I don't know that I've read a book like this before, both information dense and highly speculative. So little is known about the actual life of Hatshepsut that there isn't enough to write a book on it, but there's plenty of information from the time that one can cobble together a picture at least. And should the women of history fade away because the men decided not to write of them? I don't think so. I think this is excellent for what it does, even though it's not quite enough. ( )

I had to stop reading this, the authors comfort level with sexualizing a child disgusted me and I couldn’t bring myself to continue finishing the book. The speculation around Hatshepsut’s life was tiresome with a lot of ‘perhaps’, ‘maybe’, and ‘possibly’ when detailing what her life might have been like; however, what could have been a thoughtful and empathetic telling of Hatshepsut’s life was thrown out the window when the Cooney felt it necessary to detail the various possibilities of Hatshepsut’s wedding night.

I understand that sexuality was drastically different in ancient Egypt than it is today, but this doesn’t gives the author a free pass to imagine the sexual experiences of Hatshepsut as a 12 year old. Marriages and sex can be discussed frankly, as it is true that these things happened to children in ancient Egypt, but there is zero justification for Cooney to write about Hatshepsut’s curves, breasts, and how a 12 year old girl 'might have' sexually excited her younger brother/husband - it is completely fucked up and gross. Considering that the majority of this biography is speculative, the author's comfort in dreaming up a 12 year olds wedding night and writing down the various scenarios is deeply disturbing. ( )

I learned about Hatshepsut many moons ago when i was going thru an Egyptian phase. I saw this book in the gift shop of the Mummies exhibit at the LA Natural History Museum. From what i remember, Its a fascinating story. I am listening to the audiobook. Im bored. If this were historical fiction it would've been a thousand times better. As speculative non fiction (& a monotonic narrator) it sucks all the life out of the story. Thats too bad! ( )

Obviously, you can't fault a writer for admiring their subject... But, an author can definitely skew things, even about a modern focus, much less one so long ago with so many gaps in records. Ms. Cooney is definitely knowledgeable, and there's a lot to learn from this book, but she seemed to me to grasp with both hands any opportunity to give Hatchepsut praise or the benefit of the doubt. And that impartiality irritated me more and more as I went along. I get that this ruler has been unfairly maligned because of her sex, and I understand wanting to come to her defense, but going too far in the opposite direction is also a mistake. Cooney made a case that Hatshepsut, rather than Cleopatra is more deserving of our respect and memory. Arguments along the lines of 'Hatshepsut didn't make any grievous military mistakes', 'Hatshepsut didn't tie herself to any foreign men'... And it's fine to have a preference between the two, but comparing their rule is apples and oranges! Circumstances change considerably in 1500 years!!! What IS plain, is that both women were savvy, and unafraid to take the lead. And I think each would have done much the same in the other woman's shoes. Neither is perfect, but both rose above society's expectations of a woman's role and carved out a place in history. It's an impressive feat in any age! ( )

**dates are APPROXIMATE**
Kara Cooney did a fantastic at painting Hatshepsut’s life for readers.
Short and sweet, Cooney brilliantly narrates Hatshepsut’s life and rise to power in Ancient Egypt, especially during a time where, in other countries, women had absolutely no power or say in day to day life.
Because I loved this book so much, when I heard that Cooney was coming out with another book in November, I absolutely had to preorder it! ( )