ultimatecryptid's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Not my cup of tea. Told through a biographical lens, with the framing device of a young man interviewing influential members of Akhenaten's court (each chapter is from one of their perspectives), I ultimately found the prose uninteresting and lackluster, and very preachy.
anna108's review against another edition
4.0
A small book that slowly captivates with its gentle magic.
The narrator’s journey became mine as well, looking for truth while finding only beauty. Which is more truthful: beauty/light/love or harsh reality? Are people who see the harsh reality more clairvoyant or simply too cynical?
I like how the story allows space for the narrator and the reader in turn to come to their own conclusions.
It’s not the best translation, but clear that the writing songs in the original Arabic.
The narrator’s journey became mine as well, looking for truth while finding only beauty. Which is more truthful: beauty/light/love or harsh reality? Are people who see the harsh reality more clairvoyant or simply too cynical?
I like how the story allows space for the narrator and the reader in turn to come to their own conclusions.
It’s not the best translation, but clear that the writing songs in the original Arabic.
captainfez's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ktwesty_'s review against another edition
4.0
Easy to read and you learn a lot about the pharaoh of Egypt Akhenaten- and even his wife Nefertiti.
omaradel's review
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
merlaux's review against another edition
“God will preserve, and his joy will fill the universe. But we, his humble creation, will never be free of our little sorrows.”
mariellais'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