Customer Reviews

Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile, Egypt, 57 B.C. (The Royal Diaries)

5 star:		(130)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Although I'm not too sure about the historical accuracy of this book, I still think it deserves five stars for being extremely realistic-sounding and well-written. Cleopatra is a twelve-year-old princess when she begins to write in her diary. Her formerly comfortable life is in a state of upheaval. Her father, the Pharaoh of Egypt, has disappeared after narrowly escaping several plots to asassinate him, and her older sister Tryphaena has usurped the throne in his absence. Tryphaena fears that Cleopatra could be a threat to her authority, so she is especially watchful of her younger sister. One misstep could lead to Cleopatra's death. Cleopatra seeths under Tryphaena's close scrutiny, but she also fears for her life. She knows that it is her destiny to become Queen of Egypt, but she does not know how she will ever be anointed with her power-hungry siblings in her way. In the midst of Tryphaena's takeover of the government, Cleopatra hears that her father is about to make an ardurous sea voyage to Rome to meet with Julias Caesar. He hopes to persuade Caesar to help him recover his throne. Cleopatra fears for her father's life, and she has also been informed that Tryphaena was planning to murder her on a certain night. So, with the help of her friends Olympus (a medical student and family friend), Theophilus (a Hebrew scholar), and others, she manages to sneak aboard her father's ship and sail to Rome. To find out the surprising and interesting things that happen to her in Rome, you must read this book. It is also in Rome that Cleopatra becomes more and more set on becoming Queen--no matter what the cost. This book centers around the preteen and early teenage years of Cleopatra's life--when she realizes how dangerous being the daughter of the Pharaoh is. She also learns that she can never know who to trust. In this book, Cleopatra also sows the seeds of her famous liaisons with Marc Anthony, a Roman general. I strongly recommend this book, as it portrays the dangers and privileges of being a princess more accurately than any other book in the Royal Diaries series.

As a HS parent, I seek the best in literature, either to read aloud to my children, or for their own reading pleasure. As we have been preparing for study of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, I thought I'd try this book, as Cleopatra is such a seminal figure- both for her historical aspect, as well as the vast amount of literature, music, and drama based on her person.

I was very pleased and fascinated by reading this book. The many and varied settings (Egypt, Rome, Italy) came to life for me, as I read of this small girl's attempts to prepare herself for ultimate Rule in Egypt. The author's inclusion of both a Greek philosopher and a Hebrew student in Alexandria (both very historically plausible) lent an element of connection to a worldview which was to come about- the Greco-Roman Christian- not 100 years after the events in this story. Because neither the story line, nor the facts of history, detracted from the validity (or, in some respects the inevitability) of the Christian Roman world that arose on the ashes of the Caesars, (yet including in her story Cicero, Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, and all the rest) I was propelled to finish reading this book. The author deals with the emotions of an adolescent girl, while maintaining decorum about such things, that any HS parent with moral standards could easily integrate this novel into any Greco-Roman study, for elementary on up to Jr. high. There are some graphic elements (Cleopatra's usurpacious sister's head being brought in on a shield, reminiscent of John the Baptist's via Salome!) but overall, the book is full of light- as well as intrigue, sense impressions of a culture long gone, and a good story. The fact that `it ends suddenly,' as another reviewer mentioned, is that the purpose for which the book was written is fulfilled. Cleopatra returns to her beloved Alexandria, there to begin her journey towards womanhood- and rule. Highly recommended.

I'm a fan of Egyptian things, so I was sure I'd like this book. It painted a picture of a real teenage princess with friends, foes, joy, and troubles. In other words, Cleopatra seemed like a living human as relevant as our own times. She learned at an early age that some people she loved and admired were untrustworthy. She had to rely on herself and pursue her goal of becoming a good ruler. But at times, the book was a little boring and gory. It's difficult to conceive how a supposedly fair ruler could kill his/her family. Still, you should read this story, especially if you like learning about ancient Egypt.

This is the best Royal Diary yet. I'm 13 and I love it! It keeps you interested right from the beginning, something that the other books did not do. (And I don't even like Egyptian stuff!)

It begins with Cleopatra musing about what will happen if her father (Ptolemy XII, who is in hiding) does not return and her older sister Tryphaena becomes queen. Then, Cleopatra could be killed, because she knows that Tryphaena hates her.

