Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Revell (2012), 304 pages
Description
Long maligned as a prostitute or a woman of questionable reputation, Mary Magdalene's murky story seems lost to the sands of time. Now a portrait of this enigmatic woman comes to life in the hands of an imaginative master storyteller. Diana Wallis Taylor's Mary is a woman devastated by circumstances beyond her control and plagued with terrifying dreams - until she has a life-changing confrontation with the Savior. Lovers of historical and biblical fiction will find this creative telling of Mary's story utterly original and respectful as it opens their eyes to the redeeming work of Christ in the lives of those who follow him.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Tammy.Ford.Cuevas
Mary of Magdala, the only daughter of a successful boatbuilder in Galilee, begins to experience horrible nightmares, suffer seizures, and hear voices after being subjected to a traumatic experience. Everyone in her village thinks she is crazy, or worse, demon-possessed. There seems to be no hope
Mary Magdalene is one of the most misunderstood and misaligned characters in Biblical history. She has been portrayed as a prostitute, and even worse, as either the wife or lover of Jesus. Ms. Taylor has managed to tell the true story, while in a fictionalized form. The novel was very enjoyable and there was nothing objectionable or contrary to Scripture. This was definitely worth 5 stars.
*Available June 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Show More
until a new teacher, a perhaps the Messiah, comes to town, and then everything about Mary's life is changed.Mary Magdalene is one of the most misunderstood and misaligned characters in Biblical history. She has been portrayed as a prostitute, and even worse, as either the wife or lover of Jesus. Ms. Taylor has managed to tell the true story, while in a fictionalized form. The novel was very enjoyable and there was nothing objectionable or contrary to Scripture. This was definitely worth 5 stars.
*Available June 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Show Less
LibraryThing member ReviewsbyMolly
I don't often read the Biblical Fiction but when I do, I want them to be just like this one. Diana Wallis Taylor uses extreme talent to bring to life the Bible and mixes it with fictional aspects, bringing the reader a emotionally moving, mind blowing novel that will leave you speechless in the
Not only did I want to read this because the author's work is fantastic, but I had the privilege of playing the role of Mary Magdalene in a church drama several years back. I wanted to once again having the feeling that I felt when I became a woman of the Bible.
Reading Mary "Mad Mary" Magdalene's story, I felt an emotion beyond words. To be a woman unworthy of love and subject to gossip because of being "different", dealing with sickness like seizures, can't be easy on anyone in any time period. When I followed Mary on her journey, I was transformed. I cried for her when I saw what she went through from the people of her village.
But, the best part was the visualization that Ms. Taylor used to create the amazing healing that Jesus gave to Mary. The redeeming love, the chance at true happiness with her husband who honored her no matter what, was beautiful. It was a part of the story that moved me to tears. I love when a novel can do that.
I most definitely recommend this novel with the highest of 5 Books and two thumbs. From fictionalized accounts to Biblical accuracy, this book will have you grabbing your Bible for reference and grabbing tissues for the tears. I am anxious to see what Ms. Taylor has in store next for Biblical fiction lovers! Well done yet again, Ms. Taylor! Bring on the next!
Show More
end.Not only did I want to read this because the author's work is fantastic, but I had the privilege of playing the role of Mary Magdalene in a church drama several years back. I wanted to once again having the feeling that I felt when I became a woman of the Bible.
Reading Mary "Mad Mary" Magdalene's story, I felt an emotion beyond words. To be a woman unworthy of love and subject to gossip because of being "different", dealing with sickness like seizures, can't be easy on anyone in any time period. When I followed Mary on her journey, I was transformed. I cried for her when I saw what she went through from the people of her village.
But, the best part was the visualization that Ms. Taylor used to create the amazing healing that Jesus gave to Mary. The redeeming love, the chance at true happiness with her husband who honored her no matter what, was beautiful. It was a part of the story that moved me to tears. I love when a novel can do that.
I most definitely recommend this novel with the highest of 5 Books and two thumbs. From fictionalized accounts to Biblical accuracy, this book will have you grabbing your Bible for reference and grabbing tissues for the tears. I am anxious to see what Ms. Taylor has in store next for Biblical fiction lovers! Well done yet again, Ms. Taylor! Bring on the next!
Show Less
LibraryThing member SABC
This is a vivid portrait of the enigmatic Mary of Magdala true to the setting and times of the biblical account.
