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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
OK is as far as I'm prepared to go. The description of the water systems of ancient Rome were fascinating, but there were too many characters to sort out. I was hoping for more Pompeii, but this was more about water and Pompeii felt like a back story.
Brilliant historical fiction focusing on a major event everyone knows about, but from an entirely new perspective. Pompeii gives a little insight into the Roman Empire and the towns surrounding Vesuvius at the time of its eruption, whilst also delivering a thrilling suspense story. It was a very different experience to read a suspense story whilst knowing exactly what was coming. I have read a number of different accounts of the eruption, and the clues in the days leading up to it, but focusing on Roman engineering, the aqueduct and the aquarius was a unique and fascinating perspective. The characters are, at times, a little extreme or caricature-like, but I still found myself invested in the survival and happiness of the main character, Attilius.
I never would have believed that I could become quite so enthralled by the workings of a Roman aqueduct. I enjoyed this hugely - as with all Harris' novels it was well-paced, full of suspense (even though, or maybe because, I was well aware that Vesuvius was about to erupt) and with just enough detail to make it fascinating without destroying the pace. I really liked the characterisation of Pliny the Elder - I read a few bits of his writings at school and I have a whole new respect for him now. Pompeii is now firmly on my list of places to be visited.
adventurous
dark
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It starts slow, builds to a couple great anti-climaxes, and then ends with a whimper as softly and as unassuming as it began. Yet, I liked it, and I sort of can't figure out why.
There's some good plot movement, even if the characters remain as stiff and one dimensional as they first appear, and that helps carry the book. It sort of "Titanics" itself, because you know what's coming at the end; the entire book has various sublots running against the overwhelming backdrop of a heretofore pointed mountain named Vesuvius.
You know what's coming at the end, so it's sort of hard to get TOO involved in all the storylines. While those storylines and subplots are pretty standard, and don't deviate much from the general devices you'd expect to see, Pompeii had me moderately invested and gave me a good ride. I wasn't sucked in as much as I might have been to something by Dan Brown or other authors who put together historical fiction, but I still read the whole thing in 2 weeks, so it couldn't have been that bad, right?
There's some good plot movement, even if the characters remain as stiff and one dimensional as they first appear, and that helps carry the book. It sort of "Titanics" itself, because you know what's coming at the end; the entire book has various sublots running against the overwhelming backdrop of a heretofore pointed mountain named Vesuvius.
You know what's coming at the end, so it's sort of hard to get TOO involved in all the storylines. While those storylines and subplots are pretty standard, and don't deviate much from the general devices you'd expect to see, Pompeii had me moderately invested and gave me a good ride. I wasn't sucked in as much as I might have been to something by Dan Brown or other authors who put together historical fiction, but I still read the whole thing in 2 weeks, so it couldn't have been that bad, right?
Very informative and written in a way that keeps you entertained. I enjoyed it.
fast-paced
A little slow for the first half, but worth it to me to read about how the eruption proceeded.
I visited the ruins of Pompeii this summer and was completely fascinated by the entire phenomenon. So when my tour guide recommended this book, I knew I had to read it. Robert Harris does a fantastic job of mixing fiction and reality as he tells the story of Pompeii in the four days preceding and during the eruption of Vesuvius. The characters are very enjoyable, the action is believable, and the tension is palpable. An excellent read!
