in books, in part because I wouldn't retain any impression of the image while reading as I don't have any kind of "mind's eye", so this worked especially well for me.) It's really well presented in sections that make good sense.
In terms of the written content, I found most of it surprisingly familiar. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprise: I've read plenty about the Greeks and Romans, if not directly about their bodies and their perceptions of their own bodies, and I did study classics up to A Level. But still, I'd kind of expected more surprises, e.g. around attitudes to disability... There were some titbits that were new to me, but mostly it wasn't.
Which doesn't mean it wasn't a good summary: I found it an enjoyable read, and as I said, very well presented. Sometimes it felt like it was a little less in-depth than I'd like, and I didn't (personally) hit that level of "huh, interesting!" that made me want to go and tell my wife about it, which is my real marker for interesting non-fiction, but it makes for a pretty good overview and summary, and is likely more surprising to people who've done less reading on related topics.
In terms of the written content, I found most of it surprisingly familiar. Perhaps I shouldn't be surprise: I've read plenty about the Greeks and Romans, if not directly about their bodies and their perceptions of their own bodies, and I did study classics up to A Level. But still, I'd kind of expected more surprises, e.g. around attitudes to disability... There were some titbits that were new to me, but mostly it wasn't.
Which doesn't mean it wasn't a good summary: I found it an enjoyable read, and as I said, very well presented. Sometimes it felt like it was a little less in-depth than I'd like, and I didn't (personally) hit that level of "huh, interesting!" that made me want to go and tell my wife about it, which is my real marker for interesting non-fiction, but it makes for a pretty good overview and summary, and is likely more surprising to people who've done less reading on related topics.
mallaeuswastaken's review
2.0
This should have been up my alley but I felt like I was retaining absolutely zero information from it.
izzie_wizz's review
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
Overall a very good and enjoyable read! The book is well organised and researched, but I often felt like I was missing something and had to reread - however, this is likely due to its broad subject matter and role as a 'whistlestop' tour overview!
historic_chronicles's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
When we consider the Greek or Roman body, one would most likely immediately turn to the idea of perfection itself often depicted in the cool and classical form of a marble statue such as The Apollo Belvedere.
However, the author thinks of Greco-Roman bodies in a completely refreshing and unique perspective. In Exposed, Vout discusses the body in all varieties: some are soft and full of flesh, perhaps even to be deemed "ugly". Others are to be looked upon with awe as they reach their maximum potential through events like the Olympic Games. While at the other end of the spectrum there are those who are seen as the undesirables; the disabled or the slaves.
Vout writes at one point: "For every fifth-century Athenian pot that shows an older man courting a beautiful youth, there is another showing someone throwing up, urinating, shitting" and I think that draws the point across that there is much more to this subject and the author tackles it with an undaunted spirit that echoes across the pages.
Exposed is intricately plotted, incredibly engaging and with meticulous attention to detail which has made this book one of the most interesting reads of this year. The use of parallels between the ancient and contemporary world is excellently captured and emphasises that this is a subject that is still very much relevant to the present day.
Many thanks to @profile.books for sending me a copy of this beautiful book to review.
However, the author thinks of Greco-Roman bodies in a completely refreshing and unique perspective. In Exposed, Vout discusses the body in all varieties: some are soft and full of flesh, perhaps even to be deemed "ugly". Others are to be looked upon with awe as they reach their maximum potential through events like the Olympic Games. While at the other end of the spectrum there are those who are seen as the undesirables; the disabled or the slaves.
Vout writes at one point: "For every fifth-century Athenian pot that shows an older man courting a beautiful youth, there is another showing someone throwing up, urinating, shitting" and I think that draws the point across that there is much more to this subject and the author tackles it with an undaunted spirit that echoes across the pages.
Exposed is intricately plotted, incredibly engaging and with meticulous attention to detail which has made this book one of the most interesting reads of this year. The use of parallels between the ancient and contemporary world is excellently captured and emphasises that this is a subject that is still very much relevant to the present day.
Many thanks to @profile.books for sending me a copy of this beautiful book to review.
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