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a blog about a novel about Aristotle's daughter ~ by Annabel Lyon
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Advance praise
The harsh light of the classical world is prone to bleach away all humanity and leave only the bare outline of myth. Not so in Annabel Lyon's The Golden Mean, in which Aristotle is haunted by agonies of the flesh and spirit, and Alexander, his most famous pupil, struggles to be Olympian despite a murderous nature and merely human powers. We witness their brilliance emerging through their pain and ignorance.
--Zachary Mason, author of The Lost Books of the Odyssey
Few writers would dare to employ Aristotle as their narrator but Annabel Lyon has done exactly this in her extraodinary novel The Golden Mean. In thoughtful and controlled prose that never fails to grip, Lyon presents an unexpected portrait of the young Alexander the Great, a fascinating recreation of Plato's Academy and brings the ancient world back to life with a splendour I haven't seen since I, Claudius. A triumph of erudition and story-telling.
--John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Lyon's singular gifts for description, character development, and plotting are on full display here, informing her unique and creative story. The novel is deep and rich in thought and accomplishment, yet it reads with the calming ease and influence of a cool summer breeze.
--Quill and Quire starred review
I absolutely loved The Golden Mean. Annabel Lyon brings the philosophers and warriors, artists and whores, princes and slaves of ancient Macedonia alive, with warmth, wit and poignancy. Impeccably researched and brilliantly told, this novel is utterly convincing.
--Marie Phillips, author of Gods Behaving Badly
The Golden Mean, so full of intellect, is a pleasure to read. If excellence is our standard, then this novel will certainly flourish.
--David Bergen, Giller-winning author of The Retreat and The Time In Between
--Fred Stenson, author of The Great Karoo
--Zachary Mason, author of The Lost Books of the Odyssey
Few writers would dare to employ Aristotle as their narrator but Annabel Lyon has done exactly this in her extraodinary novel The Golden Mean. In thoughtful and controlled prose that never fails to grip, Lyon presents an unexpected portrait of the young Alexander the Great, a fascinating recreation of Plato's Academy and brings the ancient world back to life with a splendour I haven't seen since I, Claudius. A triumph of erudition and story-telling.
--John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Lyon's singular gifts for description, character development, and plotting are on full display here, informing her unique and creative story. The novel is deep and rich in thought and accomplishment, yet it reads with the calming ease and influence of a cool summer breeze.
--Quill and Quire starred review
I absolutely loved The Golden Mean. Annabel Lyon brings the philosophers and warriors, artists and whores, princes and slaves of ancient Macedonia alive, with warmth, wit and poignancy. Impeccably researched and brilliantly told, this novel is utterly convincing.
--Marie Phillips, author of Gods Behaving Badly
The Golden Mean, so full of intellect, is a pleasure to read. If excellence is our standard, then this novel will certainly flourish.
--David Bergen, Giller-winning author of The Retreat and The Time In Between
An exhilarating book, both brilliant and profound. Annabel Lyon’s spare, fluid, utterly convincing prose pulls us headlong into Aristotle’s original mind. Only Lyon’s great-hearted intelligence could have imagined and achieved the brave ambition of this book. Vital, ferocious and true, The Golden Mean is an oracular vision of the past made present.
--Marina Endicott, author of Good to a Fault
In Lyon’s clever hands, more than two thousand years of difference are made to disappear and Aristotle feels as real and accessible as the man next door. With this powerful, readable act of the imagination, Annabel Lyon proves that she can go anywhere it pleases her to go.
--Fred Stenson, author of The Great Karoo
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Followers
Quote of the Day
"The more lonely and isolated I am, the more I have come to love myths." attributed to Aristotle toward the end of his life in Demetrius, De Elocutione 144 (frag. 668, Rose)
12 comments:
A stunning book!
Pure poetry. A vivid description of Macedonia, its beauty, its military prowess and its innate roughness.
A picture of a time. A portrait of Aristotle and his relationship with King Philip of Macedon and the young Alexander the Great.
Julian Porter
Thanks, Julian! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
This is such good news - wishing you & your book a long and happy life together.
Thanks, Sara!
Congratulations Annabel! I'm looking forward to reading your book, I'm getting a copy today.
We got some good pictures from the shoot. You'll see one in the upcoming VR and I can send you a selection if you're interested.
Congratulations, Annabel.
I saw the interview today on BCTV. I am dying to buy the book.
@Janet - Where are you getting your copy? I looked online at chapters and it's a 2-3 week order.
Thanks, Janet - I'm dying to see the picture! I'll be in touch -
Annabel
Millar, thank you - I do hope you'll enjoy the novel. Not sure about the on-line, but Chapters on Robson had copies in-store a couple of days ago.
Annabel,
Saw your photo in the Globe and Mail for the Giller longlist. Congratulations!
I look forward to reading your book. I'll see if I can buy it this weekend (I'm living in Toronto now, so maybe I'll find it?). Besides, I'm a fan of Aristotle and the golden mean...
Best wishes,
Dhavide Aruliah
Dhavide, it's great to hear from you! Hope all is well with you and the family. Hope you'll like the book.
@miller—I found a copy at
Pulp Fiction on Main Street.
2422 Main Street
604.876.4311
pulpbook@telus.net
They can order in a copy. It takes one to two days.
When I checked at Chapters on line they had copies in the store at the Broadway and Granville branch and at Robson and Howe.
Thank you, janbax! People's Co-op Bookstore on the Drive should have a few signed copies too (leftover from yesterday at WOTS).
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