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adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Can you guess the ending
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pompeii was my possible neurodivergent obsession as a child so this book was somehow nostalgic haha. So spooky and clever - keeps you guessing even though you know how it will all end. Can't wait to read more Harris.
Pompeii retells the history of the volcanic eruption of 79 AD from the viewpoint of an aquarius (a kind of civil engineer overseeing the building and maintenance of aqueducts). Fascinating historical details never overshadow the story as Attilus the aquarius struggles with corrupt politicos, tries to win the reluctant respect of his workers and discover the origin of the sulfur which killed some fish. Part thriller, part disaster story and part historical fiction.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Harris is very good at putting together a compelling, suspens-full narrative. I enjoyed learning more about aquaducts. I basically already knew all the volcanology side of it.
However, this book was full of fatphobia, misogyny, ableism, etc. It could be the characters vision - but there's no indication that the author disagrees with them. That's why I try to avoid reading cis white men as much as I can... And this book was a good reminder that I should keep doing so.
However, this book was full of fatphobia, misogyny, ableism, etc. It could be the characters vision - but there's no indication that the author disagrees with them. That's why I try to avoid reading cis white men as much as I can... And this book was a good reminder that I should keep doing so.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No