This book is told from the viewpoints of Eve and her three daughters, Naava, Aya, and Dara (something never mentioned in the Bible). Each of their perspectives gives a unique look at the world around them. Naava is the eldest daughter who does everything to improve her own place in the world, sometimes creating problems for her family at the same time. Aya is the second oldest daughter and she has a deformity to her foot. Despite this condition she is a necessity to the family as she is the cook and the healer. Dara is the youngest, part of a set of twins, and she is used by the family as a go-between for the family and the newcomers. Eve is questioning if God exists because he hasn't come to them since they were expelled from Eden. These females tell the stories of the men in their lives as well. Cain, the eldest, has a temper and is questioning the presence of God. Abel, the second oldest, does anything to help his family and believes that he can hear the voice of God, which really upsets his older brother. Jacan, Dara's twin, follows Abel's lead and is learning the ways of tending to the herds and listening to God. Finally there is Adam. He is the strong, quiet presence always believing in the presence of God. This book takes place at three different periods of time. Most of the story takes place in the months leading up to the death of Abel at the hands of Cain. During this time they meet the newcomers to the area and their presence and influence severely disrupts the pattern of the family. Through Eve's retellings we learn of their life within the Garden of Eden, what led up to their expulsion from that Garden, and their travels to the place where they eventually settle down. The third period of time is very late in life right before Eve's death. Naava has come back to see Eve before she dies.
I had many issues with this book. For one the book is not well written, as in the writing does not flow. The characters are wooden and lack wormth or devalopement. The story jumps around without coherant timeline, that is realy a punishement to read. I was concerned that "Eve" was going to be poorly written, when on the first page I read a line that sounded as though it were penned by Yoda. I get that sentence structure might have been a bit different in the days of yore, but jumbling word order up (inconsistently as well) isn't really an effective way to make your language sound appropriately dated.....
Also the story contradicts Bible... A LOT. Something even an agnostic person such as my self can pick up on. I understand that it is not easy to find the delicate balance when writing fiction based on the Bible. But Elissa Elliott feels no need to bother, and just inserts ridiculous and salacious details to make her story "work." She admits in the notes at the end of the book that she added a bustling town nearby the First family, just to add plot elements......
And there are a lot of sexual very unpleasant seens that are inapropriate for this sort of book. Eve makes out with a man in the garden--not Adam, but possibly the serpent in the form of a hot guy. This is before The Fall, which believers of the Bible and Torah believe to be the first sin. Other disgusting tidbits include Adam masturbating on Eve, and Eve giving their 6-year-old daughter away to the made-up neighboring community in exchange for jewels and cloth.
Awkward writing aside, I just didn't think this book was very good. Obviously the author is taking liberties with the story of Adam & Eve, which is totally fine with me since I'm not religious, and I tend to enjoy biblical retellings, provided they are done well. This, however, read like a sudsy soap opera dressed up as historical fiction. It's pretty trashy and feels inconsequential, and while I respect the authors stance on questioning faith and belief, this just doesn't have much heft to it.
The dialogue didn't ring true to me, since it really felt as though modern-day people had just been transported to Mesopotamia. I found the book never felt authentic, and every plot point felt gimmicky and like a telenovella twist. Six-year olds speaking like adults? Eve giving birth to a premature still-born while walking through the woods with Adam after having just survived a bear attack? Five-year olds cooking meals with the aplomb of a Top Chef and commandeering home births? Poisoning your mother with hemlock? Do you see what I'm getting at?
Some people might find this stuff riveting, but it's pap and literary dross, and I was bored by it. I do think this book will be enjoyed by certain readers, but I am clearly not its target audience. The writing made my cheeks flame with second-degree embarrassment at times, and the plot was outlandish. I could forgive neither, and got little enjoyment from either to boot, so I decided to stop at the halfway point rather than chugging through the 400+ pages.
If you think this book will be moving and reminiscent of Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, don't walk, RUN away from this book.
I had many issues with this book. For one the book is not well written, as in the writing does not flow. The characters are wooden and lack wormth or devalopement. The story jumps around without coherant timeline, that is realy a punishement to read. I was concerned that "Eve" was going to be poorly written, when on the first page I read a line that sounded as though it were penned by Yoda. I get that sentence structure might have been a bit different in the days of yore, but jumbling word order up (inconsistently as well) isn't really an effective way to make your language sound appropriately dated.....
Also the story contradicts Bible... A LOT. Something even an agnostic person such as my self can pick up on. I understand that it is not easy to find the delicate balance when writing fiction based on the Bible. But Elissa Elliott feels no need to bother, and just inserts ridiculous and salacious details to make her story "work." She admits in the notes at the end of the book that she added a bustling town nearby the First family, just to add plot elements......
And there are a lot of sexual very unpleasant seens that are inapropriate for this sort of book. Eve makes out with a man in the garden--not Adam, but possibly the serpent in the form of a hot guy. This is before The Fall, which believers of the Bible and Torah believe to be the first sin. Other disgusting tidbits include Adam masturbating on Eve, and Eve giving their 6-year-old daughter away to the made-up neighboring community in exchange for jewels and cloth.
Awkward writing aside, I just didn't think this book was very good. Obviously the author is taking liberties with the story of Adam & Eve, which is totally fine with me since I'm not religious, and I tend to enjoy biblical retellings, provided they are done well. This, however, read like a sudsy soap opera dressed up as historical fiction. It's pretty trashy and feels inconsequential, and while I respect the authors stance on questioning faith and belief, this just doesn't have much heft to it.
The dialogue didn't ring true to me, since it really felt as though modern-day people had just been transported to Mesopotamia. I found the book never felt authentic, and every plot point felt gimmicky and like a telenovella twist. Six-year olds speaking like adults? Eve giving birth to a premature still-born while walking through the woods with Adam after having just survived a bear attack? Five-year olds cooking meals with the aplomb of a Top Chef and commandeering home births? Poisoning your mother with hemlock? Do you see what I'm getting at?
Some people might find this stuff riveting, but it's pap and literary dross, and I was bored by it. I do think this book will be enjoyed by certain readers, but I am clearly not its target audience. The writing made my cheeks flame with second-degree embarrassment at times, and the plot was outlandish. I could forgive neither, and got little enjoyment from either to boot, so I decided to stop at the halfway point rather than chugging through the 400+ pages.
If you think this book will be moving and reminiscent of Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, don't walk, RUN away from this book.
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