Nefertiti-Michelle Moran

I have always been fascinated by Egyptian history. So naturally I wanted to read this book. Plus, Nefertiti was the queen of Egypt and became known for eternity because she became co-regent with her husband. She didn't have to wait for him to die to become a female pharoh. This in itself speaks volumes of the kind of person she had to be for her husband to give her such a title. I had known a little bit of history about Nefertiti (such as her co-regency) but I really did learn a lot about the Egyptian history at that time and it had a bit of the human dramatic flare with it. Now, it being historical fiction I know that while the events are real, the conversations ... probably not. We have no way of knowing that. But that is one of the things that I love the most about this book.

Michelle Moran put so much research into this book, and it really shows. I am in awe at how she made her conjectures and came up with a story that people would want to read (and if you are anything like I am...not want to put it down). One such example of this is based on an image of Nefertiti's sister Mutnodjmet. Nefertiti and her husband Akhenaten covered the walls of their new city, Amarna, with pictures of their lives. In one image the royal family is embracing the Aten (a deity that Akhenaten brought to supremacy), all except for Mutnodjmet. She is depicted standing off to the side with her arms at her side (the rest of the family had theirs arms raised embracing Aten for this deity was the sun). From this image Moran takes it that Mutnodjmet was not entirely happy with her sister's new Egypt. This is depicted throughout the book.

I also liked how the book is titled Nefertiti but it is from Mutnodjmet's point of view. While the tale is about Nefertiti and her time in history it really is about learning what it meant to be a part of the royal family (on both our part as a reader and for Mutnodjmet who was learning along the way). It was also about the loyalty to family and sister-hood while being loyal to yourself all the same. It was interesting to encounter the politics that went on during that time. The family dynamics of the Pharaohs and how a lot really was changed with Nefertiti (which we know because of how vain Nefertiti and Akhenaten really were). Even though Amarna was destroyed and later on Nefertiti's family were considered heretics, artifacts from Amarna's ruins tell us bits and pieces of Nefertiti's rein.

Some of the things that were changed that were most obvious was that Nefertiti became Pharaoh and then when her husband died she named her daughter queen to take the throne when something were to happen to her. The crown that a lot of people associate with Pharaoh's (the tall head piece) started with Nefertiti. Prior to that it was something more akin to what Cleopatra was known to wear. Egyptian art was transformed during Nefertiti and Akhenaten's time. Before them all Pharaoh's were depicted the same. During Nefertiti and Akhenaten's rein they were depicted as they were. Set apart from the rest.

I did enjoy the story all around and would like to think that the conversations were very much like they were back then, with the exception of Nefertiti. Before I read this book I didn't think of her as being as selfish and cold as she was portrayed in the book. I like to think of her has a strong independent woman who was cunning but with a little bit more heart; especially since she was considered the people's queen. More like what Mutnodjmet was portrayed as but with a bit more confidence through and through. Mutnodjmet got it in the end though. There were some things with the history that I would have a bit of a problem with but that's just because I live in a society were such practices are unacceptable ... and for good reason. And there were some parts of the book that I was able to go, 'oh yeah, I remember something like that,' especially where the black plague was concerned. All in all a good one to read.

The Invention of Lying

So I had originally said that I mostly wanted this blog to be about books, however, I did say I might stray...and good thing too because I have to say something about the movie The Invention of Lying. I just watched it and thought it was a little bit odd, yet entertaining at times. The movie is set in a time when no one has ever told a lie and do not actually have the ability to do so. That is except for one, Mark Bellison. So I get that you can't tell a lie but what about turrets? Do they also have turrets? Because people just blurted out whatever they had on their mind. There was absolutely no filter between their brain and their mouth. It's a little unnerving to hear exactly what everyone is thinking but slightly refreshing at the same time. Only refreshing in the fact that you don't have to pretend to be a mind-reader, psychic, or extremely intuitive to figure out what anyone is getting at. And offense really isn't taken because everyone is just right there throwing it in your face. Mark Bellison is the only one who seems to take offense and he is the only one who gains the ability to lie part way through the movie. So one would ask...is there really a MAN who is very much in touch with his inner self and is that the reason why he started to lie? Well, I'm not sure if that's how a lie came about but he was a very sensitive guy for the alternate reality. He also saw things differently than anyone else.

