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filipa_maia's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Egypt, I love mummies and definitely love strong female characters. So this book was everything I could have asked for.
This was such a nice story. I love Amelia she is a strong and independent character, with a powerfull view about female role in the society she lives. Evelyn and the Emerson brothers are also very lovable characters (each one of them with a very interesting background and side story). Even the villains are very interesting and well written (and that is very important in any story).
I really enjoyed this book and I want to know more about the future of these characters. I will have to read the next few books (there are, only, 19 more).
This was such a nice story. I love Amelia she is a strong and independent character, with a powerfull view about female role in the society she lives. Evelyn and the Emerson brothers are also very lovable characters (each one of them with a very interesting background and side story). Even the villains are very interesting and well written (and that is very important in any story).
I really enjoyed this book and I want to know more about the future of these characters. I will have to read the next few books (there are, only, 19 more).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, and Death
Minor: Drug use and Suicidal thoughts
queen_of_the_rats's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Medical content, Alcohol, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Classism, and Sexism
sparksofkell's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Classism, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gun violence, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Religious bigotry
singalana's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
If you like The Mummy (1999), starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, I think you will like this book.
NOTE: This story is told from the point of view of a British upper-class person and has unchallenged colonialistic views. If that is something that bothers you as a reader, then I would not recommend this. I read this book keeping in mind that these are the opinions of the character, so I will not be commenting on this aspect of the story.
Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first novel in the Amelia Peabody murder mystery -series. The story takes place in 1880s Egypt when archaeology (and I use this term loosely) was a popular pastime with the British aristocracy. The main character Amelia has inherited a significant amount of money and decides to travel. In Rome, she rescues another Englishwoman, Evelyn, and takes her as a travelling partner. Her interest in archaeology gets her involved with the Emerson brothers. But what would a story set in Egypt be without a mummy making an appearance?
This is a lighthearted mystery book with a dash of the supernatural. The characters are archetypical to what you might imagine finding in this kind of book. It feels almost campy, but as I read on, the characters grew on me, and their relationships seemed to develop organically. I found the writing to be lively and the style fitting to the story. The banter between the characters was delightful, and despite their flaws, I was rooting for the characters.
If the reader has experience with mystery books, the ending might be somewhat predictable, but because of the campy and lighthearted nature of the book, I wouldn’t necessarily count it as a flaw. All in all, I like the characters and the milieu enough to be interested in continuing the story.
However, regarding this edition of the book: There were some typos, and the printing quality was not the best. And I would skip Amelia’s biography at the beginning of the book to avoid all spoilers. At the end of the book, there’s an extract from the 18th book in the series, which is an odd choice considering this is the first book…
Content Warnings
Minor: Classism, Kidnapping, Animal death, Gun violence, Alcohol, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Colonisation
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A simple story in 1800s style with an Anglophile bent, having been with in the 1970s it allows a story told from the point of view of the women, despite the antics being primarily of Egyptology.
You're not going to like this story if you are disinterested in stories of rich Brits flitting about the countryside buying the time and energies of the locals, while pillaging the countryside of its relics and treasures. It's all quite ridiculous but at least, if you can hold your nose, it's not as rife with racism and misogyny as Wilbur Smith.
The sarcastic humour and dry turn of phrase is amusing. I did laugh out loud at some of the quips, and the casual banter between main characters is stuffy and kind of toxic, but is a foil for solid relationship building and mutual respect.
Not my usual flavour, but a fun little mystery, that's a bit ScoobyDoo in the execution.
You're not going to like this story if you are disinterested in stories of rich Brits flitting about the countryside buying the time and energies of the locals, while pillaging the countryside of its relics and treasures. It's all quite ridiculous but at least, if you can hold your nose, it's not as rife with racism and misogyny as Wilbur Smith.
The sarcastic humour and dry turn of phrase is amusing. I did laugh out loud at some of the quips, and the casual banter between main characters is stuffy and kind of toxic, but is a foil for solid relationship building and mutual respect.
Not my usual flavour, but a fun little mystery, that's a bit ScoobyDoo in the execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Colonisation, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Death, Cultural appropriation, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Stalking, Slavery, and War
amynbell's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
This book was, quite frankly, horrible. I saw two people gushing over it and remembered the series from my high school library, so I thought I would be fun to read for nostalgia's sake. Boy, was I wrong. Between the culture-bashing, male-bashing, and being written in the most boring way possible, I'm surprised I even finished it. The story is narrated by a self-sufficient Victorian heiress who has gone to Egypt for adventure. I always enjoyed novels narrated by self-sufficient ladies fighting their way through a man's world when I was younger, but Amelia Peabody is just annoyingly superior. She seems to magically know everything about medicine and even learns fairly fluent Arabic and hieroglyphics by studying them on the boat ride to Egypt. Once she gets to Egypt, she can's set sail down the Nile until the curtains on her boat don't clash with her wardrobe.
Of course, she finally meets a man who puts her in her place:
Of course, she finally meets a man who puts her in her place:
"I know you, madam! I have met your kind too often —the rampageous British female at her clumsiest and most arrogant. Ye gods! The breed covers the earth like mosquitoes, and is as maddening. The depths of the pyramids, the heights of the Himalayas—no spot on earth is safe from you!”
And she retaliates in kind:
“And you, sir, are the lordly British male at his loudest and most bad-mannered. If the English gentlewoman is covering the earth, it is in the hope of counteracting some of the mischief her lord and master has perpetrated. Swaggering, loud, certain of his own superiority…”
*eyeroll*
Several people have compared this particular Amelia Peabody book to Scooby Doo since the main storyline involves someone dressing as a mummy and terrorizing the locals, while Amelia Peabody and her friends try to figure out who it is. And I suppose that could have been interesting if the majority of the book after the mummy appears hadn't simply become vague moments of action requiring multiple readings to try to figure out, with 90% of the rest of the text comprised of characters discussing what happened and what they are going to do ad nauseam. Oh, and let's not forget the part where Amelia looks down upon all the Egyptians living in dirty squalor and preventing their children from batting away the flies that are covering their eyes and making them go blind. Really?
This book has absolutely no redeeming qualities, and the only crocodile on a sandbank is from an ancient poem. Will I read any more Amelia Peabody books? Absolutely not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Racism, and Gun violence
kalira's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Amelia Peabody series has been a favourite since I was little and listening to the audiobooks with my mother; Barbara Rosenblat does a beautiful job bringing them to life.
While Amelia is very much the definition of an unreliable narrator, and her perspective is very much flavoured by her nationality and the era, these things are well written to make it obvious to the reader that they are true, and Amelia herself is a delight (in all her occasionally disastrous glory). The character dynamics and relationships are wonderfully engaging, and the mystery fascinating and alarming.
The conclusion sets up the next book in the series in excellent fashion without leaving any feeling of things being left hanging.
While Amelia is very much the definition of an unreliable narrator, and her perspective is very much flavoured by her nationality and the era, these things are well written to make it obvious to the reader that they are true, and Amelia herself is a delight (in all her occasionally disastrous glory). The character dynamics and relationships are wonderfully engaging, and the mystery fascinating and alarming.
The conclusion sets up the next book in the series in excellent fashion without leaving any feeling of things being left hanging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Kidnapping, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Racism, Religious bigotry, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
booksbyantheia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Si estás buscando un libro donde la mirada femenina del siglo XIX sea filosa y graciosa, donde reine la sensación de aventura y misterio, este libro definitivamente es para vos. No hay ser humano más sarcástico, petulante y sorprendentemente feminista que mi querida Peabody, cuyas insinuaciones y pequeños comentarios son lo más delicioso dentro del libro. Nos sumergimos en las primeras aventuras de Amelia Peabody, una mujer solterona, erudita y ciertamente rica, cuya perspectiva de vida como "dama británica" no le hace ni pizca de gracia.
No puedo explicar lo genial que es Amelia con palabras suficientes. Aunque este libro no sea uno de mis favoritos, ella definitivamente lo es. Su temperamento, su amistad (al límite del shippeo sáfico, porque LAS AMO) con Evelyn, su decisión, toda ella es una construcción genial de una mujer que no está dispuesta a someterse sin pelear por el lugar que ella cree (y sabe) que le corresponde. Y todo esto sin JAMÁS denigrar a sus pares de sexo, ya que es consciente de oportunidades, decisiones y más. Es genial ver a la precursora de "I'm not like other girls" siendo una aliada incondicional y no una misógina.
Y justamente por eso es genial el contraste entre cada personaje. Con Evelyn, se puede ver las carencias en Amelia del rol típicamente femenino, pero también sus costados más delicados, más amables. Con Emerson podemos ver que si bien está dotada de carácter, este siempre va orientado a las figuras de poder, nunca a mujeres. Y con Walter podemos ver aquello que sutilmente intenta esconder, aquello que observa en la relación de su mejor amiga y el filólogo que en el interior le causa preguntas.
