Book Club - Nefertiti- Chapters 1-3

[PigtailPrincess]

Alright guys start reading!!!!! Chapters 1-3!!!

 

Let us know when you are done by commenting "Wow what a great start!"

[Guest Teasing Tink]

Wow, what a great start!

[PigtailPrincess]

Wow, what a great start!

Yay!!!! You are the first to read!!!!

[Kittykat83]

Wow, what a great start

[PigtailPrincess]

Wow, what a great start

Yay!!! Thanks for reading!!!

[Vampiress]

Wow what a great start!

[PigtailPrincess]

Wow what a great start!

Thank you so much for reading!

[PigtailPrincess]

Ok so sorry guys the forum has been down. Questions for the first few chapters go out tomorrow! Then we can continue.

[PigtailPrincess]

1. When Queen Tiye is in the room with the dying prince and his brother why do you think she hesitates when he asks her to leave the two of them alone?

 

2. What would you have done in the queens place if you saw the signs in the future king that she sees?

 

3. Do you think a person's positive traits need to be balanced? An example would be Nefertiti. She is beautiful beyond anything but also rash and wreckers. Do you believe things can balance each other out or can some people really have it all?

[Vampiress]

1.) I think Queen Tiye and her dying son know how the other brother is and what they can potentially expect when he takes over throne, so maybe they were discussing a strategy to deal with him so he doesn't ruin their image of how Egypt should be ruled because he clearly worships a different god. I imagine choosing a wife for him is part of this strategy to try to reign him in as much as possible if they make the right choice.

 

2.) If I'm right in my assessment, and based on the type of culture, I think she did the right thing maybe in choosing a wife for him that would keep him on a better path (or at least so they hope). Not much else she could have done, I think, without betraying her own family and doing something treasonous.

 

3.) I think balance is best, but I think some people can be both beautiful with a good/strong set of personality traits. I'm sure there must be some people who seem to have it all, but not entirely sure where Nefertiti falls on that spectrum. At this point in the book she is young and inexperienced, but maybe experience later in the book will make her grow up some and do better rather than being so reckless and rash. On the other hand, maybe she will get worse and turn out more like her soon to be husband than anyone imagined. I do think it is a little cliche at this point in the book that the pretty daughter/princess is reckless and selfish while the plainer one is kinder and more compassionate.

 

 

I hope these answers are okay, never participated in a book club before.   

[PigtailPrincess]

1.) I think Queen Tiye and her dying son know how the other brother is and what they can potentially expect when he takes over throne, so maybe they were discussing a strategy to deal with him so he doesn't ruin their image of how Egypt should be ruled because he clearly worships a different god. I imagine choosing a wife for him is part of this strategy to try to reign him in as much as possible if they make the right choice.

 

2.) If I'm right in my assessment, and based on the type of culture, I think she did the right thing maybe in choosing a wife for him that would keep him on a better path (or at least so they hope). Not much else she could have done, I think, without betraying her own family and doing something treasonous.

 

3.) I think balance is best, but I think some people can be both beautiful with a good/strong set of personality traits. I'm sure there must be some people who seem to have it all, but not entirely sure where Nefertiti falls on that spectrum. At this point in the book she is young and inexperienced, but maybe experience later in the book will make her grow up some and do better rather than being so reckless and rash. On the other hand, maybe she will get worse and turn out more like her soon to be husband than anyone imagined. I do think it is a little cliche at this point in the book that the pretty daughter/princess is reckless and selfish while the plainer one is kinder and more compassionate.

 

 

I hope these answers are okay, never participated in a book club before.   

1.) I think Queen Tiye and her dying son know how the other brother is and what they can potentially expect when he takes over throne, so maybe they were discussing a strategy to deal with him so he doesn't ruin their image of how Egypt should be ruled because he clearly worships a different god. I imagine choosing a wife for him is part of this strategy to try to reign him in as much as possible if they make the right choice.

 

2.) If I'm right in my assessment, and based on the type of culture, I think she did the right thing maybe in choosing a wife for him that would keep him on a better path (or at least so they hope). Not much else she could have done, I think, without betraying her own family and doing something treasonous.

 

3.) I think balance is best, but I think some people can be both beautiful with a good/strong set of personality traits. I'm sure there must be some people who seem to have it all, but not entirely sure where Nefertiti falls on that spectrum. At this point in the book she is young and inexperienced, but maybe experience later in the book will make her grow up some and do better rather than being so reckless and rash. On the other hand, maybe she will get worse and turn out more like her soon to be husband than anyone imagined. I do think it is a little cliche at this point in the book that the pretty daughter/princess is reckless and selfish while the plainer one is kinder and more compassionate.

