Fictionalized Biography of Hatshepsut Wins Nod from Egypt Then and Now

Title: Truth is the Soul of the Sun - A Biographical Novel of Hatshepsut-MaatkareAuthor: Maria Isabel Pita
Genre:Historical Fiction
Isbn:1448652685
Reviewer: Ben Morales-Correa

Reviewed by Ben Morales-Correa for EGYPT THEN & NOW



Historical objectivity and sensuality of expression interweave across the entire span of Truth is the Soul of the Sun, Maria Isabel Pita’s new biographical novel of Hatshepsut, arguably the most powerful woman of all time. We can tell that Pita worked tirelessly and with the same level of passion with which she communicates human emotion in her erotic literature to construe how a woman was able to break the long line of male kings and wear the double crown of the Two Lands as Maatkare, hence the title.

Granted, Truth is the Soul of the Sun is a chronological narrative of love and power with little suspense, but this is more than compensated by the parallel metaphysical world that Pita evokes with her magnificent and prolific use of imagery. The queen who would be king might be the main official character, but it is Maat, the spirit of beauty and order, a transcendent creative power breathing life, that is the true catalyst for the author’s inspiration. Thus, the novel demands a slower pace of reading, heightening our senses as we turn every page and imbue ourselves in the realm of beauty and spirituality of 18th dynasty Egypt.

Paradoxically, Maatkare Hatshepsut’s unique achievement of becoming a female Horus did not lead to any further break of tradition. In fact, once pharaoh, Hatshepsut limited herself to preserve Maat, exercise sekhem and perform heka and did not do anything different from previous rulers. Her greatness is inextricably attached to the support of two loyal and powerful male characters, whose relationship with the female king allows us to experience her womanhood.

Pity that these two men, important figures in the novel, one a commoner who rises to the highest positions on account of his intelligence and creativity, the other a direct descendant of ancient aristocracy, do not engage in a conflict of ideas leading to explore opposing views of ancient Egyptian social and political structure. We only encounter them together for a brief moment when they are involved in nedjemit with the female king.

To truly appreciate Truth is the Soul of the Sun, the reader must have a reasonable knowledge of Egyptology, as Pita thoroughly explains the symbolism and the neteru (she prefers to use neters) of Ancient Egypt, and names the cities and villages in the original Egyptian language. However, the publication includes references and more than a hundred footnotes.

In conclusion, Truth is the Soul of the Sun is a fascinating, well-researched and richly narrated biography in the historical fiction genre recommended for anyone interested in strong women in history.

Purchase this book at Amazon.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
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Well-Known Editor Reviews Book About Disabilities and a Very Special Dog

Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Annie’s House
Author: Barbara Techel
Publisher: Joyful Paws (January 1, 2010)
ISBN: 0980005248

Reviewed by Yvonne Perry


Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Annie’s House by Barbara Gail Techel is about a dachshund named Frankie who is paralyzed in her hind quarters. She has been fitted for a doggie wheelchair (dog cart) that helps her get around. It also helps people identify with her—especially children and elderly folks who are managing life with a disability.

In the book, the author tells how Frankie became a certified therapy dog when a friend recognized the gentle nature of the animal and how much she seemed to enjoy being around people and allowing them to pet her. Soon Barbara and Frankie started visiting a senior assisted living facility known as Libby’s House. There, she meets senior-aged residents who simply adore her.

Frankie tells her story from her own “doggie” point of view. I especially like this passage in the book:

"As we stroll off the elevator, a man in a wheelchair comes rolling toward us.

"'Oh, what do we have here?' He reaches down and strokes my fur. 'You have wheels just like me, little pup. What happened?'

"My mom told the kind man how I hurt my back and how my dog cart helps me walk. His eyes filled with tears. 'That is so wonderful! How nice of you to come here to visit,' he says. 'You just made my day!'

"Mom lifts me onto Daniel’s lap. 'You are so special, Frankie,' he says. I look up at him and notice his eyes are filling with tears. 'I feel so sorry for her,' Daniel says sadly.

“'You don’t need to feel sorry for Frankie,' Mom says. 'Visiting you makes her very happy.'

“'It does?” Daniel holds me close. 'Frankie is perfect, unlike me. I am not perfect,' Daniel’s voice cracks.

“'We think you are perfect just the way you are.' My mom reassures Daniel. I rest my head on his knee and raise my eyebrows. Daniel smiles and his whole face lights up."

It takes a lot of time, energy, love, and dedication to care for an animal that has special needs. Frankie’s owner (and the author of the Frankie stories), Barbara Techel, has to help Frankie move her bowels because she cannot feel when she needs to go. I admire this author. Not only does she happily meet Frankie’s needs, she allows Frankie to use her disability to bless others and teach the rest of us how to accept those who have a disability.

