Rating: 
Summary: wonderful
Review: I picked this up "for an hour" and fininshed at ten thirty at night. Having been to Pompeeii I could just see the action, .
For a great summer read, you can't go wrong.
Rating: 
Summary: Sure beats "Last Days of Pompeii"!
Review: This is a terrific novel for the geek-at-heart, a historical set in the two days in AD 79 just before the explosion of Vesuvius that destroyed several of the towns set like jewels along the Bay of Naples. The protagonist is the young engineer Marcus Attilius Primus, newly appointed 'aquarius', or manager, of the sixty-mile-long Aqua Augusta aqueduct. He's only been on the job a few days when the water supply fails and he has to find and fix the problem or face an inquiry and the probable failure of his career. That means dealing with corrupt local officials -- especially Numerus Popidius Ampliatus, a freed slave who has become the main political power in Pompeii -- and also with Pliny, the great naturalist who is serving as admiral of the Roman fleet harbored at one end of the Bay. He's not getting much corruption from his own subordinates, either, but they have their own agendas. Of course, we know what caused the buckling that shut off the aquaduct, and we know why the water smells of sulphur, and why the fish in the offshore pens have died, but Harris does an excellent job building the suspense. Will Attilius be able to do his job? Will he survive the plotting of Ampliatus, and get together with his daughter? Will any of them survive the eruption? The plot is a dead run from the first page, the writing is plain and straightforward (no need to invent drama here), and even though we know how it will end, we don't know all the details.
Rating:
Summary: Apollo's Visions
Review: Harris' Pompeii does a very good job of combining history with fiction. Through the research I have done, I have found the novel to be very historically accurate. This is a plus for the book considering the fictional plot is very simple and doesn't have a lot of development to it. The characters also are one-dimensional for the most part, all though there is some change in attitudes in Ampliatus, Corelia, and Attilus. This doesn't bring down the book though, because the way Harris uses historical data to make the novel interesting is superb. I found it to be a book I couldn't put down, as I always wanted to see what would happen on the next page. I was a little disappointed with the ending of the book. I felt like Harris did a good job of building up to the climax, but then the book just seemed to drop off. Almost as if the last chapter was missing. This is the only complaint I have of the novel. Overall packed with high energy and lots of excitement. A good and easy pleasure read. Recommend to all.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Weekend Read
Review: I enjoyed the novel Pompeii very much but I wouldn't consider it a great book. Some parts of it dragged but, there were many interesting scenes. I was very interested in the Augusta Adequate and the dailey life of the Romans. There were a few surprizes. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction. Someone in my book discussion group wants us to read this but, I feel that although it's entertaining , there's not much to discuss.
Rating:
Summary: Words of the Goddess Athena
Review: Overall I would consider this book a good read. It is definitely fast paced with a good developing story. However, once the story is developed it ends abruptly. The book left me wanting more of a conclusion. I would have enjoyed Harris writing an additional five chapters in order to conclude in a way that would be appealing to me. I feel that Harris could have expanded more on the ending because it came across very blunt. The rising actions were developed well but the climax seemed to come towards the end of the book, which caused a rushed falling action and conclusion. The attention that the eruption actually received was very minimal which caused for a few tedious moments throughout the book.
It is a great book when discussing the history of the ancient Roman people and their way of life. It is obvious that Harris is an extraordinary historian, but his ability at creating the fiction to this historical fiction novel seemed to be difficult for him. Harris' ability to incorporate his historical knowledge into the book came naturally and was very informative. If you are interested in a very educating and enlightening book then this is a great pick.
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing considering
Review: The book started out okay, but went down hill from there. I don't think characters and plot lines were developed as well as they could have been. Very disappointing considering how interesting the subject matter is. I found my mind wandering countless times while reading the book. It almost became a chore to pick it up where I left off. I just felt like something was missing throughout the read. I definitely do not recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful novel
Review: Robert Harris's Pompeii is the perfect combination of factual history and enticing plot that captivates readers from the very first page till the last. Once I began to read this novel, I literally couldn't put it down! I found Harris's depiction of Roman life to be very accurate and gave the reader a great view into the world of the typical Roman. Harris lays the foundation for the reader by providing brief descriptions of many elements of Roman life without straying from the plot too much. He skillfully unravels the plot with precise timing adding the just the right amount of suspense. This novel is far more than the story of Mount Vesuvius erupting; in fact most of the novel takes place before the eruption. Harris allows the reader to see through the eyes of many different people living throughout the Roman Empire. He not only examines the wealthy patrician class but also slaves and "middle class" Romans. I believe the best part of Pompeii is the characters, because inevitably we all know Mount Vesuvius is going to erupt. I have to admit I was disappointed with Harris's ending. He so gracefully laid out the plot of Pompeii only to end the book in a mere two pages. It seems as though he took his time developing the story then hurried to end it. Overall, I thought this was a really good book, but the ending was disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: A bland writing style hampers a fine tale
Review: From the pedestrian dialogue to the adequate prose, Harris attaches lots of research. But there's a reason he opens each chapter with quotes from texts on volcanoes. He's too inadequate an author to incorporate this material into the actual text. No Leon Uris he! All the characters are cardboard with the possible exception of Pliny, but Pliny's views as expressed here on sexuality do not seem bona fide. Additionally, the hero's behavior and thoughts are inconsistent. A better writer would have used this book as an outline for a much richer work. The basics are here, but little else. Don't be surprised to find yourself skimming towards the end.
Rating:
Summary: INSTRUCTIVE BUT BORING
Review: Robert Harris' novel, POMPEII, is an instructive book. The reader learns about the Roman aqueduct system and about erupting volcanos. She also learns about the effects of the exploding volcano on the town of Pompeii and the people in it. The reader is also learns how people lived in 79 AD, what they wore, what they ate, their customs and religious observations. It's all very instructive and....(yawn)....very boring. Unfortunately, the novel framework around all this research is weak and falls apart long before Vesuvious blows its top. Perhaps the worst transgressions in POMPEII are the cartoonish characters, cardboard thin and sterotypical. Hate that, don't you? There is the evil contractor, the learned philospoher, the upright, honest hero, the innocent maiden in distress. Give me a break! There is very little action in the book except running around trying to find the leak in the aqueduct or dodging falling rock fropm the eruption. The best action takes place when a hapless slave was fed to a nasty eel as punishment for killing some fish. There aren't even any (...) scenes in libidinous ancient Rome! I think this was a good idea and there is a good novel in in all this somewhere. Robert Harris just didn't manage to find it this time. But I learned a lot and there is something to be said for that: two volcanos out of five.
Rating:
Summary: Pompeii fizzles
Review: A fascinating look at the ancient city of Pompeii, but it seemed rather dull at times. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about Rome's aqueduct system. One would think the eruption of Vesuvius would merit more than just a glancing treatment. Somewhat disappointing, but still a good read.
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