mariellis's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting read, but something about it felt very lacking and one dimensional.
All of the people that believe in the multiple gods are bad and greedy people, and all of the people who believe in the one god are all good and holy. The author was Muslim, so it is not surprising that his fews would lean in that direction.
The idea of Akhenaten being a precursor to Muhammad is actually an interesting idea, I just wish things were explored in a more nuanced way.
That being said, I enjoyed the structure of the novel with the chapters focusing on the different views of the characters. The novel does a great job presenting the difficulty in trying to find the truth, and how the past can be precieved entirely differently depending on various points of view and experiences.
All of the people that believe in the multiple gods are bad and greedy people, and all of the people who believe in the one god are all good and holy. The author was Muslim, so it is not surprising that his fews would lean in that direction.
The idea of Akhenaten being a precursor to Muhammad is actually an interesting idea, I just wish things were explored in a more nuanced way.
That being said, I enjoyed the structure of the novel with the chapters focusing on the different views of the characters. The novel does a great job presenting the difficulty in trying to find the truth, and how the past can be precieved entirely differently depending on various points of view and experiences.
colleenf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Incest
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
tomkipp's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
amarj33t_5ingh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An incongruous young aristocrat catches a fleeting glimpse of an utopian city slowly devolving into ruins. Mystified, he inquires from his father its origins and thus begins Akhenaten.
The aristocrat, a refined historiographer, meets with several of the deceased heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten's contemporaries. His commander in chief of the Armed forces; his chief of Police; the High Priest of his monotheistic faith; his powerful wife; his in-laws and several others who furnish conflicting accounts of the man whose religious mania almost destroyed classic Egypt.
Who is lying and who is truthful? Mahfouz weaves an intriguing tapestry of words which ultimately ends with a startling conclusion. A fine engrossing read.
The aristocrat, a refined historiographer, meets with several of the deceased heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten's contemporaries. His commander in chief of the Armed forces; his chief of Police; the High Priest of his monotheistic faith; his powerful wife; his in-laws and several others who furnish conflicting accounts of the man whose religious mania almost destroyed classic Egypt.
Who is lying and who is truthful? Mahfouz weaves an intriguing tapestry of words which ultimately ends with a startling conclusion. A fine engrossing read.
omar_adel's review against another edition
5.0
انقطعت عن القراءة و الكتابة لمدة تصل الي اكثر من ثلاث سنوات حاولت فيهم العودة بكل السبل كتباً إثر كتاب من قراءة القصص القصيرة الي الروايات و الكتب، لكني لم فشلت حتي قرأت العائش في الحقيقة، بإختصار شديد تتحدث الرواية عن الفترة الحرجة التي مرت بها كمت -مصر حاليا- بعد وفاة امنحتب الثالث و تولي إبنه امنحتب الرابع و المعروف باسم اخناتون، كانت حرجة بسبب كفر اخناتون بإله ابيه و كبير الاله امون و ايمانه بـ اتون و قد ظن ابويه و خاصة امه "تيي" بان زواجه من نفرتيتي قد يعقله و كان الامر علي النقيض تماما فقد تبعته نفتريتي من قبل أن تراه من كلام ابيها عنه فأمنت باتون ثم بدعوته الجديده فيذكر ان بعد ايمان اخناتون باتون، تجلي له صوت اله جديد يدعوه الي عبادته بانه الاله الواحد الأحد و كبير الاله و تاريخيا تتشابه انشايد اخناتون بمزامير النبي داود فهل كان اخناتون موحد باله الاديان السماوية ؟ فتحكي الرواية رحلة اخناتون كصبي يشبه الإناث و تمرده علي امون و ايمانه باتون ثم رسالته الدينية الجديده و حربه ضد الكهنه وسقوط مدينة النور " اخت اتون".
اتبعت الرواية طريقة السرد المكرر فتحكي القصة علي ألسنة من عاشر اخناتون من كبير الكهنه، وزيره، قائد الدفاع عن الحدود و آخرون حتي نتفرتيتي زوجته و قصة هجرها له في اخر ايامه في محاولة للوصول للحقيقة، و كل من ابطال قصتنا يدعون ان ما يقولنه الحقيقة و غير ذلك افتراء فتكرهه في فصل ثم تتعاطف معه في الفصل الاخر حتي تكون نظرتك الخاصة بيه، و علي الرغم من ان طريقة السرد توحي بالملل الا ان نجيب اجاد سردها و تفادي تكرار المعلومات و ابتعد عن المط و التطويل و لم يكشف نجيب كل اوراقه من اول فصل بل بعد كل فصل يطرح اسئلة جديده و يجيب علي اخري قديمة
ارشحها بشده
اتبعت الرواية طريقة السرد المكرر فتحكي القصة علي ألسنة من عاشر اخناتون من كبير الكهنه، وزيره، قائد الدفاع عن الحدود و آخرون حتي نتفرتيتي زوجته و قصة هجرها له في اخر ايامه في محاولة للوصول للحقيقة، و كل من ابطال قصتنا يدعون ان ما يقولنه الحقيقة و غير ذلك افتراء فتكرهه في فصل ثم تتعاطف معه في الفصل الاخر حتي تكون نظرتك الخاصة بيه، و علي الرغم من ان طريقة السرد توحي بالملل الا ان نجيب اجاد سردها و تفادي تكرار المعلومات و ابتعد عن المط و التطويل و لم يكشف نجيب كل اوراقه من اول فصل بل بعد كل فصل يطرح اسئلة جديده و يجيب علي اخري قديمة
ارشحها بشده
krishnalover_nb's review against another edition
3.0
Akhenaten : Dweller in Truth
By Naguib Mahfouz
Find my review at this link to my blog:
https://sravikabodapati.blogspot.com/2021/08/akhenaten-dweller-in-truth-by-naguib.html
By Naguib Mahfouz
Find my review at this link to my blog:
https://sravikabodapati.blogspot.com/2021/08/akhenaten-dweller-in-truth-by-naguib.html
mmarques's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This novel provides a fascinating portrait of the pharaoh Akhenaten and those around him. Each chapter gives the story from a different character‘s viewpoint.
jayteenun's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75