I highly recommend this book to children AND adults. We all need to have our heart strings tugged every now and then.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
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Raja Krishnan Reviews Thriller Set in Rome

Book Title: Imperium: A Novel of Ancient RomeAuthor: Robert Harris
Publisher: Pocket
Publisher Address: 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 9780743498661
Genre: Historical Fiction
List Price: $14.00

Reviewed by Raja Krishnan for Excitement Books and Amazon
reviewer website: http://excitementbooks.blogspot.com/



Do you enjoy reading good legal thrillers, how about politics, or history? If the answer to this question is all of the above then I have the book for you. That book is Imperium by Thomas Harris. The first part is legal thriller a la Steve Martini meets ancient Rome, and the second part is about the politics in the first republic of the world. For those of you that have read Steven Saylor’s earlier historical mystery fiction on Rome, Thomas Harris’ Imperium is similar although more focused on the legal, and politics for Rome rather than the wonderful mystery of Steven Saylor’s books.

The central character that drives this story is the historical Roman oratorical figure of Marcus Cicero. The story is narrated from the perspective of Cicero’s secretary, Tiro. At the start of the book the writing style can seem legal in nature and too Romanesque. As the story moves forward, I found that this same language and style immersed me into that period of time. It became as if I was taken back in time and were listening to Tiro directly.

In the first three quarters of the book the author builds a nice foundation, which picks up momentum to a dramatic climax and then leads to an exciting conclusion. The initial foundation is developed with the rise of Cicero as an orator and lawyer by taking on a challenging case. This case and all the political drama involved was conveyed through some descriptive storytelling.

I would highly recommend this book for advanced readers of court room dramas or political thrillers. Imperium achieves all this with the backdrop of ancient Rome. A way of getting excited about History is to start by reading Historical Fiction. This book may peak the curiosity and interest of those non-history lovers to give History a chance. In this case the excitement of Ancient Roman Republic history.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
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Jessica DuLong's Novel Reviewed by BookSlut

My River Chronicles: Rediscovering America on the Hudson
by Jessica DuLong (www.jessicadulong.com)
Memoir/History
ISBN-10: 1416586989
ISBN-13: 978-1416586982


Reviewed by Eryn Loeb orignally for Book Slut

Jessica DuLong is one of the world’s only female fireboat engineers–certainly a nice hook for her excellent memoir-cum-social history, My River Chronicles: Rediscovering America on the Hudson, but hardly the most interesting thing about it. The book is really a love story, the product of a passion that arrived with sudden fierceness, prompting a major lifestyle change and shift in priorities, and triggering DuLong’s devotion not only to a new craft, but to a sprawling tradition that she believes forms the neglected heartbeat of American culture.

DuLong was a dot-com workaholic when she started a casual flirtation with the John J. Harvey, a fireboat—built in 1931—docked in the Hudson on a Manhattan pier. Retired from active duty and in need of constant repairs, the boat’s crew was running it as something of a floating museum. It was also an ongoing restoration project, supported by a bare bones non-profit that depended on donations, and volunteers wooed by the romance of a rusting boat. After impulsively volunteering to cut through old heating pipes one afternoon, DuLong was besotted. Soon she was spending most of her time on the boat, soaking up wisdom from the boat’s small crew. And she was increasingly captivated by the histories of anything that even glanced the edges of her new preoccupation: maritime trade and industry, apprenticeship, the emergence of “planned obsolescence,” the New York City waterfront, and the overlooked story of the Hudson River itself.

Much of the joy of reading My River Chronicles comes from witnessing DuLong’s enthusiasm unfold, watching as she begins to understand what she’s getting herself into, and then recognizes that when she set foot in the Harvey’s engine room, she crossed a point of no return. She’s thirsty for knowledge, determined to absorb facts and approaches and expertise, even when the subject and specifics seem impenetrable, foreign. Partly, the book is about the ecstatic possibilities of learning, the urgency that comes with feeling like you have endless catching up to do, and the delicious frustration of devoting yourself to honing new skills. As DuLong becomes more and more absorbed in her vocation, she mulls over clues that pointed to this path early on: her longstanding love of power tools (if not always her proficiency with them), a seventh grade “classroom discussion about internal combustion that made a tingle skip around under my skin,” her visceral attraction to the “wasting metal” of decaying industry and “the glitter of a power plant twinkling in the night.” As both a writer and an engineer, she’s relentlessly, gratifyingly curious, and her fine, richly detailed prose holds an appeal regardless of your level of interest in heritage histories and engine mechanics.

It’s truly exciting to see her pull together the pieces, tracing where this passion for old boats comes from, and figuring out where it’s going. “I have to take into account the wind and current, using the immutable, natural forces to my advantage instead of barreling through them like I might if I steered a more modern vessel, with bow thrusters and joystick controls,” she writes. “Every fragmentary decision counts in shaping the form and the flow. It’s like writing poetry.” History, handiwork, the importance of preserving and teaching the past—her concerns are welded together in the form of the ailing Harvey and the river she’s made her own.

Not long after she began volunteering regularly on the Harvey, DuLong was with its crew as the boat docked in lower Manhattan right after the towers collapsed on 9/11. Hers is one of the more vivid, searing accounts I’ve read of being downtown in the aftermath of the attacks, when fireboats like the Harvey were the only water sources at the World Trade Center site (“When firefighters on land bent over their hoses to rinse the ash from their faces, they spit and sputtered in surprise, tasting the salt of the Hudson,” she writes). And yet, the whole book is so layered and compelling that the intensity of 9/11 doesn’t overpower the slower, more meditative sections.

When DuLong encounters incredulity about the fact that she’s a female engineer, “I find a neutral place to set my impassive gaze until people have appeased their curiosity so I can get on with doing my job,” she explains. “My blank expression opens no doors, offers no invitations, and that impenetrability allows me to get back to work faster. It’s a way of letting the awkwardness roll off.” This works fine—for most of the book, her gender is not much of an issue—until the male instructor of a two-week class she’s taking to prepare for her engineering licensing exam decides to make an example of her, the only woman in the room. He fixates on her to the exclusion of everyone else, relentlessly pelting her with questions and explaining, “I just need to make sure you’re getting it, since you don’t have as much experience as the rest of these guys” (in fact, she has more sea time and higher ambitions than half the class). The raw sexism of this encounter—which also gets personal, with the instructor telling DuLong he wants to know her name “so well it’s the name I call out to my wife”—dredges up insecurities along with rage. DuLong tackles the experience with a characteristic mix of thoughtfulness and practicality—and she passes the exam, becoming a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed Merchant Marine Officer, an impressive, well-earned title to burnish what started as an obsession, and became a way of life.

DuLong’s passion for her craft is contagious, making My River Chronicles one of the most moving, unusual books I’ve read in a long time. “Sometimes in the midst of my work I catch myself wondering: Why are you here? Why do you like this job? Why do you put your life on hold, earning so little money restoring this hunk of wasted steel?” she writes. “But every time I try to reason through the questions, my heart blows me off with a snort, my head rallying to try to cover for my heart’s insolence.” That’s true love for you.

http://www.bookslut.com/girl_interrupting/2009_09_015114.php


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
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Linda Pilkington Bases Young Adult Novel on Classics

Book Title: Arthur Collins and the Three Wishes
Author: Linda Rash Pilkington
Author's email: linniepilk@comcast.net
Genre: Fiction:Young Adult
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-615-22213-4
Softcover ISBN: 978-0-615-26743-2
Reviewer: Tim Miller
Review link: http://denver.yourhub.com/Denver/Stories/Arts-Culture/Story~673195.aspx
Original publisher: Yourhub.com



by Tim Miller for YourHub.com

In the tradition of classic stories like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte d'Artur, Colorado author Linda Rash Pilkington mixes Arthurian legend with the story of a modern-day elementary school outcast in her children's novel Arthur Collins and the Three Wishes. Readers of all ages will relate to this coming of age story about a fearful kid who finds his courage amid a time traveling adventure into ancient Britain.

Arthur Collins is a fearful fifth grader from Castleton, Colorado. Three bullies, known as the "Ruffians," have tormented Arthur for most of his days at elementary school. Unlike his courageous and popular older brother Lance, Arthur can't find the courage to stand up to the Ruffians. Now, if Arthur doesn't figure out some way to cow the bullies, his younger cousin Gwynie might become their next victim.

Desperate to improve his plight, Arthur looks into a mirror and makes three wishes. One of these wishes causes him to go back in time to ancient Britain, just a few years before Arthur Pendragon became king. Arthur Pendragon has disappeared, so Arthur Collins must stand in as a look-alike until he and Merlin can locate the real future king. A grand adventure ensues, in which both Arthur and the reader learn to
be brave.

Many authors tend to write Arthurian fiction with little or no attempt to put a quasi-original spin on the ancient tales about The Knights of the Round Table. In a time when publishers print several novels about Camelot and King Arthur every year, Arthur Collins and the Three Wishes stands out as a story of a present-day underdog's attempt to find his own courage amid the perils and chivalry of British legend.

