Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

A friend of mine was reading this last fall and liked it but I would never have even looked at it had it not been the selection for our group because I don’t “do” ancient history.  I am very happy it was selected because I enjoyed the book—sped right through it like it was a magazine!  I learned a lot from it as well as I would check facts that came up for authenticity even though it is clear that this is a novel.  By checking facts, I asked Bruce!  After all that is his time period, being a classicist!

We have read about many strong women in our months together. Nefertiti is another example of a woman who saw what she wanted and went after it even to her own demise.  The first woman to serve as Pharaoh of Egypt!  I think the novel is more than the story of a strong woman or even the first Pharaoh.  The story is one of greed, murder, blind faith along with familial loyalty, love, shrewdness and survival.  Nefertiti exhibited all of those traits with the possible exception of murder, at least by her own hand.  Mutny on the other hand became the ying to Nefertiti’s yang. As they were only half sisters, that would make sense. While they are both intelligent, powerful women, Nefertiti used subterfuge to exert her power while Mutny used science and reason along with love and kindness. 

My first take on Nefertiti was here is a spoiled brat who will risk and empire to have immortality.  Parts of the book proved my assessment correct but others showed the error of my thinking. While outwardly she followed her husband in all he did, she worked behind the scenes to counter much of his vanity and overzealous rule of Egypt.  I found it interesting that even he was afraid of her!  Still, when he would not listen to her and ran out of the palace to kill those hiding the idols of Amun, she did what she had to to hold it together—forced him into a sealed room to protect all from him and issued decrees to get Egypt moving in the right direction. Her fault came in not seeing that as beloved as she was the Egyptian people could not overcome the hatred of the mess that had become their lives. Plague, starvation and harsh treatment of others comes back to bite you most times and Nefertiti was not different than other mortals.

Mutny on the other hand, married for love, protected her family with the use of the herbs during the plaque and helped others when asked.  She treated everyone as they should have been treated even when she was skeptical of the outcome. I enjoyed her rebellion against her sister. I remember when John Kennedy chose Robert as his Attorney General. He was asked why and responded that he wanted at least one person around who would always tell him the truth.  Mutny was Nefertiti’s Robert.  I also liked that she agreed to take the infant Tut and raise him as her own when she knew this would not go over well with Nefertiti.  From the early pages of the book it is often discussed that she should have been made the Queen and not Nefertiti.  This is almost the fulfillment of that as she is now the “mother” of the King. 

Just as the women in the novel play varied roles so do the men.  Akhenaten was the power driven, egotistical person who would stop at nothing, including murder, to achieve what he thought was his destiny. He gave no thought to quality, rationality of thought or even to the people he claimed to rule.  His actions resulted in thousands of deaths, almost collapsed the Egyptian Empire and the building of a great city that wasn’t. Amarna might have been a great city had he paid more attention to quality of work as opposed to the quickness with which the work was completed.  The author let you know early the city would fall when it was noted that the building was occurring with cheap sandstone and other materials, not granite.

Akhenaten’s counter character is the Vizier Ay, the father of both Nefertiti and Mutny. Here was a wise man that set about saving Egypt even when he had to watch things going wrong. For every mistake Akhenaten and Nefertiti made, he was in the background making amends. He ruled Egypt as its true governing person. He communicated with rulers and leaders of other states. He advised his daughter and was probably behind the good things she did behind the scenes—things like pay the soldiers from the gold of Aten’s temples without letting her husband know.  These seemingly small measures may have kept them alive longer than without. Mutny’s husband, Nakhtmin, is another good character who showed great patience and intelligence in keeping Egypt together.  

Michelle Moran does a good job of weaving a tale based on history.  She talks in her notes about research and accuracies. For example, Mutny was actually married to Horemheb and not to Nakhtmin. Also her name was probably Mutbenret and not Mutnedjemet, but I prefer Mutny! Would I have preferred a storybook ending where the queen and her daughter survive, not being murdered and desecrated, sure!  While little is known of her actual death (possibly of plague)and her mummy has not yet been found, this is as good a death as she could be given; possibly more theatrical than the real one. Like a good writer she is able to unite reality and fiction in a novel that is believable and entertaining.

