Books I'm Reading with Martha : Cleopatra

I am thrilled to announce along with Martha Stewart her book selection on the Sony Reader this month, "Cleopatra: A Life" by Stacy Schiff. I am especially intrigued with this selection because of the time that I spent in the Middle East and Egypt while studying abroad in college.

While diving into this book, I am already learning tons about Cleopatra. I find it interesting that most of what is perceived of her today is really made-up stuff exaggeratedly added in by classic authors and movie directors over the years. Did you know that there are only coin portraits left that can authentically verify what she really looked like? I also had no idea that Cleopatra was in fact Greek, which makes her just about as Egyptian as Elizabeth Taylor! This quote from the book sums up to me Cleopatra so far...

"A goddess as a child, a queen at eighteen, a celebrity soon thereafter, she was an object of speculation and veneration, gossip and legend, even in her own time."

This is a fascinating read. Join in with us in reading this insightful book, and be sure to tweet with the hashtag #booksimreading. What about you... are you interested in Cleopatra, history and the Egyptian Empire?

(photos by blackeiffel - taken in Egypt)