Rating: 
Summary: Absorbing (no-spoiler review)
Review: I will admit, I don't read much fiction. Especially not modern fiction. But, being something of an Egyptology enthusiast (small wonder, since I am mother to one) I decided to give this book a go. And I am so glad I did! It actually kept me so interested that I couldn't sleep until I had finished it. I stayed reading till after three a.m. What a pity that this is the only book of the series that my library has!
Rating:
Summary: enjoyable
Review: Involving Amelia and her Egyptologist husband, Radcliffe Emerson, their gifted son Ramses as well as David and Nefret, this novel begins in 1907 in England where Amelia attends a suffragettes' meeting. From that moment on, bizarre events put the Emerson Peabody family in danger. Suspecting that the Master Criminal is behind their problems, the family travels to Egypt in order to continue excavating in the Valley of Kings. As always, their archaeological expedition is interrupted by several incidents. Fascinating entertainment where adventure and romance meet.
Rating: 
Summary: Getting very sleepy ...
Review: This is the kind of book where if you read the first three chapters and the last three, you haven't missed much. Still an improvement on Amelia's last outing, I was wondering if these were the same characters I had grown to love. What on earth has happened to Amelia? Since when was she a racist and a snob? Her reaction to David and Lia was simply unbelievable and her comments about the nouveau riche and servants are irritating. If I can remember, Amelia herself didn't come from a particularly rich family - it was her father's shrewd investments that produced her wealth. Amelia has now become the stereotypical Victorian stiff that she ridiculed in the first books! I love the characters of Ramses and David, but I find it hard to warm to Nefret. The girl is just too good to be true! There are only so many times I can stomach reading how she seems to be "wreathed in her own golden light". In this book, in particular, both she and Lia come across as obnoxious and spoilt which hardly endears one to them. It would also have been nice if Lia could have done something other than turn up, faint, simper over a man, then go home again. Amelia was likeable because she was a strong woman who went against the ideals of her age - and using brains instead of beauty. None of the other female characters have even touched her yet. I am also finding it tiresome how nearly every single other supporting character in the book falls in love with Amelia, Emerson, Ramses or Nefret! Please, just give it a rest! But in spite of all this, the ending is worth waiting for, if only for the interactions with, and some revelations about the mysterious Master Criminal. And I even cried when Abdullah died.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for "His"story, but not story
Review: Elizabeth Peters' "The Ape Who Guards the Balance" is an installment of her Amelia Peabody mysteries. It is set in England and later Luxor in the early 20th century. The plot revolves around a archaeological expedition to Egypt by Peabody and her family--her husband, Prof. Emerson, her son Ramses, and her adopted "children" Nefret and David. The children steal a papyrus from the Egyptian book of the dead from a street thief. This opens up an entirely new plot, in which the "Master Criminal," Sethos, who is Amelia's chief rival, surfaces to cause trouble and havoc in Luxor. Like any work of historical fiction, Ape does a lot of explaining and exposition, for laypersons unfamiliar with Egyptian history. Peters handles this with reasonable skill; her explanations are informative without becoming too tedious. However the plot itself lacks vitality, probably because the characters seem so stale. Amelia in particular is awfully grating and obnoxious; Manuscript H which focuses more on Ramses and Nefret is only relief from the annoying Amelia, rather than meritous on its own. Overall, the book teaches you a bit about ancient Egypt, but more that you should read a history book rather than a banal novel.--JoeQ
Rating:
Summary: Great for "Hist"ory, but not for Story
Review: Elizabeth Peters' The Ape Who Guards the Balance is the next chapter in the ongoing adventures of Amelia Peabody and her family. It takes place in early 20th century England and the famous Valley of the Kings in Luxor. As historical fiction, the book is very accurate and clever. Peabody's son is named Ramses, after several of the most famous pharoahs of the New Kingdom. Her adopted daughter is named Nefret, after Nefretiti, the wife of the Pharoah Akhenaten. The arch-enemy, the "Master Criminal," is named Sethos, after the Egyptian God ,Seth, who murdered his brother Osiris in one of the most famous egyptian myths. As with all historical fiction novels, there is a good deal of exposition detailing and explaining the historical facts that surround the plot. Peters does this with deftness and skill, not becoming overly verbose but explaining enough that a layperson reading the book will not only be entertained by the plot, but learn a bit of Egyptian history as well. However well the history is integrated into the story, no amount of interesting scenery or tomb exploration can account for the weakness of the characters. The dialogue is stilted, regardless of the attempts to make it seem period, and Amelia is more obnoxious than courageous or witty. Although the cover of my particular edition extols Amelia as more "wit[ty] and daring" than "Indiana Jones," she certainly makes up for this with lack of charm. The other characters only provide relief from Amelia, rather than virtue of their own (including one sub plot where Ramses is becoming involved with his adopted sister, bringing Woody Allen immediately to mind). Overall, the novel is nicely integrated into the golden era of archeology in Egypt, but the plot itself would appeal, I imagine, only to the most ardent Amelia Peabody fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Amelia Peabody strengthens structures of privelege