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

Time travel--something Star Trek gave us a long time ago but never in the way Susanna Kearsley does! In The Winter Sea she took us to the coast of Scotland and brought us back and forth between centuries in the name of love. In this book she takes us to Cornwall and stirs is up a bit. Instead of finding connections between the past and the present, she uses the present to connect with the past. Or, does she? While I thought I had a handle on the time shift elements in the book, I was surprised to realize that the present was actually the past and the future is--well I'm not certain!

As I read the discussion questions at the end I thought about the type of conversations we might have when we meet. Eve went to Cornwall to disperse her sister's ashes because that is where she thought she was happiest. Where have we been our happiest? Did Eva choose wisely? Did she return to Cornwall because fate drew her there or because her happiness was tied to the house?

Having read The Winter Sea, I was not surprised by the connection between past and present. I liked the way she faded her heroine in and out between centuries. I found the acceptance of time travel by Fergal and Daniel interesting since learning anything from a woman was not something readily accepted in their time. The chivalry, protection and affection for Eva were charming. It did not surprise me to find her falling in love with Daniel--that was expected. Constable Creed is a good villain who gets his just desserts in the end. This brings us to another of the discussion questions: would you change history if given the opportunity? Did Eva change things when she went back in time and married Daniel? I will save my thoughts on this for our discussions!

The one thing I find interesting about Ms Kearsley's book is the way all of the characters are intertwined. Oliver, Susan, Mark, Felicity, Paul, George and Claire all have a very important role to play in the multiple century connectedness of the book--none in the way I thought until I reached the last chapters of the book. Guide or fellow traveler makes little difference. Each is interesting with a vital role in the novel.

 I wish she had gone one chapter more and told me what happened between Eva and Daniel.  Did they live a long and happy life together? If so, why the Grey Lady? Did they move to Spain? I find this doubtful since the story is so tied to Trelowarth.  Why was there no gravestone for either?  

I look forward to our discussions and do hope someone will comment on here someday! 

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

The third novel in Philippa Gregory's series on the Cousins War should probably have been read first. However, Ms. Gregory did not write it first so we are left to backtrack to learn the source of Jacquetta's gifts, how she influenced her life, her many children and the lives of others during the time prior to the beginning of War of the Roses and during the end of the Hundred Years War. We learn of Mesulina and the reason for the connection to the river that was such a part of The White Queen. I found that I liked this book as much as the other two and have adjusted much of my thinking about Elizabeth as well.

Jacquetta was a strong, royal woman who was restricted by the position women held in society during the 15th century. She was intelligent, personable, strong of character and loyal, almost to a fault. Married to an older Duke when she was still quite young, she set about being a good wife, even after he told her she was his wife for her special gifts, not for love, sex or anything related to the typical marriage of that or any time. She was loyal to Duke Bedford even though she had probably fallen for Richard Woodville long before the Duke died and they became lovers. The fairytale aspect of meeting her one true "prince" adds to the story and the love affair of Jacquetta and Richard is enduring and I believe one not readily found in that time period. I think she is somewhat more favorably dealt with in this book than in The White Queen where she was seen to be just a tad manipulative! Here I found her resourceful, using all her abilities to survive and to carve out a place for herself and her children in society.

Much of this book deals with the varied role of women in the 15th century. Our two main characters are Jacquetta and Margaret. Jacquetta has been taught by her great-aunt to be careful how one uses the gifts you have and to be very careful when cursing as it might have unintended consequences. Margaret on the other hand, is married to the King, thinks of no one but herself most of the time and uses whatever means she can to carry out revenge, murder, mayhem and all around spitefulness. Yet, Jacquetta is there for her. My own thought was to give Margaret the proverbial kick in the pants and be done with her but that did not happen. Then I wished that she would get her comeuppance.

