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aniagajecka's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
pop_irina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
filip1023's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
franklyfrank's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
teaenjoyer's review against another edition
2.0
4 ꙳
it wasn't badly written, but i don't like being forced to love and sympathize with christians.
it wasn't badly written, but i don't like being forced to love and sympathize with christians.
bethanyaedwards's review against another edition
3.0
A great epic but quite problematic in today's view. Women seen as objects, harassed, assaulted, was quite hard to read as a woman. Also very, very Christian heavy, Sienkiewicz took every opportunity to praise and sell Christianity. Great if you like that kind of thing but not for me.
tomleetang's review against another edition
4.0
The good: excellent characterization. Any aesthete in the vein of Oscar Wilde will love Petronius. Brings Ancient Rome to life in all its debauchery and desperation. Convincingly posits why Christianity went from one of many Jewish cults to a major religion in its own right.
The bad: tendency to oversimplify its Christian message. Seems a little confused as to whether the final takeaway is that love conquers all, that Jesus conquers all, or that art is the ultimate object of life - the last three chapters feel like the author can't decide which way he most wants to end it.
The ugly: first chapter could have been scripted as the logline for a TV show the way it tries to cram in every single major plotline that will be gradually explored in the novel. The lack of subtlety is astonishing.
Bloody enjoyable though
The bad: tendency to oversimplify its Christian message. Seems a little confused as to whether the final takeaway is that love conquers all, that Jesus conquers all, or that art is the ultimate object of life - the last three chapters feel like the author can't decide which way he most wants to end it.
The ugly: first chapter could have been scripted as the logline for a TV show the way it tries to cram in every single major plotline that will be gradually explored in the novel. The lack of subtlety is astonishing.
Bloody enjoyable though