LibraryThing member avidreaderlisa
Mary Magdalene known as a follower of Jesus gets a story of her own in this book. This was a pleasant telling of how Mary grew up and became the woman who was a devote follower. The author stayed true to what was already known about Mary, but she added in details that seemed to work.
My two favorite
Show More
parts were the casting out of Mary's demons, where we see Mary healed of the torture and returns to her true self, and of course the scene at the tomb, which has always been one of my favorite scenes in the Bible. Show Less
LibraryThing member kykim
A great read, the author has done a great job in taking us through what may have happened with Mary in her childhood to cause the problems (demons) that Jesus would heal her from later as an adult. And her following of Jesus what her and the other women's parts might have been. It helps to bring
Show More
some of these stories to life. I would like to read more by this autho Show Less
LibraryThing member abbieriddle
Diana Wallis Taylor does an excellent job of nailing down biblical fiction, she is in a class with a few others who do this job very well. I love biblical fiction that causes me to go back to scripture and dig into it more deeply.
This story is about one of the women of the bible that who has had
Diana Wallis Taylor does not say that she has a difinative answer but rather adds a new depth and warmth to a woman that is most certainly tainted with all sorts of rumors. For the first time readers may see a side of Mary Magdalene that they had never considered before.
This is the story of a beautiful woman, the apple of her father's eye who's world is instantly shattered when she is suddenly struck with seizures and other mental illnesses. In a society riddled with tradition and old wive's tales, with beliefs mixed from truth and folk tales she is just as instantly turned an outcast from the peoples that once loved and embraced her. Suddenly with out support and love, struggling with the unknown we find a woman destitute, broken, hopeless, and longing. This makes for the perfect redemption story.
For are we not all in out own ways outcasts - struggling just to fit in with the "norm". Longing for acceptance and seeking answers for our own inner demons. Are we not all broken and hopeless in some way longing for the healing touch of a savior that will set our world to rights and bring order to the chaos of our hearts and minds.
Women every where will be able to relate to this love story of a God who seeks to save his children for we are all these children. This woman so immersed in the shadows of religious gossip and scandal is suddenly brought into a different light and we find - to our surprise she is much easier to relate to than we first believed.
Excellent job Diana Wallis Taylor you have done it again. IF you are looking for a good addition to you biblical fiction library this is it!
Thanks to Regal for this review copy.
This story is about one of the women of the bible that who has had
Show More
decades of rumors swirling around her. Who is this beautiful, mysterious woman that followed Jesus with complete loyalty and devotion? What is so different about her that has left people across the ages all trying to decide who she was and what her story really is?Diana Wallis Taylor does not say that she has a difinative answer but rather adds a new depth and warmth to a woman that is most certainly tainted with all sorts of rumors. For the first time readers may see a side of Mary Magdalene that they had never considered before.
This is the story of a beautiful woman, the apple of her father's eye who's world is instantly shattered when she is suddenly struck with seizures and other mental illnesses. In a society riddled with tradition and old wive's tales, with beliefs mixed from truth and folk tales she is just as instantly turned an outcast from the peoples that once loved and embraced her. Suddenly with out support and love, struggling with the unknown we find a woman destitute, broken, hopeless, and longing. This makes for the perfect redemption story.
For are we not all in out own ways outcasts - struggling just to fit in with the "norm". Longing for acceptance and seeking answers for our own inner demons. Are we not all broken and hopeless in some way longing for the healing touch of a savior that will set our world to rights and bring order to the chaos of our hearts and minds.
Women every where will be able to relate to this love story of a God who seeks to save his children for we are all these children. This woman so immersed in the shadows of religious gossip and scandal is suddenly brought into a different light and we find - to our surprise she is much easier to relate to than we first believed.
Excellent job Diana Wallis Taylor you have done it again. IF you are looking for a good addition to you biblical fiction library this is it!
Thanks to Regal for this review copy.
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
8.4 inches
ISBN
9780800720483
Similar in this library
A Voice in the Wind: Mark of the Lion Series Book 1 (Christian Historical Fiction Novel Set in 1st Century Rome) by Francine Rivers
Bathsheba (The Wives of King David Book #3): (A Creative Retelling of One Of the Most Famous Women in the Bible) by Jill Eileen Smith