| Title | : | Lady of the Reeds (Lady of the Reeds, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1569470723 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781569470725 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 520 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1994 |
Lady of the Reeds (Lady of the Reeds, #1) Reviews
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Long eons ago, in the days when the Internet was just something called Usenet... before amazon. before paperbackswap. before goodreads... back in Those Days, I made a special trip, while in Canada, to the bookstore. I'm pretty sure it was the World's Biggest Bookstore (yes, that's its name). And I bought every single one of Pauline Gedge's books, and brought them all home with me. Very heavy.
I never really did understand why Gedge is so popular in her home, Canada, and completely unpublicized in the US. Now, of course, you can get any book online - if you know about it - but I fail to see why publishers have seemingly believed that people in the USA are significantly more uninterested in nice, juicy historical fiction about Ancient Egypt than their neighbors to the north.
Anyway, this was a re-read. I'd previously read it under the Canadian title, "House of Dreams."
I have to admit, reading it this time, it did feel slightly dated, just in the way characters interacted. I also felt mildly annoyed at having a blue-eyed protagonist (you can't really call her a heroine) in ancient Egypt. Yes, it's explained and all... but post-Memoirs-of-a-Geisha, I guess I just feel differently about it.
But I'm still giving it 5 stars, because I just really enjoy Gedge's writing. She manages just the right balance between historically researched details and vivid speculation; really bringing the era to life.
Lady of the Reeds is based on a known incident of a plot to assassinate Ramses III. However, the concubine Thu is all her creation. Starting out as a commoner, daughter of a foreigner in a small town in Egypt, Thu has always felt she is destined for greater things. Hungry for knowledge and power, she will scheme and plot to feed her ambition. She's a ruthless, and not necessarily likable character, but her story is compelling. -
This book did capture my attention. The story kept me up at night reading for hours until I finished. The description of life and customs in ancient Egypt were very effective. I felt like I was right there with the characters.
I did not care for Thu at all. I don't HAVE to like the main character of a book to enjoy it but it made it difficult for me to want to see her succeed in anything. In fact, I was rooting against her a lot of times.
All of the characters were pretty well developed, but I didn't find some of their actions believable. The ending was especially contrived. Thu should have had a much different fate than the one she got. At first, I was excited that this book has a sequel, but the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if I could stand Thu in another book.
In the end, I think I will read another of Pauline Gedge's novels about ancient Egypt, but I will leave Thu exactly where she is at the end of this book. -
Of all Gedge’s novels, this is possibly the series where she changes the most, historically. This book, and the sequel, are based on the harem plot to murder Ramesses III (detailed in the Turin papyrus). Don't open the spoiler link if you don't want to known what happened historically versus what happens in the book.
Generally speaking, I prefer my historical fiction to be as accurate as possible, but my primary concern is always whether or not a story is well-written, and Pauline Gedge always writes a darn good book. She’s one of those consistently good authors who I know is always going to provide me with an exceptional read. As per usual, Gedge’s sheer mastery over the English, her flair and inventive usage was delightful and a pleasure to read. Somehow Gedge always creates unexpected and surprising plot twists too, even though she writes historical fiction and I’m aware of the historical facts. Thu, Hui, and the other characters are perfectly formed – deep, subtle, complex characters revealed piece by piece through show rather than tell. And Gedge’s novels always feel authentic even when she changes details – or later research contradicts what she wrote – because she does her research, she recreates all the ambiguity and complexity of real life instead of glossing over and simplifying the story, and Gedge, more than any other author I’ve ever read, understands the zeitgeist of ancient Egypt and the way ancient Egyptians thought about themselves and the world.
