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Nefertiti
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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 anci
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Hardcover, 463 pages
Published
July 10th 2007
by Crown Publishing Group
(first published 2007)
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Sep 11, 2008
Ahmad Sharabiani
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
fiction,
united-states,
romance,
egyptian-culture,
ancient,
historical,
20th-century,
adult
Nefertiti, Michelle Moran
When the Crown Prince of Egypt needs a wife, the beautiful, charismatic, ambitious and connected Nefertiti is his mother's first choice. She quickly becomes accustomed to the opulence of her new life.
As Queen of the world's first great empire at the height of its power, all her dreams are realized. Beguiling and wilful, Nefertiti is soon as powerful as the Pharaoh himself.
But when her husband breaks with a thousand years of tradition, defying the priests and the milita ...more
When the Crown Prince of Egypt needs a wife, the beautiful, charismatic, ambitious and connected Nefertiti is his mother's first choice. She quickly becomes accustomed to the opulence of her new life.
As Queen of the world's first great empire at the height of its power, all her dreams are realized. Beguiling and wilful, Nefertiti is soon as powerful as the Pharaoh himself.
But when her husband breaks with a thousand years of tradition, defying the priests and the milita ...more
UGH...PFFT...HEAD SHAKE and a wind-rustling SIGH about sums up my feelings for this MEHstorical bore festival. For this level of detail on life in ancient Egypt, I could have stuck with:
*** By the way, for those taking a trip down Nostalgia Boulevard right now seeing Steve Martin’s SNL masterpiece, I have added the lyrics in a spoiler so that those who don’t care can skip over it…otherwise…enjoy…
(view spoiler) ...more
*** By the way, for those taking a trip down Nostalgia Boulevard right now seeing Steve Martin’s SNL masterpiece, I have added the lyrics in a spoiler so that those who don’t care can skip over it…otherwise…enjoy…
(view spoiler) ...more
Oct 30, 2008
Annie
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Ancient History Fans
Diana Gabaldon tagged this debut novel 'Compulsively readable!' and she's not far off the mark. I'm sure I won't be the first blogger to draw this comparison but this book was like The Other Boleyn Girl - Egyptian style - and for three main reasons:
Firstly, thematically. For as much as this was a novel of sisters, it was a novel of rivals. Moran demonstrated unflinchingly the horrible acts women are capable of commiting to gain power over one another through Nefertiti and her dealings with Kiya ...more
Firstly, thematically. For as much as this was a novel of sisters, it was a novel of rivals. Moran demonstrated unflinchingly the horrible acts women are capable of commiting to gain power over one another through Nefertiti and her dealings with Kiya ...more
Remind me next time I'm looking for a new book NOT to buy one that is advertised on perezhilton.com! I should have known what I'd be getting myself into...
This was totally a summer beach read - although next time, I will wait for paperback (too heavy)! I felt like it was just ALL dialogue ALL the time - the author never went into too much detail in her description of places, people, etc (this reminds me of my high school English teachers constantly telling us to "show, not tell" in our writing) ...more
This was totally a summer beach read - although next time, I will wait for paperback (too heavy)! I felt like it was just ALL dialogue ALL the time - the author never went into too much detail in her description of places, people, etc (this reminds me of my high school English teachers constantly telling us to "show, not tell" in our writing) ...more
Nov 27, 2008
Patrícia
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
l-portuguese,
g-historical-fiction
This book was rather disappointing.
The story of Nefertiti and Akhenaton, two of Ancient Egypt's most emblematic leaders was always one of my favorites. Perhaps because of this, I had very high expectations for this book... and in the end, they weren't met.
According to several summaries I've read about this book, "Nefertiti" tells the story of the Royal (or First) Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaton and it's also somewhat biographic. I was always a little dubius about the "biographic nature" of the book, a ...more
The story of Nefertiti and Akhenaton, two of Ancient Egypt's most emblematic leaders was always one of my favorites. Perhaps because of this, I had very high expectations for this book... and in the end, they weren't met.
