Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Household Gods by Judith Tarr, Harry Turtledove ISBN: 0-8125-6466-9 Publisher: Tor Fantasy Pub. Date: 15 July, 2000 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.71 (65 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Worst Case Survival Guide for the Roman Frontier
Comment: A very entertaining (more historical than science fiction) yarn -- excellent for escaping the reality of long, dull, delayed flights, or for a relaxing day in the backyard hammock.
The period detail is wonderful and well researched. The contrasting of the "locals'" (Romans) attitudes about their life and its messiness with the attitudes, amazement, and often horror of a 20th-century career woman is very well done. This contrast makes the novel more engaging and "believable" than some historical novels where the supposedly born-and-bred in their time characters come across as over-modern.
Although the protagonist initially doesn't come across as very sympathetic (and certainly as extremely ignorant about history in general, let alone the Roman Empire of 170 A.D., where she ends up) she grew on me. One thing though, even as a career woman, wouldn't she have thought about her kids who were left behind a more? But all's well that ends... (you'll find out how when you read it).
I wish a slightly longer part of the novel had been set in the 20th century, to show the development of the heroine's ways of coping and growth, but the Roman section of the book is very good. There are a number of well fleshed-out characters, and the cameo appearance by emperor Marcus Aurelius is cleverly done and fun. Okay, so even if some of the political attitudes that are described seem excessively pragmatic, this is a fun, worthwhile book.
Rating: 2
Summary: interesting idea - quite disappointing...
Comment: Being fascinated with historical accounts and imaginings of ancient life, I couldn't wait to begin this book!
Disappoinment set in as I quickly realized that there was nothing redeeming, warm, charitable, open or remotely insightful about Nicole, with whom I was to spend invaluable free time during the course of finishing this book.
...The idea is fascinating! A 20th century woman, waking one morning to find herself faced with incomprehensible lifestyle change in the body of a 2nd century Roman tavern-keeper.. what opportunity in this idea, what a chance to create a wonderful world for a reader to want to curl up & become absorbed in!
I would have loved to care about this character..
but alas.. Nicole never rounds out to anything more than an angry, embittered, man-hating, judgemental, self-righteous spoiled brat who inflicts her simple beliefs on the undeserving. Wine? I won't be serving that! Prostitution? you won't be doing that! Telling ME what to do? you WON'T be doing that! How stupid you all are!...on and on ad nauseum.
I felt as though the authors were insulting readers' intelligence by creating such a shallow, one dimensional character, and also by seemingly assuming that we all require an endless, "bang-it-into-your-head", simple buildup to understand anything.
..Life is horrible in the 20th century, and if only I could be in the 2nd century where everything was wonderful!...drum roll, please?
Having said all that, I did enjoy the historical aspect of life in ancient Roman times. The book brings the reader there, but only to observe the surface.. I would have liked to dive deeper into exploration of this foreign world along with the company of a character I could've cared for.
All in all, it's better than television.
Rating: 4
Summary: The ONLY Turtledove book I ever enjoyed
Comment: I have tried many times to get through the downright awful alternative histories of Harry Turtledove. There are now so many and they are all so similar that seem to run together. We have Civil War, WW1 and WWII series and prequels and sequels and sequels to the previous sequels, ad nauseum, ad infiniturm. You think, My God, won't this thing ever end? But this time (most likely due to the presence of a helping hand) the writing is more crisp, the plot more lively, the characters MUCH more real.
The prose does not wander nor wonder as is the usual case. A contemporary woman stares at a statue of Roman gods and wakes up in Rome. The daily life, struggles, trials and tribulations are played out before the reader. We see Rome through the eyes of the misplaced 20th century woman who, in the end, surprises the Emperor with her knowledge of writing. It's rather silly that she speaks Latin, especially since 90% of Romans spoke Greek at the time - the lingua of the masses. But this is a fictional story and we should give some literary license.
The love affair - always total disasters in Turtledove's hands - this time is charming and rather innocent. Her adjustment to Roman life (she operates a restaurant) is superficially easy but again that allows for a good story. It is only too bad that Turtledove did not ask for help on his numerous other works.
 |
Title: Lest Darkness Fall, to Bring the Light: 2 Books in 1 by L. Sprague De Camp, David Drake, L. Sprague De Camp, David to Bring the Light Drake, Harry Turtledove ISBN: 0671877364 Publisher: Baen Books Pub. Date: August, 1996 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
 |
Title: Queen of Swords by Judith Tarr ISBN: 0312868057 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 13 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
 |
Title: Pride of Kings by Judith Tarr ISBN: 0451458478 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: 05 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: 1632 by Eric Flint ISBN: 0671319728 Publisher: Baen Books Pub. Date: 01 February, 2001 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
 |
Title: A. D. 62: Pompeii by Rebecca East ISBN: 059526882X Publisher: iUniverse.com Pub. Date: February, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
