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She Wrote on Clay by Shirley Graetz (14-Oct-2013) Paperback
3,800 years ago, in the city of Sippar, on the banks of the Euphrates, lltani dreams of becoming a female scribe, a profession dominated by men. In order to fulfill her destiny, she enters the gagu to become a nad tu, an elite class of monastic women. But life is not so simple and misfortunes threaten her goal. On the verge of despair, it takes all her strength to continue the difficult journey.
Paperback
First published October 11, 2013
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About the author
Shirley Graetz
5 books7 followersI have recently finished my PHD in Assyriology, the studies of ancient texts written in cuneiform on clay.
I am very interested in the ancient history of Women in the land of Mesopotamia (Iraq of today).
I currently teach a class about ancient Women.
However, I fell in love with writing historical fiction based on ancient history and ancient texts. SHE WROTE ON CLAY is my debut novel published by Hadley Rille Books.
I am currently working on another story, based on the Gilgamesh Mythology.
I live in Israel, Jerusalem.
I am very interested in the ancient history of Women in the land of Mesopotamia (Iraq of today).
I currently teach a class about ancient Women.
However, I fell in love with writing historical fiction based on ancient history and ancient texts. SHE WROTE ON CLAY is my debut novel published by Hadley Rille Books.
I am currently working on another story, based on the Gilgamesh Mythology.
I live in Israel, Jerusalem.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 20, 2014
Shirley Graetz takes the reader back some 3800 years to ancient Sippar, where we learn about the fascinating life of Iltani and other women scribes of her time. Drawing on her own scholarship, Graetz incorporates original translations of authentic stone tablets. Even her narrative voice reads like an ancient manuscript made available to the modern reader, as opposed to a modern story imposed on ancient times. This style may not appeal to every reader, but I would recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient history and women's history. I very much enjoyed following Iltani's journey, and thought this an excellent addition to Hadley Rille Books Archaeology Series. I'm looking forward to seeing what Graetz has in store for us next.
March 29, 2018
Great at some parts, less so in others.
March 25, 2015
At first, the novel felt strange but as I continued reading, I realized that because the storyline was new to me I felt hesitant. I cannot remember ever reading about gagû or naditu before. At the end, I appreciate the author’s effort to keep reader’s interest in that aspect of the Ancient East. Mission accomplished because I am very much inspired to read more on naditu.
In addition, the information provided at the end of the novel connects the story to the History of Ancient East in relation to law writing and gagû. Maybe you should read the author’s notes first if you feel that Ancient East historical fiction will suck you in and lost you. However, you do not have to, if you feel it may act like a spoiler for the story. Although, I had a problem remembering the names of certain characters (because they were in an unfamiliar language), the events within the plot flowed. I was not confused about the life of a naditu because the author did a good job in explaining.
Furthermore, I like the character development in Iltani (lead woman), her journey becoming a naditu reads like a young woman entering a world independent of marriage. It reads similar to the little I know concerning women and marriage in that time period. I love the budding friendship that Iltani developed and the fact that she gets challenges in her quest to succeed. I love how the author introduces the romance between Iltani and Marduk-musallim; it was a gentle budding love one suiting a woman so involved in the gagû. The ending of the story left some unanswered questions and it hints at a second novel.
In addition, the information provided at the end of the novel connects the story to the History of Ancient East in relation to law writing and gagû. Maybe you should read the author’s notes first if you feel that Ancient East historical fiction will suck you in and lost you. However, you do not have to, if you feel it may act like a spoiler for the story. Although, I had a problem remembering the names of certain characters (because they were in an unfamiliar language), the events within the plot flowed. I was not confused about the life of a naditu because the author did a good job in explaining.
Furthermore, I like the character development in Iltani (lead woman), her journey becoming a naditu reads like a young woman entering a world independent of marriage. It reads similar to the little I know concerning women and marriage in that time period. I love the budding friendship that Iltani developed and the fact that she gets challenges in her quest to succeed. I love how the author introduces the romance between Iltani and Marduk-musallim; it was a gentle budding love one suiting a woman so involved in the gagû. The ending of the story left some unanswered questions and it hints at a second novel.
December 27, 2013
2.5.
I really, really wanted to give this book a higher rating. Ancient-world historical fiction with a feminist slant? Should be right up my alley, right? Sadly this book, which was short enough to be look like an easy read, was a slog to get through.
Look, I don't doubt that author is intelligent and well-informed on her subject, but it read like an academic dabbling in fiction without giving fiction readers the benefit of a good story. A novel can be as factual and historically-accurate as anything, but the characters and plot have to, I don't know...exist? The discrepancy between the excellent descriptions of the details of daily life and the almost ephemeral characterizations was jarring. Almost as jarring as the oddly stylized way some Sumerian names were written, with little consistency (which may be an error in translation or transcription but did not make things easier to read).
