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Like Mayflies in a Stream
Crown Princess Nindalla knows the terrifying power of Sargon of Akkad’s army: Ten years ago, it destroyed her home city and killed her parents. Now the nightmare is happening again. The Akkadians conquer her new home, Susa; make her a widow; and strip her of her rank. Nindalla vows to protect her children from her enemies by any means necessary, including marrying whoever can shield them best. With plots swirling around her, can she trust her instincts to tell friends from foes? Farm boy Ur-sag-enki was forced to become a soldier in the Akkadian army ten years ago after it destroyed his home and left him with nothing. When the Akkadians conquer Susa, he is awarded its governorship. He looks forward to settling down to the normal family life he craves. First, though, he must keep control of Susa despite enemies who exploit his inexperience, and he must gain legitimacy by persuading beautiful former princess Nindalla to marry him. But can he win her heart when it was his hand that struck down her husband?
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 12, 2019
When I came across Mayflies in a Stream by Shauna Roberts in an Amazon historical fiction search, I knew that it was a novel dealing with ancient Sumer. I'm interested in reading books taking place in ancient times. So I purchased it and it languished on a shelf for years. This year I added it to a Goodreads group TBR challenge and I'm glad I finally got to it. You see, I hadn't known it was a retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh with an unusual approach.
I've read a number of Gilgamesh retellings dealing with the perspective of Gilgamesh, his companion Enkidu or the Goddess Inanna. None dealt with the perspective of the people of Uruk under the rule of Gilgamesh. This definitely wasn't a democratic society, but there were limits to what people were willing to endure. There was such a thing as tyranny in ancient Sumer.
Modern readers might draw parallels between Gilgamesh and authoritarian figures in our era who believe that they can commit any wrong without penalty. I felt that Mayflies in a Stream does speak to our time. I could relate to the feelings of the people of Uruk that society was broken, and could never be restored to what it was before Gilgamesh uprooted all their norms.
This version of the Epic of Gilgamesh is tragic, but it certainly has power. I have placed this novel on my keeper shelf. I will remember it for some time.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
I've read a number of Gilgamesh retellings dealing with the perspective of Gilgamesh, his companion Enkidu or the Goddess Inanna. None dealt with the perspective of the people of Uruk under the rule of Gilgamesh. This definitely wasn't a democratic society, but there were limits to what people were willing to endure. There was such a thing as tyranny in ancient Sumer.
Modern readers might draw parallels between Gilgamesh and authoritarian figures in our era who believe that they can commit any wrong without penalty. I felt that Mayflies in a Stream does speak to our time. I could relate to the feelings of the people of Uruk that society was broken, and could never be restored to what it was before Gilgamesh uprooted all their norms.
This version of the Epic of Gilgamesh is tragic, but it certainly has power. I have placed this novel on my keeper shelf. I will remember it for some time.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
January 6, 2010
I've never searched for any information about Gilgamesh, never really been interested beyond watching documentaries which have attempted to describe ancient cultures for modern humanity. But Shauna Roberts's novel brings life to a subject that has always seemed rather dry to me. Her reconstruction of life as Gilgamesh and his people may have experienced it gives color to a history that formerly seemed like nothing more than clay shards; cuneiform; and unfamiliarly stiff ancient verse. The characters read as real people, fleshed out with expectations, shortcomings, and desires. LIKE MAYFLIES IN A STREAM has been an absorbing read, and I look forward to the next civilization, ancient or otherwise, that Shauna Roberts chooses to bring to life.
March 15, 2011
While I found the cover off-putting for a handful of reasons, once inside I was caught in the flow of the narrative. Roberts realizes her players well, showing multiple sides to mythic characters, and the details she puts into this historical re-imagining of "The Epic of Gilgamesh" really bring the story to life.
I was not familiar with the myth prior to reading Roberts' interpretation, and I think that it stands well on its own. We are quickly, and rather brutally, introduced to the deprivations of the King, Gilgamesh, and the cloud that hangs over the citizens of his city. He is both their protector and their destroyer. Also in play are Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna, who has personal connections to both the King and the newly-forming rebellion; Zaidu, a trapper who sets the story in motion; and Enkidu, beast-man raised by gazelles, who becomes the fulcrum of change.
The King is a bull of a man: muscular, quick-tempered, and driven by powerful lusts. He cripples the men he wrestles, races others beyond exhaustion, and now has claimed first "rights" to any bride. Gilgamesh answers to no one but the gods—and while the temple grows rich from offerings left by those begging the goddess Inanna for protection, the clergy are simply one more voice that the King ignores.
When Zaidu comes to Gilgamesh with his tale of a beast-man destroying his traps, the King sees that perhaps he has found an equal to try. Gilgamesh sends Shamhat into the desert with Zaidu to tame the beast-man and bring him back to the city.
The emotional and political twists and turns are best experienced firsthand. I recommend this novel for both its fast pacing and insightfulness, as well as for its historical grounding, and I look forward to more from Hadley Rille Books' Archaeology Series.
The review copy was provided by the publisher and will be retained by the reviewer.
I was not familiar with the myth prior to reading Roberts' interpretation, and I think that it stands well on its own. We are quickly, and rather brutally, introduced to the deprivations of the King, Gilgamesh, and the cloud that hangs over the citizens of his city. He is both their protector and their destroyer. Also in play are Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna, who has personal connections to both the King and the newly-forming rebellion; Zaidu, a trapper who sets the story in motion; and Enkidu, beast-man raised by gazelles, who becomes the fulcrum of change.
The King is a bull of a man: muscular, quick-tempered, and driven by powerful lusts. He cripples the men he wrestles, races others beyond exhaustion, and now has claimed first "rights" to any bride. Gilgamesh answers to no one but the gods—and while the temple grows rich from offerings left by those begging the goddess Inanna for protection, the clergy are simply one more voice that the King ignores.
When Zaidu comes to Gilgamesh with his tale of a beast-man destroying his traps, the King sees that perhaps he has found an equal to try. Gilgamesh sends Shamhat into the desert with Zaidu to tame the beast-man and bring him back to the city.
The emotional and political twists and turns are best experienced firsthand. I recommend this novel for both its fast pacing and insightfulness, as well as for its historical grounding, and I look forward to more from Hadley Rille Books' Archaeology Series.
The review copy was provided by the publisher and will be retained by the reviewer.
November 13, 2009
This is a fictionalized story about Gilgamesh in ancient Mesopotamia where Ms Roberts has developed an in-depth detailed description of Sumarian life in 2800 BC in the city of Uruk. From what I know of the story of King Gilgamesh, Ms Roberts has not deviated much from the tale to portray the characters in a manner she feels would be appropriate for their stature in the community.
The story is seen through multiple points of view from Enkidu, the wild man who lives with the gazelles in the desert; Gilgamesh, the cruel tyrant king of Uruk, and Shamhat, a temple priestess of the Goddess Ianna, who fears the wrath of the gods over Gilgamesh’s behaviour.
There are two dream prophecies: one from the temple priest, Nanna-Ur-Sag, of a man from the wild who will humble Gilgamesh to restore peace and order to the city; and one from the King, Gilgamesh, of meeting a man who will become a companion to him, his second self.
When word comes to Uruk of a wild man from the desert, Gilgamesh thinks this is the person to relieve his boredom. He arranges for Shamhat to ‘tame’ the wild man Enkidu and bring him back. Little does Gilgamesh know that Shamhat has her own plans for Enkidu to restore favour with the gods.
Once begun this book was difficult to put down as there were always new questions that needed to be answered. The background information and interaction between the characters is richly described and believable. I recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in ancient Sumarian civilization to have a look at what life may have been like. This would also be a good young adult book.
The story is seen through multiple points of view from Enkidu, the wild man who lives with the gazelles in the desert; Gilgamesh, the cruel tyrant king of Uruk, and Shamhat, a temple priestess of the Goddess Ianna, who fears the wrath of the gods over Gilgamesh’s behaviour.
There are two dream prophecies: one from the temple priest, Nanna-Ur-Sag, of a man from the wild who will humble Gilgamesh to restore peace and order to the city; and one from the King, Gilgamesh, of meeting a man who will become a companion to him, his second self.
When word comes to Uruk of a wild man from the desert, Gilgamesh thinks this is the person to relieve his boredom. He arranges for Shamhat to ‘tame’ the wild man Enkidu and bring him back. Little does Gilgamesh know that Shamhat has her own plans for Enkidu to restore favour with the gods.
Once begun this book was difficult to put down as there were always new questions that needed to be answered. The background information and interaction between the characters is richly described and believable. I recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in ancient Sumarian civilization to have a look at what life may have been like. This would also be a good young adult book.
October 26, 2009
I found this a really compelling read. Just great characters and a very realistic feel to the historical world. The basic story is a retelling of the Gilgamesh legend, but the mythology is fleshed out with supporting characters who seem extremely real. By the time I got to the second half of the book I was loath to take a break from it and was turning the pages rapidly to find out what happened next.
November 16, 2009
An incredible retelling of the Gilgamesh myth. Well-researched, authentic, gripping. I would recommend this to everyone.
August 13, 2018
Like Mayflies in a Stream retells the first half of the Gilgamesh Epic from the point of view of Shamhat, the priestess of Inanna/Ishtar tasked to "civilize" the wild man Enkidu who will go on to humble the tyrant king Gilgamesh.
Short version: I've loved this book. It was a quick read, rich in atmosphere, easy to get into even if you're not at all into Mesopotamia. And if you're into Mesopotamia you'll be pleased to know that the book's portrayal is highly accurate and in accordance with current research. There's romance (well done), there's mention and vague description of rape (plot-relevant and based on the source material), there's a beautiful well-rounded female protagonist who uses feminity as her weapon (but this does not make her a sex bomb, and there's so much more to her!). Plot is fast-paced, consistent, and the stakes are ultimately high which forces the protagonists to make life-altering choices (yay!). The story is told in third-person narrator with changing point of views which are clearly indicated. All in all I highly recommend this novel.
