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grauspitz's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I am conflicted.
On one hand I generally enjoyed the concept and overall execution of the story, but on the other hand, I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that the majority of the few female perspectives we get were centered around them giving birth to an heir while the male perspectives focused on the city around them at that period. The only real exception to this was the period of the siege, but otherwise I was disappointed in the lack of diversity in the female perspectives.
I am conflicted.
On one hand I generally enjoyed the concept and overall execution of the story, but on the other hand, I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that the majority of the few female perspectives we get were centered around them giving birth to an heir while the male perspectives focused on the city around them at that period. The only real exception to this was the period of the siege, but otherwise I was disappointed in the lack of diversity in the female perspectives.
psteve's review against another edition
3.0
Comes before Empire, and covers a thousand years in the history of Rome. Good telling, and mostly good characters, but is flawed because of the genre. Too much telling by telling and not enough telling through action. Still, probably a good way to take in Roman history.
mrfrank's review against another edition
3.0
This novel is the very embodiment of the phrase, "bringing history to life." Stephen Saylor's Roma walks the line between historical fact and historical fiction. Where the lines of fiction are blurred who is to say there isn't a dallop of truth to it anyway. Wonderfully researched and brilliantly imagined, ROMA is a must read for anyone who enjoys history and/or adventure and/or biography.
The novel does not follow any one human character. The main characters of this story are the city of Roma itself and the talisman of the ancient god who protects it. The story takes place over literally a thousand years. Beginning in 1000B.C. and culminating during the year 1B.C. during the reign of Ceaser August.
Though based largely in historical fact, the book still reads like a modern novel. Very entertaining and the content is not dry at all. I wish my college history text books were all written by Saylor, I would have enjoyed the material much more!
The novel does not follow any one human character. The main characters of this story are the city of Roma itself and the talisman of the ancient god who protects it. The story takes place over literally a thousand years. Beginning in 1000B.C. and culminating during the year 1B.C. during the reign of Ceaser August.
Though based largely in historical fact, the book still reads like a modern novel. Very entertaining and the content is not dry at all. I wish my college history text books were all written by Saylor, I would have enjoyed the material much more!
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
2.0
Saylor copies [a:Edward Rutherfurd|16204|Edward Rutherfurd|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1206127588p2/16204.jpg]'s idea of telling the history of a city or a nation by tracing one family. The problem is, he isn't as good as Rutherfurd is. Most of the characters, especially the women, are one dimensional. In addition, he makes Cleopatra boring. That's hard.
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