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Carregando... Pompeii: City on Fire: A Novelde T. L. Higley
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Registre-se no LibraryThing tpara descobrir se gostará deste livro. Ainda não há conversas na Discussão sobre este livro. The clock starts ticking in 70 AD, on the day the Romans conquered Jerusalem and reduced the Temple to fiery rubble. Sixteen-year-old Ariella was out scavenging for food when the fire destroyed her adjacent home and killed most of her family. Roman soldiers delivered the Jewish lass to Rome where she became a slave in a prominent household. She fled to Pompeii in 79 AD, where against the horizon, the volcanic womb of Vesuvius steadily swelled. Tick, tick, tick. Very well plotted, this gripping tale includes romance, politics, and the new, disparaged sect of Christians. The characters are fictitious, but so well drawn and named that I Googled one to see if he was based on a historical figure. Violence and depravity of the period and place were noted, but not wallowed in. Higley has written several other historical novels, and her website features photos of Pompeii and a travelogue of her trip to research the book. Rating: 4 —DKW This review first appeared on my blog: http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/09/pompeii-city-on-fire-by-t-l-higley-bo... In Jerusalem, AD 70, a 16-year-old girl named Ariella witnesses the city's destruction by Roman forces and loses most of her family. Sold as a slave to Valerius, a politician and Bacchanalian in Rome, she is forced to live in humiliation until her escape to a gladiator troupe disguised as a boy. When the troop reaches Pompeii, she is caught out of her disguise by newly-arrived Quintus Cato, a former Roman politician who fought against corruption and lost. He is now in Pompeii with his family in an attempt to escape politics by starting a winery. Pompeii, however, has its own corruption in the form of Maius, who rules the city through fear, intimidation, and with an iron fist. As Ariella tries to find a way to win her freedom, Cato attempts to build a new life and avoid those who would have him run against Maius in the next election. As the lives of these two intertwine, a portrait of the brutality and debauchery of the Roman Empire is cunningly wrought. This is a fast read, filled with treachery and intrigue. This was a time when Christianity was a radical faith and Christians were routinely persecuted and executed. They met in secret, and by doing good works, drew more followers. I really enjoyed this novel and it's glimpse into Pompeii directly before Vesuvius erupted and destroyed the city. Without delving too deeply into historical detail, yet still providing enough to be accurate, the reader is pulled into the lives of the characters and I found myself figuratively on the edge of my seat, pushing for justice for Cato and his sister, as well as hoping against hope that Ariella would find happiness. Likely considered Christian fiction, this novel will still appeal to the mainstream reader. Christianity does play a role, but as part of a larger story that includes all elements of the Roman Empire at the time. Great characters, intrigue, and a touch of romance make this a novel worth reading. QUOTES (from an ARC; may be different in final copy): There was a procession of Jews, yes. But not on foot, fleeing to safety. On crosses, writhing in death throes. An endless line of them, crucified in absurd positions for the Romans' entertainment, until they had run out of crosses, no doubt. She smiled sadly. Her childhood faith had long ago been trampled by Roman boots, replaced by nothing but cold anger. Writing: 4 out of 5 stars Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars Characters: 4 out of 5 stars Reading Immersion: 3.5 out 5 stars BOOK RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars sem resenhas | adicionar uma resenha
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HTML: An enslaved Jewish girl and a struggling aristocrat separately escape to Pompeii, encountering religious persecution, political corruption, and each other just before the city is destroyed by Mount Vesuvius. .Não foram encontradas descrições de bibliotecas. |
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Google Books — Carregando... GênerosClassificação decimal de Dewey (CDD)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyClassificação da Biblioteca do Congresso dos E.U.A. (LCC)AvaliaçãoMédia:
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There's lots of different elements in this book - naturally, it's historical fiction, but there are also elements of Christianity (the days when Christians were still killed for their beliefs), mystery, romance, politics, and sports (gladiators). (I feel like this is a Princess Bride moment)
The characters in this book are all flawed, which makes them both likable and believable. Ariella, the main female character, is so stubborn that at times I wanted to yell at my e-reader to get through to her.
The moment when the volcano gives way is written very well and you can see events unfolding before your eyes, and the last part of the book was definitely the highlight of the entire novel for me (with my heart pumping the entire time). ( )