Anyone read IMPERIUM by Robert Harris? I'm about 60 pages into it. nt

[raccoon]

[Lex]

1. Yes.

I also enjoyed "Pompeii" by Harris as well.

[Sequoia]

3. I keep thinking I should read it.

Should I?

[Lex]

4. Yes. "Pompeii" I especially liked.

"Imperium" was really good, but I found "Pompeii" better.

[Sequoia]

5. Okay, I'm reading it now

and so far is reads pretty good, but I have a real, REAL problem with modern words being used for such ancient times. For one thing, it was not Italy then, but Rome. Also, the use of the word "moonshine". They only had wine then. Both moon and shine are English words. Also a ship called "Victoia" which is derived from a latin word for victory, but I guess the book had to be dumbed down somewhat. I sure hope I don't find telephone or television in this novel !!

[Lex]

6. I just don't waste time on stuff like that. There's so much that's not going to

be authentic anyway, that I don't think it's worth it (for me anyway) to let little stuff get in the way of the larger story being told.

[pscot]

7. I'm with you, Sequoia

If a novelist goes to the trouble of carefully researching a the mores, customs and history of a period to create a sense of authenticity, why spoil the illusion through careless use of a modern slang term, for example? That kind of thing sets my teeth on edge. I find myself on guard against the next incongruity, even as I read on. If a writer wants to have Romeo and Juliet talking Brooklynese or ebonics, fine. But if he's playing it straight, he can't have Antonio checking his watch.

[Lex]

8. Nothing in it is remotely that blatant to be sure.

"he can't have Antonio checking his watch."

[pscot]

11. Exaggeration for effect

Sorry about that. I get carried away.

[raccoon]

9. "Moonshine"---that got by me.

"I sure hope I don't find telephone or television in this novel !!"

I feel your pain.

I found a howler in a historical mystery I'm reading--I'll start a thread about that.

[Sequoia]

10. After my word hystria I enjoyed the book.

That banquet scene made me ill. Glad I wasn't eating at the time. The description of the aquaducts and volcano was pretty good. And the fact that people were paying homage to the god Vulcan was an intereting twist.

[raccoon]

2. Harris gets in some little digs that I believe compare events that happened in Rome

at that time to events that happened in the Bush admin. For instance, the over-hyped hysteria in Rome about pirates is quite similar to the over-hyped hysteria in the US about Saddam's WMD.

[Hamlette]

12. My favorite Harris is Fatherland. I've not read Pompii or Imperium but you've peaked my interest.