Rating: 
Summary: Breautiful and captivating
Review: RIVER GOD is an amazing epic novel of Ancient Egypt that sweeps you away in its story of love, deception, loyalty and honor. I came to love the main characters, Taita, Lostris and Tanus, as dear old friends. Smith's style of storytelling creates such an elaborate yet realistic picture of their lives that you can't help getting emotionally connected to them and thus enjoy their victories as well as mourn their losses. This is the first book I have ever read that takes place in Ancient Egypt and was amazed at his descriptions of the palaces, the Nile, the desert, etc. You think Smith coined the term "local color". Can't wait to start reading THE SEVENTH SCROLL and then WARLOCK.
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Summary: By far the greatest novel I've read in years
Review: River God contains adventure, tragedy, and a little comedy. It is an excellent read which will captivate the imagination of any reader, especially those interested in ancient Egypt. The plot is so captivating and the characters so lovable that after reading River God you will want to immediately buy The Seventh Scroll and Warlock to finish the series.
Rating:
Summary: Simply amazing!
Review: It's not often I read a book where I get emotionally attached to the characters, but such is the case with River God. I've always had a love of all things Egyptian, so this book was a natural choice for me. But after the first reading, it instantly became a favorite. Smith gives you the feeling these are real people and you can't help but cheer for their victories and grieve for their sorrows.
I could go on about how great the characters are, but others have done so before me. So I leave it to you to get this book and see if it doesn't become one of your favorites.
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Summary: Egyptian soap opera
Review: If the Egyptians had TV soap operas, this would have been one of their stories. In fact I'm surprised Taita didn't invent the TV in his spare time. Only difference between modern soaps and this book is that this book has much less sex and a whole lot more violence. It was entertaining to a point, and the author clearly has a grand imagination. A good beach read if you can stomach the raw violence
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Summary: Great mix of history with fiction!!
Review: As a great fan of ancient history and particurlarly Egyptian history, I really enjoyed this book. It weaves a very enticing story together with trying and crucial time in Egyptian history to produce a very enjoyable literary experience. I really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history.
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Summary: Wilbur Smith nailed it!
Review: As I said Wilbur Smith nailed it with this beautiful novel full great war scenes and love scenes to make you laugh and cry with the heros.One of the best books I read.I couldn't put it down.I stayed up all night for I couldn't wait to see what happened!
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Summary: Talk about good!
Review: River God is one of the best adult books I have read in a long time. I am facinated by ancient Egypt, and this novel really helped me understand what may have been common then. Also, I don't care for overly dirty books, so this novel was a perfect choice for me. It was very realistic yet not overly graphic in the sex department (possibly because the narrator is a eunuch.) It is never boring and Mr. Smiths, wording makes the book feel so colorful and alive. He is certainly a gifted author. Even though the story came from an ancient text, he has translated it into a novel any lover of books would enjoy. Take may advice and read this book. You won't be dissapointed.
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Summary: What a Great Story!
Review: 'River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt' by Wilbur Smith is an exciting book of adventure, love and war. Having never read any ancient Egyptian stories before I found 'River God' to be a refreshing experience. I cannot vouch for the historical accuracy used in the story but I find that to be of lesser importance than the over-all plot. Remember this is FICTION. As a matter of fact, it's pretty good fiction.Smith paints a picture of an ancient society that is fascinating. The reader can visualize the Nile flowing in ancient Egypt and see the importance of their deities and customs. Furthermore, justice is carried out swiftly in ancient Egypt and the punishment is usually not pretty. People are routinely executed for misdeeds. As the reader is drawn into Smith's world you feel that you were part of the scenery. This is where Smith excels. This is my first book by Smith but it will not be my last. The story's main character and narrator is the eunuch slave Taita. I will not give away the whole story'but in nut shell Taita helps his mistress the fair Lady Lostris maintain an illicit love affair with Tanus, a General in the Pharaohs army. During the course of the story Taita is beaten, starved and nearly killed by a host of enemies. Taita's old owner the evil and twisted Lord Intef (the Pharaoh's Grand Vizier), desires to rule the empire. It becomes Taita's job to foil his old boss and struggle to remain alive. Only a few times did the story lose itself. Taita is truly a Renaissance man (or person), in the book he invents a toilet, concocts a home pregnancy kit and creates penicillin-like drugs. He is a virtuoso singer, painter and writes books. He is an accomplished spy-master and maintains his own informer network. Additionally, he was awarded the 'Gold of Praise' which is highest award given to any Egyptian citizen (even though he is a slave.) I can go on and on but you can get the picture. He was so perfect that while I was reading the story I sometimes I pitied his enemies. However, this is a minor complaint to an otherwise great story and fun read.
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Summary: Life and Death in Ancient Egypt
Review: My discovery of The River God was a gift of delightful serendipity. I had just met my nephew's future father-in-law. He was quite interested in a recent trip my wife and I had made to Israel and Egypt. My view of Egypt had been shaped largely by the Biblical narrative (the Egyptians are the bad guys in the Hebrew story) and by popular culture (mummies will come to life and kill you). Visiting the country began to open my eyes to the enormity of the accomplishments of ancient Egypt. The civilization lasted for three millennia, three times as long as Rome. The Egyptian preoccupation with funerary arrangements reflected less a preoccupation with death than a deeply-held religious sentiment that this world is nothing in comparison with eternity. Wilbur Smith is in love with Africa. His appreciation for Egyptian civilization, warts and all, is apparent. Under his skilled hand, that civilization comes to life in a way that will keep the reader turning pages. Never mind that much of it is fiction: Smith's pharaohs and queen never existed. Neither did Taita, his narrator. But Smith makes us BELIEVE that they did, so much so that when we read the postscript, describing his deciphering of an ancient manuscript by Taita, we aren't surprised. Now ancient Egyptians are no longer paintings on tomb walls; they are real people, capable of love and cruelty, hope and hate. Their full humanity shines through on every page. The emasculated Taita rises above his affliction to become a brilliant artist, engineer, and physician; still, he rejoices in the humiliation and death of Rasfer, who did the deed years before. The beautiful Lostris becomes queen against her will, as pharaoh believes her to be the only woman who can bear him a son. Though she rises to the occasion in ways that make the people love her, she conceals from the aging king the fact that the children he believes to be his heirs are really the result of an ongoing affair with her first love, Tanus. Smith's narrative makes it clear that, had he the anatomical equipment, Taita would have been Tanus' rival. The humanity of the characters is reflected in the humanity of the nation. Egypt is rent by internal dissension, with a shadow king in the north rivaling pharaoh for control of the land. Corruption reigns among the viziers of the nomes, or provinces, of Egypt, the worst being at the hands of Taita's master. Egypt is complacent and unprepared for an assault by Hyksos charioteers; the wheel had been unknown in the land of Egypt. Ultimately, the country pays a terrible price. Through it all, Taita and his companions on a geographical and spiritual journey retain faith and hope. We care about what happens to them, in this book and in its sequel.
Rating:
Summary: WHOA!
Review: What an amazing book! Wilbur Smith is a treasure! I am torn between this and Monsoon as to my favorite. This is an incredible epic told from a wonderful (albeit sometimes vain perspective). I thoroughly enjoyed seeing ancient Egypt through the eyes of the narrator and watching the world change around him. I HIGHLY recommend this book and the sequel, The Seventh Scroll.
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