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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Robert Harris tells a fictional story woven around the factual Vesuvius volcanic eruption in 79 AD, which destroyed the once prosperous Pompeii. The details of the events that unfolded following the eruption was fascinating and terrifying. Unlike other volcanoes,Vesuvius was completely dormant and suddenly erupted catching everyone unawares. Looking at the images of people mummified by the volcanic ash gives a new perspective of how bad this had been.
It was surprising how some managed to survive the nature's wrath. One survivor was Pliny's nephew who chronicled the eye witness account with great details.
The engineering marvel of the aqueducts was well described.
The only problem with the book was the half-baked relationship between Attilus and Corelia. The motivation for him to rush back to Pompeii to save Corelia didn't make sense.
I thank the author for presenting this historical story in this format, which I would otherwise have not read if it was a non-fiction.
It was surprising how some managed to survive the nature's wrath. One survivor was Pliny's nephew who chronicled the eye witness account with great details.
The engineering marvel of the aqueducts was well described.
The only problem with the book was the half-baked relationship between Attilus and Corelia. The motivation for him to rush back to Pompeii to save Corelia didn't make sense.
I thank the author for presenting this historical story in this format, which I would otherwise have not read if it was a non-fiction.
I read this book a few years ago, but now I'm reading it again. It's so good!
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It is 79AD, the height of a hot summer and the Romans have settled into Pompeii and the surrounding areas for their holidays.
The aquarius, the man responsible for ensuring that the aquaducts are working, has disappeared. Attilius, a young engineer is called in to take over, but something has gone very wrong with the water supply. They will need to move ever closer to Mount Vesuvius to find out what is wrong, but the problem is worse than they could ever have imagined.
This is an interesting take on the famous eruption, which destroyed entire cities, and a great look at what life was like in ancient Roman times.
I see a lot of reviews saying that writing from a perspective of a water engineer was boring, but I didn't find it so. In fact, when I was in Pompeii, I was fascinated to see the old water pipes and flabbergasted at just how advanced these people were.
This is a story that will never cease to fascinate me, and it is conveyed so compellingly in this novel, with the history and the drama all rolled together.
The aquarius, the man responsible for ensuring that the aquaducts are working, has disappeared. Attilius, a young engineer is called in to take over, but something has gone very wrong with the water supply. They will need to move ever closer to Mount Vesuvius to find out what is wrong, but the problem is worse than they could ever have imagined.
This is an interesting take on the famous eruption, which destroyed entire cities, and a great look at what life was like in ancient Roman times.
I see a lot of reviews saying that writing from a perspective of a water engineer was boring, but I didn't find it so. In fact, when I was in Pompeii, I was fascinated to see the old water pipes and flabbergasted at just how advanced these people were.
This is a story that will never cease to fascinate me, and it is conveyed so compellingly in this novel, with the history and the drama all rolled together.
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Good overall, but sometimes an excess of details made for difficult reading.
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
kind of interesting, quick read, but the main storyline- about water- was just kind of absurd. The entire time I was reading I was thinking to myself "don't worry, it won't matter in a day!" and I feel that really ruined my enjoyment of the story. I think if it had just been a "slice of life" type narrative, I could have liked it better. Like, "here are all these people, going about their business" and then boom! Volcano. I know you need a plot to back up the action, but it just felt absurd, knowing that in a short while the freaking volcano is going to explode and it. won't. matter.
Discipline. Leadership. These are common traits associated with the empire that led the Mediterranean world for 1,000 years.
However, these are not the traits of this novel's Roman protagonist, Attilius. An engineer in command of an important portion of the Aqua Augusta (the most complex aqueduct in Rome), he is a leader that continually fails to exercise his command. For example, consider this interaction with the should-have-been-executed antagonist, Corax:
"And if, by any remote chance, we can't make the repairs in twelve hours," said Corax sarcastically "what then?"
. . .
It occurred to Atillius that the overseer, in his bitterness, might even try to sabotage the entire mission. . . He [Atillius] smiled. "So don't try to screw me around."
Is this annoyance supposed to be comic relief? When a leader becomes concerned about a disobedient subordinate, action is necessary; especially if the mission's success is in jeopardy! Alas, the exquisite descriptions of the aqueduct engineering is indeed overshadowed by such egregiousness.
However, these are not the traits of this novel's Roman protagonist, Attilius. An engineer in command of an important portion of the Aqua Augusta (the most complex aqueduct in Rome), he is a leader that continually fails to exercise his command. For example, consider this interaction with the should-have-been-executed antagonist, Corax:
"And if, by any remote chance, we can't make the repairs in twelve hours," said Corax sarcastically "what then?"
. . .
It occurred to Atillius that the overseer, in his bitterness, might even try to sabotage the entire mission. . . He [Atillius] smiled. "So don't try to screw me around."
Is this annoyance supposed to be comic relief? When a leader becomes concerned about a disobedient subordinate, action is necessary; especially if the mission's success is in jeopardy! Alas, the exquisite descriptions of the aqueduct engineering is indeed overshadowed by such egregiousness.
adventurous
challenging
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated