Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead by Nick Drake

This week, rather than focusing on what a book group has been discussing, I wanted to recommend a book I have been reading myself. Since this book is by a debut fiction author, Nick Drake, I am hoping that I can steal a march on you and recommend a book you have not heard about. I think you should really try Nefertiti:the Book of the Dead. Though at times the plot gets a little confusing, I think you will put the book down well satisfied and looking forward to the next installment of the planned trilogy.

The story is set in ancient Egypt at the time of Akhenaten, the king who for political reasons dismantled the ancient structure of priests and gods and put in its place the worship of himself, as the incarnation of the one god, Aten, the sun disk. Our likeable hero, detective Rai Rahotep of the Egyptian secret police is summoned to Akhenaten, the new city built in the desert, to solve a mystery before the festival to celebrate the founding of the new regime. Should Rahotep fail he will be put to death, along with his young family. The mystery is the disappearance of Nefertiti, whose appearance at the festival is essential to Akhenaten to shore up his crumbling reign and equally crumbling city.

Nick Drake does an excellent job of describing the politics of the time, and also vividly depicts the palaces and streets of the city. The background details to me were one of the strengths of the book that kept me engaged. Even clothing and furniture is described, as well as the squalor of the ordinary people, who are not beneficaries of the new order as the rich are. The backstreets and the River Nile itself come into play a lot as Rahotep pursues suspects or is pursued himself. There is plenty of action and adventure in this book, together with some bloody and gruesome scenes of torture. Though there is a mystery to solve, this book is both longer and more complex than a traditional mystery. I think fans of Robert Harris’ Pompeii will enjoy this.

Things to think of as you read:
What does Drake have to say about love and family. Are there different kinds of love?
What are the motives of some of the great men described in the book? Are their characters well-developed? Are their motives believable?
Drake describes obsession and even madness. Is his depiction convincing?
One reviewer thought that the book had “a convincing aura of suspense.” Would you agree? What did you think of the scenes in the Otherworld?
What is the importance of the Nile and the Red Land?

Other authors of Egyptian mysteries:
Lynda Robinson
P. C. Doherty

Cool Ideas for Book Groups

A few blogs back I discussed a few ideas I had seen in the literature about rejuvenating flagging book discussion groups. One of the ideas was choosing books with themes. Another idea is to set the scene for your discussion with the refreshments to be served and perhaps even the place where you hold your meeting.

The group I belong to meets in members’ houses. Quite often the host will decorate the table or the coffee table with items that go with the book. Once we read a biography of Frida Kahlo, and a couple of our members came dressed as Frida. Last month we discussed Bill Bryson’s The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. We had food of the fifties. Luckily, we were spared the meatloaves studded with candies!

One of the coolest ideas I have seen lately was brought to my attention while reading PW Daily last week. Apparently, Julia Flynn Siler, a Wall Street Journal contributing writer, offers a wine tasting group/reading group guide for her new book, The House of Mondavi. Ms. Siler suggests "organizing a tasting of some of the wines featured in The House of Mondavi as part of your event. You can discuss the colorful personalities in the book while sampling their wines." According to PW, “Siler can participate either in person or via speakerphone and discuss what "surprising news" led her to write the book about the famous California winemaking dynasty, what forced the Mondavi family to give up control of its company, her favorite wines and more.” The Penguin Group reading guide has a detailed wine list for a tasting session and how to arrange an interview with the author.

It looks to me as if in this case the wine list is sponsored by Mondavi. You and your group could be more independent if you wished. Perhaps you could choose to read one of the currently very popular travel and food memoirs, and arrange your own tasting of the food and drink of the region. Check out my Recent Biographies – Food Memoirs booklist on Readers Place for some ideas of where to begin.