Long version:
Upon my first reading of the Gilgamesh Epic itself, I thought to myself "wow, someone should write a book from Shamhat's point of view. There's probably far more to her than the poems allude to." And I was overjoyed to find out someone did indeed write that book, and wrote it well. I was thoroughly captivated by the writing style, drawing me in and keeping me reading so I finished the book far quicker than I usually would. Roberts manages to choose her words carefully enough to build a whole world in your mind, while keeping things going and interesting. There is no boring bit in the whole book, yet the world felt rich and real to me at the same time. Even if you don't know a single thing about Mesopotamia or the Gilgamesh Epic, you will not be lost. Roberts portrays customs and rites in such a natural, self-evident way that you feel in touch immediatelly. And if you do have a background in Ancient Near East Studies (as I have), you'll be pleased to hear that Roberts did her homework - every detail is well researched, words are used correctly. I grinned to myself everytime she referenced well-known bits of the original epic, or hinted at archaeological cases that still get told anecdotically in academia (such as the strange man-in-net-skirt).
The characters in Like Mayflies in a Stream feel alive and tangible. They've all got personalities that inform their behavior - especially so the four protagonists Shamhat, Gilgamesh, Enkidu and Zaidu. The problems they face feel real and justified, and their solutions are drastic to match. With the high stakes of the climax of the book, I feared the author may backpedal, but she pulled through and had her characters make the tough choices that such stakes demand.
There's romance in this as well. Aside from Enkidu and Gilgamesh, who Roberts purposefully portrayed in an ambiguous way (is the b still part of this bromance? A question asked by many a historian), the protaogonists experience romance as well - and a very pleasing disgruntled-bickering-comrades-to-mutual-pining romance at that. I loved it. And one hardly sees honest romance in this kind of "historic novel", if you can call it that - the usual assumption, especially among male scholars of the field of ancient near east studies, is that there was no romance in 2k BCE, men owned women, and women were no more than sexy lamps (or candles). As such, Roberts portrayal of a priestess of Inanna/Ishtar was truly refreshing: Countless male scholars have assumed a priestess serving the goddess of love+war must be whores. At all times. And vapid airheads as well. Roberts chose a different path of assuming a priestess of Inanna/Ishtar takes a vow of chastity that is only broken for the new year's festival, where the sacred marriage is re-enacted (100 points for research well done, as this choice reflects the latest debate on the topic of priestesses). I especially enjoyed the conscious choice to portray Shamhat as not only beautiful, but working to maintain that beauty as it is her job to be beautiful. I.e. Shamhat is trained to move gracefully, speak pleasantly, and paint her face to look pretty. Yet this does not diminish her personality or turn her into a vapid airhead (as it would had a man written this if we're being honest).
I can only applaud Roberts' choice to have a female protagonist use make-up heavily without making a big deal out of it, without having it vilify her, without feeding the stereotypes of "women who work for their beauty" we all read daily. It should not be this big a deal to write a female protagonist with three-dimensional personality who also wears make-up and jewelry, but sadly it is.
All in all, I loved this fast-paced well-constructed book. It could have been longer (i.e. more in depth) simply because I want to read more about these characters and their lives, but nonetheless the narrative left them at a good point in time (read: everything's resolved). I will definitely check out more by this author and recommend this book to everyone I know.
Short version: I've loved this book. It was a quick read, rich in atmosphere, easy to get into even if you're not at all into Mesopotamia. And if you're into Mesopotamia you'll be pleased to know that the book's portrayal is highly accurate and in accordance with current research. There's romance (well done), there's mention and vague description of rape (plot-relevant and based on the source material), there's a beautiful well-rounded female protagonist who uses feminity as her weapon (but this does not make her a sex bomb, and there's so much more to her!). Plot is fast-paced, consistent, and the stakes are ultimately high which forces the protagonists to make life-altering choices (yay!). The story is told in third-person narrator with changing point of views which are clearly indicated. All in all I highly recommend this novel.
Long version:
Upon my first reading of the Gilgamesh Epic itself, I thought to myself "wow, someone should write a book from Shamhat's point of view. There's probably far more to her than the poems allude to." And I was overjoyed to find out someone did indeed write that book, and wrote it well. I was thoroughly captivated by the writing style, drawing me in and keeping me reading so I finished the book far quicker than I usually would. Roberts manages to choose her words carefully enough to build a whole world in your mind, while keeping things going and interesting. There is no boring bit in the whole book, yet the world felt rich and real to me at the same time. Even if you don't know a single thing about Mesopotamia or the Gilgamesh Epic, you will not be lost. Roberts portrays customs and rites in such a natural, self-evident way that you feel in touch immediatelly. And if you do have a background in Ancient Near East Studies (as I have), you'll be pleased to hear that Roberts did her homework - every detail is well researched, words are used correctly. I grinned to myself everytime she referenced well-known bits of the original epic, or hinted at archaeological cases that still get told anecdotically in academia (such as the strange man-in-net-skirt).