Thu in particular is remarkably appealing – I wasn’t sure, before I started reading, if Gedge, much as I trust her consistent good work, could really write a book with someone who, historically, was a conspirator to murder, as the protagonist and make me empathise with her character. Well, she can. Thu aspires for a better life than the obvious path laid out for her and the circumstances she is born into. She has ambition to improve her lot and she wants more from life. When life’s luxuries are handed to her on a plate, like anyone who’s been through hardship, can we really blame her for seizing them and revelling in them? Who hasn’t dreamed of winning the lottery? Thu is incredibly human. She callously steps on others to achieve these dreams of a better life, and it’s reprehensible, but as a reader there’s a mixture of horror at what she does and identifying with her aspirations. Even Thu’s most reprehensible acts are driven by understandable emotions and the bad things that happen to her, and whilst most of us probably wouldn’t act as she does, I think the basic emotions of hurt, betrayal, and desperation are the same. Thu’s distress feels palpable. She aspires to universal dreams, and is betrayed by those she trusts and abandoned by those she loves. I didn’t quite root for her in the same way I did for Hatshepsut in Child of the Morning, Tiye in The Twelfth Transforming, Caradoc in The Eagle and the Raven, and Ahmose, Kamose, and Aahmes-Nefertari in Lords of the Two Lands, but I wanted her to succeed in creating a better life for herself, and I understood and sympathised with her. The story is definitely a tragedy, written in raw emotion.
Pauline Gedge definitely reigns supreme over ancient Egypt historical fiction. Endorsed by a bona fide Egyptologist :) .
10 out of 10 -
Excelente libro. Te sientes en Egipto. Mientras lo lees casi puedes sentir el calor,, las palmeras, el susurro de nilo y probar pasteles de azafrán. Los personajes están . que sienten a lo largo de la novela. Te adentras en el antiguo Egipto donde la autora está perfectamente documentada. La trama se hace adictiva y viene la segunda parte El templo de las ilusiones el cuel ya estoy leyendo.
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A fantastic book by a very gifted author. Excellent!
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Esperaba bastante más tratandose de esta autora, bastantes capítulos se me han hecho lentos, mucha descripción y poca acción pero el final me ha gustado, ha sido emocionante. Se deja leer pero aún dudo si leeré la segunda parte.
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Oh, I loved this!
I wasn't really expecting to enjoy it this much, since I don't have a strong interest in Rameses III and had heard reports that the narrator-protagonist, Lady Thu, was unlikable and unpleasant. I didn't have an issue with Thu herself, because while she did unlikable things and was presumptuous, she remained likeable.
I must have a thing for Gedge's pharaohs, because the Rameses III makes three out of three of her pharaohs I've fallen in love with, though this Rameses is more human and fallible than Amenhotep III and Rameses II. Though, this is probably because we got to see more of him.
While the ending did strike me as unfair, I don't think it's out of character. Thu has always been a character with great flights of fancy, and, particularly as she has lost so much, I wouldn't be surprised if she died on her deathbed dreaming of being rescued by Rameses.
Based on the little knowledge I have of this period, I'd say that the story jives well with historical knowledge. Even the very recent discovery that Rameses III's throat was cut could fit well within the story Gedge presents us. I don't know how it works in the sequel,
House of Illusions, though I'm dying to find out. -
Terminado. 2 semanas inmersa en Egipto y disfrutando de la pluma de esta autora. La historia está muy bien narrada, las descripciones tanto del lugar como de las costumbres, consigue meterte de lleno y además la vida de Thu es muy interesante. Cómo crece en una aldea, Asuat, y cómo llega a ser concubina favorita de Ramsés, además de enseñarnos la vida del harén y de palacio. Un libro de 10 para leer sin prisas y disfrutarlo. 5 estrellas.
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One of my favourite novels set in ancient Egypt. This time the setting is the court of Ramses III, and a young peasant girl who gets mixed up in intrigue. You may not like what Thu does, but you can't help but be interested in her.
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_38134... -
On the re-read. I find the start a bit slow, but worth it in the end.
Gedge does a wonderful job of painting time and place. Her historical fiction placed in ancient Egypt is some of the best. This book is told from the viewpoint of a would be murderess, who Gedge draws with wonderful shading. -
A part of The Hera Series by Soho Press
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Sin duda un libro que me ha tenido bastante fascinada. Porque su protagonista es bastante peculiar: ella es muy humana y tiene muchos fallos. Fallos que chocan mucho pero al mismo tiempo llega a afectar a nuestro corazón. Por ejemplo, es muy egoísta (como todos pero bueno), a veces muy frívola, comete errores y acciones malignas que ni siquiera le afectan mucho (esto me chocó pero aun así sentía como algo de lástima por ella, inexplicable...).
