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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
This was obviously garbage, but I throughly enjoyed it. It was weird reading a mystery novel about an actual historical event. I knew what was going to happen but surprisingly I still got really involved and into the intrigue.
I actually found I was more caught up in the volcano mystery (Why does the water taste like sulphur? Is everybody going to die? Spoiler alert: this book is called POMPEII you figure it out) than I was about the secondary character mystery invented by the author. Maybe because I knew that the outcome didn't matter, because regardless of what the bad guys did they were all going to get buried under millions of tonnes of pumice and/or be boiled in their skins, I just never got very invested in finding out what the bad guys had actually done.
Overall, an excellent choice if you've got a pool or a beach to lounge by or if, like me, your period is hurting you so much you're unable to move and you need some gentle trash to soothe the trauma. Or if you just like historical adventure books, whatever.
I actually found I was more caught up in the volcano mystery (Why does the water taste like sulphur? Is everybody going to die? Spoiler alert: this book is called POMPEII you figure it out) than I was about the secondary character mystery invented by the author. Maybe because I knew that the outcome didn't matter, because regardless of what the bad guys did they were all going to get buried under millions of tonnes of pumice and/or be boiled in their skins, I just never got very invested in finding out what the bad guys had actually done.
Overall, an excellent choice if you've got a pool or a beach to lounge by or if, like me, your period is hurting you so much you're unable to move and you need some gentle trash to soothe the trauma. Or if you just like historical adventure books, whatever.
A fast moving (and one presumes semi-accurate) account of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79BCE. Harris brings the Roman world to life, although with a slavish (teehee) adherence to the stereotypes of the era.
The description of the aqueducts was particularly enjoyable and serves as a clear testament to Rome's excellency in engineering and infrastructure.
Highly enjoyable, even moreso if you have an interest in Roman history.
The description of the aqueducts was particularly enjoyable and serves as a clear testament to Rome's excellency in engineering and infrastructure.
Highly enjoyable, even moreso if you have an interest in Roman history.
The best thing abt this book is that it sparks interest in the history of Ancient Rome and history in general.
As for the plot and characters, I think the book is rather straightforward and predictable.
As for the plot and characters, I think the book is rather straightforward and predictable.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
I am a great fan of Robert Harris’ books. Enigma is one of the best books I have read, and Archangel is a phenomenal high-paced thriller. So I eagerly picked up this latest offering from my Mt TBR and was not disappointed.
The book follows the life of the main character, Marcus Attilus, aquarius for the area surrounding Pompeii and the bay of Naples, in the two days immediately prior to, the day of, and the two days following the eruption of Vesuvius. The aquarius was in charge of the aqueduct system providing the much-needed water required to support the Roman empire, and when the Aqua Augusta, the world’s greatest aquaduct fails, Attilus has to set out on a mission to keep the water flowing.
Which all sounds very dry (no pun intended). However, set against the backdrop of the rumbling volcano, and with a wealth of larger-than-life characters that are superbly written, one soon gets sucked into the narrative. Attilus’ predecessor has gone missing, there is scandal and intrigue at the highest levels of local government, secrets are unearthed and someone wants the aquarius dead. All of which add to the fantastic plot and provide plenty of twists and turns to the text. Each chapter is prefixed with a small excerpt from a volcano text explaining in scientific detail what is happening beneath Vesiuvius which adds another extra dimension to the story.
This really is another great Harris novel and one which I would heartily recommend.
The book follows the life of the main character, Marcus Attilus, aquarius for the area surrounding Pompeii and the bay of Naples, in the two days immediately prior to, the day of, and the two days following the eruption of Vesuvius. The aquarius was in charge of the aqueduct system providing the much-needed water required to support the Roman empire, and when the Aqua Augusta, the world’s greatest aquaduct fails, Attilus has to set out on a mission to keep the water flowing.
Which all sounds very dry (no pun intended). However, set against the backdrop of the rumbling volcano, and with a wealth of larger-than-life characters that are superbly written, one soon gets sucked into the narrative. Attilus’ predecessor has gone missing, there is scandal and intrigue at the highest levels of local government, secrets are unearthed and someone wants the aquarius dead. All of which add to the fantastic plot and provide plenty of twists and turns to the text. Each chapter is prefixed with a small excerpt from a volcano text explaining in scientific detail what is happening beneath Vesiuvius which adds another extra dimension to the story.
This really is another great Harris novel and one which I would heartily recommend.
Harris's story of Pompeii is a metaphor for a much larger event - the fall of Rome. The ending was appropriately ambivalent, new, hesitant life rising out of a tableau of ash.
That said, I didn't enjoy it. Ratings are my prerogative, right?
That said, I didn't enjoy it. Ratings are my prerogative, right?
It was better than okay, but I don't know if I "liked" it. Every time I pick up historical fiction novels, they read so formulaic. Is it me? Is it the books I'm choosing? Not sure. I haven't completely given up on the genre yet. Any way, I'm interested in the 79A.D. eruption of Vesuvius so the book definitely held my attention in that regard. It was well written, and I did have some investment in the characters, but the plot was predictable.
An fantastic and fascinating read! While you know that the eruption of Vesuvius is going to happen, and it has elements central to the plot, it is really a story about people and it was well worth the time.
This is an amazingly researched book about Pompeii and it's surrounding cities, set two days before the famous eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The protagonist is engineer Attilius, newly in charge of the Aqua Augusta (the aqueduct that brings water to the landlocked cities in the Bay of Naples). I can't remember the figures but this aqueduct was remarkably efficient and kept something like hundreds of thousands of people hydrated over miles and miles of dry earth. I never thought I could be so fascinated by aqueducts, but somehow Robert Harris intertwines facts and flowing narrative so well that I couldn't help but be impressed.
I had never heard of Robert Harris before I found this book at a used book sale but I'm glad I ended up buying it. I've always wanted to go to Europe, especially to Rome and Pompeii, so that's what caught my eye. Everyone knows what happened in Pompeii but I had never really thought about what it would've been like to actually be in it. The book is divided into sections for each day leading up to the eruption. By the time I got to the day of the explosion I was on the edge of my seat and could not put this book down. The best part of it (aside from a really great story about Attilius and the people he encounters) is that I've come away from this feeling a little bit more educated on volcanoes, the city of Pompeii, and Roman technology without even trying. So that's a plus.
I had never heard of Robert Harris before I found this book at a used book sale but I'm glad I ended up buying it. I've always wanted to go to Europe, especially to Rome and Pompeii, so that's what caught my eye. Everyone knows what happened in Pompeii but I had never really thought about what it would've been like to actually be in it. The book is divided into sections for each day leading up to the eruption. By the time I got to the day of the explosion I was on the edge of my seat and could not put this book down. The best part of it (aside from a really great story about Attilius and the people he encounters) is that I've come away from this feeling a little bit more educated on volcanoes, the city of Pompeii, and Roman technology without even trying. So that's a plus.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated