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Loading... House of Illusions (1996)by Pauline Gedge
   I Could Live There (148) No current Talk conversations about this book.   ) ShelleyAlberta | Jun 4, 2016 |   ) Cauterize | Sep 7, 2009 | ) thesmellofbooks | Feb 25, 2009 | I enjoyed this quite a bit, though it wasn't as breathtaking as the previous volume. It's a quieter book in some ways; the tension was always quite high in House of Dreams as Thu struggled to fuel her ambition and please those who'd raised her up to such heights, but here things flow much more smoothly. There aren't as many hitches in the story; at times it felt a little like a boulder rushing down a hill, taking out everything in its path. Once things got going, it seemed that there was little that could stand between Thu and her goals. The book makes use of three viewpoints: that of Kamen, the young soldier who encounters Thu at Aswat; Kaha, a scribe who aided in the conspiracy that was Thu's downfall; and Thu herself. While each narrator was appropriate to the part of the story that he or she related, I think I would've preferred to hear more directly from Thu. I missed her during the first portion of the book. Overall, though, this was a satisfying end to Thu's story. While some elements may have been overly sentimental, (and, perhaps, a little far-fetched), I was pleased with them nonetheless. It was nice to see Thu finally find some happiness, and I enjoyed returning to the ancient Egypt Gedge developed in the first book. (  ) xicanti | Jun 13, 2007 | no reviews | add a review
Pauline Gedge is a master at recreating the golden age in Egypt. Her heroin, Thu, a peasant girl from the village of Aswat, possesses both beauty and intelligence. To her good fortune Thu is found and brought to the center of society. She is chosen and trained for the court of Pharaoh Ramses. Her talent and guile win her a post in the harem. || Thu rises in favor, is betrayed in a court intrigue that threatens her life and falls from grace. Pharaoh spares her life but banishes her to serve the priests at the lowly temple of Wepwawet near the first cataract. || House of Illusions opens on Gedge's vividly recreated Egypt, sixteen years after Thu's banishment. During her exile she writes an account of her court life and the betrayal for which she seeks revenge. These events took place three thousand years ago. Daily life and custom are woven into the story. In a world without soap and little water, natron serves quite well. Gedge is able to get into the mind of the courtiers and their attitudes to their servants. While beneath them, these inferior beings are very much a part of the family of the house. || The mysterious Hathor, Thoth, Amun and Ma'at are part of the Egyptian pantheon. They enter the daily life of the characters and the mystery begins to make sense. Never again will the reader scoff at these queer religious notions. The harmony and truth Ma'at embodies is the guiding principal Thu believes in seeking her revenge. No library descriptions found. |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage: (4.21)
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