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Last Published: 11/29/2008 1:32:57 AM
My review of Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
Posted by:
Michelle Sutton on
July 19, 2007 at
10:56PM EST
Product Details
ISBN: 0307381463
ISBN-13: 9780307381460
Format: Hardcover, 480pp
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
From the Publisher:
Nefertiti
and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful
family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries.
Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry
Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped by all that her
strong personality will temper the young Amunhotep’s heretical desire
to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods, overthrow the priests of Amun, and
introduce a new sun god for all to worship.
From the moment of
her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people. Her charisma
is matched only by her husband’s perceived generosity: Amunhotep
showers his subjects with lofty promises. The love of the commoners
will not be enough, however, if the royal couple is not able to
conceive an heir, and as Nefertiti turns her attention to producing a
son, she fails to see that the powerful priests, along with the
military, are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person wise
enough to recognize the shift in political winds—and brave enough to
tell the queen—is her younger sister, Mutnodjmet.
Observant and
contemplative, Mutnodjmet has never shared her sister’s desire for
power. She yearns for a quiet existence away from family duty and the
intrigues of court. Her greatest hope is to share her life with the
general who has won her heart. But as Nefertiti learns of the
precariousness of her reign, she declares that her sister must remain
at court and marry for political gain, not love. To achieve her
independence, Mutnodjmet must defy her sister, the most powerful woman
in Egypt—while also remaining loyal to the needs of her family.
Love,
betrayal,political unrest, plague, and religious conflict—Nefertiti
brings ancient Egypt to life in vivid detail. Fast-paced and
historically accurate, it is the dramatic story of two unforgettable
women living through a remarkable period in history.
My review:
Nefertiti
is an unforgettable novel. It's one that draws you into another world
as long as you are reading it, and lingers in your thoughts after you
are done. Brilliantly revealed through the eyes of Nefertiti's only
sister, the rich history of ancient Egypt comes to life. The culture,
art, food, clothing, and other details make for an authentic setting as
well. I haven't read a novel that has gripped me as much as this one
has in a very long while. The portrayal of Nefertiti's rise as
co-regent and Pharaoh, her greed, lust for power, the jealousy between
wives, and the agonizing pain of her many losses all seemed incredibly
real to me.
At first I felt bad for Mutnodjmet because she had
an obligation to serve her sister, but she was truly the most loyal and
honorable person in her family. I could imagine what her life would
have been like and I developed an emotional connection to the fictional
character Mutnodjmet. Her only sister, queen Nefertiti, was a powerful
but also self-absorbed and demanding ruler. And yet, over time I came
to pity Nefertiti and understood Mutnodjmet's torn feelings toward her
family. I could sense the fear of abandonment that dictated much of
Nefertiti's rash decisions.
I grieved along with Mutnodjmet
the loss of her first child, felt her longing for another, and
experienced her pain at seeing her sister give birth to six children,
all princesses, while seemingly barren herself. Just when I thought
things couldn't get any more intense, the story picked up more suspense
as the turn of events became more frenzied. The precariousness of the
royal family's rule became evident and eventually crumbled as Pharaoh
made one poor decision after another.
I also found the
spiritual portion of this book fascinating. In fact, reading this story
has made me want to break out my video of The Ten Commandments starring
Charlton Heston! In so many ways Amunhotep/Akenhaten reminded me of
Ramses in regards to his stubbornness. I sensed the hopelessness the
Egyptians had because of their slavery to the gods. The politics in
this novel were also incredibly well done and in some ways aren't much
different than what we see in many governments around the world today.
I highly recommended this book to any audience of readers as the
language is not offensive and there is no graphic sex in this story,
though many things are obviously implied. I can't wait to get my hands
on the sequel!
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