A Splendid Reading Book
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"Reading Greek" is part of the JACT series of books dealing with the Ancient Greek language/s.
Before going any further, I feel I ought to point out that I have not yet purchased any of the other JACT books. I chose this one because I wanted to practise my reading within in a guided format, and also because the owl on the front cover is so utterly charming.
The intention behind this book is for the student to work through the accompanying volumes in the series. Without them, this book will not be much use. However, if you have already studied the main nuts and bolts of the Ancient Greek language (Attic dialect) elsewhere, it will prove to be most rewarding. Having worked my way through the "Greek to GCSE" books by John Taylor, I was able to start reading immediately.
The quality of this publication is very high - the paper is superb, while the font or typeface is definitely clear, reassuringly large at the beginning of the book.
It starts off with stories relating a ship voyage, using only the present tense (active). Other writings from the world of Plato and Euripides follow, and the grammar becomes more complex, as does the authenticity of the language. There is even some Homer at the end.
There are dashes and lines to connect the various inflected words and articles, which must be a welcoming sight for learners who view declensions with a mixture of fear and resentment, and perhaps a little suspicion. Similarly, there are vocabulary blocks within each section, as well as text in English providing a brief background. Finally, the relevant links in the accompanying volumes are made in this book.
Overall, I enjoy using this book. The only minor niggles for me are the abundant repetition of key words / phrases at the beginning (but it is for learners, I suppose) and the implied expense of having to buy all the other books to make the whole picture come together. I especially appreciate the guided tour it gives, enabling the solitary learner to improve his or her reading skills.
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