Muchos sentimientos que ha despertado en mí, demasiado contrarios unos de otros. Y es que la autora logra presentarnos una mujer nada perfecta pero que igualmente llegamos a cogerle cariño e incluso lástima (aunque gran parte de la culpa sea de ella por dejarse manipular).
Tenemos a una chica de pueblo (en Egipto) que no desea quedarse allí. Ambiciona algo muy grande y gracias a su carácter logrará ir más lejos. Tanto que llegará a Palacio (no contaré más para no destripar la historia). Pero os diré que llega tan lejos que nos sorprende.
Pero igualmente pasará algo que nos dejará con la boca abierta (aunque algo me olía) y veremos una tragedia.
El libro quizás se haga algo lento en algunas partes ya que tiene muchas descripciones, pero me encanta porque nos mete de lleno en la época, lugar, etc. No se me hizo nada aburrido y solo quería leer más y más. Me pareció muy adictivo.
Lo recomiendo solo si amas el antiguo Egipto, y te fascina. Encontrarás la historia de una joven muy ambiciosa. Eso sí, no esperes mucho romance. -
Giving up on this. It's just frankly a little too slow and boring, but my biggest issue is the main character, Thu. I liked her ambition and confidence at first, but 100 pages in she starts to seem so self absorbed and petty. Not for me.
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An epic story about a resourceful peasant who climbs into being the pharaoh’s favourite concubine. A true rags-to-riches tale. Ultimately, her social climbing gets the best of her and she falls back in spectacular fashion. It didn’t end like I thought it would, but probably more realistically. Thanks, Margie.
2022 reading challenge-3 books set on three different continents-book 2(Egypt :Africa/Asia) -
Después de mucho tiempo, me apetecía leer alguna novela romántica y el tema del antiguo Egipto me gusta desde siempre.
Era exactamente lo que esperaba y lo que buscaba. Una vez empiezas leer y no puedes parar. Cada día cerraba el libro pensando lo que va a suceder a la pequeña Thu. Estoy acostumbrada de que las típicas heroínas de las novelas románticas son descritas como "las buenas" . Las que se ha hecho algún daño pero Thu es diferente. Es buena y mala, es inocente y perversa. Llegué a simpatizar con ella y en dos páginas más adelante la detestaba ...
Esto me confirma otra vez que lo bueno no es tan bueno y lo malo no es tan malo ...
Pero aunque hay que ser realistas, yo anhelaba un final diferente. Mucho más al estilo "happy end" pero no. Puede que si terminase con el típico final feliz recargado, cerraría el libro con cierta satisfacción porque era lo que andaba buscando. Pero he de admitir que Pauline Gedge le dió a la pequeña Thu un final abierto y al cerrar el libro, me dejó un poco furiosa, decepcionada pero a la vez pensativa sobre el problema del poder, del dinero, de la corrupción, de las mentiras y las manipulaciónes . Pero ante todo de la libertad que pasa en muchas ocasiones en nuestras vidas totalmente desapercibida. Desapercibida hasta el momento de que la perdemos, entonces se convierte en algo tan vital como respirar. -
A book about an incredibly shallow Egyptian peasant girl who becomes Pharaoh's concubine and always thinks that she's two steps ahead of all the people using her, but really, she's 5 steps behind. You know it, the author knows it, everyone in the book knows it, and yet, you find yourself getting sucked in and reading on, cringing and wincing your way through the story, and hoping that it doesn't end the way you suspect that it must. If you hate second-hand embarrassment, then this book is not for you.
I didn't think that it was a bad book, in fact, it probably warrants more than 2 stars because the portrayal was probably pretty accurate and I know that the author's fictional story of Hatsheput, a female Eyptian Pharaoh, was painstakingly researched. However, at the end of the day, I'm just not sure that I'd recommend Lady of the Reeds to anyone because I know that I don't want to read it again and I feel like my friends would be annoyed with me for recommending this book to them. Go get Child of the Morning instead, which is phenomenal historical fiction about Egypt, by the same author, with more complex characters.
