I think it says something about a book when even the subject
matter fails to make me like it. I like all things ancient history related
(especially Egypt) and so l jumped at the chance to read this when I spotted it
in my high school library. Sadly, as this particular title was my first foray
into the works of Anne Rice, I've been put off the idea of reading her books
for a very long time.
Ramses builds on the
idea that the Pharaoh Ramses (historically known as one of the greatest Pharaohs
to have ever lived) has consumed some magical substance that makes him immortal
and so was able to lead the Kingdom of Egypt through its most industrious
period.
As he willingly wanted to take a break from living, he had
ordered his priests to lock him away in a pyramid with his existence being
passed on as award of mouth through the Pharaohs of Egypt in that he can be
awoken to help them when Egypt-is in peril. He is later awoken by Cleopatra but
then goes back to his pyramid after she dies.
The gist of the plot is that Ramses is awoken by a team of
Victorian archaeologists by accident when they ransack his pyramid and take his
cartouche back to England with them and his developing a romantic relationship
with the lead archaeologist's daughter. With all the backstory of how he came
to being found by them being told in flashback.
This book made me feel like was reading a book version of
“The Mummy" only in this case being told mainly from the mummy's point-of-view
and with the mummy as being a good guy and teaching the Victorians the
hypocritical nature of Victorian values. As I’m not a particularly big fan of
‘bodice rippers’ I can’t say if I was particularly impressed by the romance in
it. It is unsurprising that I felt the story was Hollywood-ish as apparently
Anne was inspired by Hollywood monster movies – as well as the fact that the
movie with Brendan Fraser was apparently actually based on this book. I also
have a feeling that writing for teen audiences have changed over the years as
the writing style is nowhere like the books I’m used to (as written by Eoin
Colfer, Tamora Pierce and David Eddings) as it was apparently published in
1989.
I felt that the language is pretty simple but at least the
premise and descriptions are OK enough to maintain some interest despite the
obviousness of the plot and the movie stereotypical-ness of the characters.
