Cleopatra VII: Daughter Of The Nile - 57 B.C. (2006) - Plot & Excerpts
I am reading a book called Cleopatra VII a group from (The Royal Diaries). This book is by Kristina Gregory one of my most favorite authors. Thins book is mostly about the life of a princess called Cleopatra VII.She is nicknamed the daughter of the Nile. That's because she was born in Egypt very near to the Nile river. Cleopatra faces many danger, and some of her family betrays her, and her farther. Cleopatra is accompanied by her two faithful servants through out all the journey even through harm. The three friends go to Rome to find help. So, they can defeat Cleopatra's evil sister. However, some of Cleopatra's fathers friend already killed her sister. So, Rome might be trying to defeat Cleopatra next! One of the important facts I have learned is that egyptians have a different saying of their month. For example, January is Januarius, Febuary is Febuarius, and March is Martius. I think these are explainig how people say their monthes in Egypt because if it was really written in egyptian they would have did it with picture of birds, and snakes. These words written in Egyptian is called a hieroglyphics. Also, I noticed that all of the monthes had the letters ius in the end. They matter a lot because there could be a possibility that we are learning a little bit of egyptian or roman. Another one of the important fact is that Cleopatra had a real leopard named Arrow. This is a important, and intresting fact because I bet most people don't know that she had a leopard, and taming a leopard is a lot harder than you think. This fact matters a lot because this tells us that Cleopatra had a courage to keep one of the most feared species of cats today. The last important fact I have to tell you surprised me a lot! This fact is that Cleopatra, and her father was being hated by everyone in Egypt while Cleopatra's older sister wasn't. Some people in Egypt were rough enough to put a cobra on Cleopatra's fathers bed while he was sleeping. The fact I just told you about matters a lot more than you think because Cleopatra didn't do anything bad that will make all the people in Egypt hate her. Also, one of her sister even tried to make Cleopatra give back he Pearl necklace by putting a dagger close to her neck as if to stranle her. I thought that this book taught us a biger lesson than I thought it will. One reason I thought this is because At first I thought that all princesses, and Queens are loved by their people because they are always nice, and pretty. Now, I realize that this is not the case. If you were famous it is more likely to be hated if you do something wrong because what they do will always be rumored by everone in their country. For example, when Cleopatra tried to touch one of her oldest sister pearl necklace her sister picked up a dagger, and pointed at Cleopatra's neck this was a lready know by most people in Egypt before you could say "mistake!." Also, if one of your father is a king, and he does something that will make his people mad, and you are his favorite daughter or son the people will also taunt her or him! One time Cleopatras father made the people mad at him. Since, Claopatra was the Kings favorite she was also being made fun of. However, she tried to stay calm as her favorite people did like Queen Nefertiti, and the other princesses. This taught me that even if you get mad you will make your self appear more rude thanbefore.After I read about Cleopatra I thought that reading more chapters about the Royal Diaries will help me learn about the mysteries of the world like princess Anastasia, and the others. If you want to reada easy fun, exciting nonfiction book you should read Cleopatra VII series called (The Royal Diaries.)