The characters in Like Mayflies in a Stream feel alive and tangible. They've all got personalities that inform their behavior - especially so the four protagonists Shamhat, Gilgamesh, Enkidu and Zaidu. The problems they face feel real and justified, and their solutions are drastic to match. With the high stakes of the climax of the book, I feared the author may backpedal, but she pulled through and had her characters make the tough choices that such stakes demand.
There's romance in this as well. Aside from Enkidu and Gilgamesh, who Roberts purposefully portrayed in an ambiguous way (is the b still part of this bromance? A question asked by many a historian), the protaogonists experience romance as well - and a very pleasing disgruntled-bickering-comrades-to-mutual-pining romance at that. I loved it. And one hardly sees honest romance in this kind of "historic novel", if you can call it that - the usual assumption, especially among male scholars of the field of ancient near east studies, is that there was no romance in 2k BCE, men owned women, and women were no more than sexy lamps (or candles). As such, Roberts portrayal of a priestess of Inanna/Ishtar was truly refreshing: Countless male scholars have assumed a priestess serving the goddess of love+war must be whores. At all times. And vapid airheads as well. Roberts chose a different path of assuming a priestess of Inanna/Ishtar takes a vow of chastity that is only broken for the new year's festival, where the sacred marriage is re-enacted (100 points for research well done, as this choice reflects the latest debate on the topic of priestesses). I especially enjoyed the conscious choice to portray Shamhat as not only beautiful, but working to maintain that beauty as it is her job to be beautiful. I.e. Shamhat is trained to move gracefully, speak pleasantly, and paint her face to look pretty. Yet this does not diminish her personality or turn her into a vapid airhead (as it would had a man written this if we're being honest).
I can only applaud Roberts' choice to have a female protagonist use make-up heavily without making a big deal out of it, without having it vilify her, without feeding the stereotypes of "women who work for their beauty" we all read daily. It should not be this big a deal to write a female protagonist with three-dimensional personality who also wears make-up and jewelry, but sadly it is.
All in all, I loved this fast-paced well-constructed book. It could have been longer (i.e. more in depth) simply because I want to read more about these characters and their lives, but nonetheless the narrative left them at a good point in time (read: everything's resolved). I will definitely check out more by this author and recommend this book to everyone I know.
March 27, 2015
LIKE MAYFLIES IN A STREAM
Author: Shauna Roberts
Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged
Narrator: Hollie Jackson
Length: 6 hours, 52 minutes
Release Date: July 14, 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Hadley Rille Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
* I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This audiobook was downloaded from www.audible.com
Mesopotamia approx. 4750 years ago
This is a retelling of The Epic of Gilgamesh.
The book was an interesting and entertaining listening experience.
Set in the ancient world of Mesopotamia in the time of King Gilgamesh, in the great city of Uruk, this book follows the intertwined lives of several interesting characters.
Gilgamesh may be the most powerful King of the most powerful city in the land, but that does not mean that he is a good King. In fact, he is anything but a benevolent ruler. He claims the right to bed any bride on her wedding night and exercises that right often and with brutality. He forces citizens to wrestle him and does not care when they are left crippled and unable to support themselves or their families afterward.
Citizens of Gilgamesh's city have been flocking to the temples of their Gods in droves asking for assistance and protection. The temple priests and priestesses are desperate to find a way to turn Gilgamesh into a King worthy of worship and adoration rather than fear and hatred.
Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna, is sent into the wilderness to find and civilize a wild-man who is thought to be a match for Uruk's violent King. The priestesses are hoping that he will be able to humble Gilgamesh.
This story brings to a life a tale that has endured the test of time. It is a book that examines the benefits of being part of a society (civilization) versus the benefits of living free and relying on no one but yourself. Which is better? Why? It also highlights the drawbacks of both lifestyle choices. Is it better to give up your freedom in exchange for comfort and security? And what happens when the leader who is responsible for maintaining order thinks only of himself and not his citizens?
The character of Shamhat is a wonderfully vivid character and Hollie Jackson (the narrator) skillfully brings her to life in stunning detail. Her voice is perfect for this character and greatly enhances the listening experience.
This book is not meant for younger readers since it contains sexually explicit and violent situations.
If you have not yet heard the tale of Gilgamesh or it has been a while since you have read it, I highly recommend listening to it as an audiobook. It is an experience that you will not regret. Everyone should know the tale of Gilgamesh and this book does a great job with that epic tale.
The author has included many fascinating cultural details as well as details about the ancient gods and how they were worshipped. I found the description of ancient burial rites as well as the intricacies of ancient commerce particularly interesting. There are Author Notes included at the conclusion of this audiobook which offers even more details.