 

 

I hope these answers are okay, never participated in a book club before.   

These are perfect answers!!! Thank you so much. I think your answers are very thpught provoking. I like your final answer. I find myself wondering how much our looks can affect our personality like in the case of Nafertiti and her sister.

[Vampiress]

These are perfect answers!!! Thank you so much. I think your answers are very thpught provoking. I like your final answer. I find myself wondering how much our looks can affect our personality like in the case of Nafertiti and her sister.

 

Okay great, thanks! I do think it goes beyond just her looks, though that has maybe definitely made her a bit vain. I think the other factors would be that her mother was a princess, and her parents really built her up knowing that she would be important in keeping their family at a high level of power so she has probably been instilled with a sense of self-importance that runs far deeper than just her outward beauty.

[Guest Teasing Tink]

Oops, I didn't see this til now. Responding...

 

 

1. When Queen Tiye is in the room with the dying prince and his brother why do you think she hesitates when he asks her to leave the two of them alone?

I just assumed it was because she didn't trust the non-favorite son to be alone with her favorite son in his vulnerable state. Maybe she even suspected the worst (that he'd kill him if she left them alone together) since many believe that's what happened afterwards.

 

2. What would you have done in the queens place if you saw the signs in the future king that she sees?

I'm not sure. I think I'd try to understand why he feels the way he does, to help him resolve all his angst, instead of making him feel rejected, which would make things worse, I suppose. I would try to make him see reason by empathizing with his perspective first. Or maybe that would be too little too late. It's hard to say, because everyone has their own reasons for feeling the way they do about things. I would try to get to the heart of it and then go from there as to what the best course of action was once I fully understood. I think making him feel ostracized and like the black sheep would make him feel worse. But if he's a narcissist or sociopath or something, maybe that's a lost cause. Maybe finding a wife to keep him in line was the best way to go. 

 

3. Do you think a person's positive traits need to be balanced? An example would be Nefertiti. She is beautiful beyond anything but also rash and wreckers. Do you believe things can balance each other out or can some people really have it all?

 

Physical beauty isn't a personality and also at least somewhat in the eye of the beholder but can obviously be enhanced with makeup. And the other traits are personality traits which can be changed to some degree. So I kind of see it like comparing apples and oranges. I guess I don't entirely understand the question. I think everyone has strengths and weaknesses though. Some strengths are more inherent and some you develop or refine over time. I don't think anyone starts out strong or weak in everything.

 

If the question is do I think beauty can cancel out recklessness, then I would say no. But overall, the book paints Nefertiti out to be a charismatic person and her beauty is no doubt part of her way of charming others. So in that sense, it becomes like a personality trait, in a way. It's attached to the personality trait that is charisma. I think she certainly tries to use what she has to her advantage when it comes to manipulating others. So, is she able to get away with more because of her beauty? Maybe so. Perhaps there's some truth to the whole theory that people are willing to tolerate more from an attractive person (for better or worse).

 

I think one can certainly develop themselves more and work on growing in the areas they are weak in. I don't believe people are static. The goal should be becoming a more well-rounded person. I think sometimes a strength can become more like a curse if someone just relies on that to get by, so that they neglect weak areas in themselves. I think one can become spoiled by the positive traits they are blessed with if they're not careful. Or worse, use them to harm others or for their own self-interest.

 

Edit: Okay, I'm past my brain fart and I think I finally get the question now lol. Is the question more like: is it a necessity to have weaknesses as well as strengths? Well, weaknesses sure do keep a person humble lol, so in that sense, maybe so. But I also think everyone has some weaknesses either way, as I said. No one is good at everything. But yes, you can definitely get better in areas you are weak at. I think everyone comes into life with certain limitations for a certain purpose. And that there is a reason behind everything. Whether that's a physical limitation or a limitation in intelligence or whatever else. I think obstacles and weaknesses help us evolve in life. I think a weakness is just an indicator of where a person needs to grow (if it's something that can even be changed). Or in other cases, it's just there to prevent the person from becoming too proud or that specific limitation opens them up to a perspective they need/want to experience.

Edited August 27, 2021 by Teasing Tink

[PigtailPrincess]

Oops, I didn't see this til now. Responding...

