History Smashers: Ancient Egypt, by Kate Messner

 

Publication October ,2025

Egypt is a favorite topic and I love this series, so a win-win for me. Kate Messner manages to squeeze in lots of information and frequently with humor. Given the huge stretch of time Ancient Egypt falls into, there's lots of information, too, as well as fact-checking, so to speak. Her light touch makes it an easy, enjoyable read and there are lots and lots of pictures. It's divided into sections, giving you a sense of where you are in history as you read and, quite frankly, helping not overwhelm us with too much at one time. Obviously there is some overlap, such as in the evolution of pyramid building, starting with Imhotep's first pyramid way back in, well, you'll get all that info as you read, which is a good thing since I didn't write down the date. I did note that the Great Pyramid used over 23 million blocks weighing about a ton each, so my attention to detail was obviously scattered. 

In any case, my scarcity of notes aside, you'll learn a great deal about Egyptian history, not to mention the ancient mythology which I've always found fascinating. Mummies? Of courses there is info on them. I found the discussion of the taking, okay, theft, of some of Egypt's wonder artifacts by various other countries quite pertinent in light of current chatter about a valuable painting stolen by the Nazis being discovered recently. Another timely subject might be that in the time of Ancient Egypt rulers tended to try to erase the accomplishments or even existence of prior kings by destroying as much evidence of their rule as possible, whether it be by re-engraving their own name in stone (literally) as a claim to accomplishments or simple having them destroyed. And, of, much, much more. All done with a deft hand and frequently light touch.

Bottom line, this book would be an excellent addition to any social studies teacher or library, not to mention your own. There's a handy timeline, too, to help you sort out the multitude of info you can pick up from this fun offering. The whimsical cover is an excellent preview of the tone light, even whimsical tone of much this full-of-facts work, making it an easy read. The Ancient Egypt Yearbook spoof near the end is a hoot and includes things like misuse of ancient musical instruments and, well, mummies themselves. I won't tell you some of the things they were used for. Read the book. As noted, lots to learn here, even if it may make you cringe more than once. The humorous illustrations of ways our culture has been influenced by all things Egypt is fun, too, from architecture and Vegas to actor-author-comedian-musician Steve "King Tut" Martin, albeit I didn't see his name mentioned. Just knew immediately what was being referenced, again showing the power of the connection. Thanks #RandomHouseChildrensBooks and #NetGalley for allowing me an early peek at this fun book. 

Murder on the Nile (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #19), by Verity Bright

 

Publication Sept. 28, 2024

Egypt has always fascinated me. Having read a few non-fiction books focused on Egypt, I jumped at the opportunity to read this fictionalized account set in 1924. It'd also been quite some time since I  checked up on the events in Lady Eleanor Swift's life. How long? Actually, I'm not sure, but obviously awhile since she was still relatively new to her title when I last tuned in. As much as I enjoy her growing friendship with Clifford, who seems to be the perfect lady's butler, I did miss getting to catch up with Hugh and the ladies of the manor until late in the story. That said, Egypt itself makes for a fascinating character in a way, particularly with the detailed descriptions we get from the author. I'm glad she made Lady Eleanor such an observant character, opening the way for those details. 

Eleanor is quite likable and seems able to talk to everyone, probably due to her past history of world travel. As it was, however, I had to chuckle at her almost bubbly efforts to make conversation with the other passengers, none of whom seemed particularly interested in being social. That Eleanor persists, tells you about her personality, one not easily detoured or put off by someone. I could relate somewhat to the others this time as I'm one of those who frequently prefers to simply sit and read or gaze at the world about me, hard to do when someone as chatty as Eleanor is about. Her trust and admiration for Clifford, the butler-friend who accompanies on this voyage, is definitely fun to watch. Clifford is a fascinating character in his own right and I fear I may have missed some character reveals of him while on hiatus from this series. He seems unflappable and to almost know what Eleanor is thinking or needs before she even does at times. He's also protective and, even better, seems to be good at it. I mean, there are crocodiles.

As for the supporting cast this go-round, I never felt I got to know them well, though I'll blame the road work outside my window for that. There were interesting stories behind the characters but all seemed tied to the mystery. Ah, the mystery? Who killed Lieutenant Baxter. Even more delicious for mystery buffs, the body is found in a locked room of the (not so luxurious) SS Cleopatra. Shades of Agatha Christie. We do get to visit some pyramids, however, and actually spend time inside a tomb. Let's just say, that isn't for those with claustrophobia. There are also references to the discovery of King Tut's tomb and the demand for Egyptian artifacts, legal or otherwise. But, how is this all tied to the death of Baxter? Well, I'm not telling but will admit to not quite figuring it out myself prior to the reveal. The clues were tricky, let's just say, and I obviously need to up my sleuthing game. The killer is diabolical and there are reasons behind their actions that do help it all make sense in the end. Thanks #Bookouture for letting me catch up with Lady Eleanor again with this early peek at her adventurous life. I will be making an effort to catch up again, that's for sure.

Tales of Ancient Egypt: Myths & Adventures from the Land of the Pyramids, by by Hugo D. Cook, Neon Squid, Narrated by Melinda Sewak

 

 

Audio 3h 22m     Available October 1, 2024

Absolutely fascinating and fun. I was immediately hooked by the narrator's seeming enthusiasm for her topic. You felt like she was into what she was narrating and that is a real plus. The author has a long-time fascination with Egypt, too, so a double win. The tone is very conversational and you almost feel like you're sitting around a study while the narrator simply shares story after story with you. As luck would have it, I recently reviewed another book focused on Egyptian mythology, so I was thoroughly enjoying having my memory tweaked. I enjoyed the music and occasional "sound effect" playing behind the narration, too. Not intrusive and added to the atmosphere. Kudos to narrator Melinda Sewak.

