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A review by jhoppster
Quo Vadis by W.S. Kuniczak, Henryk Sienkiewicz
4.0
*Warning: There are spoilers!!*
Ok, so I have a love/hate relationship with this book. There is so much GOOD in this book.....but also so much WRONG.
First of all, there is a great storyline here. Epic in scale. However, most of the great story takes place in the last half. If you make it through the first 150 pages, then your good to go. The first part is somewhat annoying because Vinitius, the main character, sees the Hebrew woman, Lygia, and it's love at first sight. I don't know though, love seems like such a nice word. Maybe obsession is a better description. Anyways, Vinitius is obsessed with obtaining Lygia, through whatever means necessary to be his wife. Now, I understand that Romans were like that, and Vinitius is not a Christian, however the whole first half of the story is focused on that.
The author did an amazing job with accuracy. Everything, here is brimming with accurate historical details down to the way they talk. However the author went a little too much in the details for some of the pagan Roman traditions. Granted, it could have been a whole lot worse, but I found some of the details like the violence and Nero's chaotic and immoral feasts, could have been more tastefully done.
Another small factor is that, he potrays the Christianity religion back then as almost catholic. Peter and Paul fulfill the description of an early catholic priest pretty well. :) I understand that the author did make a trip to Rome while studying for this writing this book, and I think the Roman Vaticans, definitely influenced him.
That all being said the latter half is still filled with exciting history such as; the burning of Rome, gladiator fights, the early Christians, and much, much more. It also is pretty cool that by his love for Lygia, Vinitius finds a new love by becoming a Christian and follower of The Way.
So if I was asked whether I liked it or not, I would have to say that as much as I enjoyed the latter half, there were still some factors that bugged me to the extent that I couldn't fully enjoy it. However, the History buff in me, really enjoyed parts of it.
Ok, so I have a love/hate relationship with this book. There is so much GOOD in this book.....but also so much WRONG.
First of all, there is a great storyline here. Epic in scale. However, most of the great story takes place in the last half. If you make it through the first 150 pages, then your good to go. The first part is somewhat annoying because Vinitius, the main character, sees the Hebrew woman, Lygia, and it's love at first sight. I don't know though, love seems like such a nice word. Maybe obsession is a better description. Anyways, Vinitius is obsessed with obtaining Lygia, through whatever means necessary to be his wife. Now, I understand that Romans were like that, and Vinitius is not a Christian, however the whole first half of the story is focused on that.
The author did an amazing job with accuracy. Everything, here is brimming with accurate historical details down to the way they talk. However the author went a little too much in the details for some of the pagan Roman traditions. Granted, it could have been a whole lot worse, but I found some of the details like the violence and Nero's chaotic and immoral feasts, could have been more tastefully done.
Another small factor is that, he potrays the Christianity religion back then as almost catholic. Peter and Paul fulfill the description of an early catholic priest pretty well. :) I understand that the author did make a trip to Rome while studying for this writing this book, and I think the Roman Vaticans, definitely influenced him.
That all being said the latter half is still filled with exciting history such as; the burning of Rome, gladiator fights, the early Christians, and much, much more. It also is pretty cool that by his love for Lygia, Vinitius finds a new love by becoming a Christian and follower of The Way.
So if I was asked whether I liked it or not, I would have to say that as much as I enjoyed the latter half, there were still some factors that bugged me to the extent that I couldn't fully enjoy it. However, the History buff in me, really enjoyed parts of it.