Like Mayflies in a Stream

By: Shauna Roberts

Narrated by: Hollie Jackson

In the great city of Uruk, there is no peace when Gilgamesh is restless, and he is never at rest. Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna, goes into the wilderness to find and civilize a match for Uruk's violently active God-King. Like Mayflies in a Stream brings new life to the Epic of Gilgamesh, diving into one of the earliest conflicts between civilization and wilderness, civic order and freedom, romance and sexuality. A book of the Hadley Rille Books Archaeology Series.

©2009 Shauna Roberts (P)2014 Shauna Roberts

A fascinating version of the epic of Gilgamesh.

LIKE MAYFLIES IN A STREAM

Author: Shauna Roberts

Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged

Narrator: Hollie Jackson

Length: 6 hours, 52 minutes

Release Date: July 14, 2014

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Hadley Rille Books

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

* I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. This audiobook was downloaded from www.audible.com

Mesopotamia approx. 4750 years ago

This is a retelling of The Epic of Gilgamesh.

The book was an interesting and entertaining listening experience.

Set in the ancient world of Mesopotamia in the time of King Gilgamesh, in the great city of Uruk, this book follows the intertwined lives of several interesting characters.

Gilgamesh may be the most powerful King of the most powerful city in the land, but that does not mean that he is a good King. In fact, he is anything but a benevolent ruler. He claims the right to bed any bride on her wedding night and exercises that right often and with brutality. He forces citizens to wrestle him and does not care when they are left crippled and unable to support themselves or their families afterward.

Citizens of Gilgamesh's city have been flocking to the temples of their Gods in droves asking for assistance and protection. The temple priests and priestesses are desperate to find a way to turn Gilgamesh into a King worthy of worship and adoration rather than fear and hatred.

Shamhat, a priestess of Inanna, is sent into the wilderness to find and civilize a wild-man who is thought to be a match for Uruk's violent King. The priestesses are hoping that he will be able to humble Gilgamesh.

This story brings to a life a tale that has endured the test of time. It is a book that examines the benefits of being part of a society (civilization) versus the benefits of living free and relying on no one but yourself. Which is better? Why? It also highlights the drawbacks of both lifestyle choices. Is it better to give up your freedom in exchange for comfort and security? And what happens when the leader who is responsible for maintaining order thinks only of himself and not his citizens?

The character of Shamhat is a wonderfully vivid character and Hollie Jackson (the narrator) skillfully brings her to life in stunning detail. Her voice is perfect for this character and greatly enhances the listening experience.

This book is not meant for younger readers since it contains sexually explicit and violent situations.

If you have not yet heard the tale of Gilgamesh or it has been a while since you have read it, I highly recommend listening to it as an audiobook. It is an experience that you will not regret. Everyone should know the tale of Gilgamesh and this book does a great job with that epic tale.

The author has included many fascinating cultural details as well as details about the ancient gods and how they were worshipped. I found the description of ancient burial rites as well as the intricacies of ancient commerce particularly interesting. There are Author Notes included at the conclusion of this audiobook which offers even more details.

I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Like mayflies in a stream

Any additional comments?

This was an interesting take on the Gilgamesh stories.The author explains at the end where she got her information on clothing,foods,etc since there is no actual acct of these things.The story follows Gilgamesh,the king,a tyrant who thinks he's making good decisions and a priestess who tries to point him in the right direction.I thought the story was slow and all the names of places and people just jumbled in my mind.The narrator,Hollie Jackson,was a fine selection for this material.I was gifted a copy for an honest review.

Really good story but narrator not my favorite!

Would you listen to Like Mayflies in a Stream again? Why?

Yes! I will most likely listen to this audiobook again when I finally get caught up on the backlog audiobooks I already have (over 500 hours worth). This is an excellent story set in Mesopotamia during the time of Gilgamesh the king. I can't pronounce most of the characters names but it is quite nicely written.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Like Mayflies in a Stream?

probably the most memorable moment for me was the death of Inkydoo. He finally humbled King Gilgamesh, just not the way everyone was expecting.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I've slept some since finishing this audiobook so it is kind of difficult for me to be specific here. I just thought the narrator could have done a better job. I like her voice so that made it easier to listen to, but her pacing was kind of off at times.

Who was the most memorable character of Like Mayflies in a Stream and why?

Without a doubt it has to be Inkydoo. He starts out as wild desert nomad who kills lions with his bare hands and ends up the humble, lovable and innocent love of Shamahut the priestess who tamed him.

Any additional comments?

I really did enjoy this book! It moved a little slow in places, but that can be said for most books. I think if I listen to any more books written by Shauna Roberts I would like to hear from other narrators, though.

Great content, simple deliviery

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

If already interested in historical fantasy or the time period, this is a valuable addition to your library.

Would you be willing to try another book from Shauna Roberts? Why or why not?

Yes, though I would steer towards work more non-fiction in nature.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the trapper from the wild first enters Uruk. The descriptions of the city let me imagine life in the ancient world.

Was Like Mayflies in a Stream worth the listening time?

Hollie Jackson did a great job, and added voices without them becoming fake as is easy to do. As someone who read a translation of Gilgamesh and am interested in knowledge and stories from the ancient world, I found it valuable if a bit simple at times.

Any additional comments?

The lack of flowery language in the prose brought this on the lower end of a 3.5 for me. This is taste though, and if you want a good story with a simple narrative, this is it. Caution: The first chapter is odd, either voice acting or writing I couldn't tell. Keep listening before making your decision.