As for the contents, I gave up on taking notes early on simply to enjoy the stories. I did note down that it started from well, the beginning, sharing how Egyptians explained how everything began and the various gods role in that aspect. The stories included non-gods, too, hence the title of Tales of Ancient Egypt, not of Egyptian mythology. I won't even try to list them all but will note that topics like hieroglyphics and the Rosetta Stone are discussed, as well as the astonishing accuracy of the Great Pyramid as a directional tool. You'll even get to visit the inside of a tomb as well as imagine battles involving the likes of not just elephants but, seriously, ostriches. And....so much more. 

While designed around the idea of having young readers/listeners, my hunch, based on my own glee as I listened, is that adults may be equally drawn to this book. Social Studies teachers, this one would make a great add to your bookshelves, both at home and school. It'd also make a great gift. I had the audio version and could envision sharing one or two of these stories at a time toward the end of the class, so check this one out for purchase NOW. Thanks #MacmillanAudio - #MacmillanYoungReaders for giving me an early peek at this fascinating book.

A Guide to Egyptian Myths, by Sophie Washburne

 

Publication August 1, 2024

Love it! Wish I'd had this when I was still teaching. As a sometimes social studies teachers, I tried to include a unit on Egypt whenever possible, including a brief look at its myths and lore. This book would have been the perfect guide for that. Beautifully illustrated, with sharp, applicable photos, it tells the stories in an interesting, easy to follow manner, drawing you in. 

Basically divided into four sections/chapters, it provides an intro to the gods and goddesses of Egypt, the divine relationships and rivalries, their social order, and places in the natural world. I liked that there is no simple, boring listing of the deities but we get their stories, some of which are bizarre to our modern minds but fit the then cultural atmosphere. While showcasing each existing, known deity would be impossible in this relatively short book, we get the broad backstory. For instance, while noting the Egyptian importance of burying an intact body, which explains the facsimile parts often found in tombs, it shares the search of the goddess Isis for the mutilated parts of Osiris's body. In other words, we get the stories as well as an understanding of how they may have both stemmed from cultural beliefs.

Given that Egypt's culture is older than the Chinese, albeit frequently interrupted by warfare and invasion, not every deity is covered. Besides the basic pantheon many of us studied an school, there were multiple deities for scattered, local communities, not to mention different aspects of stories relating to the main players. Despite this, you'll away with not just a better understanding of who was who and how they were connected, but things like why even human name choices were impacted by beliefs. 

Bottom line, I could go on and on about what I liked. From the cover, which conveys a bit of the mystic of Egyptian mythology, to the multiple sharply focused photos used -- and we even get a shot of Tutankhumun's burial site as well as a brief mention of him -- to the select questions to guide study at the end of each section, everything is put together well. There's also a map. Egypt buffs, teachers, especially those whose curriculum touches on the area, and anyone with an interest in history, you'll thoroughly enjoy this book no matter your age. My thanks to #NetGalley and #RosenPublishingGroup - #CavendishSquare for this early indulgence of one of my favorite topics. Teachers, seriously, add this one to your libraries.

Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age, by Kathleen Sheppard

 Publication July 16, 2024

If you're into Egyptology or archeology, this fascinating book should be on your shelf. On the other hand, if you only have a mild interest and little or no background, you may find it a frustrating read. I fell somewhere in between and found certain parts of the book absolutely fascinating and intriguing while I must admit to skimming through others. For me, given my prior interest, I think it's safe to say this book will take me more than one read to take in all the information shared. Kathleen Sheppard has done a great deal of research and it shows. You'll definitely appreciate the index and notes at the end listing sources and perhaps pointing you off on your own search for more on these mostly little known women.

Basically, what you have here is a rather thorough history of not just these women and the archaeology of Egypt, but a decent history of Egypt's history itself. It's solid and not particularly detailed but more than adequate to give readers a feel for the give-and-take and various international influences on the area. Like many, I probably first became interested in this area due to Howard Carter's discovery of the tomb of "King Tut", so it was intriguing to read about the various women who were there before and during his time. It was also interesting to be reminded that early excavations were, sigh, almost anything but done carefully, think dynamite, rather than each item being carefully retrieved and documented. As a lover of history, it made me sad to imagine how much was lost but, anyway, on to the ladies.

Many that came were wealthy, many flocking to Egypt in hopes the dry air might improve their health. For instance, Lady Duff Gordon, one of the more recognized names in the book, traveled to Luxor, Egypt, in 1864 hoping for a tuberculosis cure. She wrote of her experiences and all the wonders she saw.  Her writings would inspire others, others who play key roles in this book. I'm not going to detail these women, much as I'd like to (see the blurb for names), as it'd take pages, but will say that each touched those who came after in some way. While we do get to know these women as the book goes along, the focus is on their work, not them as private individuals. Most documented their stays in some way, often through letters home or diaries. Some of their writings, to their credit, reveal the workers who did the grunt work, the heavy, tedious work, giving them their due, too. I should also note that these women were largely shunted aside and their contributions largely forgotten or even ignored, so I applaud Sheppard for giving them the spotlight.

Bottom line, I plan to go back through this book periodically to better digest what is within. These women deserve that. I simply cannot imagine the difficulties they faced while surrounded by people whose language they didn't speak and men who considered them inconsequential and thus not only made it more difficult for them to get official permission to excavate but gave them little credit for all their accomplishments. Thank you #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress for letting me time-travel back to this Golden Age of Egypt's exploration and archaeology to meet these intriguing women.