According to several summaries I've read about this book, "Nefertiti" tells the story of the Royal (or First) Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaton and it's also somewhat biographic. I was always a little dubius about the "biographic nature" of the book, a ...more
Sep 04, 2008
Susan
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
No one
Shelves:
fiction,
historical
I am a great fan of (well done) historical fiction - Gabaldon, Gulland and Koen all come instantly to mind - but this certainly doesn't come close to any of them. In fact, I never got beyond the first 50 or 60 pages. I've had a lifelong love affair with ancient Egypt, especially the Armana period, and I've never seen it depicted quite like this. Amunhotep (Ahknaten) was depicted as a headstrong, foolish kid,bad enough, but where oh where did she come up with her idea of Nefertiti's character? Va
...more
This is the first book I have read by Michelle Moran. I knew very little about Queen Nefertiti before reading this book. I have learned a wealth of information from it.
Michelle has written a very interesting portrayal of Nefertiti. It is told in the voice of Mutnodjmet, her sister. It is the story of sisters and family obligations.
This tale begins when Tutmosis the crown prince is lying in his death bed and his brother Akhenaten is the only witness to his death. There is much speculation and my ...more
Michelle has written a very interesting portrayal of Nefertiti. It is told in the voice of Mutnodjmet, her sister. It is the story of sisters and family obligations.
This tale begins when Tutmosis the crown prince is lying in his death bed and his brother Akhenaten is the only witness to his death. There is much speculation and my ...more
Three stars for me, but only because of the second half of the book. I knew nothing of Queen Nefertiti prior to reading this. Her rise to power in Egypt is quite interesting. Along with her husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten, they created religious upheaval in Egypt by worshiping the god Aten. It would be really interesting to read some non-fiction regarding her. The parts of the story dealing with Nefertiti's sister Mutnodjmet I really enjoyed. This book leans a bit chick lit but I didn't mind too much
...more
Nov 17, 2016
Bren
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of Historical Fiction
“You can't change the desert. You can only take the fastest course through it. Wishing it's an oasis won't make it so...”
― Michelle Moran, Nefertiti
This is the first book I have ever read about Nefertiti. It was a great read.
It takes the reader through Nefertiti's whole life.I did not know much about before reading this book. It was particularly wonderful at setting the mood and taking us inside her world.
I have read other books by this author and she is great at Historical Fiction. But I part ...more
― Michelle Moran, Nefertiti
This is the first book I have ever read about Nefertiti. It was a great read.
It takes the reader through Nefertiti's whole life.I did not know much about before reading this book. It was particularly wonderful at setting the mood and taking us inside her world.
I have read other books by this author and she is great at Historical Fiction. But I part ...more
This particular historical fiction book reminded me a lot of what occurred in the lives of sisters Anne and Mary Boleyn in Philippa Gregory's book, The Other Boleyn Girl, except with an Egyptian twist. It's easy to picture 1351 BC from Moran's vivid descriptions and use of various Egyptian words. This is Moran's version of Nefertiti's tale, told through the eyes of her younger sister, Mutnodjmet. For the most part, everything that occurs regarding Nefertiti is assumed. She may have been crowned
...more
Jul 13, 2010
Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
favourite-books,
historical-fiction
From page one I was sold - same as with Michelle Moran's two other books. She just has a way of drawing in the reader and keeping their focus from the first page to the ver last. And not just that, with her great, historical novels about Ancient Egypt she again arises awareness of the once so great and mighty Empire. I found myself Google-ing all of the characters in this book, and the two others, to learn more about them all.
'Nefertiti' is not a book easil forgotten. And to me, that is the ulti ...more
'Nefertiti' is not a book easil forgotten. And to me, that is the ulti ...more
Fairly weak novel with sketchy historical research.
An enjoyable historical fiction about the ambitious Nefertiti, who married the heir and future pharaoh Akhenaton. Much is obscure about that period of Egypt's history, so Michelle Moran's creativity comes forth in Nefertiti as she pictures a time of political intrigue, the building of a new city, art flourishing to all end up with a spectacular downfall. An interesting and absorbing historical fiction that provides a window into the sophisticated lifestyle back in 1300 B.C.
...more
Oct 31, 2008
Alaine
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Alaine by:
Annie
What I found to be fascinating about this book is that compared to other periods in history i.e. Tudor England, very little is known about it. Michelle Moran has woven an interesting and credible tale. What an amazing imagination she has!