He saw beneath the surface appearance of people, which is how everyone else looks at the world. It was kind of entertaining that the people of this reality chose their partners based on genetics, strength, and status and NOTHING else. It reminded me of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. The strongest survived, the prettiest attracted the best mates, and the higher up in the food chain the better your chances of surviving. A lot like what we do now, except that human emotion plays a part. It's what makes us different from animals. But this reality was kind of showing a regression in mankind.

The next big thing was the lack of religion. It is only when Mark Bellison's mom is dying and afraid of drifting off into nothingness, that Mark realizes that he can alleviate her anxiety by telling her about the afterlife (a completely new concept). Of course, others have heard what he said and want to know what he knows and how he knows it. That is when 'the man in the sky' comes around. Mr. Bellison then makes 10 notions and puts them on pizza boxes...some sort of parody, eh? He informs the masses of how he hears 'the man in the sky' speaking to him and that everyone should follow these notions/rules. There is even a part in the movie where he takes on the actual Moses appearance.

The cherry on top is that this all comes down to a girl and a warm and fuzzy message of 'You should feel good about yourself no matter what your outside package. No one is better than you just because of appearance. Don't judge a book by it's cover. In the end the good guy always wins.' Plus he gets the girl. And still no one else can tell a lie. Until, of course, Mark has offspring. That offspring inherits the ability to lie. One could make the conjecture that the gene for lying was passed on until you get to a society like our own. Again Darwin's Theory of evolution could come into play here.

To think it all started with one.

Night Watch Series-Sergei Lukyanenko

Russian writer Sergei Lukyanenko has taken the world of Sci-fi and turned it into something all together different. The series starts with introducing to us the world within a world...just like every other sci-fi right? Wrong. First it's based in Russia...which is interesting in itself because of the Russian culture introduced to you, and second it's all about a government around the supernatural. There are two parts, the Day Watch and the Night Watch. Each watches the other and keeps them in check. There is the Head of the watch (much like the president) and then there are various offices within the watches, field workers and office workers. Then there is the Inquisition (and above it all sort of institution) that governs all. What really appeals in these books is you are sort of in Anton's (the hero of sorts) place through the entire series. You know what's going on when he knows what's going on and not really before then. I personally like when you can't figure out what's going on before the book is ended. Every book leaves you wanting more.

On the other hand, it bothers me personally that, much like Anton, I never seem to know what's going on. All the characters have a hidden agenda and things can get a bit confusing as well as frustrating at times. It seems to be a very tactful strategy because I always came back for more wanting to figure out what was going on. I also liked how Lukyanenko throws the "rules" for the supernatural out the window. For example, the 'myths' about vampires were changed as were the 'myths' of the werewolves, which were more like shape-shifters than anything else. These books have a smattering of every supernatural you could think of; enchantresses, magicians, warlocks, witches, vampires, werewolves... The Last Watch brought everything together nicely but did leave an opening for another book if need be. I personally wouldn't mind yet another one. I enjoyed the books.

Hello all!

I really enjoy reading and my dream job would be to sit around all day reading and then telling everyone about it. It wouldn't get any better than that. Unless of course, I was doing it somewhere nice and warm and peaceful...because lets face it, it's always better when it's nice weather outside. Plus, bonus...tan :) Anyway, I was sitting at my grandparent's house talking about the latest book I was reading (reading runs in the family) and Papa suggested that I do a blog about the books that I read. So I thought about it and here I am. I think the focus of this blog will be on books that I've read and reviewing them. Who knows I might stray a bit, what with loving to critique things and all. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.