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Title: The Fall of the Roman Empire
Price: $1.99
Author: Peter Heather (historian)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Genre: Nonfiction – History

Publisher’s Summary:

The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Rome generated its own nemesis. Centuries of imperialism turned the neighbors it called barbarians into an enemy capable of dismantling the Empire that had dominated their lives for so long. Heather is a leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians.

Conclusion: Probably Not

I wasn’t aware that the fall of the Roman Empire was considered a “mystery” per se; there were obviously a lot of factors involved and we know of most of them, it’s pretty much a debate about which mattered more and when and whatnot…isn’t it? At least, that was my understanding. Not to mention that the fall of the Western Roman Empire actually gave way to the Byzantine Empire, which was basically a direct continuation, but this book isn’t talking about that particular entity’s failure, which didn’t happen until 1453. (Of course I don’t remember this off the top of my head. Wikipedia’s back, remember?)

Anyway, I assume that the author knows more than the summary-writer, but I’m disinclined to pick this up as I haven’t had as much reading time lately and I still have a lot on my to-read list.

Just FYI, Kindle Daily Deals may be spotty for a bit. We’re getting a dog this evening (Wednesday) and I anticipate taking her for a short walk in the mornings, during the time I would normally do my Daily Deal write-up. I expect I’ll figure out when to get that done as time passes on, but for the next week I might not be so good about doing them.

Don’t worry, I’ll share puppy photos instead!

Title: The Architecture of the Arkansas Ozarks
Price: $0.99
Author: Donald Harington (Farther Along, Butterfly Weed)
Publisher: Amazon Encore
Genre: Fiction – Comedy

Publisher’s Summary:

Jacob and Noah Ingledew trudge 600 miles from their native Tennessee to found Stay More, a small town nestled in a narrow valley that winds among the Arkansas Ozarks and into the reader’s imagination. The Ingledew saga – which follows six generations of ‘Stay Morons’ through 140 years of abundant living and prodigal loving – is the heart of Harington’s jubilant, picaresque novel. Praised as one of the year’s ten best novels by the American Library Association when first published, this tale continues to captivate readers with its winning fusion of lyricism and comedy.

Conclusion: Not Buying

At first glance, I thought, “wtf?” My enjoyment of architecture, at least at this stage in my life, is limited to “ooh- look at the pretty house.” And then I fantasize about living in that home. At no stage of my life have I ever been interested in Arkansas, though, or fantasized about living there. So I figured, no way.

Then I did my due diligence: the book is a comedic/satirical novel.

Unfortunately it doesn’t really sound that funny. Let’s face it; “Stay Morons” isn’t that funny a joke, and you can split the customer reviews based on how enamored the reviewer seems with it. One reviewer actually compares the author to Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez (from whom the author apparently got the idea, thanks to Marquez’s 100 Years of Solitude).

However I also read that the book came out in the 70s and I feel like if it was that good, it would have more than 19 reviews, and maybe someone I knew would have actually recommended it. (And hey, if you can, let me know!) I’d take a chance if it sounded more up my alley in general, but as is, I don’t think so.

(Interesting side note: most comedy books seem to be nonfiction these days, don’t they? Mostly essay/column/Tweet collections. Hm.)