schlong01's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
This historical novel laid a big focus on it's soap opera like drama with heavy inspirations from Romeo and Juliet. I read the German translation and it might be for that reason but the language was very unrefined. The story itself was good but very shallowy viewed and the characters felt like cardboard cutouts. Despite all of that I did enjoy my experience with this book and suggest it if you like TV dramas or such. But absolutely don't except historical accuracy from this one as it is a fictional novel.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
1.0
Sure, we didn't know as much about Pompeii back in the 1830s, but also Bulwer-Lytton was a notoriously terrible writer and does not deserve even the barest modicum of credit.
danielshelsel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
inpalemoonlight's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Although I‘m not really interested in the roman empire and usually read contemporary books, I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the language and think it‘s beautifully written.
Character- and story-wise it is old fashioned and pushes the narrative that real love is the love worth dying for. On the other hand, the novel was written in 1834 and can‘t be compared to contemporary views and literature.
Character- and story-wise it is old fashioned and pushes the narrative that real love is the love worth dying for. On the other hand, the novel was written in 1834 and can‘t be compared to contemporary views and literature.
sarahconnor89757's review against another edition
4.0
I cannot judge this book as a novel because it reads so beautifully that I consider it poetry.
It's a great book to use for bibliomancy and it's so old that you can get great antique copies of it.
PS. I once read that no one practices bibliomancy anymore and I divined from the text that the author is retarded.
It's a great book to use for bibliomancy and it's so old that you can get great antique copies of it.
PS. I once read that no one practices bibliomancy anymore and I divined from the text that the author is retarded.
kamaria's review against another edition
2.0
This was just an adventure book with a historical setting. I think it had no blatant historical mistakes (I don't know much about Rome or Pompeii), and it was entertaining enough, but it didn't have me hooked, as I expected. I also expected more drama from the Vesubius eruption, but it had just a mild effect on the main characters' lives.
What made me give this book just two stars was:
1. Flat characters. Good ones were really good ones. Bad ones were evil. Good ones win without much effort and just in time and bad ones die because of God's Wrath.
2. I don't agree with Christian views most of the time. And this author introduced too much of them. It felt like being a child scolded for not loving and appreciating Christ enough. And everyone who was good was converted to the true religion (as they said in the book) and pagans were dead.
However, it was still entertaining. I need some fluff books from time to time.
What made me give this book just two stars was:
1. Flat characters. Good ones were really good ones. Bad ones were evil. Good ones win without much effort and just in time and bad ones die because of God's Wrath.
2. I don't agree with Christian views most of the time. And this author introduced too much of them. It felt like being a child scolded for not loving and appreciating Christ enough. And everyone who was good was converted to the true religion (as they said in the book) and pagans were dead.
However, it was still entertaining. I need some fluff books from time to time.
More...