Once I get beyond my feelings about each character I try to look at the book from a perspective I think Ms. Gregory is trying to convey. Women had to do what they had to do--to survive in a man's world where they were often nothing more than chattel. When Margaret took control of the realm while Henry "slept" she was considered harsh, cruel, and I am sure a few other words not so kind. She is accused of having become pregnant by Edmund Beaufort (probably) and that the heir to the throne was not the king's son. She still played that very close to the vest and would have done well to not be so public with the fondness she had for Beaufort. She most definitely should not have waged a war of revenge against the people who were responsible for his death at the expense of losing the country. Margaret had too been well trained but she was the opposite of Jacquetta--brash, vindictive, manipulative and responsible for the deaths of many English as a result of her action. If I wanted to be equally harsh I would say she almost single handedly caused the War of the Roses.

I enjoyed the book. I love the characters, their humanness and their greatness as well as their weaknesses. I cannot imagine giving birth to a dozen children and having all but one live.  As much as Jacquetta loved Richard, she did not challenge him on anything. He was the ruler of the house.  He did love her and respect her but there was no discussion about much that impacted her life.  He was away too much.  But then I can't imagine being away from my family while I was a lady-in-waiting for a self-centered, conniving queen either!  Thankfully, times have changed and I don't have to!

The Shack by William P Young

When I read the jacket information about this book I first thought, ”Oh, Right!”  It was not a book I would have picked up on my own but like with so many of the books we have read together it was one I was willing to try. I am so glad I did.  This book is spiritual without being preachy, religious without being denominational, and inspiring beyond what I thought was possible in a book.  Reading this book makes me want to be a better person.  The only other book that has inspired me to want to be better is Freedom Writers.  I wanted to be an even better teacher after reading that one!

But, back to The Shack!  I cannot imagine the horror of losing a small child to a serial killer, knowing that she was brutalized and murdered.  The helplessness that Mack called The Great Sadness seemed so real.  It was like he could not catch a break—horrible father, leaving home so early, finally having a great family that he had missed as a child—then losing his youngest daughter to murder nearly losing his second daughter to grief is more than enough to make a person yell and scream at God for not doing something.  Mack did not yell but he did not deal with his own grief as well as he thought he was doing.  SOOOO, when he receives a typed note from Papa asking him to meet at the very shack where his life had fallen apart was a stretch for him.  I am amazed he went but then I think he went hoping it was the killer and he could possibly get some revenge.

How do you imagine your relationship with God?  We are all involved in our own relationships and our own religions.  Do we actually visualize the Trinity? Is Jesus the Jewish man Mack meets or the rather buff man hanging from the crucifix? Do we ever think of God as a robust African woman who loves to cook and laugh?  Is the Holy Spirit a lady from the Asian continent who never sits still and shows beauty in everything?  I do not.  I am not sure I ever put a face to the Trinity.  So, the question is how would I react meeting them as Mack did? I think I would be a lot more skeptical than he was and he had plenty of skepticism to go around! 

While I will not go into a long listing of my relationship with God, I will tell you what I liked about the book!  I liked the way Mack was led gently into his relationship with God. I liked that there was no judgment but unconditional love. I liked that Mack was able to forgive his father and to know that Missy was truly ok.  I liked the concept that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit liked one another and worked in unison—truly a Trinity.  I loved when Mack was informed that religion as an institution was how others seemed to control those who follow its version of what is a relationship with God.  I loved that God points out that all humanity is part of his love—Muslim, Buddhists, Jews and Christians among those he holds dear.  I also liked that he was able to take the police back to the cave and gathered the remains of his daughter. Even more I liked that evidence collected led to the arrest and apparent conviction of the Ladybug Killer.  God had promised him that the killer would be punished if only Mack could forgive him. I liked that God said forgiveness did not mean forgetting or even a lack of anger.  I wish the leaders of our country would read this book and take it to heart.  Heck, I wish everyone would read it and then the world might actually become a better place!