 

 

1. When Queen Tiye is in the room with the dying prince and his brother why do you think she hesitates when he asks her to leave the two of them alone?

I just assumed it was because she didn't trust the non-favorite son to be alone with her favorite son in his vulnerable state. Maybe she even suspected the worst (that he'd kill him if she left them alone together) since many believe that's what happened afterwards.

 

 

2. What would you have done in the queens place if you saw the signs in the future king that she sees?

I'm not sure. I think I'd try to understand why he feels the way he does, to help him resolve all his angst, instead of making him feel rejected, which would make things worse, I suppose. I would try to make him see reason by empathizing with his perspective first. Or maybe that would be too little too late. It's hard to say, because everyone has their own reasons for feeling the way they do about things. I would try to get to the heart of it and then go from there as to what the best course of action was once I fully understood. I think making him feel ostracized and like the black sheep would make him feel worse. But if he's a narcissist or sociopath or something, maybe that's a lost cause. Maybe finding a wife to keep him in line was the best way to go. 

 

3. Do you think a person's positive traits need to be balanced? An example would be Nefertiti. She is beautiful beyond anything but also rash and wreckers. Do you believe things can balance each other out or can some people really have it all?

 

 

Physical beauty isn't a personality and also at least somewhat in the eye of the beholder but can obviously be enhanced with makeup. And the other traits are personality traits which can be changed to some degree. So I kind of see it like comparing apples and oranges. I guess I don't entirely understand the question. I think everyone has strengths and weaknesses though. Some strengths are more inherent and some you develop or refine over time. I don't think anyone starts out strong or weak in everything.

 

If the question is do I think beauty can cancel out recklessness, then I would say no. But overall, the book paints Nefertiti out to be a charismatic person and her beauty is no doubt part of her way of charming others. So in that sense, it becomes like a personality trait, in a way. It's attached to the personality trait that is charisma. I think she certainly tries to use what she has to her advantage when it comes to manipulating others. So, is she able to get away with more because of her beauty? Maybe so. Perhaps there's some truth to the whole theory that people are willing to tolerate more from an attractive person (for better or worse).

 

I think one can certainly develop themselves more and work on growing in the areas they are weak in. I don't believe people are static. The goal should be becoming a more well-rounded person. I think sometimes a strength can become more like a curse if someone just relies on that to get by, so that they neglect weak areas in themselves. I think one can become spoiled by the positive traits they are blessed with if they're not careful. Or worse, use them to harm others or for their own self-interest.

 

Edit: Okay, I'm past my brain fart and I think I finally get the question now lol. Is the question more like: is it a necessity to have weaknesses as well as strengths? Well, weaknesses sure do keep a person humble lol, so in that sense, maybe so. But I also think everyone has some weaknesses either way, as I said. No one is good at everything. But yes, you can definitely get better in areas you are weak at. I think everyone comes into life with certain limitations for a certain purpose. And that there is a reason behind everything. Whether that's a physical limitation or a limitation in intelligence or whatever else. I think obstacles and weaknesses help us evolve in life. I think a weakness is just an indicator of where a person needs to grow (if it's something that can even be changed). Or in other cases, it's just there to prevent the person from becoming too proud or that specific limitation opens them up to a perspective they need/want to experience.

 

Thank you for your answers! Sorry if the questions arnt quite clear lol I will get better as we move along and have more to work with.

 

You had very good answers. I guess to open up discussion I would ask about your second answer. Does it become a different more aggressive answer when like the queen ypu realize the fats of a nation lies in the hands of a possibly unstable prince? Sorry I am just always intrigues by where people's lines are and how much it takes to push them over. I feel if I had been the queen I would have tried but if as you mentioned he is deranged or whatnot (as has sometimes been reported in history with royal bloodlines and inbreeding) then I might be faced with qn aweful decision. I honestly don't know what I would do just found your answer thpught provoking.

 

Vampiress your thoughts??

[PigtailPrincess]

1.) I think Queen Tiye and her dying son know how the other brother is and what they can potentially expect when he takes over throne, so maybe they were discussing a strategy to deal with him so he doesn't ruin their image of how Egypt should be ruled because he clearly worships a different god. I imagine choosing a wife for him is part of this strategy to try to reign him in as much as possible if they make the right choice.

 

2.) If I'm right in my assessment, and based on the type of culture, I think she did the right thing maybe in choosing a wife for him that would keep him on a better path (or at least so they hope). Not much else she could have done, I think, without betraying her own family and doing something treasonous.