This story is told in first person by Mutny, Nefertiti's younger sister. As a character Nefertiti has been portrayed as a beautiful and passionate woman, who will go to any lengths to get what she wants. There are many characters in this novel and I must confess ...more
This story is told in first person by Mutny, Nefertiti's younger sister. As a character Nefertiti has been portrayed as a beautiful and passionate woman, who will go to any lengths to get what she wants. There are many characters in this novel and I must confess ...more
The cover art lied to me. The beautiful portrait on the front suggested to me that someone took a look at the real life bust of the queen revered for her beauty and finally decided to write a story about black Egyptian royalty. If we're not talking about the Helenistic dynasty (the line of Cleopatras and Ptolenmys) I don't want to hear about them being white. And even then, because of Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt, Cleopatra came from a long line of inbred Greeks and Macedonians. Yet,
...more
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Why have I waited so long to read this book? No need for a lengthy review. I don't have anything to say that isn't already said in the thousands of reviews this book has. I devoured this book in about 24 hours. It was addicting. ...more
Why have I waited so long to read this book? No need for a lengthy review. I don't have anything to say that isn't already said in the thousands of reviews this book has. I devoured this book in about 24 hours. It was addicting. ...more
This is exactly the kind of historical fiction that I dislike: the kind where the writer thinks choosing an exotic character will sell the book for him/her and any writing effort is optional. So even if I ignore the fact that this novel pays attention to history and culture as much as an average Hollywood blockbuster (meaning not at all), I cannot ignore the fact that the story itself is not very good. It was boring to read, more than a little naive and the characters weren't appealing either. I
...more
Jul 15, 2008
Shannon (Giraffe Days)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
2009
Egypt, 1351 BCE. Fifteen year old Nefertiti and her thirteen year old sister, Mutnodjmet, are the daughters and only children of the Vizier Ay, brother to the Queen of Egypt, Tiye. The prince of Egypt and Pharaoh's heir, Tuthmosis, is dead - possibly murdered by his younger and much less liked brother, Amunhotep. With no other heir, Amunhotep is made Crown Prince and Tiye goes to her brother's family for a Chief Wife for him: Nefertiti. Both Ay and Tiye need Nefertiti to control Amunhotep, who t
...more
It’s 1351 BCE. Tuthmosis, the older brother of Amunhotep is dead and the wise men of Egypt have concluded that Amunhotep has killed his brother for power, to become the pharaoh.
And as the author Michelle Moran puts it
Whatever the truth, that night the crown prince, Tuthmosis, dies, and a new crown prince rose to take his place.
Thus begins the story of greed, unlimited power, dirty politics and one family’s journey into royalty.Nefertiti is chosen by Amunhotep’s mother and her aunt as his wife an ...more
And as the author Michelle Moran puts it
Whatever the truth, that night the crown prince, Tuthmosis, dies, and a new crown prince rose to take his place.
Thus begins the story of greed, unlimited power, dirty politics and one family’s journey into royalty.Nefertiti is chosen by Amunhotep’s mother and her aunt as his wife an ...more
It's not a bad book, but it's not Pauline Gedge. Narrator here is too much of a prefect princess.
However, Moran does get points for research. ...more
Contrary to what some other reviewers have said, I found this to be a very poorly-researched book. While there is, of course, very little information available about the personalities of people who lived so long ago, there is certainly a good deal of information about this period and these people, from which one can draw some intelligent inferences about what they were like, as people. And these characters simply do not fit the available historical data. Nefertiti, for example, is portrayed by M
...more
I am still reeling from this delicious book! Power, royalty, wealth and a sweet love story all rolled into one, this book swept me up and did not put me down until the last page of the preview to the sequel. Told through the eyes of Nefertiti's younger sister, Mutnodjmet, who was the exact opposite of her - but both were compelling and strong characters. I couldn't help but liken Nefertiti to Anne Boleyn: both driven by their families and their own ambitions for power, both used religion to seal
...more
I think a better title for this novel might have been,
"Mutnodjmet, The Chief Wife's Sister."
If your able to endure the entire story, you will become well acquainted with that phrase. You never get to really know Nefertiti, or what she is thinking, but you do get to witness one whiny temper tantrum after another. I lost count how many times Mutnodjmet had to break down and cry.
Strangely Pharaoh's court seems to lack physicians until 13 year old Mutnodjmet arrives with her knowledge of healing ...more
"Mutnodjmet, The Chief Wife's Sister."
