byashleylamar's review against another edition
5.0
The Twelve Rooms of the Nile by Enid Shomer is a beautiful and well-written historical novel about the exploration of Egypt by French Author Gustave Flaubert and Englishwoman Florence Nightingale. While historical facts never confirm that Flaubert and Nightingale ever crossed paths while on their exploration journeys Ms. Shomer weaves a poetic dream of a “what-if” story. The imagery Ms. Shomer paints with her words is outstanding. I could see every detail of this trip as though I was watching the story unfold through my window. The ships, the flags, the dress, the Nile river, the Egyptian pyramids and monuments were all described with exacting detail. It was highly descriptive, but not boring. The entire story read like a dream and I didn’t want it to ever end.
From the opening paragraph I knew this book was going to be a dream. Instead of reading words on a page I felt as though I was watching written watercolors paint out a fantasy for me. The Twelve Rooms of the Nile is poetic prose about two unique souls in an exotic land. It is a book I wanted to re-open to read again as soon as I closed the last page. In a word, this book was mesmerizing.
From the opening paragraph I knew this book was going to be a dream. Instead of reading words on a page I felt as though I was watching written watercolors paint out a fantasy for me. The Twelve Rooms of the Nile is poetic prose about two unique souls in an exotic land. It is a book I wanted to re-open to read again as soon as I closed the last page. In a word, this book was mesmerizing.
nicolebonia's review against another edition
4.0
Shomer provides fascinating insight in the Nightingale and Flaubert, and is no less dazzling in her descriptions of the culture, food, clothing and traditions of the different people and guides the parties encounter on their sojourn on the Nile. Each of her sentences is imbued with intellectualism, history, philosophy snappy repartee and fascinating historical tidbits. Shomer’s thorough research is stunning, and sometimes daunting even as she creates a plausible connection between Nightingale and Flaubert. My only complaint with this beautifully written and compelling debut is the intensity of the narrative, which felt overwhelmingly packed at times. Recommended.
stacialithub's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Filled with lovely prose & luscious descriptions, "The Twelve Rooms of the Nile" is an intricately-researched historical fiction novel. I thoroughly enjoyed Shomer's detailed depictions of both Florence Nightingale & Gustave Flaubert, as well as her gorgeous descriptions of Egypt itself. Seemingly, quite a few people have enjoyed the sections about Nightingale more than the ones about Flaubert; I have the opposite opinion -- I enjoyed the parts about Flaubert & sometimes felt slightly vexed at Nightingale's intermittent whiny attitude. Shomer's writing is lovely & complex (at times more of an extended character sketch than much of a plot).... Recommended especially for lovers of historical fiction &/or Victorian-style travelogues in exotic locales.
emilylovesflowers's review against another edition
2.0
This book was mostly dull and the characters overly sentimental and driveling. They whined and had tantrums like children and were dripping with self pity. I would not recommend.
slferg's review against another edition
4.0
A novel about Florence Nightingale and Gustave Flaubert based on the fact that both explored Egypt and the Nile with identical agendas at the same time.
This novel takes these two historical figures and has them meet in Egypt on the Nile sightseeing. Conversations are created from study of the diaries/journals of both. A most fascinating encounter that never happened. The story seems to stay true to the individuals and their characters - I guess because of the use of the journals and reference materials. Masterfully written, I sorta wish it had happened as Shomer tells the story.
This encounter was before Florence decided to defy her family and become a major figure in the care of the sick and before Flaubert wrote Madame Bovary.
This novel takes these two historical figures and has them meet in Egypt on the Nile sightseeing. Conversations are created from study of the diaries/journals of both. A most fascinating encounter that never happened. The story seems to stay true to the individuals and their characters - I guess because of the use of the journals and reference materials. Masterfully written, I sorta wish it had happened as Shomer tells the story.
This encounter was before Florence decided to defy her family and become a major figure in the care of the sick and before Flaubert wrote Madame Bovary.
the_local_dialect's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this book but it took me way too long to finish and I was disappointed in the ending. I feel like for all of that build-up, more should have happened.
jillmwald's review
1.0
There needs to be 0 stars. I wouldn't have finished it at all if it weren't for book club.
flogigyahoo's review
3.0
In 1849 Florence Nightingale, frustrated and suffocating at the life she must lead due to her class and gender travels together with friends and her maid, to Egypt to see the archeological excavations along the Nile. At the same time, Gustave Flaubert, frustrated too by his certainty that his first book is bad, travels on a similar journey with a friend ostensibly to record some of the findings. There is no record that they met on this journey, yet Enid Shomer has them meet, become friends and tells a fictional story of their relationship.
Enid Shomer writes extremely well. Her family name is Hebrew and her dedication is to Nira, Mike, Oren and Paula (the first 3 typical Israeli Hebrew names) which tantalized and the reason I chose the book in the first place, but I could not find out where she got it.
I enjoyed the first 170 odd pages very much. Flo and Gustave, meet, part, meet, part and hold long conversations at each meeting while traveling to various excavations which are fascinating had they been true. By the time of their third meeting and despite quite a bit of humor on the part of the Flaubert character, I had to give up. At my age I can't see myself reading of long hypothetical conversations for 459 pages no matter how well written. I know I miss something by stopping here but I also know that Flaubert will go on to write Madame Bovary, that Flo finds her vocation at the end of this book. This is Shomer's first novel. I will wait for her next one and hope it's one I can enjoy from beginning to end.
Enid Shomer writes extremely well. Her family name is Hebrew and her dedication is to Nira, Mike, Oren and Paula (the first 3 typical Israeli Hebrew names) which tantalized and the reason I chose the book in the first place, but I could not find out where she got it.
I enjoyed the first 170 odd pages very much. Flo and Gustave, meet, part, meet, part and hold long conversations at each meeting while traveling to various excavations which are fascinating had they been true. By the time of their third meeting and despite quite a bit of humor on the part of the Flaubert character, I had to give up. At my age I can't see myself reading of long hypothetical conversations for 459 pages no matter how well written. I know I miss something by stopping here but I also know that Flaubert will go on to write Madame Bovary, that Flo finds her vocation at the end of this book. This is Shomer's first novel. I will wait for her next one and hope it's one I can enjoy from beginning to end.
gossamerchild's review
3.0
3.5 stars. A fictionalized meeting between Florence Nightingale and Gustave Flaubert. The concept intrigued me, though I know little about Flaubert. I found Florence Nightingale to be...really annoying and also truly endearing at the same time. Her struggles to do what she thought she was called to do and also be a dutiful daughter-it seemed really true to life and the time in which she lived.