(no subject)

[elleflies]

I'm vastly upset that I will be missing Supernatural tonight. It is thursday back in the states yes? With my impending relocation I'm going to be missing a lot of shows because getting cable and internet hooked up is apparently a very hard thing to do (So yeah, regala_electra you may be seeing a lot more of me.

We went to downtown Kuwait City today to shop and our car driver dumped us in the middle of nowhere. Two very pale, blond haired, light-eyed girls in western dress trundling around asking where the Kentucky Fried Chicken was. Much fun. Oddly enough, it still felt safter then like the Bronx. I can't wait to get to Germany where I blend in so much better and have at least a basic (extremely basic) grasp of the language.

*twiddles thumbs*

I don't know what I'm going to do to keep myself busy for the next 10 hours...

I'm going to start reviewing books on this lj, I read so many books and write up reviews in a notebook that I figure I'll just share.




The Hippopotamus Marsh
Lords of the Two Lands, Vol 1
by Pauline Gedge


I borrowed this book off a co-worker. It was one of those "this is really good, you must read it!" books, like so many are it seems. Honestly, I borrowed it because I'm a sucker for books on Ancient Egypt. It's a fascinating culture in its customs and practices, completely overwhelming and mysterious to our modern way of thinking. Some of the novels I've read on Ancient Egypt have a difficult time making the characters relatable. Invariably all the books seem to be about Queens and Kings and Nobles and it is very hard to to relate to someone with that lifestyle. The thing that impressed me the most with Gedge's book was how she took an Egyptian family of high birth and made them relatable. Granted, some of it was beyond the realm of comprehension, such as the incest, but that is less the authors fault and more a quirk of Ancient Egyptian culture. At least the author was honest in her portrayal of such quirks that are so repulsive to modern society. I could see in this family the loves and gripes that seem to make up every family.

The book was a solid read from start to finish although it began a little slow and took some time to get going, but once it did, it was an engaging read. I was really impressed with the subject matter Gedge decided to portray. I've only read one other novel dealing with the Hyksos and I had to slog through it. In the general history of Ancient Egypt the Hyksos are a footnote, overshadowed by the likes of Rameses, King Tuts and Anknaten among others. I'd known they took over Egypt for a period of about 200 years but was never sure how that came about or how it ended. Judging by the appendices the author did quite a bit of research so if she tried to be as historically accurate as possible then this book did a better job of explaining the Hyksos presence and how the hereditary Kings of Egypt once again began the quest to regain the crown. One of my personal issues with the book was the abrubt change in tenses the author used when characters were thinking to themselves. It was a bit jarring at first and I thought Gedge could have used a bit more finesse when using the technique. She also falls prey, in the same way so many other authors do, to overly graphic descriptions of Egypt: the country and culture.

This was a really good read. The plot and characters were engaging and the novel kept building and building. It was a nice cover about a little known period of Egyptian history.

I'd give it 4 out of 5 bugs (I refuse to use stars as I am the bug lady. Or so my friends tell me)

Comments

[elrina753.livejournal.com]

As much as I love Germany, that's a resounding no *g*

I'm moving out of Manhattan and into Queens. I've been all hush-hush about it because the situation with the roommate had gone from worse to horrible and since we have mutual friends on each others flists... well, being overly chatty about it is not so much of a good idea.

Although considering how much time I've spent in Germany lately it feels like I've relocated there.

[veracity]

Aw, I was hoping for you. *grins*

Ah, okay. See, I don't feel so bad for not knowing. But I'm sorry it happened, especially at a time when you're all gone for majority of the week and all. *hugs*

You should like rent a locker or something and keep all your crap in one. For in between all those extended visits.

[(Anonymous)]

I wouldn't mind living in Germany. The food is good, the people are nice and the boys are pretty. And someday I might understand more then just basic German.

Thanks, Only sucky thing is I'm going to be internet-less for almost 2 weeks and without cable tv for even longer because the person who lived in the apartment before me didn't pay their last bill and I have to prove him I say I am *curses!*

T'would be nice, but sadly we are all over the country (I'm going to Nuremburg! Yay no more Leipzig!)

[veracity]

I would hate it, but I think you're more inclined to like it. *grins* Hence the whole "But you'd be perfect there!"

Oh, man. Well, wait. Do you get the CW (damn it, it'll always be "The WB" to me) on basic tv? You might could catch a few shows at least. Maybe.

Dang it. They should have little lockers or something y'all. To stow away the toothbrushes and stuff.