Review: Disappointing and Pretentious
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2013
I wish that I knew how to signify that this novel merits no more than 2  stars, in my opinion.  I don't know how to deduct the half a star, so I'm going to leave it as is.Having studied the myths, culture, reigns and monuments of the various Pharaohs in ancient Egypt from first grade until university, I look forward to reading novels based in those times and places.The premise upon which the story is based sounded fresh and interesting - and still does.The blurb announces that "Bestselling author Nathaniel Burns" has written what sounds like a fascinating novel about the life of a young woman whose father has taught her his business as an embalmer.I was saddened but not surprised to learn that the heroine, Neti, was scorned and feared because she was a woman in a man's profession, but also - ironically, given what we know about the value of forensic examinations in murder cases today - because she had the skill to be able to understand when, and to some extent how, a murder had been committed.  She was able to "read" the clues on the corpse, which seemed to the native inhabitants to be a form of witchcraft.A number of traumatic experiences shook Neti's life and world early on in the story.  Also quite early in my reading of it, I began to be troubled, and then put off and, finally, really aggravated  by the number of ponderous, clumsy words used for no good reason, the pages of extra dialogue and tedious explanation!!  We understand - only too well - that a pot is made from pottery . . . after the third or fourth repeat within a few pages, I began to feel that the reader was being thoroughly patronised, and the grammar mistakes are inexcusable.I wonder whether the writer's mother tongue (the language in which the family speaks in the home as the child grows up) might be something other than English.  That shouldn't matter though.  I teach children who do not speak English to their parents.  This tale needs to be edited ruthlessly.  Take away the boring repetition!  It needs to be cut down by at least a 1/3 - "tightening up" is what a good editor would call the process.  I found the grammar mistakes aggravating and off putting, although  that is the sort of thing I can usually skim, in a general sort of way if the story is good enough, in this book there were simply too many.Where is the "bestselling author" to be found in this potentially enjoyable book?I will soldier on . . .But please, Mr Burns, hand the manuscript over to an editor and then let's try again . . .