What did I dislike?  Can’t really think of anything! Thanks for the suggestion and for sharing the book among ourselves.  I must admit that I try to look at the world with different eyes having read this.  It is difficult to look around and always see the good in life where those I love are dealing with health problems, lack of employment, the inability to care for themselves and their loved ones, cancer, depression and so much else.  I have to remind myself that God is there assisting each to deal with what they must regardless of how I think it should be handled.  It is not the easiest thing to do. I am one of God’s people who fight to maintain in relationship, opting for the nouns instead of the verbs!  This book makes me want to let go of the control and enjoy what there is to be enjoyed in living in a relationship with God and with my fellow humans!!!

The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht

This book was nothing like I expected! When I read the teaser for it I thought it sounded like a good mystery--a granddaughter seeking clues in the death of her grandfather. Once I began reading I did not find it a mystery but more of a family history. Still I did enjoy reading the book.
As a child I too used to spend time with my grandfather. Unfortunately he died when I was almost five but I really loved the time I spent with him. I see the author as also loving the time she spent with her grandfather and wanting to share his life with others. It took me a while to figure out where she was going with the story though until I realized where her story was set. Although never addressed by name, only towns, I realized it was taking place in the former Yugoslavia.  Then it began to make more sense.

 As part of one grad class I read a lot of books and stories set in this part of the world. Myth plays more of a role in modern Eastern Europe than it seems to do here in the US but it is important to recognize the symbolism of each myth.  Her grandfather’s love of the tiger is symbolic of the struggles of the land. These are strong people who overcome many adversities. The tiger is left to starve in the zoo, begins to eat his own legs, escapes, and finds solace in a deaf mute woman who needs his strength to help her survive an abusive husband.  The grandfather is orphaned as a child, lives with an unemotional grandmother, finds friendship with a person who cannot speak or hear him and retreats to The Jungle Book for his spiritual nourishment.  Later he meets and marries a woman (Muslim) and moves across the border to keep his family safe. 

 The deathless man is also a central character.  He says he has been forbidden to die and shows up at various times throughout the book.  At first meeting I thought he was the devil with whom the grandfather had made a deal representative of the Devil and Daniel Webster.  Later I came to believe he was more like the angel of death—there to help the dead cross over but not there to steal their souls.  When the grandfather’s belongings are retrieved the Jungle Book is not there. Since that was his “Bible”, he no longer needed it. It was also part of the deal with the deathless man that he would have the book upon his death.   

The one person I found most confusing was Natalia.  She is obviously a modern woman, a doctor in her own right, fiercely independent and willing to take chances—going off with another female doctor to help sick children, standing up to the men in the vineyard about child labor, driving across the border alone to retrieve her grandfather’s belongings and of course, following the old man up the hill after he retrieved the “heart”.  Still, I was never certain she fully got the relationships of the people about whom she wrote. Yes, she loved her grandfather.  Did she understand his relationship with the deathless man or the tiger’s wife?  Maybe?

While I am happy I read the book it did leave me with questions.  What purpose did the bear man serve?  Was he representative of groups that moved through the country during the wars?  The apothecary—was he there to promote religious tolerance or the show that the people were adaptable?  When the deathless man helped people cross over was that truly a death experience or was it too symbolic of the ways borders were drawn regardless of allegiances to towns, to people? 

I look forward to reading the interpretations of the rest of you about this book.  The symbolism I saw here may be totally different from you found.  Please comment so we can have a good discussion! 

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

What if one day you realized you did not remember the last ten years of your life?  Would you be happy, sad, scared, indifferent?  Alice fell off her bike in Spin Class (a good reason not to try that!) and hit her head.  She lost ten years.  While trying to recover she learns that her life had become much different than she imagined.  She did not remember her children, her friends, the development dispute she was having with a neighbor, nor did she remember that she and her husband had separated and she was seeing another man!  Awkward to say the least.  Terrifying for most of us.

