Synopsis:
A San Francisco lawyer finds herself magically spirited back to ancient Rome, where she ends up running a tavern and weathering a German invasion.
Review:
I’m reading Household Gods for an online book club, and the only reason I didn’t quit this book is because I really like the people in the book club. I am not worried about hurting anyone’s feelings by admitting it, because I’m the one who chose it! It’s been languishing in my TBR stack since Christmas 2006 when my ancient Rome-loving dad gave it to me.
I really had trouble with the fact that Nicole accepted her fate so readily–especially since she was a mother. If I were in her shoes I’d be freaking out worrying about Superfast Baby. I wouldn’t be able to think about anything but getting back to her. Nicole barely thinks about them. It really kept me from connecting with her.
The writing isn’t that great, either. I was hoping for something magnificently trashy like Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, but this didn’t even come close. However, I am looking forward to hearing what my book club has to say about it–should be a fun discussion.
Popularity: 14% [?]
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Brad K. // Apr 21, 2008 at 3:17 am
I had a similar reaction. Only I haven’t finished it yet, and it has been 18 months or better.
I like the historical detail, but the motivations seem weak. And there didn’t seem to be anything up ahead worth the effort to keep reading. I got past the ‘the water isn’t safe to drink’ episode - and I am sorry. Too much of the story hung on her being ignorant of the risk of contaminated water, and unable to recognize what getting sick meant.
If I recall rightly, the book was well reviewed at the time. But it struck me like ‘The Great Gatsby’, another case of ‘great literary achievement’ that wasn’t a story worth telling.
2 Superfast Reader // Apr 21, 2008 at 6:54 am
Good points, Brad. ITA.
3 Marg // Apr 24, 2008 at 8:26 am
I would have struggled to call this great literary achievement. I really, really disliked this book when I read it!
4 Superfast Reader // Apr 24, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I know–
5 Michelle aka VeganLove // Apr 24, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Oooh. I can comment here since you are done! I completely agree with you. I just couldn’t connect with Nicole - she just wasn’t believable. I kept waiting for her to panic about being away from her children. It happened too little and too late. I just didn’t buy it. I enjoyed the historical facts, but that was about it.
6 Superfast Reader // Apr 24, 2008 at 4:39 pm
yes! she just forgot about them… I’d be freaking out about Superfast Baby…
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