I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shauna Roberts was born in Ohio and has lived an interesting life. She has a wide variety of interests and affiliations. For more information about Shauna Roberts visit her website at www.shaunaroberts.com
To read more of my reviews visit http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on @Amieroger
Author: Shauna Roberts
Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged
Narrator: Hollie Jackson
Length: 6 hours, 52 minutes
Release Date: July 14, 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Hadley Rille Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
* I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This audiobook was downloaded from www.audible.com
Mesopotamia approx. 4750 years ago
This is a retelling of The Epic of Gilgamesh.
The book was an interesting and entertaining listening experience.
Set in the ancient world of Mesopotamia in the time of King Gilgamesh, in the great city of Uruk, this book follows the intertwined lives of several interesting characters.
Gilgamesh may be the most powerful King of the most powerful city in the land, but that does not mean that he is a good King. In fact, he is anything but a benevolent ruler. He claims the right to bed any bride on her wedding night and exercises that right often and with brutality. He forces citizens to wrestle him and does not care when they are left crippled and unable to support themselves or their families afterward.
Citizens of Gilgamesh's city have been flocking to the temples of their Gods in droves asking for assistance and protection. The temple priests and priestesses are desperate to find a way to turn Gilgamesh into a King worthy of worship and adoration rather than fear and hatred.
Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna, is sent into the wilderness to find and civilize a wild-man who is thought to be a match for Uruk's violent King. The priestesses are hoping that he will be able to humble Gilgamesh.
This story brings to a life a tale that has endured the test of time. It is a book that examines the benefits of being part of a society (civilization) versus the benefits of living free and relying on no one but yourself. Which is better? Why? It also highlights the drawbacks of both lifestyle choices. Is it better to give up your freedom in exchange for comfort and security? And what happens when the leader who is responsible for maintaining order thinks only of himself and not his citizens?
The character of Shamhat is a wonderfully vivid character and Hollie Jackson (the narrator) skillfully brings her to life in stunning detail. Her voice is perfect for this character and greatly enhances the listening experience.
This book is not meant for younger readers since it contains sexually explicit and violent situations.
If you have not yet heard the tale of Gilgamesh or it has been a while since you have read it, I highly recommend listening to it as an audiobook. It is an experience that you will not regret. Everyone should know the tale of Gilgamesh and this book does a great job with that epic tale.
The author has included many fascinating cultural details as well as details about the ancient gods and how they were worshipped. I found the description of ancient burial rites as well as the intricacies of ancient commerce particularly interesting. There are Author Notes included at the conclusion of this audiobook which offers even more details.
I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shauna Roberts was born in Ohio and has lived an interesting life. She has a wide variety of interests and affiliations. For more information about Shauna Roberts visit her website at www.shaunaroberts.com
To read more of my reviews visit http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on @Amieroger
April 24, 2015
The “Epic of Gilgamesh” comes alive with the vivid descriptions, characters, and crisp writing talent of Shauna Roberts! Although it is a retelling of an ancient myth, one that perhaps not all of us are as familiar with as, say, King Arthur, Like Mayflies in a Stream is written in such a way that it gives a fresh voice to an otherwise ordinary tale.
If you enjoy a good historical novel, or if you are already interested in anything related to mythology, then this is the book for you! No matter the age, from teens to adults, this makes a quick, fascinating read. Roberts provides a look into the past, during a time long ago, but connects the characters to the reader in such a way that you almost forget this is taking place centuries ago-- it feels real, and it's believable. As they say, human nature doesn't change much, even over thousands of years, but the strong connection to the characters is mostly because of Roberts' skills at weaving a story together.
My only criticism, if you can call if that, is the descriptions were a bit much at times. Not necessarily a bad thing, but due to my personal preference, there were times when Roberts' almost painted the scene too vividly-- such as during the battles or gory scenes. Again, this is more of personal preference, since I'm not one for gory movies/books and the scenes I talk about from Like Mayflies in a Stream are actually pretty tame compared to many stories out there.
4 STARS! After covering the “Epic of Gilgamesh” in my mythology class last semester, this was an interesting retelling of the story. I enjoyed the story Roberts created around the epic tale while still allowing the reader to glimpse the original “myth” beneath the story. Very well written, entertaining, and quick-- this is not like most historical novels, which cover 700 plus pages and seem to drag on instead of flow smoothly. A good recommendation for anyone, history fans or not, as a refreshing break from the normal paranormal and fantasy novels out there.
If you enjoy a good historical novel, or if you are already interested in anything related to mythology, then this is the book for you! No matter the age, from teens to adults, this makes a quick, fascinating read. Roberts provides a look into the past, during a time long ago, but connects the characters to the reader in such a way that you almost forget this is taking place centuries ago-- it feels real, and it's believable. As they say, human nature doesn't change much, even over thousands of years, but the strong connection to the characters is mostly because of Roberts' skills at weaving a story together.
