Christian Fiction Book Club

This month we read Pompeii: City on Fire by T.L. Higley

Ariella was sold into slavery as a young girl to an evil Roman politician. She escapes him by disguising herself as a young boy and joins a gladiator troupe. They arrive in Pompeii to entertain the citizens who’s boredom and debauchery has turned into a demand for more and more bloodshed in the arena’s.

Cato has escaped to Pompeii after his failed political career in Rome. He is determined to live a life of leisure as a winemaker. What he doesn’t count on is the corrupt leadership of one man who is determined that Cato will not usurp his authority in Pompeii.

When Cato chances to meet the young “lad” Ari and discovers her secret he is determined that she will no longer fight in the arena. Sparks fly between the two. Ari’s heart has been hardened by years of abuse and she is determined not to let this Roman into her heart. When Cato’s sister is wrongly sent to jail he is determined to end the corruption that has been governing Pompeii. What he doesn’t count on is the evilness of this ruler, the support of local Christians, and the simmering mountain of Vesuvius. Will Cato find faith in the Christian’s Messiah or will all be lost to evil?

I have said before that I am not usually a fan of Historical fiction. But T.L. Higley writes in a way that captures and holds my attention. I loved her novel Guardian of the Flame and Pompeii City On Fire did not disappoint me. The characters and story have stayed with me even after the exciting ending of the book!

Questions:

5. Pompeii is a city reveling in its decadence. How did you feel about the way the author portrayed the society? Did it make you uncomfortable? Did you feel it was realistic?
Uncomfortable, YES! But very realistic from my understanding of the day, (which is pretty limited). It was a society of “anything goes” and that came across in the writing. Anything written in a more glossy tone would have been false and inaccurate. 

6. In what ways do you think our society parallels the Roman world in its obsession with death and sex? Would you say the world is getting worse or improving?
I’m not sure of what our society is thinking about death, but society is very much obsessed with sex. Just look at the TV ads, or billboards, or magazine covers, even our cartoons! Sexual encounters are no longer between just man and woman. Our teens are subjected to sexuality before they even enter high school. No longer is it the norm to wait until you are married before entering into a sexual relationship. I have even heard about someone marrying their pet! Yes, we as a society are obsessed with sex just as the Romans were centuries before. Any type of debauchery is becoming more acceptable. Are we improving or getting worse? I think we live in a fallen world and until our Savior comes to reign on earth we are not going to see much improvement.


12. Cato and Ariella are exposed to the gospel through the witness of a house church that is largely in hiding. How do you feel about the way in which the Church today is reaching out? Is it more or less effective than the first-century Church?
I feel that with the freedoms that we have today we as the church should be way more effective than the first-century church. Are we? I don’t think so. We get comfortable in our pews and with our own friends or social group. 

13. The end of the story involves some specific intervention by God, showing His power. Do you believe God still works in this way? If so, where have you seen or experienced it?

One year ago in May our church was destroyed by a tornado. Our music minister and his 3 children were in the building at the time. God protected them and they were able to get out of the building after the tornado went through. Ask our pastor and he will tell you today that even though we were devastated at the time God has blessed us as a church body beyond anything that we could ever have imagined. He allowed us to be able to have church services at a school that we had served in the community through the years. He allowed us to witness to the community around the church and to those that were also affected by the tornado. We had tried in various ways throughout the years to reach out to the community, but being a rural church and having so many people spread out it was difficult to find just the right outreach. Through this year of rebuilding and outreach we have seen and heard so many stories of how God has worked through our experience. What at first we thought was a tragedy, God has brought blessings in abundance!

Join the discussion now for Pompeii over at Seasons of Humility. Link your review so we can all take part in the discussion.

Come join us next month when we read Digitalis by Ronie Kendig. Next meeting is August 13th.