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Still not quite sure how I felt about this novel. I was really enjoying it until about the end, but I don't want to give any spoilers.
Thu is quite ambitious and ruthless for a peasant Egyptian girl and essentially works her way up to becoming the Pharoah's concubine. She is intelligent and beautiful and eager to carve out a niche of power for herself, however, many other players are eager to do the same.
The historical representation was fairly good, I think. Thu is completely fictional, as far as I know, but Ramses III is quite real and, I guess, knowing his history, I was expecting some other kind of end. It has been on my mind quite a bit since I finished it a few days ago. I keep rehashing all the plot twists- why did she do this or that? Why would he act like that? Why didn't so and so do this? Etc. I actually feel a little angry and can't quite decide if it is in sympathy of the characters, or for my own disillusionment. -
My first Pauline Gedge book, and certainly not my last! Like many other reviews, I fell in and out of love with Thu. I give 5 stars because I love the story and it is exceptionally written. I was on the fence a lot of the time with the main character, Thu. Perhaps that was intentional, in which case, bravo! There was absolutely no point in this book where it became predictable. And at the same time, had I been born a peasant girl thrust into royalty and then found guilty of attempted murder of the king, I can’t say I wouldn’t have done exactly as she had done.
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This was the third reading for me of House of Dreams, by Canadian author, Pauline Gedge. The novel still stands up.
Set in ancient Egypt, House of Dreams takes you through political machinations and the vain dreams of an ambitious and fiesty girl known as Thu. Gedge's ability to raise an ancient world, complete with the arid atmosphere pinching your nose and the feel fine linen on your burning skin is utterly spell-binding. A power-house writer, and a fabulous read. -
Wow. Wow wow wow wow. Without my mom, who told me: "I read this book when I was your age and it has been my favorite for over 30 years", I probably wouldn't have come across this novel. What a book, what an author. What a precious discovery. It's my first time reading egyptian mythology historical fiction, and I'm in love. Starting the 2nd book of this duology right away!
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Esta autora nunca defrauda, pero creo que este libro ha sido el que más me ha gustado hasta ahora. Necesito leer el segundo ya.
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*Slight Spoilers*
Gedge has a way of bringing ancient Egypt to life. The way she describes the most mundane details, like the scent of the oils and incense, just fully immerses you in the story. Even if I don’t care for a particular book by her, I’m always impressed by her writing abilities and the evident research. The research that clearly goes into her books is even more impressive when you realize that most of them were written before the internet. This book is just like any written by her; a well researched and descriptive page turner. However, I do have some issues that kept this from being a five star read. Those issues primarily revolve around the characters but especially the main character, Thu.
Thu was born to a peasant family during the reign of Rameses III. She’s intelligent and wants more out of life than to follow in her midwife mother’s footsteps. As she trains with her mother, she learns about different herbs but that doesn’t satisfy her thirst for knowledge. She convinces her older brother, Pa-ari, to teach her to read against her parents’ wishes. When the seer, Hui, visits her village, she uses her cunning and intelligence to sneak aboard his ship. He’s impressed by the educated young girl with the blue eyes and decides to train her as a healer. What Thu doesn’t know, however, is that Hui plans to train her to be much more than just a healer.
My issue with the Thu is the same issue I had with Hatshepsut from Child of the Morning, she’s simply unlikable. Of course, people in real life are unlikable so it makes sense for characters to be unlikable too BUT when we’re stuck in that character’s head for the entire book, it can be annoying. To have been born into a kind and caring peasant family, Thu is unbelievably selfish and spoiled. When she’s taken into Hui’s house, she’s given every luxury. Instead of staying humble, as you might expect because of her background, she not only becomes accustomed to luxury but expects it. She’s rude to the servants and everyone else but for some reason most of the other characters love her. She’s an Egyptian Mary Sue. She’s the prettiest and oh, so special with her blue eyes. She’s also the smartest and the most cunning… at least that’s what she thinks.
Unfortunately, Thu is too self absorbed and immature to realize that almost every person around her is using her for their own gain. You can’t help but feel sorry for her because while she is unlikable, she’s also a child that’s being manipulated by the adults around her. Hui and his circle of friends want to influence the politics of the kingdom. They plan to do this from the inside by using Thu. Hui brings Thu before the Pharaoh, knowing he would be attracted to her rare beauty.