 

3.) I think balance is best, but I think some people can be both beautiful with a good/strong set of personality traits. I'm sure there must be some people who seem to have it all, but not entirely sure where Nefertiti falls on that spectrum. At this point in the book she is young and inexperienced, but maybe experience later in the book will make her grow up some and do better rather than being so reckless and rash. On the other hand, maybe she will get worse and turn out more like her soon to be husband than anyone imagined. I do think it is a little cliche at this point in the book that the pretty daughter/princess is reckless and selfish while the plainer one is kinder and more compassionate.

 

 

I hope these answers are okay, never participated in a book club before.

Wanted to expand on your really good answer to the third question. You said you do beleive that sometimes some people are gifted with more than other people. My question is do ypu think that demands more responsibility? In Nefirtitis case do you think expectations should be higher because she us so naturally gifted (Not just in looks but smarts as well) or do you believe she should be treated as everyone else?

[Guest Teasing Tink]

Your questions were very good, I was just having a massive brain fart on that last one and then totally over-thought my answer lol.

 

I guess I feel like I don't know enough about the prince's character yet (as in, what was he like as a child and why is he the way he is) to make a solid judgment on it. I do understand the gravity of the situation, I just feel like I also don't know enough about politics either to know what would be best. I know that in the case of a sociopath though, they can be taught good values if they grow up in such an environment. But it has to be instilled in them. But, even normal people turn dark. I think I would ask myself if I had any part in the way my son turned out if he was that unstable. I think aggression only breeds more aggression unless you just meant a firm hand which I think is important. I think she's doing the best she can given the situation.

 

I actually thought the book was painting out Mutnodjmet to be the smart one which is why the dad told her to keep Nefertiti in check (forgive me, my memory is a bit fuzzy on all the details because it's been a few weeks now since I last read). But, there are different types of intelligence.

 

Do I think one's gifts demand more responsibility? Certainly. But I also believe one's gift(s) is usually something that brings them much joy. I don't think we're all just tools meant to be sucked dry and used until there's nothing left. The responsibility should be a joy. You get to give this beautiful thing you have away to others. If it's not a joy, then you shouldn't be doing it. It will only build anxiety and resentment in someone to do otherwise because they're living out of alignment with their own heart.

 

That being said, I don't believe in placing too much pressure on someone -- especially when they're so young. I get that was the culture or whatever, but I think it can be harmful to treat someone as if they are a tool rather than a person, as I said. I don't think placing a lot of pressure on someone is ever beneficial/fruitful. But neither is being totally lax with someone. I think it's important to realize that an individual is their own person and to ask them what *they* want to do and not just control them into doing what we think is best. Nefertiti seems more than willing to go along with what is expected of her though for the social status or whatever (can't remember it all now). But another part of her is also still very young and scared. It's a lot to handle.

 

I also meant to add to my initial post that I think a person can be blind to their own weaknesses. And that's a whole other can of worms.

[Vampiress]

I'm gonna be busy/away starting Monday August 30th and back Monday September 6th. I might be around in the late evenings, but I don't think I'll have time to read any assigned chapters during that week, but I will try to check on the forum during the week for other things or further discussion on the first three chapters.

[PigtailPrincess]

I'm gonna be busy/away starting Monday August 30th and back Monday September 6th. I might be around in the late evenings, but I don't think I'll have time to read any assigned chapters during that week, but I will try to check on the forum during the week for other things or further discussion on the first three chapters.

No worries! We ate going nice and slow anyways so we will stall for you lol. I will be assigning chapters 4-6 so if you find time read on those! But honestly you will probably be back before anything happens. Have a safe trip!

[Vampiress]

Thank you for your answers! Sorry if the questions arnt quite clear lol I will get better as we move along and have more to work with.

 

You had very good answers. I guess to open up discussion I would ask about your second answer. Does it become a different more aggressive answer when like the queen ypu realize the fats of a nation lies in the hands of a possibly unstable prince? Sorry I am just always intrigues by where people's lines are and how much it takes to push them over. I feel if I had been the queen I would have tried but if as you mentioned he is deranged or whatnot (as has sometimes been reported in history with royal bloodlines and inbreeding) then I might be faced with qn aweful decision. I honestly don't know what I would do just found your answer thpught provoking.

 

Vampiress your thoughts??