Respecto al tan llamado "misterio", considero que no es así. Es una introducción a Amelia, y eso causa que la introducción sea LENTA. Muy lenta. Quienes no disfruten de lecturas pesadas y descripciones largas, no les recomiendo el libro. O mejor dicho, se los recomiendo, pero con una advertencia; la acción verdadera no empieza hasta casi el capítulo cinco... con un libro de larguísimos doce capítulos. Es espectacular, eso sí, y al llegar a ese misterio de la momia uno ya tiene teorías, se enoja con los personajes, busca pistas... El cambio de "velocidad" hace que uno se emocione e interactúe más con el libro, lo cual ocasiona una sensación mayor de disfrute al acertar (parcialmente) con la conclusión de quién (o quiénes) es la momia.
Y el romance con Emerson es ESPECTACULAR, pero cortísimo, y creo que eso lo hace tan especial. Definitivamente, no esperaba que para el final ya estuvieran CASADOS y esperando un bebé, porque disfrutaba mucho de Amelia solterona, pero se lo merecían. Es un rivals to lovers espectacular, y las menciones sutiles de Radcliffe como su "Crítico" me hicieron el día. También creo que pasó de ser un misógino a una persona "buena", como puede verse en el arco de comportamiento hacia Evelyn y Amelia.
Evelyn es para mí el punto más fuerte y a la vez más flojo de la novela. Entiendo su disposición, sus pensamientos, pero uno diría que después de unirse a Amelia y amarla como a una hermana, sus pensamientos machistas a causa de su abuelo volarían. Y en cierto punto lo hacen; cuando se emplea de artista, cuando participa de los planes, pero todo vuelve de nuevo cuando empieza con esas repentinas supersticiones y su repetido cantar machista por haber perdido la virginidad (la "joya") con Alberto. Es hasta irónico que sea Radcliffe el que diga que ella no está arruinada. Siento que no creció en lo absoluto, lo cual obviamente sirve a la trama, pero no termina de hacer sentido.
El cocodrilo en el banco de arena fue mi primera experiencia dentro de la pluma de Elizabeth Peters, y si bien puedo decir que no me decepcionó, no puedo afirmar que vaya a convertirse en una de mis lecturas favoritas. La culpa no es de Peters, en lo absoluto, sino la diferencia de edad entre este libro y yo: fue publicada en el 1975, situada temporalmente en 1884, con nada más y nada menos que una mujer de clase alta británica. Es de esperar varias insinuaciones de tono levemente racista, sobre todo en lo que se refiere a los egipcios, y una mirada muy paternalista sobre sus condiciones de vida y como los salvadores blancos pueden ayudarlos. Aun así, me gusta que incluso con ese pensamiento, la misma Amelia (o Elizabeth a través de Amelia) marque pequeñas cosas que nos demuestren la petulancia europea, como las menciones al Museo Británico, tratado con un suave desprecio, entre otros motivos.
Mi puntuación final es 3.75/5. Definitivamente voy a seguir con la serie de Amelia Peabody, y no puedo esperar a verla, arqueóloga, casada y con un bebé, haciendo de las suyas en un siglo que nos quería encerradas y sumisas.
No puedo explicar lo genial que es Amelia con palabras suficientes. Aunque este libro no sea uno de mis favoritos, ella definitivamente lo es. Su temperamento, su amistad (al límite del shippeo sáfico, porque LAS AMO) con Evelyn, su decisión, toda ella es una construcción genial de una mujer que no está dispuesta a someterse sin pelear por el lugar que ella cree (y sabe) que le corresponde. Y todo esto sin JAMÁS denigrar a sus pares de sexo, ya que es consciente de oportunidades, decisiones y más. Es genial ver a la precursora de "I'm not like other girls" siendo una aliada incondicional y no una misógina.
Y justamente por eso es genial el contraste entre cada personaje. Con Evelyn, se puede ver las carencias en Amelia del rol típicamente femenino, pero también sus costados más delicados, más amables. Con Emerson podemos ver que si bien está dotada de carácter, este siempre va orientado a las figuras de poder, nunca a mujeres. Y con Walter podemos ver aquello que sutilmente intenta esconder, aquello que observa en la relación de su mejor amiga y el filólogo que en el interior le causa preguntas.
Respecto al tan llamado "misterio", considero que no es así. Es una introducción a Amelia, y eso causa que la introducción sea LENTA. Muy lenta. Quienes no disfruten de lecturas pesadas y descripciones largas, no les recomiendo el libro. O mejor dicho, se los recomiendo, pero con una advertencia; la acción verdadera no empieza hasta casi el capítulo cinco... con un libro de larguísimos doce capítulos. Es espectacular, eso sí, y al llegar a ese misterio de la momia uno ya tiene teorías, se enoja con los personajes, busca pistas... El cambio de "velocidad" hace que uno se emocione e interactúe más con el libro, lo cual ocasiona una sensación mayor de disfrute al acertar (parcialmente) con la conclusión de quién (o quiénes) es la momia.