Review: In the spirit of Indiana Jones, The Ape Who Gaurds the Balance reinforces a colonial view of Egypt and its people, and Amelia Peabody represents the typical foreigner looking for adventure and mystery. This treatment of egypt as if it were the frontier, the wild, wild west or land of people who seem not to understand the 'treasures' of their own land gives rise to a very harmful demeanor of tourists and other outsiders who come to exploit egypt. The role of Ms. Peabody in uncovering treasures etc. reinforces structures of western colonial privelege and detracts from the sovereignty of the egyptians. Moreover, while the Amazon.com editorial review delights in little Ramses' humor in smiting his egyptian commoner foe with his quick british wit by calling him dirty, this reader is very hurt by the audacity of these foreigners to use steroetypes that egypt is a dirty place in order to maintain a sense of superioirity. Just remember, Egypt has basically been a colony since its fall BC. The egyptian people have been demeaned and exploited, oppressed and marginalized. When looking at this seemingly all-in-good-fun fantasy, please think about the actuallities and effects that this type of behavior brings.
Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction at it's Best
Review: The Ape Who Guards the Balance was my first Elizabeth Peters novel. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery for its action and subject matter concerning excavations in Egypt. Both the emotional and social depth of the characters is amazing. Whether it is the heroine Amelia or the enigmatic gentleman Sir Edward, all of the characters, both major and subordinate, have complex, detailed, and interwoven histories. Sethos, or the master criminal, as he is referred to by the Emerson's, has a dichotomous character: representing both the romantic hero and the social villain. His fancies for Amelia, in addition to many other romantic subplots, mesh nicely with the action found throughout the novel The author's vivid description and focus on historical and colloquial detail immerses the reader in a world of the past--an exciting time in Egypt, when the excavations of the tombs of the ancients were in their infancy. A student of Egyptology easily recognizes the author as an authority on the subject. Additionally, this novel develops and exploits the mysterious air in which Ancient Egypt has been cloaked to further heighten the suspense of the mystery. The author includes thinly veiled satire directed at the unqualified individuals who exercised their social influence in order to gain a "piece of the excavations," and poorly handled excavations in Egypt. The foibles of these individuals resulted in many priceless artifacts being destroyed or damaged beyond repair. On the other hand, Peter's also illustrates the passion and dedication of both real characters, such as Howard Carter and fictional Characters, such as Emerson, Amelia's husband. I found this novel both entertaining and informing. From the moment I picked up the book, I could not set it down. My only regret is not sequentially reading the novels in the Amelia Peabody collection. I plan to read the rest of this series, but hope this glimpse into the future coupled with its references to the past, do not diminish the suspense of the earlier novels in any way.
Rating:
Summary: Enough already!
Review: The early books in this series were cute. However, they have become unbelievably predictable and boring. There is almost no plot in this novel because it is driven by character. Unfortunately for Ms. Mertz, her characters are tedious. In this book we are treated to interminable discussions of women's rights, not so funny comedic interludes between Ramses and Nefret, the same tired interactions between the senior Emersons, and a host of boring secondary characters. If you haven't read any books in this series try the early ones and forget the rest. Ms. Mertz--it's time for you to send this series over the falls. And, unlike Sir Arthur, don't bring it back.
Rating:
Summary: Delighted Reader
Review: I loved this episode of the Amelia Peabody mysteries and can't wait for the next to be published! I have read all of this series and this book is one of the best! Ramses and Nefret are fabulous and the reader is allowed inside their relationship which only adds to the anticipation of further stories!
Rating:
Summary: Gladly
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I have read the majority of the Amelia Peabody series and I have to say that this is one of my favorites. I like it because you find a little bit more about Rames, Nefret, David, and we finally meet Lia! You should definetly read this book, especially if you are a Peabody fan.
|
