Review From Publishers WeeklyTouted as rivaling Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, this novel by the prolific evangelical Christian author Hunt starts well, but falters toward the end. In a series of first-person narratives, the life of Moses unfolds through the eyes of three women: his sister Miryam, Egyptian foster mother Merytamon and young Midianite wife, Zipporah. Hunt's writing is at its most compelling as she recounts life in the Egyptian palace through Merytamon, capturing her fears of losing Moses if his Hebrew heritage is made known. Unfortunately, the novel suffers from glitches just as events are coming to a climax. When Moses kills an Egyptian overseer, the event seems contrived, and Hunt's recountings of the plagues God visits on the Egyptians range from spine-tingling to yawn-inducing. Chapters tend to be either too short (half a page) or too long (74 pages), and Hunt habitually tells rather than shows. Although there are brief revivals in the storytelling (as when Miryam sojourns in the wilderness while suffering from leprosy), the novel never quite regains its early momentum. Still, it's a much more CBA-friendly tale than Diamant's (a circumcision is described without the word "penis" being mentioned, for example), and Hunt's portrayal of Moses is more accessible and upbeat than Simone Zelitch's in Moses in Sinai. Hunt is one of the CBA's more polished novelists, and conservative Christian readers who dismissed The Red Tent for its edgy spirituality and frank sexuality will find little to quibble with here and much to enjoy.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.From Library JournalThe three main women in Moses's life narrate his dramatic story from their perspectives. Miryam, his seven-year-old sister, and Merytamon, his 14-year-old adoptive mother, cover his early years as an Egyptian prince. Nine-year-old Zipporah, his future wife, tells of Moses' time with her father, a priest, and their family. After God reveals himself to Moses, Miryam recounts the liberation of the Jewish people and their escape from Egypt, and Zipporah and Miryam recall the years in the wilderness. The animosity and jealousy Miryam feels for both Merytomon and Zipporah flood the narrative, poisoning their happiness, but Moses takes scant notice, focused as he is on his task of serving God. Hunt's (The Immortal; The Note) sure writing and attention to fascinating details, such as Egyptian make-up customs and the cooking techniques of nomadic desert dwellers, add new dimensions to an overly familiar tale. Give this deftly handled treatment of shadow women from the Bible to fans of Anita Diamant's The Red Tent and book discussion groups. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Read more About the Author Award-winning author Angela Hunt has written more than 130 books for adults and children. Read more about her work at www.angelahuntbooks.com. Read more
K**N
The Bible came alive.
I love historical fiction. But this book was one of the best. As a Christian, it was so wonderful to imagine how the women in Moses life felt watching and experiencing these miracles and interactions with God. Of course, we can not truly know what they were thinking, but Angela Hunt did a wonderful job writing what these women felt, endured, how hard life was . I recommend this book to anyone who finds reading the scriptures difficult. Then look in your Bible, as I did, to see the word of God for yourself. I knew how the book would end, but it was a wonderful journey.
L**E
A lovely addition to the world of Moses with some fictional dialogue.
Brilliantly written. After 45 years of reading the Bible, I knew Hunt knew her's. My first novel by this famous writer, I didn't know what to expect but I will be reading more of her work. Not liking spoilers, I won't go into long paragraphs of my own take-aways. I simply loved this truly wonderful story of Moses et al. Knowing some Hebrew, their true names in Hebrew didn't bother me a bit. All readers need do is look up their original names which in today's world of computer technology isn't difficult. Highly recommended novel about a fascinating man from Genesis.
A**N
Great book with some insights and twists on the Biblical Story
Great book with insights and some twists on the Biblical story. I say "twists" but that doesn't mean it veers from the Biblical story, just looks at things from a different perspective which could have been the way it was (as we don't have such detail in the Bible). Of course the biggest change in perspective is that it is written from the viewpoint of 3 of the women closest to Moses. The authors include explanations at the end about why certain characters/events were chosen. I enjoyed it.
G**E
Don't Miss Out on This!
A wonderfully told story of Moses's life from the points of view of the women in his life. This book gives new life to an old, well-known Bible story. History tends to sterilize events. This book gives details that, although added by the author, make the story more personal to the reader. Highly engrossing and fully entertaining!
B**C
Excellent Biblical Fiction
Absolutely WONDERFUL book!! The author builds a credible account of Moses life that is both historically and Biblically correct. The story is told from the perspective of 3 women in his life: his sister, the Egyptian Princess who rescued/adopted him, and his wife. A must-read for fans of Biblical fiction.
P**D
An Excellent Book
This book goes into the life and times of Moses from the three perspectives of the women in his life: his Egyptian mother, his Hebrew sister, Miriam, and his Medianite wife, Zipporah. It brought to life the conflicting cultures Moses lived in and his personal conflicts in the various stages of his life. I became aware of Moses' humanity and his very real internal struggles as well as his one-of-a-kind relationship with God and his role as intercessory between God and the Israelites. As I read I had to remind myself on more than one occasion that although the book is based on historical fact, much of it is fiction such as the interaction of the three women with Moses and between themselves. The book was easy and interesting to read. I'm glad a friend recommended it to me.
S**A
THE SHADOW WOMEN
I loved this book and would highly recommend it! Pretty darn good at being factual too. I appreciate Angela Hunt taking the time and effort to search for facts. I must look to seek other books she has written. I wish there were more stars for a higher rating.
J**N
Fantastic book!
This amazing book captured and kept my attention from the very beginning to its very satisfying ending. The research is flawless and follows the Bible yet expands and brings it to vivid life. Worth ten stars!
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