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Finalist, 2015 National Jewish Book Award Honorable Mention, Sophie Brody Medal, American Library Association One of the Jewish Book Council's "15 fiction books that shaped Jewish literature in 2015" "Lemberger imbues her characters with a consciousness that, although taking place in ancient times, seems contemporary, because she brings such empathy to her characters... It is this act of empathy that shines through.... an alternative dialogue that reminds us that it is the stories that we tell that are civilization's true heritage." --FORBES Eve considers motherhood. Miriam tends Moses. Lot's wife looks back. Vividly reimagined with startling contemporary clarity, Michal Lemberger's debut collection of short stories gives voice to silent, oft-marginalized biblical women: their ambitions, their love for their children, their values, their tremendous struggles and challenges. Informed by Lemberger's deep knowledge of the Bible, each of these nine stories recasts a biblical saga from the perspective of a pivotal woman.… (more)
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Lemberger has offered nine tales written
The thing that struck me most was how much the biblical stories are still presented to us...not in the Bible itself, but in other sources...in that limited, male-centric manner. The second of Lemberger's tales is about Lot's wife. Not sure if I remembered the story well, I did a search and the first hit told me that she is found in Genesis 19:16-26 when she was turned into salt for looking back at the burning town of Sodom, and again in Luke 17:32 as a reminder of the penalty for disobedience. Every reference seemed to limit her to just that: Gen. 19:26, killed for looking back at a burning city, everything you need to know right there.
Really? What they failed to mention is Genesis 19:6 when Lot offers a hostile crowd of men unlimited rape of his two youngest daughters if the men just won't embarrass him by hassling his guests. Honestly, after reading that, I don't think Mrs. Lot was looking back wistfully toward a dissolute life. I think she was looking back to make sure those bastards burned and wondering if there was any way to include her husband in the catastrophe. (By the way, the author's version is quite different, so that isn't a spoiler.)
She has taken nine women—some, like Eve, that everyone knows and some, like Yael, that are relatively obscure—and made them come alive beyond the one or two sentences they receive in the Old Testament. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and eminently readable book.
All in all, this was a great collection of short stories, and I would love to see Lamberger take on more.
When I read a book based on biblical stories I don't expect to see some of the language that was
The story of Lot's Wife doesn't mention God, and was totally different from what the Bible teaches.
I only rate this book one star, because I have to rate it. It is not one that I would recommend to anyone.
I received a free copy from Library Thing in exchange for my honest review, rather it be good or bad. Thank you.
But I find myself constantly fascinated by the role of women in the Bible. Such a rich and important history that has been glossed over and hidden in the corner for eons.
This well written and entertaining collection of short stories is
Well done.