Review of Amora

[Alison Harper]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Amora" by Grant Hallstrom.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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This is a true story set around the time of Justin Martyr, an early Christian philosopher and theologian who dedicated his life to convince the Roman emperor to abandon persecution of the Church.He defended the morality of the Christian way of life.The opening chapter is a judgement scene with Amora and Maria, her maid,facing their fate.

We are introduced to the main character,Amora as she appears at the end of her life journey.To find the story leading to this point is then to be unravelled.So the scene is set and we are engaged in the plot,as we want to read on and find out more.The action is set in Rome,during a period of time around A.D 100.

A seemingly idyllic relationship evolves into something else,changing interactions between the characters and their emotional involvement prove fragile and lead us down to the unexpected and unforseen.

As the story unfolds we discover the social divides between the Nobilty and upper classes and the ranks of slavery.Scenes of gladiators and the sacrifice of slaves reinforces this,so life is cheap if you have the misfortune to be a slave !

An unexpected twist in the story opens up another episode that takes us into different relationships and scenarios,keeping us interested in how this intriguing tale will unfold.The Christian message is strong and injects a moral element and message of compassion and forgiveness, made more pertinent by what we know of the author's own life experience.

I found this to be an easy read.Full of descriptive writing.The period and location is described in such a way as to evoke a feeling and atmosphere of the time.There are some unpleasant and controversial issues that suggest a hard hitting reality of this time,that leaves one wondering about the ethics and prejudices of this period in history.These are quite revealing in terms of the changing attitudes and tolerances that have evolved to this day.

I like the attention to detail that the author uses for his description of the clothes and garments worn at that time.
As this story is based around real events and a particular historical figure,Justin Martyr,it resonates with a truth.Also the author has used the Christian message to convey his own personal feelings that relate to an event in his own life,his writing explores the subject of compassion and forgiveness in some depth.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.I have given it a rating of 3 out of 4.

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Amora
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