Helpful Score: 9
I very much enjoyed Card's hearty tale of Sarah.
Card is able to weave Biblical legend into a very believable story about possibly the two most important people in Judeo-Christian history.
Card does not alter scripture, rather, he does his best to fill in the gaps that we have always been left to wonder about and it's not only an engaging read, it feels authentic, as well.
My only two complaints:
1) Card repeatedly talks about the men of Sodom. It is laughable how much he alludes to what these men allegedly did, without actually bringing it up plainly. It's as if he wants to talk about it so very badly, but just cannot bring himself to do it. I smiled many times when the "men of Sodom" were mentioned.
2) This book was not long enough! I wanted more and didn't get it.
Still, this was a great read, and shouldn't be missed, no matter what your religion.
Card is able to weave Biblical legend into a very believable story about possibly the two most important people in Judeo-Christian history.
Card does not alter scripture, rather, he does his best to fill in the gaps that we have always been left to wonder about and it's not only an engaging read, it feels authentic, as well.
My only two complaints:
1) Card repeatedly talks about the men of Sodom. It is laughable how much he alludes to what these men allegedly did, without actually bringing it up plainly. It's as if he wants to talk about it so very badly, but just cannot bring himself to do it. I smiled many times when the "men of Sodom" were mentioned.
2) This book was not long enough! I wanted more and didn't get it.
Still, this was a great read, and shouldn't be missed, no matter what your religion.
Helpful Score: 5
There isn't much to go on in the Bible about Sarah's life, but Orson Scott Card has done excellent research on what life was like in her time and it's easy to think that this COULD have been about her. Even discounting that the book is about the matriach of the Judeo-Christian culture, it's a fantastic read.
Helpful Score: 5
A wonderful book about the biblical Sarah and her life told from her perspective. Told with such "realness" you'd think the author channeled Sarah herself to tell her own story.
A great work of historical fiction.
A great work of historical fiction.
Helpful Score: 5
Did you like The Red Tent? This is another historical fiction account of a woman from the Old Testament. Well researched, but a depth of characterization not found in the Bible. Lot's wife actually has a name in this book! I picked this book up because I enjoyed Card's science fiction, and I am so glad that I did. I plan to read the other two books in the series ASAP!
Helpful Score: 4
Excellent - one of the best biblical history novels I've read. I was surprised, since the author is knoown for his science fiction, but he brings the same craftsmanship to this novel. Can't wait to read the next in this series!
Helpful Score: 2
When I've read books in this genre in the past, I've often been disappointed because the author changes so much of the Biblical content that I end up not really enjoying the book. The Red Tent is an example of what I'm talking about, even though I did finish it. But that was not my experience with this book. Even though the author used his imagination and wove daily events into the story of Sarah, he fairly faithfully followed what we know about her from the Bible. The description of the characters we're so familiar with but really know so little about really set my imagination working. I had never considered how hard it would have been for her to have a child at her advanced age, but I thought he did a good job developing that part of the story. There were parts that I thought were slow but I persevered and am really glad I did. All in all, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Biblical characters.
Helpful Score: 1
I thought the characterization was a bit flat, but it was an enjoyable read.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a great book in a great series of books about women of the bible!
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed the fiction. The book is most definitely not biblical, but the author deals with that in his afterward.
Helpful Score: 1
Great book about a unique biblical woman. Sarah takes on vivid reality as a woman chosen to experience an incomparable miracle.
I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book at first, but overall really enjoyed it.
great book, very intersting read the whole book in one day
I started this book with anticipation. I just finished a series on the Wives of King David. From the start, there were things, as I read, that I thought "I do not remember this!!"... I went to the Bible and re-read.... After three chapters, I put the book down. Disappointed. There was too much "added" information.. and changed information. I read that lots of readers really loved it, but, I'm sorry. I did not want to read a story that did not follow the Biblical story. I realize that it is a fiction book, but unimportant facts are different than the "REAL FACTS". :(
Loved this book! Inspired me to re-read the story of Abraham and Sarah in my bible.
Wonderful book about Sarah, wife of Abram and woman chosen by God to experience a miracle.
I enjoyed reading this tremendously. Now I am looking for the next two in the series.
A wonderfully different type of book by this author!
Sarai was a child of ten years, wise for her age but not yet a woman, when she first met Abram. He appeared before her in her father's house, filthy from the desert, tired and thirsty. But as th dirt of travel was washed from his body; the sight of him filled her heart. An when Abram promises Sarai to return in ten years to take her for his wife, her fate was sealed.
Card uses his fertile imagination, and uncanny insight into human nature to tell the story of an uniue woman one who is beautiful, tough, smart, and resourceful in an era when women had little power, and are scarce in the historical record. Sarah, child of the desert, wife of Abraham, takes on vivid reality as a woman desirable to dings, a devoted wife, and a faithful follwere of the God of Abraham, chosed to experience an incomparable miracle.
Card uses his fertile imagination, and uncanny insight into human nature to tell the story of an uniue woman one who is beautiful, tough, smart, and resourceful in an era when women had little power, and are scarce in the historical record. Sarah, child of the desert, wife of Abraham, takes on vivid reality as a woman desirable to dings, a devoted wife, and a faithful follwere of the God of Abraham, chosed to experience an incomparable miracle.
I love these kind of books