Gedge doesn’t shy away from the gritty details of history and so this fourteen year old child becomes the concubine of forty-five year old Rameses III. From here, I wouldn’t say the book was boring but it was never as exciting as I wanted it to be, despite there being a literal murder plot. Thu had her likable moments but overall, she’s just not endearing and the same goes for all the other characters. However, the ending was shocking enough that it made me want to read the sequel, House of Illusions, despite not being in love with this book.
For other reviews, go to
https://thebookandbeautyblog.com/ -
Slow burn historical fiction and what is essentially a coming-of-age story for a young woman in Middle Kingdom Egypt. Come for the rags-to-riches story, stay for the personal drama and royal intrigue.
The story is more character-driven that plot-driven, and it’s a decent character study given that the main character Thu’s greatest strengths are also her greatest flaws: pride, selfishness, vanity. This makes her difficult to like at times, and many of her choices would make you shake her head like, “girl, why don’t you have some restraint” until you realise that’s basically who she is. This is also why it is so easy for her mentor and his allies to take advantage of her ambition to further her for their own political gain.
The middle of this book drags a little, I had to start another book so I could avoid the reading slump I was definitely starting to feel, but the setting of Ancient Egypt definitely comes to life in this novel, and that is what I liked the most. Most of it was beautifully rendered, but there are some moments where my historian self would go “that would definitely not happen” or “why is this word used”. And since this was written two decades ago, there is a minor gay character here whose treatment is not really favourable enough to give it the term representation.
CW: murder, themes of classism, colourism, period-typical sexism, emotional/psychological manipulation by a mentor-figure over a young girl, pregnancy, and mentions of slavery (Egypt was a highly stratified society and they had a multitude of slaves, although contrary to popular belief they were not all Hebrew, but if you are sensitive to descriptions of slaves I suggest skipping this book) -
Sharp, shrewd and ambitious, Thu chafes at the limits of life in her small village, Aswat, on the banks of the Nile. She resents the fact that her beloved brother Pa-ari is allowed to go to school at the Temple of Wepwawet, where he is learning to become a scribe, while Thu has to content herself with learning to follow her mother’s trade as a herbalist and midwife. What alternative does she have? This is the 12th century BC, in the reign of Pharaoh Ramses III, and young women have limited say in their own destiny; but her family haven’t reckoned with Thu’s steely determination. This engaging novel, the first of a two-part series, draws us into the inexorable rise of a protagonist who is by turns strikingly naive and astonishingly manipulative, occasionally irritating, but always intriguing. Inspired by the Harem Conspiracy of 1155 BC, it’s the first of Pauline Gedge’s books that I’ve read and offers an enjoyable glimpse of Ancient Egypt seen through the eyes of a novelist who has made the period her speciality...
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2019/11/04/h... -
The author has such a way with words in depicting scenarios in Ancient Egypt. I love history, but my favorite of all is studying Ancient Egypt. In no means I am an expert, but the novel made me learn more in depth about Ancient Egypt that no other history books have given me.
First, I like the setting, the culture, the way of life depicted by the author. It made me imagine what the cultural climate was like. Thu's father made me think he was a Viking, or a Gaul, or someone belonging to the northern countries. The book said that the possibility is that he belonged to the Lubi tribe, but I searched it and found nothing about them. Makes me wonder what kind of books the author used for research.
I did not like what happened to Thu, that in the end, she was banished back to Aswat. -
Thu is a Scarlet O'Hara of ancient Egypt! She is not a likable person - ruthless, ambitious, unscrupulous, vain, greedy - but you have to admire her tenacity and determination. She lives by Winston Churchill maxim - never, ever, ever give up. However hard she is knocked down, she gets up again. I just finished the 1st book and she is brought lower than ever but already makes plans to get back to the top. Those plans are mostly delusions but it takes an unshakable belief in yourself to dare to dream sometimes. She is the consummate survivor - so on to the book #2 and new adventures!
GO THU!!!