I agree when Teasing Tink said that Nefertiti is very charismatic and that her beauty probably contributes to her charm. I don't think that being beautiful determines a person's traits, but it can be helpful in combination with good personality traits because it's like a bonus on top of what other good traits a person has. I feel like her sister is kind and very smart, but her plainer looks garner her less attention than Nefertiti, so Nefertiti definitely has some kind of advantage there. I think Nefertiti is smart in her own ways, but I think she chooses to be more cunning than her sister and really turn on the charm to get where she wants to be. She could just as easily have chosen to be more reserved like her sister, but it doesn't seem to suit her goals to be that way.

 

Wanted to expand on your really good answer to the third question. You said you do beleive that sometimes some people are gifted with more than other people. My question is do ypu think that demands more responsibility? In Nefirtitis case do you think expectations should be higher because she us so naturally gifted (Not just in looks but smarts as well) or do you believe she should be treated as everyone else?

I think maybe it was appropriate considering the time period and the survival of their family. The way their society was structured, I'm not sure Nefertiti would've had a lot of choices regardless because her family relied so heavily on her success. I think back then it was very important as a woman to marry well, especially if you're born into a ruling family then it became even more important... no room to marry for love. In modern times I'd advocate for her doing what she wanted for herself because I think a person's happiness is very important and I don't agree with arranged marriages as a forced social construct... but at least for the time period, I think it made sense why they put so much expectation on her and it seems she is accepting of that and even eager to socially climb higher which I think is the best possible scenario here because I don't get any kind of feeling that she's resisting it.

 

 

Your questions were very good, I was just having a massive brain fart on that last one and then totally over-thought my answer lol.

 

I guess I feel like I don't know enough about the prince's character yet (as in, what was he like as a child and why is he the way he is) to make a solid judgment on it. I do understand the gravity of the situation, I just feel like I also don't know enough about politics either to know what would be best. I know that in the case of a sociopath though, they can be taught good values if they grow up in such an environment. But it has to be instilled in them. But, even normal people turn dark. I think I would ask myself if I had any part in the way my son turned out if he was that unstable. I think aggression only breeds more aggression unless you just meant a firm hand which I think is important. I think she's doing the best she can given the situation.

 

I actually thought the book was painting out Mutnodjmet to be the smart one which is why the dad told her to keep Nefertiti in check (forgive me, my memory is a bit fuzzy on all the details because it's been a few weeks now since I last read). But, there are different types of intelligence.

 

Do I think one's gifts demand more responsibility? Certainly. But I also believe one's gift(s) is usually something that brings them much joy. I don't think we're all just tools meant to be sucked dry and used until there's nothing left. The responsibility should be a joy. You get to give this beautiful thing you have away to others. If it's not a joy, then you shouldn't be doing it. It will only build anxiety and resentment in someone to do otherwise because they're living out of alignment with their own heart.

 

That being said, I don't believe in placing too much pressure on someone -- especially when they're so young. I get that was the culture or whatever, but I think it can be harmful to treat someone as if they are a tool rather than a person, as I said. I don't think placing a lot of pressure on someone is ever beneficial/fruitful. But neither is being totally lax with someone. I think it's important to realize that an individual is their own person and to ask them what *they* want to do and not just control them into doing what we think is best. Nefertiti seems more than willing to go along with what is expected of her though for the social status or whatever (can't remember it all now). But another part of her is also still very young and scared. It's a lot to handle.

 

I also meant to add to my initial post that I think a person can be blind to their own weaknesses. And that's a whole other can of worms.

 

 

I 100% agree that in general it's a bad idea to put this much pressure on somebody, especially at that age... but it was a different time and culture so the societal pressures and what they needed to do to survive was something many of us don't have to worry about in these modern times. I also agree that people can be blind to weakness. I think that is an important thing to point out as I feel this may become an issue later on maybe with Nefertiti or her future husband.

[Vampiress]

I'm back fully tomorrow.   

[PigtailPrincess]

I'm back fully tomorrow.   

Perfect!

[PigtailPrincess]

Alright guys I will be making a new topic for chapters 4-6 so start reading!

[PigtailPrincess]

Chapter 4-6 post is up. Questions hit there this weekend!

[Guest LittleElizabethBun]

...redacted... Edited November 19, 2021 by LittleElizabethBun

[PigtailPrincess]

Aww this is one of my favourite books, but my copy fell apart from reading too much. Will read the topic with interest

Aww im sorry!!! Maybe try a digital copy? Either way feel free to answer the questions if you know the book that well!!! All I ask is no spoilers so maybe look up chapter summaries if you need!