I'm sure that was not an easy task to undertake, but I felt that the author did a beautiful job. The scenes with Jesus in them were beautifully written. Just another aspect of the book that caused me to pause and reflect from a new perspective. Yes, I know this is a fictional retelling and so the thoughts and feelings and desires of these characters are just a portrayal of possibilities, but it is a possibility of how Mary and Martha were. Moore was able to portray these two sisters leading up to this moment and to show their thoughts and feelings and desires. I believe anyone familiar with the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible, especially when Christ comes to their house, will know that Martha was busy preparing the house and food for Christ's visit while Mary is sitting at the Lord's feet anxious and ready to learn. Which of course really enhanced the story even more. I really appreciated how their voices were all unique and different but I loved the family and friendship dynamics between them. This book alternates point of view between Mary, Martha and Lazarus. But while reading this book, with the thoughts and feelings of the historical and fictional characters, I felt like I pondered a little more about their lives and what it would have been like to be there when Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, or witnessing His many miracles. I've thought many times about what it would have been like to walk with Jesus and be among his followers during His earthly ministry. There were several moments while reading this book that I really looked at Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus with a new perspective. But something that I love reading her novels is gleaning from a new perspective and that coming from someone who has studied and learned about the culture and lifestyle. I've studied and read multiple times these stories in the Bible and come away with different thoughts and perspectives each time. The historical aspects included in her novels bring such an added dimension to the story and teach me so much about the culture and people during the time the novel is set in. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.įirst off, I have to say that I am a huge fan of H.B. I received a complimentary copy from Covenant and NetGalley. Moore does for her books, and read about the care she took writing this book. This is a beautiful story, told in a beautiful way-weaving the things we know about Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and the teachings of Jesus with some fiction of how their daily lives probably were. The way it's told helps me know how they probably felt. How devastated they must have been to learn of their dear friend's death. I never considered the pain these siblings would've felt upon hearing that Christ was brought before Pilate and then his Crucifixion. I loved the scenes when they interacted with Jesus, and have always identified more with Martha, as I would've been the one in the kitchen worried about the meal I was serving Jesus and his disciples. I forget that at that time, there were very few women who read and studied the teachings of the prophets, but Mary and Martha were different, and knew of the prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus. I loved the interactions of the three siblings how they cared for, and helped each other. I loved that the author did three points of view (Mary, Martha, and Lazarus), instead of just Mary and Martha's. I read this book a couple of weeks ago, and have though a lot about what to say that would do it justice. I can see the events unfold in my head as I read and I learn more than when I simply read the Bible stories on my own. The way she writes these stories bring extra dimension to the characters and makes them come alive to me. Moore's Biblical fiction since I read Eve: In the Beginning.
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