Soon, Cleopatra's loyal friend Olympus warns her of the danger that will come upon both father and daughter if they stay in Alexandria (their "hometown"), because already, Tryphaena is planning to kill them. When her father secretly returns, the two set off for Rome. While they are there, Cleopatra meets Marc Antony, and while she does not like him she keeps having a longing to see more of him.

And then comes the news that Tryphaena is dead - and now another sister, Berenice, has taken the throne. Will the king and Cleopatra be safe?

Even though there is some really gory stuff in this book, it's excellent. Two thumbs way, way up!

During her teenage years to womanhood, Cleopatra’s life becomes in danger. Cleopatra thinks her older sister is not fit to rule because she is pretty much to vain. Also she thinks that her older sister is not fit to rule because she is too dull and fragile. Well actually her father is not fit to rule either. Ptomely Auletes, which he is called because he plays his flute usually when he gets drunk which, is a lot. Her older sister Tryphaena despises Cleopatra because Cleopatra is PtolemyXII's favorite daughter. Tryphaena wants to be queen so she spreads awful rumors of the king and his favorite daughter. Are you wondering why the king went into hiding. It all started when a deadly snake was let loose in the palace. Fortunately the king wasn’t killed but his trusted servant since childhood got bit while trying to strangle the deadly snake. The king was really shooken up by this and he called for wine. The cupbearer looked nervous so the king told him to drink first. Within moments the servant was dead. So the king went into hiding. Even before this the Egyptian people despised the king because he taxes them unfairly and now their money is worth a third less in the market place because there is a third less of silver in them. Cleopatra is in danger when she finds disturbing notes and pictures in her horse’s stall and a skull on her favorite island. She is afraid of being poisoned or worse. Her friend Olympus finds out that her father is leaving on a ship to Rome. Apparently he is going to ask the Romans for troops and $. Cleopatra flees with her father to Rome by being brought in a carpet with her most trusted servant Neva. While on the ship a message came from Trypheana that if they ever return they will be killed. Later on her way over to Rome she got a message that friends of the king strangled Trypaena to death. Then Cleopatra hears that her beloved sister Berenice has taken to the throne. What the heck. Since she knows Latin, she hears what the Romans say, which is mostly insults, and talks back. She earns their respect but not everybody. Cicero is a lawyer and Cleopatra admired him. Well until he becomes her enemy by speaking against her and her father. Oh how she yearns to be home. Will Cleopatra ever return to her beloved Egypt? Anyway at the back of this book it has a family tree and it tells what happened to her. It also has pictures of Egypt and objects used during that time. This is my favorite book in the Royal Diarie series and I highly suggest it.

Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile is a very good book. It is sort of scary at the beginning because the townspeople are wanting to kill her and her father the Pharaoh because he made them real mad. So they flee to Rome and spend two years there until it is safe to go back to Egypt. Then they go back and are safe. This book is historical fiction and very,very good. It is hard to understand in some parts so I would recommend reading it in quiet. I really loved this book.

This book was a fictional diary of Cleopatra from when she was twelve to fourteen, from 57-55 B.C. It gave an interesting portrait of life during this time in Egypt and Rome and I highly reccomend it.

This is actually a review of the audio book. I was not able to finish the book in part due to the narrator's whiney voice and the characterization of Cleopatra as a whining teenage girl. She is a teenager in the book, but I seriously doubt if she was that petulant-she would have never accomplished what she did if that were the case. Normally I enjoy most novels about Cleopatra, but this one was the worst I have read. Too much dragging on about insignificant details and the obnoxious narrator's voice ended it less than halfway.

Overall, this is a very good book. It was not very historical at all, so you didn't actually learn very much about Cleopatra by reading the entertaining part, but in the Epologue it told the story of the rest of her life. I think that this book should be for children from about 8-13. It was a bit youthful for me, but I think pretty much anyone would enjoy this book if they liked the style of writing. This book definitely led me to want to learn more about Cleopatra VII and I think that although this wasn't very acurate, it helped me learn a lot more about Cleopatra and her life.
~Callie

This Book tells the Story of Cleopatra-When she's about 12 years old!It's set-up like a diary,almost everyday there is an entry about what happened that day,about her sisters,and her friends....It tells of her feellings toward Ceaser and Rome,Where she visits later.......At the end of the story there are several pages about Cleopatras life,and there are some pictures of her and life in Ancient Egypt........
I highly recomend this book,I really enjoyed it!