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thebookboy's review against another edition
4.0
A perfect book to fuel my long-time obsession with Pompeii. What I found particularly interesting about this one is the deeper look into the daily life of the inhabitants of the town and the clues that the eruption left behind. It's a fascinating exploration of Roman life and economy, as well quite a fun insight into areas such as gods and religion, sexual activity and art.
I will say that certain parts of it held my interest more than others (there are quite a few passages about things such as the direction of traffic) but it's still one of the most comprehensive overviews of the town I've read - plus, Mary Beard brings her trademark wit and insight which made it eminently readable (even the parts about...traffic).
I wish this volume did have more images and photographs though, and I had to google a lot of the artefacts being spoken about to get a better idea of what they looked like. Still, a really compelling read and it's reignited my desire to revisit Pompeii!
I will say that certain parts of it held my interest more than others (there are quite a few passages about things such as the direction of traffic) but it's still one of the most comprehensive overviews of the town I've read - plus, Mary Beard brings her trademark wit and insight which made it eminently readable (even the parts about...traffic).
I wish this volume did have more images and photographs though, and I had to google a lot of the artefacts being spoken about to get a better idea of what they looked like. Still, a really compelling read and it's reignited my desire to revisit Pompeii!
checkers09's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Pompeii: the Life of a Roman town, covers the history of Pompeii's rise and fall with a particular focus on the lives of the people within the town.
Mary beard is a very compelling writer who manages to keep a relaxed tone to her writing while also being very informative and clear. I liked how she tried to understand the lives of the individuals within the town, writing many colourful stories of life in Pompeii, which survived due to the archaeological evidence like graffiti and programmatic. although she talks about Vesuvius, I appreciate how, unlike most writers on Pompeii, the eruption isn't the main overarching focus of the book as I find the snapshot it gives to life in a Roman town to be far more interesting.
Mary beard is a very compelling writer who manages to keep a relaxed tone to her writing while also being very informative and clear. I liked how she tried to understand the lives of the individuals within the town, writing many colourful stories of life in Pompeii, which survived due to the archaeological evidence like graffiti and programmatic. although she talks about Vesuvius, I appreciate how, unlike most writers on Pompeii, the eruption isn't the main overarching focus of the book as I find the snapshot it gives to life in a Roman town to be far more interesting.
kittymamers's review
2.0
ma hindan Mary Beardi väga kõrgelt - teadlase ja vanema naisena avalikus elus on ta põhimõtteliselt mu rollimudel. olen üsna kindel, et see, mida tema vanade roomlaste kohta ei tea, polegi teadmist väärt.
ma ei sallinud lapsena ajalugu - seda õppeainet koolis. see tundus mulle kohutavalt igav, sest koosnes põhiliselt nimedest ja aastaarvudest ja... seal ei juhtunud kunagi midagi huvitavat. pärast suuremaks saades avastasin, et ajalugu on hoopis teadus põhjustest ja seostest ja võib sellisena olla täitsa põnev.
kahjuks see Pompei-raamat viis mind tagasi viiendasse klassi, jälle lajatati mulle nimede ja aastaarvudega:( ma tahtsin teada, kuidas Pompeis elati ja veel enam, kust me seda täpselt teame. aga pidin alustuseks kannatama välja terve peatüki Pompei vulkaanipurske-eelsest ajaloost. siis oli vahepeal natuke parem, kui räägiti, millised olid tänavad ja millised kodud... aga nii detailselt mul neist kodudest polnudki vaja teada, et keda iga seinamaali peal täpselt kujutati ja mis aastal need maaliti (vt ka: nimed ja aastaarvud). valimised ja poliitika - appi! (ehkki õppisin siit vähemalt ühe uue sõna, selgub, et triumviraadi asemel oli Pompeis duumviraat e. kahemehevalitsus.) söök, jook, seks ja pesemiskombed - see oli tore. gladiaatorid jm meelelahutus - jessas kui tüütu. jumalad ja religioon, matmiskombed - õudne. õnneks siis sai raamat läbi ka.
õnneks kontrolltööd ei tule, nii et kavatsen selle traumaatilise elamuse nüüd kiirelt unustada. üldse ei olnud halb raamat ega halvasti kirjutatud. lihtsalt... ajalugu on nii kohutavalt igav :(
ma ei sallinud lapsena ajalugu - seda õppeainet koolis. see tundus mulle kohutavalt igav, sest koosnes põhiliselt nimedest ja aastaarvudest ja... seal ei juhtunud kunagi midagi huvitavat. pärast suuremaks saades avastasin, et ajalugu on hoopis teadus põhjustest ja seostest ja võib sellisena olla täitsa põnev.
kahjuks see Pompei-raamat viis mind tagasi viiendasse klassi, jälle lajatati mulle nimede ja aastaarvudega:( ma tahtsin teada, kuidas Pompeis elati ja veel enam, kust me seda täpselt teame. aga pidin alustuseks kannatama välja terve peatüki Pompei vulkaanipurske-eelsest ajaloost. siis oli vahepeal natuke parem, kui räägiti, millised olid tänavad ja millised kodud... aga nii detailselt mul neist kodudest polnudki vaja teada, et keda iga seinamaali peal täpselt kujutati ja mis aastal need maaliti (vt ka: nimed ja aastaarvud). valimised ja poliitika - appi! (ehkki õppisin siit vähemalt ühe uue sõna, selgub, et triumviraadi asemel oli Pompeis duumviraat e. kahemehevalitsus.) söök, jook, seks ja pesemiskombed - see oli tore. gladiaatorid jm meelelahutus - jessas kui tüütu. jumalad ja religioon, matmiskombed - õudne. õnneks siis sai raamat läbi ka.
õnneks kontrolltööd ei tule, nii et kavatsen selle traumaatilise elamuse nüüd kiirelt unustada. üldse ei olnud halb raamat ega halvasti kirjutatud. lihtsalt... ajalugu on nii kohutavalt igav :(
bigbookslilreads's review against another edition
3.0
As someone interested in archaeology, history and ancient civilisations, this book was particularly enlightening. It provided interesting details into the typical life of a Roman town at the time Pompeii was destroyed by the Vesuvian eruption. It does so by expounding on academic research about the city done in the last 200 years, trying to support some conjectures and theories with existing evidence and showing how these same facts can be misconstrued.
Several themes of this "typical life" are covered, namely food, housing, economy, hygiene, sex, religion, social structure, the arts...
However, in my opinion, while it is definitely detailed and a worthwhile exposition, it failed to be engaging. Nonetheless, it satisfied my curiosity on the topic of society in Pompeii and its contemporary neighbouring towns!
Several themes of this "typical life" are covered, namely food, housing, economy, hygiene, sex, religion, social structure, the arts...
However, in my opinion, while it is definitely detailed and a worthwhile exposition, it failed to be engaging. Nonetheless, it satisfied my curiosity on the topic of society in Pompeii and its contemporary neighbouring towns!