Y el romance con Emerson es ESPECTACULAR, pero cortísimo, y creo que eso lo hace tan especial. Definitivamente, no esperaba que para el final ya estuvieran CASADOS y esperando un bebé, porque disfrutaba mucho de Amelia solterona, pero se lo merecían. Es un rivals to lovers espectacular, y las menciones sutiles de Radcliffe como su "Crítico" me hicieron el día. También creo que pasó de ser un misógino a una persona "buena", como puede verse en el arco de comportamiento hacia Evelyn y Amelia.
Evelyn es para mí el punto más fuerte y a la vez más flojo de la novela. Entiendo su disposición, sus pensamientos, pero uno diría que después de unirse a Amelia y amarla como a una hermana, sus pensamientos machistas a causa de su abuelo volarían. Y en cierto punto lo hacen; cuando se emplea de artista, cuando participa de los planes, pero todo vuelve de nuevo cuando empieza con esas repentinas supersticiones y su repetido cantar machista por haber perdido la virginidad (la "joya") con Alberto. Es hasta irónico que sea Radcliffe el que diga que ella no está arruinada. Siento que no creció en lo absoluto, lo cual obviamente sirve a la trama, pero no termina de hacer sentido.
El cocodrilo en el banco de arena fue mi primera experiencia dentro de la pluma de Elizabeth Peters, y si bien puedo decir que no me decepcionó, no puedo afirmar que vaya a convertirse en una de mis lecturas favoritas. La culpa no es de Peters, en lo absoluto, sino la diferencia de edad entre este libro y yo: fue publicada en el 1975, situada temporalmente en 1884, con nada más y nada menos que una mujer de clase alta británica. Es de esperar varias insinuaciones de tono levemente racista, sobre todo en lo que se refiere a los egipcios, y una mirada muy paternalista sobre sus condiciones de vida y como los salvadores blancos pueden ayudarlos. Aun así, me gusta que incluso con ese pensamiento, la misma Amelia (o Elizabeth a través de Amelia) marque pequeñas cosas que nos demuestren la petulancia europea, como las menciones al Museo Británico, tratado con un suave desprecio, entre otros motivos.
Mi puntuación final es 3.75/5. Definitivamente voy a seguir con la serie de Amelia Peabody, y no puedo esperar a verla, arqueóloga, casada y con un bebé, haciendo de las suyas en un siglo que nos quería encerradas y sumisas.
Content Warnings
Minor: Colonisation, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, War, and Xenophobia
paperpaladin's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
A period piece mystery that takes place in Egypt. Going into this book, I knew a little about outside of a friend's recommendation that it is a fun female lead mystery in Egypt. So when I started reading I was a little surprised to find out that the story is set in the 1880s. There is a good amount of time setting up the characters and then getting to the place where the mystery happens. Without getting too much into spoilers, a mummy starts appearing at the dig site of the Emerson brothers who are acquaintances of Amelia and her traveling companion. All things said and done the mystery is service-able. I was not shocked by anything in it really. Everything is tied up neatly at the end which I did find a bit surprising since this is the first of a 20 book series.
All those things combined would not however lead me to giving this book such a low score. What really made this book bad in my opinion is the large amounts of racism in it. They spend a lot of time looking down on and saying unkind things about Egyptians. This is made worse be the proclamations of the English bringing civilization and culture to them. It is just a lot to stomach. There is some sexism as well but Amelia was so competent that everyone had to respect her and it did not feel too jarring.
Overall a fine book but I do not intend to read more of the series since I would like a fun mystery without the racism.
My rating system
1 - Did not enjoy
2 - Not irredeemable but has too many flaws to say I enjoyed
3 - Enjoyed it
4 - Great book but didn't love it
5 - Amazing book
All those things combined would not however lead me to giving this book such a low score. What really made this book bad in my opinion is the large amounts of racism in it. They spend a lot of time looking down on and saying unkind things about Egyptians. This is made worse be the proclamations of the English bringing civilization and culture to them. It is just a lot to stomach. There is some sexism as well but Amelia was so competent that everyone had to respect her and it did not feel too jarring.
Overall a fine book but I do not intend to read more of the series since I would like a fun mystery without the racism.
My rating system
1 - Did not enjoy
2 - Not irredeemable but has too many flaws to say I enjoyed
3 - Enjoyed it
4 - Great book but didn't love it
5 - Amazing book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Racism
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