River God reviews.

[Matbow]

There's been a lot of talk recently about River God and I just realised that there isn't a review/a forum to write a reviews on here. There is now!

River God is my joint favourite WS book and one of my three all time favourite books by any author. The book is simply amazing, the characters (Taita in particular) are so well developed you really get a feeling you know them and the plot is a rollercoaster of a ride.

At the time this book was published I believe a lot of hard core WS fans were quite shocked as it was a major departure from anything else he'd written and I believe quite a lot of these fans really didnt like the book. On the other hand River God has won WS a whole new legion of fans, so I guess it was a risk worth taking.


You'll either love it or hate it. 10 out of 10.

[Bee]

Okay well I read River God after I read Warlock (for the first time). And I would have to say that this is what really got me into WS. I had read The Burning Shore, A Time to Die, Golden Fox, A Falcon Flies and Men of Men. I was looking for new books to read so I bought Warlock, River God and Seventh Scroll all in one shot and began to read. With my fascination of Ancient Egypt this series (especially River God) sealed the deal and I was sold.

I 100% recommend this book to anyone who has an inkling of fascination with ancient Egypt.

[Nefer]

It's no secret around these here parts that this is my favourite book of all time

I've finally managed to write a review with out any spoilers! So here goes:

River god is a masterpiece like no other.

Historical novels often focus on the hum-drum of daily life, confining themselves to the worries of ordinary folk, which have understandably not changed much over the centuries. There has been a movement among historians to shun the often vibrant leaders of old. While commendable, the lack of knowledge we have of kings of old has created a void that few authors have the cojones to fulfill.

As difficult as it may be to believe, River God manages to do both. In the limited space of one book, we are plunged; mind, body and soul; into the despairs and triumphs of kings and slaves, of generals and common soldiers.

A nation at it’s peak is shown to us through the eyes of one of the many who have helped to build it – none other than Taita the slave. And he is no shrinking violet. While fiercely proud of what he rightly considers the greatest nation on earth, he makes no bones about it’s short-comings.

Wilbur Smith provides a startling rich and vital reconstruction of life as it must have been in Ancient Egypt, down to the leather sandals worn by slaves and soldiers and including the glorious hoard that Pharaoh takes to the after life. Life in Ancient Egypt really could have been nothing else.

[Bee]

That was an awesome review! I like it! Plus it sounds almost like an advertisement and makes you want to go and read it again!

[John R]

It's making me want to read it. I think R.G will deff be the next Wilbur book I read.

[i_heart_nefie]

river god is my favourite book ever, though warlock is definitely a close second. they are both so good and they are very different so its hard to compare

[Kate4Tanus]

I LOVE RIVER GOD!! It would have to be my favourite WS book! It is just so good! I can't even explain how much I love it!

[Bee]

I LOVE RIVER GOD!!

I think that explains it all!

[Kate4Tanus]

yeh! I rekon that pretty much covers it!

[Monsoon]

Oh well apologies to all you fanatics, but i had to do it eventually!

[Matbow]

I'm actually suprised you rated it so highly!

Out of interest, why did you "throw it away in digust"?! (quote from memory...probably not correct)

Matt

[Monsoon]

He he! There was me quietly going to give my mark and hastily move on, well who wouldn't with me in the red corner and a whole army opposite in the blue corner, or at least it seems there are a lot of them but i am not totally convinced. Anyway enough of the cryptic nonsense!

Around '89/90 i was probably at the peak of my enthusiasm for Wilbur's books, just as many on this forum are at the moment. I had read them all to this point and then read 'A time to Die', 'Golden Fox' and 'Elephant Song' with only about a year gap in between. Unfortunately i then had to endure a long wait then of about 2 years for the next book, which was pretty frustrating. So as soon as 'River God' hit the book stores in hardback form, i was there with my hard earned (and not so easy to come by in those days ) money sitting in a very sweaty and excited hand. All the way home that book was clutched very closely to my chest with a fast beating heart nearby.
However at no time did i ever get 'into' that book, it was a big departure from Wilburs normal writing style and that was very unexpected. I have always wondered if he was trying to elevate himself into a different genre of writer. The reasons i don't like the book are not because it's Egyptian, hell i love 'Warlock' and have visited Egypt out of fascination. 'First person' view points are also fine by me and i love many things in the 'first person'!!
I read somewhere once that WS had based much of the personality of Taita on himself, whether it is true or not it seems a slight indulgence too far for me.

I know i wasn't the only one at the time who didn't like 'River God', there was a slight flurry of disagreement back when it came out. Although there doesn't seem to be any of those people on this forum yet. One thing that does not surprise me is that i have read from 2 or 3 on this forum that they have tried other people with this book and without success on occasions. For me this is not your typical Wilbur Smith book, and i think if any of his books are going to be hit or miss it would have to be this one. Though i will qualify myself and say largely more of a hit than a miss.

There are a couple of forum members writing their own fiction on here, which is largely based on 'River God' and 'Warlock'. However my view is that their writing style is more the former rather than the latter. Don't get me wrong and i think they are doing a fine job and have great potential, but like 'River God' the stories are not sweeping me personally up and carrying me along.
Oh and i sat in my local library at around Christmas time with a copy to see if time had changed things for me...but again no joy! At least this time i did not throw the book down in disgust!

Do i regret that WS ever wrote this book? At the time yes, but now the answer is no. The reason being that i consider this book to be another varied tile in the mosaic of my Wilbur Smith experience.

[Bee]

Thanks for sharing your opinion Monsoon! I like the fact that it's not one of your "favorite" books and that you're open to share it!

Why do you think the book didn't "sweep" you off your feet? Is it just because it's different from WS's other books or something else?

[Monsoon]

I'm not totally sure Bee, but i think what you say has got a lot to do with it. If i had read the book and thought it was written by Christian Jacq or some such person then i may have been more settled with it.

[Bee]

I think it all depends. If you're used to a certain writing style and then your favorite author goes and switches it would throw you off and make you dislike that book...

[mojo_dragone]

I found Warlock at a Goodwill store. this was the first book i read. I instantly loved it, and it was the first time i heard of wilbur smith. i am in love with his egyptian books. I cant wait for the new one.

[Nefer]

Welcome to the ranks, mojo_dragone!

And as for the changing up the writing style, I can agree with that. Jean Auel sorta did that with her latest book, and lets just say it's not my fav. in the series. Makes sense that WS's fans were expecting something to follow the Courtneys & he throws out a deep-history novel. It's funny how you prefer Warlock, Monsoon. I'm not too enamoured of that book myself. It seems 'weaker' than Rivergod.

[Bee]

That's where I disagree with you Nefer. I though Warlock was just as amazing as River God. I enjoyed both. Warlock kept you on your toes and really made you want to see what happens next.

[Kate4Tanus]

I agree with you Bee, but I can't really compare which (RG or W) one I liked better, because they are so different. I don't know about the different writing styles, as River God was my first Wilbur Smith book.

[Rivaan]

I'm not totally sure Bee, but i think what you say has got a lot to do with it. If i had read the book and thought it was written by Christian Jacq or some such person then i may have been more settled with it.

I think it may be that old case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I mean if you like the way something is done (like the style of his earlier books) then why change it? Well I can understand that, and have taken similar traditionalist views with gaming.

For me, I have only read River God and Warlock, so this is the style that introduced me to the author. If his other books aren't like these two, I'm not sure if I want to read them >.> Lol.

For me, I would rate RG as 9/10. But that's because I found no fault with the book except the last part.. The whole feeling just went downhill for me but that is to do with the storyline, not the quality of writing itself.