First Man In Rome

I once read a book that said if you can't get into a book by page 45 or 50 give yourself permission not to finish it. Unfortunately, this is one of those books.
First Man In Rome is the first in the series by Colleen McCullough.
I found the second book The Grass Crown in our local book exchange, but as a first born having to start at the beginning of everything, I wanted to start  with the first volume so I borrowed The First Man In Rome from the library.
If I could use one word to describe this book it would be-boring-.
I did not like the endless repetition of the first and second names, with the occasional use of three thrown in for good measure. And, for a book of this size (around a thousand pages), one would expect at least a little action in the plot.
There is little description, and if there is a point to a scene it takes a long time to get to it.
I admit, this is my first read by McCullough, and I may enjoy something else by her, but for me,  The First Man In Rome was, for such a long book, a disappointment.
If I had to find one thing I liked about the book it would be the maps and diagrams. The one of Rome is well drawn and very detailed with a full page legend. Other maps are also well drawn.