My only criticism, if you can call if that, is the descriptions were a bit much at times. Not necessarily a bad thing, but due to my personal preference, there were times when Roberts' almost painted the scene too vividly-- such as during the battles or gory scenes. Again, this is more of personal preference, since I'm not one for gory movies/books and the scenes I talk about from Like Mayflies in a Stream are actually pretty tame compared to many stories out there.
4 STARS! After covering the “Epic of Gilgamesh” in my mythology class last semester, this was an interesting retelling of the story. I enjoyed the story Roberts created around the epic tale while still allowing the reader to glimpse the original “myth” beneath the story. Very well written, entertaining, and quick-- this is not like most historical novels, which cover 700 plus pages and seem to drag on instead of flow smoothly. A good recommendation for anyone, history fans or not, as a refreshing break from the normal paranormal and fantasy novels out there.
November 28, 2011
Prior to reading Dr. Shauna Robert’s "Like Mayflies in a Stream" all that I knew of ancient Mesopotamia was a picture of a fossilized footprint in my set of childrens’ encyclopedias, the fabulous ziggurat at Ur, a small section of pre-rolled characters in my beloved D&D Legends and Lore book and a few days of study in my Mythology 101 class in high school. Dr Roberts, who has a clear passion for the subject, brings it all back to life in this revisitation of the story of Enkidu from the wild and Gilgamesh.
Similar to Dan Brown’s "The DaVinci Code", Dr. Roberts skillfully integrates mythological characters with invented ones sprinkled with a learned primer of life and culture in ancient Mesopotamia. The reader gets a taste of it all, from fabrics and textures to foods and drinks the ancients prepared and enjoyed. She also attempts to “normalize” the mythologicals a bit by making them more mortal and removing some of their more superhuman aspects (for example, I recall from my old reading that Shamhat made love to Enkidu for six days and nights as she integrated him into human culture—it doesn’t quite happen that way in the book though that would have been way cool).
Dr. Roberts does an amazing job depicting Gilgamesh, the great hero of the Sumerian pantheon. As I recall, Gilgamesh was a real wildcard, helping one moment and creating chaos the next. The Gilgamesh in the story embodies that chaos, wrestling, racing and beating his people into submission.
I highly recommend "Like Mayflies in a Stream" to any who enjoy a good bit of fiction and romance, mixed in with a literal journey through a rich but forgotten culture.
Similar to Dan Brown’s "The DaVinci Code", Dr. Roberts skillfully integrates mythological characters with invented ones sprinkled with a learned primer of life and culture in ancient Mesopotamia. The reader gets a taste of it all, from fabrics and textures to foods and drinks the ancients prepared and enjoyed. She also attempts to “normalize” the mythologicals a bit by making them more mortal and removing some of their more superhuman aspects (for example, I recall from my old reading that Shamhat made love to Enkidu for six days and nights as she integrated him into human culture—it doesn’t quite happen that way in the book though that would have been way cool).
Dr. Roberts does an amazing job depicting Gilgamesh, the great hero of the Sumerian pantheon. As I recall, Gilgamesh was a real wildcard, helping one moment and creating chaos the next. The Gilgamesh in the story embodies that chaos, wrestling, racing and beating his people into submission.
I highly recommend "Like Mayflies in a Stream" to any who enjoy a good bit of fiction and romance, mixed in with a literal journey through a rich but forgotten culture.
February 10, 2013
I adore books set in the ancient world. As soon as I saw this one was set in Mesopotamia, that was all I needed.
LIKE MAYFLIES IN A STREAM is a skillful retelling of the Gilgamesh epic told from the point of view of Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna. Shamhat loves her life as a priestess and strives to always do as the goddess would want. She has taken a vow of chastity, which was only set aside once for a special feast day when she was selected to play a part in a ceremony that left her pregnant by King Gilgamesh. Her son is being raised by the temple to be a priest and doesn't know who his parents are, since he is considered to be the son of the goddess. Nevertheless, Shamhat loves him as a mother and would do anything for him. These very human feelings come into direct conflict with her committment to her vows when she is ordered to go to the desert and bring back a wild man to challenge Gilgamesh, whose restlessness has made him reckless and endangered the lives of his people. I was absolutely riveted by the political maneuvering and Shamhat's internal struggle to do the right thing and yet still save her son and brother and other friends whose lives were put into precarious positions by the capriciousness of their king.
The world created by Shauna Roberts completely sucked me in and made me feel as if I had been transported to the ancient city of Uruk--the sights, the smells, the culture of the people. If you're an ancient world geek like I am, you will love this book! And if you aren't...this book might make you one.
LIKE MAYFLIES IN A STREAM is a skillful retelling of the Gilgamesh epic told from the point of view of Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna. Shamhat loves her life as a priestess and strives to always do as the goddess would want. She has taken a vow of chastity, which was only set aside once for a special feast day when she was selected to play a part in a ceremony that left her pregnant by King Gilgamesh. Her son is being raised by the temple to be a priest and doesn't know who his parents are, since he is considered to be the son of the goddess. Nevertheless, Shamhat loves him as a mother and would do anything for him. These very human feelings come into direct conflict with her committment to her vows when she is ordered to go to the desert and bring back a wild man to challenge Gilgamesh, whose restlessness has made him reckless and endangered the lives of his people. I was absolutely riveted by the political maneuvering and Shamhat's internal struggle to do the right thing and yet still save her son and brother and other friends whose lives were put into precarious positions by the capriciousness of their king.