Disclaimer: The last time I read this book was in middle school, so my review will be spotty and more nostalgic than any review should be. Oh well.I avidly read the Royal Diaries series during my middle school years. Like most young girls, I was fascinated with princesses and--maybe not so much like most young girls--deeply interested in the power politics of royalty. Princesses, more often than not, tend to be the pawns of such political games, so it was always very thrilling to read a story in which the princess overcomes her opponents! While Cleopatra was not always my favorite female monarch, I love this book not only because it satiated my taste for court intrigue, but also because it allowed me a glimpse of the wealth and decay of Egypt. Here are scenes that still stand out in my mind today:(1) Cleopatra's older sister, next in line to lead the realm, is luxuriating in a steaming tub of water that is heated by slaves working in an underground furnace. Amid the perfumed haze of oils and other bath luxuries, she orders Cleopatra to drink a goblet of may-or-may-not-be poisoned wine.(2) Cleopatra and her sisters get first dibs at a caravan full of trade items arriving from all over the world. These include jars of scented oils, shimmering scarves that float when you toss them into the air, and ropes of pearls. Cleopatra takes a hold of something--I think it was a necklace--and the vindictive older sister snatches it away and presses a knife to Cleopatra's throat. (3) Away somewhere in Roman-occupied territory, the Romans viciously taunt Cleopatra's father in their own language, and he--dependent on Roman aid yet unable to speak their language--nods and smiles nervously. Cleopatra, who happens to speak a bazillion languages, shows them up. Yeah, bitches. As I've said before, I haven't read the book in ages, so my memory could be making up a few details. If those three scenes are completely accurate, I would be very surprised. And yes, I know the book is not historically accurate, and yes, Cleopatra may or may not have been as likable in real life versus in this book. I am also aware that court politics is incredibly complex and blah blah blah, tyvm. But as a kid, I didn't care (and I still kind of don't): I picked up this book to read a good story, not to write a report on Ancient Egypt. Besides, the world the author portrayed was gorgeous, and most importantly it left a lingering sweetness in my mind for anything Ancient Egypt. This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read as a kid. Highly recommended for the younger audience.
What do You think about Cleopatra VII: Daughter Of The Nile - 57 B.C. (2006)?
This book was about Princess Cleopatra VII and was written in the form of what her diary might have been like/written. This book goes under the category of Historical Fiction because it did have true facts about her life and what happened in the past, but it was not really her diary and her thoughts coming from the diary. I really enjoyed how the way it was written showed how a princess that was undertaking these things would feel. Such as when they had gone to war against her own country and she was the next RIGHTFUL heir to the throne but her sister was instead the Queen and she was not concerned really abut her country. She didn't even know that there was a war going on! This was a great book that I think would be a good reference on how the Egyptians lived and how their past was very complected and full of war and betrayal. Wonderful book!
— 1 Eliza B
The Dear America books were such a big part of my childhood, they were one of my preferred series. Reading it now as an adult it was still very nice. I finished it in a few days so it was quick, but it was a look into Cleopatra's life without having to read through a boring biography. I hate history, but I enjoyed this book so much and got a tiny lesson out of it and I'm eager to know more about Cleopatra. She was written so brave and ahead of her time, now to see if she was really like that. I hope to read more Dear America books soon!
—Muffin
This book starts out with talking about who Cleopatra is and that her father, King Ptolemy Auletes, has gone into hiding because he is in danger of being removed of his throne. It then gradually introduces the family like Cleopatra's sisters and younger siblings. Then, Cleopatra is ran out of Alexandria in fear of being killed by her evil older sister, Tryphaena. She flees with her father to Rome where she meets Cicero, Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, and others. When they flee, Tryphaena becomes queen without Ptolemy permission. Later she is executed by King Ptolemy's soldiers. After two long years in Rome, and Cleopatra sending and receiving letters from her friends, Olympus and Theophilus, they return to Alexandria with Cleopatra's other sister Berenice on the throne, she is later executed also. With King Ptolemy back on the throne, everything is back to normal. Except, Cleopatra is still worried that her father might think that she will try to take the throne also because she is next to the throne. Then Cleopatra sails on the royal barge Isis down the Nile to explore for over two years. All of this is book is as historically accurate as possible because, in the back of this book it has a historical note that says that a lot of the scrolls and manuscripts were burned in a fire from Julius Caesar who, after conquering the city, set fire to the fleet of Egyptian soldiers and the fire spread all the way to the library. This book wants you to keep reading more and more because of its descriptive writing, for example, " Slowly I moved my hand down the side of my bed where my dagger was hidden. A shadow low to the ground was crawling towards me." I think the reasons you would want to read this book are if you are studying Cleopatra because it has a lot of information in the back of the book also of events that happened after where the book ended the story. Another reason is if you just want to read a good book about early Egyptian culture and Roman culture with a story that will want you to keep reading more and more.
—James Riesch