Arthur Collins and the Three Wishes contains an eclectic mix of Coloradoan and Arthurian culture. Although Arthurian Legend is moreindicative of chivalry in medieval times-rather than post-romanBrittan-kids won't know the difference. Most children, and many adults, will enjoy Arthur Collins's transformation from a bullied kid to a brave adolescent who knows how to stand up for himself.

...read more about Pilkington's kids books at citycastles.com.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
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Living According to Your Nature

Book: It's Just My Nature! A guide to Knowing and Living Your True Nature
Author: Carol Tuttle
ISBN: 978-0978543693
Genre: Self Help



Submitted by TWS Marketing Communications originally reviewed by Karisso Morgan, Amber Campbell and others for Amazon


Why do we use the term Human Nature? What do we mean by nature? What does it mean when we say someone has a natural gift? Where does this gift come from? Best-selling author Carol Tuttle provides compelling and life changing answers to these simple questions in her newest book It’s Just My Nature! It’s Just My Nature! Reveals a startlingly accurate method for assessing your personality and behavioral tendencies with a new system called Energy Profiling TM. Energy Profiling is a unique system that helps define personality traits, as well as human behavior and physical characteristics, to reveal the true you.

While Carol offers a variety of assessment tools-including her Dressing Your Truth TM events – she leaves the realization of your true Type to you! • Discover those characteristics (Types) that markedly resemble you and those close to you. • Learn that what you may have considered your greatest weaknesses is actually your greatest gift. • Understand why people act the way they do and discover how you can enjoy harmony with anyone. • Develop the skill to assess your Type and the Types of others. • Find renewed peace with yourself and in your relationships • Just by looking at someone and reading their facial features and body language you will know their Type and their true nature.

It’s Just My Nature! Has been hailed as groundbreaking work that is bound to change the way we experience ourselves and others. “I loved this book. There is so much information that is life changing. It is an amazing resource to return to again and again for solving the challenges of life,” – Amber Campbell

“Absolutely Amazing! The information in this book has changed not only my relationship with myself, but with everyone I come in contact with! Thank you, Carol for this fabulous, fulfilling information that allows me to create what I want in my relationships.” – Kerissa Morgan



Author bio:

Bestselling Author Carol Tuttle is a personal development pioneer and fashion/feauty insider. She created Dressing Your Truth™, a fashion guide, Dressing Your Truth™, and personality profiling system, Energy Profiling™. Carol has appeared on over 150 radio and television talk shows in the last year providing pioneering insights on Weight, Sex & Intimacy/Relationships, Depression, Self-esteem, Parenting, Finances, Physical Health and Spiritual Health. Her media appearances include features in national print such as: Redbook, Health and Writer’s Digest. Carol has also appeared on several local radio shows all over Utah and was the resident life issues expert on Good Things Utah for several seasons.

Make shopping easy and affordable and bring out your natural beauty with Carol's do-it-yourself makeover system, Dressing Your Truth http://www.dressingyourtruth.com . Once you know your personality profile with Carol's innovative Energy Profiling™ chronicled in her latest title, "It's Just My Nature! A guide to Knowing and Living Your True Nature", learn your personal style with Dressing Your Truth™. For more information on Tuttle and her work, visit: http://www.caroltuttle.com.

Carol is the Founder of The Center for Living Your Truth in Draper, Utah. Carol and her husband Jon reside in Utah and are the parents of 5 children.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Sensitive Heterosexual Male Shares

Sensitivity 101 For The Heterosexual Male
By Philip Nork
ISBN: 9781438967448 (PB)
ISBN: 9781438967455 (HC)
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Genre: Narrative Nonfiction

Reviewed By Tara Hopkins of Apex Reviews www.apexreviews.net

Official Apex Reviews Rating: 5 stars


The age-old “Battle Of The Sexes” is still going just as strong as it ever was--and chances are it won’t lose any steam anytime soon. So, rather than lament the fact that the game exists, men and women around the world are instead better off learning to play it to the best of their ability.

Such is the premise behind Sensitivity 101 For The Heterosexual Male.

Skillfully penned by author Philip Nork, Sensitivity 101 is less a self-help guide to
relationships and more a vicarious journey through one man’s quest for self discovery.

Along the way, Phil--playing the role of his own protagonist--learns to appreciate the fairer sex and develops a higher understanding of just what it takes to make them happy. In so doing, he ultimately becomes the desire of all women--and the envy of all men--and provides readers with invaluable insights into improving their own relationships.

Straightforward and refreshingly candid, Sensitivity 101 For The

Heterosexual Male is an impressive presentation of a life with a plethora of
helpful lessons to share. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to cut through
the typical facade of relationship “politics” and learn the roots of true, lasting
happiness.
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Follow the author on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Sensitivity101 and on Twitter - @Sensitivity101

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
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