To date, the best feminist ancient-world fiction I've read is The Dovekeepers. Though it's a completely different era and region, Graetz would do well to look at Alice Hoffman's stellar example of how to not sacrifice storytelling on the altar of historical accuracy. While I would love to take a Women in Mesopotamia class with the author of this book, I can't in good conscience recommend that anyone read it unless you are just really, really into the subject matter. If nothing else, I suppose I can say that I learned a lot?
I really, really wanted to give this book a higher rating. Ancient-world historical fiction with a feminist slant? Should be right up my alley, right? Sadly this book, which was short enough to be look like an easy read, was a slog to get through.
Look, I don't doubt that author is intelligent and well-informed on her subject, but it read like an academic dabbling in fiction without giving fiction readers the benefit of a good story. A novel can be as factual and historically-accurate as anything, but the characters and plot have to, I don't know...exist? The discrepancy between the excellent descriptions of the details of daily life and the almost ephemeral characterizations was jarring. Almost as jarring as the oddly stylized way some Sumerian names were written, with little consistency (which may be an error in translation or transcription but did not make things easier to read).
To date, the best feminist ancient-world fiction I've read is The Dovekeepers. Though it's a completely different era and region, Graetz would do well to look at Alice Hoffman's stellar example of how to not sacrifice storytelling on the altar of historical accuracy. While I would love to take a Women in Mesopotamia class with the author of this book, I can't in good conscience recommend that anyone read it unless you are just really, really into the subject matter. If nothing else, I suppose I can say that I learned a lot?
May 18, 2016
She Wrote on Clay, by Shirley Graetz, is a historical novel. The story is set in Sippar, which was a city twenty miles southwest of where Baghdad is today, and takes places centuries Before Christ.
At the beginning, Iltani is a young girl who wants to be a scribe. Her father is a respected scribe and she is anxious to follow in his footsteps. In order to become a scribe, she needs to go to the gagû where she will learn the art and become a naditu.
So, Iltani gets to the gagû and settles in with her aunt who is a wealthy naditu. Iltani begins her education, but soon runs into trouble.
The story spans over several years. Iltani meets many challenges and secrets are revealed.
I thought it was good read. I looked up some things mentioned in the book because I wanted to know more about them. When I was younger, I wanted to be an archaeologist. Though that didn’t pan out, I still have an interest in ancient civilizations and I feel that this book put me in one.
At the beginning, Iltani is a young girl who wants to be a scribe. Her father is a respected scribe and she is anxious to follow in his footsteps. In order to become a scribe, she needs to go to the gagû where she will learn the art and become a naditu.
So, Iltani gets to the gagû and settles in with her aunt who is a wealthy naditu. Iltani begins her education, but soon runs into trouble.
The story spans over several years. Iltani meets many challenges and secrets are revealed.
I thought it was good read. I looked up some things mentioned in the book because I wanted to know more about them. When I was younger, I wanted to be an archaeologist. Though that didn’t pan out, I still have an interest in ancient civilizations and I feel that this book put me in one.
February 28, 2014
Dr Graetz' knowledge of the period shines through in this fascinating glimpse into the life of the nadtu, women dedicated to the gods and a life of celibacy, during the reign of Hammurabi. Iltani had wanted nothing more than to be a nadtu, and study to become the best female scribe in the land; but the red curls of the King's scribe force the girl to become a woman, with a woman's desires.
January 5, 2018
She Wrote on Clay is an historical fiction novel set in the city of Sippar c.1750 BC. It follows a young woman named Iltani as she enters the gagu, a sort of cloister reserved for women within the temple complex of Sippar, and becomes a naditu, or cloistered priestess. As the story unfolds, she becomes a scribe (hence the title). She faces a few trials and tribulations along the way, including the loss of friends and relatives, a predatory lesbian, and finally a marriage proposal (marriage is forbidden to women of her class).
Iltani is not a historical character, but is based on other women of the period: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iltani
This time period (that of Hammurabi of Babylon) and the social institution of the naditu hold a certain fascination for me, but this book doesn't quite manage to capitalize on what makes them interesting. The challenges Iltani faces are all relatively innocuous and seem easily solved by just getting through them or having some minor character conveniently intervene. The choices she makes in the beginning of the book don't really have any affect on the later story, so she doesn't really grow as a character. And there's no sustained dramatic tension, and little sense of the outside world.