At first I thought this was a strange premise for a book but was almost immediately hooked by the suspense of the concept.  Would Alice revert to her 1998 self?  Why had she and Nick split?  Who was Gina?  Would Dominick win Alice's heart?  Since I get most of my exercise jumping to conclusions, here is what I thought:  Alice needed to reconcile her two selves into a person she could like again. The fall gave her the perfect opportunity to do so.  However, Nick must have had an affair with Gina since she is in the back of her memory in an apparently unpleasant location. Nick swears he was not the one who had an affair--did Alice and Gina have one?  I even spent some time trying to wonder if Elisabeth was an alter ego instead of Alice's sister! For a brief moment I thought Dominick was Nick's proper name! Was Frannie actually her mother and not Barb? (I think I have been watching too much TV!)

Liana Moriarty has three plot lines running simultaneously through this book and they all work.  Elisabeth is trying desperately to have a child and communicates with her therapist via journaling. Frannie writes letters to a dead finance until Mr. Mustache (Xavier) woos her back from her grief into a loving, living relationship. And Alice--she has to decide who she will be--1998 Alice who was laid back and fun loving, looking forward to the birth of her first child, or 2008 uptight, caffeine driven, exercise pumped Alice.  Each plot is drawn to an appropriate ending which I will forego detailing here since all may not have read the book yet!

I think the author was wanting the reader to look deep into our souls and determine if we are happy with our lives as we live them today.  If not, how do we become the person we want to be and not the person we are?  What parts of our lives would we keep?  Would we end a long term relationship that had become difficult in favor of something easier? Would we give up on a life long dream because the physical and emotional drain it was taking? Would we be afraid to take a risk on love and life simply because of loyalties to loves lost?  How we answer those questions will be as different as each of us.  Liane Moriarty answers these in her fashion while leaving us to ponder our own.  I enjoyed this book!

Room by Emma Donoghue

I began this book thinking what the heck is going on here and how am I ever going to get through a book that ignores descriptive articles like the!  I guess I have lost touch with my inner five year old!  By page 57 I was getting into the book and had already figured out a few items--like her nursing the five year old and the fact that she was being unable to leave her room. I don't recall realizing she was a captive until much later. I assumed prison and wondered how she was able to keep the child with her.

This reminds me of the Jaycee Dugard story except that her story must be even worse.  I like how Ma has taught Jack life's lessons as best she can given the conditions. The creativity of the two is amazing--using egg shells to make animals, measuring things using a makeshift ruler and other such inventive items makes one realize that the human mind and spirit can really overcome most everything. Even Ma's knowledge that Room was getting too small for the two of them and the plot to escape is amazing. 

Introduction to Outside proved difficult for both Jack and Ma.  Ma had a knowledge base from which to work but seemed to have a more difficult time than Jack. I think this is because she was finally able to "crash" after the seven year ordeal and needed her own time to heal.  Jack had to learn new items like interacting with others.  I found it interesting that Leo, who had no children of his own, seemed more suited to help Jack than Grandma and definitely Grandpa! Steppa stepped up!

Returning to Room was both cathartic and rueful for Jack. Ma did not want to return but needed to help Jack, and in doing so maybe helped herself heal as well.  Jack needed to see Room as it was now that he had seen Outside.  It was not exactly as he remembered (secure, small and safe) but he still needed to say goodbye before moving on. Ma needed to face her fears by facing the demons that lingered in Room.  Hopefully both go on to live normal lives but as they discussed at the Clinic, Jack would probably have an easier time (being plastic and five) than Ma who has missed seven years of her life and will still have to face Old Nick in court. 

While I am sure this is not based on the lives of any of the many who have endured such hardships in the past, it does seem the author wants the reader to accept that this is unfortunately, not the exception. Many people exist every day in captivity and survive. The human spirit is strong and while each case is different, survival is the key and we can all learn from what others have endured.