Reviews

Sinuhe egyptiläinen by Mika Waltari

puupaa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

rihma's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

becca_mint's review against another edition

5.0

The story of the many voyages and adventures of sinhue. It is a fantastic book, as it demonstrated different people of different beliefs through the eyes of an unbiased man. Sinuhe is knowledgeable and benevolent. He travels to many countries and meets many kings and monarchs. A very noticeable and abominable thing is human rights being completely disregarded. Women are objectified and slavery is prevalent.What sad truths about our past.
The book portrays many real historical characters. Amenhotep III, succeeded by Akhenaten ,Tutankhamun, and Horemheb, and we get to know their lives and how they died. This delighted me. I love getting to know biographies in such a way.
I saved many quotes from many pages, but these lines, at the very end captured me most.
"Quisiera comprender por qué he vivido, pero al final de este último libro, lo sé todavía menos que nunca."
And in the last page, when he reiterates his purpose of writing and his situation in his final days, he says this:
“Porque yo, Sinuhé, soy un hombre y como tal he vivido en todos los que han existido antes que yo y viviré en todos los que existan después de mí. Viviré en las risas y en las lágrimas de los hombres, en sus pesares y sus temores, en su bondad y su maldad, en su debilidad y su fuerza.”“debilidad y su fuerza. Como hombre, viviré eternamente en el hombre y por esta razón no necesito ofrendas sobre mi tumba ni inmortalidad para mi nombre. He aquí lo que ha escrito Sinuhé el egipcio, que vivió solitario todos los días de su vida.”
Definitely recommended by me.

piikuri's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

essipea's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

myzanm's review against another edition

3.0

I'm conflicted. I liked the story, but didn't love it. The writing was good, but not brilliant. It was an interesting read, but rather dry and it took too long to connect with Sinuhe.
I really wanted to giv this a high rating, but my heart just isn't in it. So it's a very strong 3.

krysophylax's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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? Yes

3.5

A slow, at times grueling, descent into the chaos of humanity. The historical part of this was great and much of my enjoyment; the story not so much, but still a fun read.

justinebt2114's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

m_hael's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

countrymouse's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It took me a long time to start reading this book. I was scared because it is long book and I thought it might be too heavy and slow. Well, I was wrong! The book was really good in every way and I fell in love with it!

The characters were lovable (Kaptah!), world was vivid and interesting, plot was always interesting and moving forward... The book gave me something to think about (human nature), but also a lot of good laughs. Book was also unnoticeably educational, because it tells a lot of factual information. 

I read the original Finnish version (Finnish is my first language). I liked the language of the book very much and I have heard that it imitates the Egyptian way of speaking? I hope that the translations into other languages are equally successful. 

Yes, it was an absolute PLEASURE to read. I feel like there's an empty hole in my life now when this story is finished...