The world created by Shauna Roberts completely sucked me in and made me feel as if I had been transported to the ancient city of Uruk--the sights, the smells, the culture of the people. If you're an ancient world geek like I am, you will love this book! And if you aren't...this book might make you one.
November 18, 2009
This story is a (fairly) realistic novelization of the Epic of Gilgamesh that is told mostly- but not entirely- from the point of view of the priestess who has been sent to tame the wild man Enkidu. The premise is a good one and the author does an excellent job of fleshing out many details of ordinary life in Sumerian times. I mostly enjoyed the story but, as usual, have a few small gripes...
In the process of making the story more realistic, some of the mythic resonance of the original tale is lost, especially when the author uses modern idiom. Also, the pace of the story seems a little off, richly detailed and increasingly suspenseful for the first, say, two-thirds and then sort of petering out at the end. I was a little disappointed that there were no details about the two quests from the point of view of Gilgamesh or Enkidu... but events of those journeys are far from "realistic," which may be one reason the author chose to leave them out. I wonder how this story would do if written with more of a flavor of magical realism.
But those criticisms are minor. I think this story really is worth having a look at.
In the process of making the story more realistic, some of the mythic resonance of the original tale is lost, especially when the author uses modern idiom. Also, the pace of the story seems a little off, richly detailed and increasingly suspenseful for the first, say, two-thirds and then sort of petering out at the end. I was a little disappointed that there were no details about the two quests from the point of view of Gilgamesh or Enkidu... but events of those journeys are far from "realistic," which may be one reason the author chose to leave them out. I wonder how this story would do if written with more of a flavor of magical realism.
But those criticisms are minor. I think this story really is worth having a look at.
June 18, 2012
Before starting this book, I knew nothing about The Epic of Gilgamesh. While I love reading about archaeology and archaeologists, I've shied away from books attempting to actually tell a story from ancient people's point of view. I kept picturing Elizabeth Peters' delightful spoofs along the lines of "Urg spotted the goddess and wanted her for himself." (See Peters' delightful Die for Love (Jacqueline Kirby).)
Based on a friend's recommendation, however, I downloaded a sample and couldn't stop reading. The characters are realistic and lovingly rendered. The heroine retains her strength and independence despite the pressures of a society that views females as nothing more than property and baby-making machines.
The best part, however, is the ease of reading. Shauna Roberts weaves in historical detail in a way that keeps the story moving and, at the same time, educates the reader. At no point did I have to stop and backtrack to figure out what was happening in the book. As another reviewer mentioned, what a great way to learn history!
Based on a friend's recommendation, however, I downloaded a sample and couldn't stop reading. The characters are realistic and lovingly rendered. The heroine retains her strength and independence despite the pressures of a society that views females as nothing more than property and baby-making machines.
The best part, however, is the ease of reading. Shauna Roberts weaves in historical detail in a way that keeps the story moving and, at the same time, educates the reader. At no point did I have to stop and backtrack to figure out what was happening in the book. As another reviewer mentioned, what a great way to learn history!
January 6, 2011
Forget history. Forget accuracy and detail. This retelling of The Epic of Gilgamesh is a simply fantastic novel. The writing is clean and compelling, the storytelling brilliant. There's plenty of action, a kind and sensitive heart to the story and one of the best heroines I've ever encountered.
Okay, now the history. Now the accuracy and detail. Like Mayflies in a stream is one of the best historicals I've read, especially considering the period in which it's set. Shauna Roberts clearly knows her stuff. Better still, she manages not to dump her knowledge in our laps. Instead she creates a subtle, thorough and convincing portrait of this lost world, seamlessly bringing the modern reader into a culture very different from our own. It's an impressive feat of literary sleight-of-hand. Just beautifully done.
From start to finish, Like Mayflies in a Stream swept me up and refused to let me go...
Okay, now the history. Now the accuracy and detail. Like Mayflies in a stream is one of the best historicals I've read, especially considering the period in which it's set. Shauna Roberts clearly knows her stuff. Better still, she manages not to dump her knowledge in our laps. Instead she creates a subtle, thorough and convincing portrait of this lost world, seamlessly bringing the modern reader into a culture very different from our own. It's an impressive feat of literary sleight-of-hand. Just beautifully done.
From start to finish, Like Mayflies in a Stream swept me up and refused to let me go...
October 24, 2014
Content: A narrative novel set in the oldest human epic is a challenge that is well matched in Like Mayflies in a Stream. The perspective from Shamhut is refreshing and well done, offering a less favorable view of the king. Covering the first five tablets of the epic, with some liberty taken in the seventh for the end of the book, I still feel I've visited Uruk.