If your able to endure the entire story, you will become well acquainted with that phrase. You never get to really know Nefertiti, or what she is thinking, but you do get to witness one whiny temper tantrum after another. I lost count how many times Mutnodjmet had to break down and cry.
Strangely Pharaoh's court seems to lack physicians until 13 year old Mutnodjmet arrives with her knowledge of healing ...more
Yuck yuck yuck. Sorry, I must not be in line with the New York best seller's list's standards. This was poorly written, the characters weren't believable, and the main character was especially 'catty' and 13-year-oldish/Disney showish. What a very tedious book to get through. I kept reading, hoping it would redeem itself (I'd never read an Egyptian novel and really wanted to enjoy it), but boy oh boy did it ever flop! I'm definitely avoiding Moran's writing from hear on out. There are just too m
...more
Another great story by Michelle Moran!
4/2019: reread
Reading this the second time, I still feel it's a 4 star read. A good his fic: good story and I feel like I learned a lot about something I know very little about. ...more
4/2019: reread
Reading this the second time, I still feel it's a 4 star read. A good his fic: good story and I feel like I learned a lot about something I know very little about. ...more
Feb 13, 2011
Iset
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Children Aged 8 - 12
Recommended to Iset by:
No one
The plot revolves around the lives of two sisters, Nefertiti and Mutnodjmet. Since it is written in first person perspective from the point of view of Mutnodjmet, she is the protagonist and narrator, although in the setting in which she moves, Nefertiti is the focus of everyone's attention and the action of the story. Most of the plot revolves around Nefertiti's scheming to hold onto her position and gain further power, and Mutnodjmet's struggle to break free from her sister's influence. There a
...more
This is my first time reading this author... I really enjoyed this historical fiction. The book takes you from when Nefertiti was chosen to be the wife of the pharaoh of Egypt. The treachery that being in high power brought with it. It was fun fact checking the events that took place during this time period while reading it. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Michelle Moran is no Philippa Gregory. Her book seems to reach for it, bringing the idea of a historical and controversial queen to the readers intimacy with the relationship she has with her sister. I will give her credit for the research involved which was probably a lot harder to procure than Tudor knowledge but then again, it warrants that half of what I am reading might be made up. In fact, reading through a historical account of Nefertiti after completion of the book has left me wondering
...more
Dec 06, 2007
Lynn
rated it
liked it
Recommends it for:
people who are bored.
Recommended to Lynn by:
A friend
At first the back cover had me ready to read when I saw "meticulously researched" stated by the Boston Globe's review on the back. I tore through it in 9 hours because it was such an easy read. While the story was decent, I was rather disappointed.
Although her character portrayal was good, she never really made me SEE Egypt. It also lacked the one thing every other "meticulously researched" book on ancient Egypt lacks. No one ever> uses the actual Kemetic names of cities or gods. If it was so w ...more
Although her character portrayal was good, she never really made me SEE Egypt. It also lacked the one thing every other "meticulously researched" book on ancient Egypt lacks. No one ever> uses the actual Kemetic names of cities or gods. If it was so w ...more
“Nefertiti” was an interesting take on a highly unusual Egyptian time and family. It was a time of change and just as Mut and Nefertiti were changing the whole Egyptian world was changing with them. I applaud Michelle Moran for writing a novel on a woman is still for all intents and purposes an enigma to us. Akhenaten’s unpopular decision to replace Amen with Aten lead to his name and that of his family being erased from history. As a result, little information is available on Nefertiti, but Mor
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play Book Tag: Nefertiti - Michelle Moran - 4.5 Stars | 3 | 13 | Sep 23, 2019 10:35AM | |
| Play Book Tag: Nefertiti/Michelle Moran/4.5 Stars | 5 | 13 | Apr 25, 2019 04:10AM | |
| Play Book Tag: Nefertiti 4 stars | 6 | 20 | Apr 22, 2016 03:53PM | |
| 2017 Reading Chal...: Nefertiti | 3 | 23 | May 05, 2015 02:40PM |
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Michelle Moran is the international bestselling author of six historical novels, including Madame Tussaud, which was optioned for a mini-series in 2011. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages.
A native of southern California, Michelle attended Pomona ...more
Michelle Moran is the international bestselling author of six historical novels, including Madame Tussaud, which was optioned for a mini-series in 2011. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages.
A native of southern California, Michelle attended Pomona ...more
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