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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Inspired by true events, Far Away Bird delves into the complex mind of Byzantine Empress Theodora. This intimate account deftly follows her rise from actress-prostitute in Constantinople's red-light district to the throne of the Byzantine Empire.
Her salacious past has left historians blushing and uncomfortable. Tales of her shamelessness have survived for centuries, and yet her accomplishments as an empress are unparalleled. Theodora goes on to influence sweeping reforms that result in some of the first ever Western laws granting women freedom and protection. More than a millennium before the women's rights movement, Theodora, alone, took on the world's greatest superpower and succeeded. Far Away Bird goes where history classrooms fear to tread in hopes that Theodora can finally take her seat among the greatest women in history.
Theodora seems impossible--yet her transcendence teaches us that society can't tell us who we are deep down. Before there was a legendary empress, there was a conflicted young woman from the lower classes.
Review:
I was really interested in Far Away Bird, by Douglas A. Burton, because it was centered around an historical figure I knew little about, Theadora of Byzantine. This book concerns her early life (she later became an Empress). Although it was brutal to read, I thought it gave some deep insights into the lives of women living in the 6th century.
What I Liked:
Setting:I knew nothing of Constantinople going into this book, nor of what life was like for women in the sixth century. But the author's vivid descriptions brought this time to life. The sights, sounds, clothing, and food of the city paint a picture of a thriving place with wealthy Romans living blocks away from people in dire poverty.
Characters:
Theodora begins the story as a precocious young teen who's life changes drastically when her father dies. At first, I had a tough time understanding Theodora's reactions to her situation. But as the story continues, we see a deeply drawn character trying to cope with a life-altering incident.
I also liked that Theodora was a survivor. She was strong for others, even when faced with awful, humiliating situations.
I also liked one of the other female characters Macedonia. She showed Theodora an alternate way to gain control of her life. But she also accepted others as they were. Her mentorship of Theodora was wonderful to read about.
Justinian was a Roman soldier who Theodora meets again and again in the story. He is one of the few men who sees her as a person, and not just a sexual plaything. His characters seemed a little too good to be true. But then the author surprised me by throwing in several moments where he makes some questionable decisions. Can Theodora respect him when he can harm others without much thought? Or is he trying to make the best of several terrible choices?
Story:
While not getting too much into what actually happens (I do not want to get all spoiler-y on you), I valued the progression of Theodora's life. She goes from having much, to having nothing, and then to rebuilding her world.
The story shows what few choices women had in that time period. If you're not born into a wealthy family, don't lose your family's patriarch! If you do, your doomed to a life of prostitution, or hard labor.
The author didn't sugar-coat that life at all. He showed just how violent, and de-humanizing that life was. It was difficult to read, at times, because it was so brutal. But I think it painted a realistic portrait of what a challenging life that would be.
Effects of Rape:
This is one of the few books I have ever read that delves deep into the psychological harm that rape inflicts. Theodora doesn't just have some bad memories of what happened. She has some serious damage to her self-worth. The book shows how women cope with such trauma through self-medicating, and even promiscuity. All of it is an attempt to try and regain some control of your destiny, after having zero control during the rape. This made me cry several times in the book. But I hope people who read about this will come away with a better understanding of the life-long consequences of being raped has on a person.
What I Was Mixed About:
Violence:There's no way to get around how violent rape is. I would not want the author to skim over what happens. That would be a disservice to anyone who has experienced this firsthand. But, it was difficult to read about something so vicious.
Sexual Content:
I was mixed about the sexual content in the book. Of course there will be sex in a book about a notorious prostitute. But the author goes out of his way to vividly describe sexual situations that included orgies and bestiality. I didn't need to read about that!
Trigger Warning for Rape & Violence
Rating:
Release Date: February 6, 2020
Author: Douglas A. Burton
Publisher: Silent Music Press
Page Length: 394 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendations: Although the extreme violence was hard to get past, the outcome is a book with deep insights into the difficult lives of women in the 6th century Byzantine Empire.
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