Narrator: Hollie Jackson did a fine job with a crisp and easy to follow read with a perfect balance in doing voices but not sounding too far off.
Writing: I'm used to flowery prose and like it. I found this book too straightforward to me, with many statements. To be far, she comes from anthropology and the sciences, so my expectations may be a bit high. The first chapter was really odd, though I think this might be an attempt to capture the simple mind of a child. This took it from a 3.5 to 4 down to a 3 to 3.5 for me.
Conclusion: If interested in the content and genre, it is a great entry with sold reading.
Narrator: Hollie Jackson did a fine job with a crisp and easy to follow read with a perfect balance in doing voices but not sounding too far off.
Writing: I'm used to flowery prose and like it. I found this book too straightforward to me, with many statements. To be far, she comes from anthropology and the sciences, so my expectations may be a bit high. The first chapter was really odd, though I think this might be an attempt to capture the simple mind of a child. This took it from a 3.5 to 4 down to a 3 to 3.5 for me.
Conclusion: If interested in the content and genre, it is a great entry with sold reading.
September 11, 2015
I really did enjoy this book. You might calm it literary historical fiction. Therefore is some romance in it, but the romance is not the point of the story.
It is set in Mesopotamia during the reign of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is a horrible king. He does pretty much whatever he wants to do without regard for anyone or anything else. He rapes the wife of one citizen and her husband vows to seek revenge on the king from that moment on. And that is where the main story starts.
The rest of the story centers around a wild man who is lured to the city and tamed by one of the priestesses. It is prophesied that he is will overcome the king and humble him, which he eventually does but not in the way everyone thinks he will.
This is a wonderful story and well narrated as well. I never got bored listening to the story or the narrator. I very much recommend this audiobook for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or just plain good books.
It is set in Mesopotamia during the reign of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh is a horrible king. He does pretty much whatever he wants to do without regard for anyone or anything else. He rapes the wife of one citizen and her husband vows to seek revenge on the king from that moment on. And that is where the main story starts.
The rest of the story centers around a wild man who is lured to the city and tamed by one of the priestesses. It is prophesied that he is will overcome the king and humble him, which he eventually does but not in the way everyone thinks he will.
This is a wonderful story and well narrated as well. I never got bored listening to the story or the narrator. I very much recommend this audiobook for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or just plain good books.
April 22, 2015
There's not enough historical novels about ancient Mesopotamia out there, and I was delighted to find this sexy, smart and historically aware retelling of Gilgamesh by Shauna Roberts. In some ways it feels more like an expanded novella than an actual novel, but it was a fun, fast read; I loved the sexual tension between the priestess Shamhat and the two men she felt drawn too. On one hand you have the strategically minded Zaidu, the hunter; and then there's the massive feral-but-lovable man-child Enkidu.
And then you have Gil himself. He's not really the hero in this one; he's kind of like... Gaston from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, who has a philosophical awakening at the end (as opposed to falling from a roof). Now, excuse me while I giggle for hours imagining an ancient Sumerian take on Gaston's theme song...
And then you have Gil himself. He's not really the hero in this one; he's kind of like... Gaston from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, who has a philosophical awakening at the end (as opposed to falling from a roof). Now, excuse me while I giggle for hours imagining an ancient Sumerian take on Gaston's theme song...
April 8, 2015
his was an interesting take on the Gilgamesh stories.The author explains at the end where she got her information on clothing,foods,etc since there is no actual acct of these things.The story follows Gilgamesh,the king,a tyrant who thinks he's making good decisions and a priestess who tries to point him in the right direction.I thought the story was slow and all the names of places and people just jumbled in my mind.The narrator,Hollie Jackson,was a fine selection for this material.I was gifted a copy for an honest review.
October 24, 2009
This author described a time completely foreign to me, so well that I continued thinking of the inhabitants long after closing the book. So many details are included in the lives of the characters, that I could practically taste the meals, and feel the aches in my feet! The fight scenes were gruesome! The love scenes were underplayed.
Not my regular reading genre, so it was a good stretch for me. I was anxious to turn every page to read the story unfold.
Not my regular reading genre, so it was a good stretch for me. I was anxious to turn every page to read the story unfold.
October 31, 2009
This book is a novelized version of the Epic of Gilgamesh, an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia, and one of the earliest known works of literary writing (or so says Wikipedia). The story takes place approx. 4750 years ago in the city of Uruk, and tells the story of King Gilgamesh. A very interesting story, with lots of details about daily life of that time period.
May 25, 2011
I wasn’t familiar with the Epic of Gilgamesh, but enjoyed reading this retelling of the ancient tale.
November 2, 2009
Great book for readers of historicals that are well-researched and well-written.
February 6, 2022
This archeologically accurate novelization of the epic of Gilgamesh, as told from the point of view of Samhat, a priestess of the goddess Inanna, is a wonderful read. It brought ancient Sumerian life to light.
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