Graetz does a good job of illustrating some of the little details of life in the period, and of illustrating the particular kinds of things both a scribe and a naditu would have to deal with. It's very much slice-of-life type stuff. Strangely, though, the author (a student of the Akkadian language) introduces several bizarre anachronisms into the setting (including the use of cavalry, which will not be used for another 700 years or so). None of them are central to the story, and casual readers won't catch these, but they really stood out for me.
The worst thing about this book is the pedestrian writing. Graetz delivers almost everything as a bland statement of fact - all tell and very little show. I don't think there's a single metaphor or simile, and even adjectives are in short supply. As such, the book feels very spare. It's not hard to read, and moves along quickly, but it's really lacking in shine. She does manage to bring out some personality in her characters, but they generally lack depth, and so they fall flat as well.
I really can't recommend this book for casual readers unless they really like history, in which case they may find the time period a bit of a departure. If you're really interested in this historical period you'll find something in it.
Iltani is not a historical character, but is based on other women of the period: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iltani
This time period (that of Hammurabi of Babylon) and the social institution of the naditu hold a certain fascination for me, but this book doesn't quite manage to capitalize on what makes them interesting. The challenges Iltani faces are all relatively innocuous and seem easily solved by just getting through them or having some minor character conveniently intervene. The choices she makes in the beginning of the book don't really have any affect on the later story, so she doesn't really grow as a character. And there's no sustained dramatic tension, and little sense of the outside world.
Graetz does a good job of illustrating some of the little details of life in the period, and of illustrating the particular kinds of things both a scribe and a naditu would have to deal with. It's very much slice-of-life type stuff. Strangely, though, the author (a student of the Akkadian language) introduces several bizarre anachronisms into the setting (including the use of cavalry, which will not be used for another 700 years or so). None of them are central to the story, and casual readers won't catch these, but they really stood out for me.
The worst thing about this book is the pedestrian writing. Graetz delivers almost everything as a bland statement of fact - all tell and very little show. I don't think there's a single metaphor or simile, and even adjectives are in short supply. As such, the book feels very spare. It's not hard to read, and moves along quickly, but it's really lacking in shine. She does manage to bring out some personality in her characters, but they generally lack depth, and so they fall flat as well.
I really can't recommend this book for casual readers unless they really like history, in which case they may find the time period a bit of a departure. If you're really interested in this historical period you'll find something in it.
March 19, 2023
Four stars for historical accuracy (the novel was born from the author's PhD dissertation). Three and a half stars for her pros.
Based in the ancient near East, a young woman becomes a scribe, and faces challenges along the way.
Based in the ancient near East, a young woman becomes a scribe, and faces challenges along the way.
September 2, 2023
Passado há 3800 anos, este é a história de uma mulher escriba na cidade de Babilónia. História certamente interessante, mas limitada, sobretudo quando se tem por comparação esse livro magnífico, "Senhora do Amor e da Guerra", em que um autor português descreve o grande desenvolvimento da escrita que se terá dado há cerca de 5000 anos, com um extraordinário enredo de aventura e ehroísmo.
Este é um livro curioso para curiosos.
Este é um livro curioso para curiosos.
July 24, 2014
It was amazing to find a book that was written about life 3800 year ago in a big city on the banks of the Euphrates River. This book is written by a woman who has her PhD in the language spoken at that time and has used ancient texts to supply information of the life and culture then.
It also is a sweet story, and seems to be the first of the series of a woman scribe of that time and her life. It is a slow-paced book. I reminds me a bit of Maggie Anton's first book (novel) series where she wrote about women at the time of Rashi in order to help the reader understand the time in the contexxt of historical fiction.
It also is a sweet story, and seems to be the first of the series of a woman scribe of that time and her life. It is a slow-paced book. I reminds me a bit of Maggie Anton's first book (novel) series where she wrote about women at the time of Rashi in order to help the reader understand the time in the contexxt of historical fiction.
January 27, 2014
Historical novels are my personal favorites. They bring to life time ancient periods, making them easily accessible whilst adding a creative dimension that does not exist in research literature.
"She Wrote on Clay" explores the Ancient Near East, bringing to live authentic personas from 4000 years ago.We know so little about this time period! The female point of view and heroine were especially refreshing to me.
Graetz's characters manage to touch my heart as deeply as those of the books "Pope Joan" or "The Taste of Sorrow".
I highly recommend this novel!
"She Wrote on Clay" explores the Ancient Near East, bringing to live authentic personas from 4000 years ago.We know so little about this time period! The female point of view and heroine were especially refreshing to me.
Graetz's characters manage to touch my heart as deeply as those of the books "Pope Joan" or "The Taste of Sorrow".
I highly recommend this novel!
August 27, 2016
A very different and interesting book!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews