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Fiction. Literature. Romance. Christian Fiction. HTML:2017 INSPY Award winner, general fiction category Before Christ called her daughter . . . Before she stole healing by touching the hem of his garment . . . Elianna is a young girl crushed by guilt. After her only brother is killed while in her care, Elianna tries to earn forgiveness by working for her father's textile trade and caring for her family. When another tragedy places Elianna in sole charge of the business, her talent for design brings enormous success, but never the absolution she longs for. As her world unravels, she breaks off her betrothal to the only man she will ever love. Then illness strikes, isolating Elianna from everyone, stripping everything she has left. No physician can cure her. No end is in sight. Until she hears whispers of a man whose mere touch can heal. After so many years of suffering and disappointment, is it possible that one man could redeem the wounds of body . . . and soul?… (more)
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Afshar has such a knack and a grace for weaving these types of stories. The heroine here, Elianna, reminds me somewhat of Sarah from my favorite book by this author, Harvest of Rubies. Both Sarah and Elianna are unconventional for their time and culture, being rather educated and holding vocational positions that would normally be held by men. Even with everything in her life that makes her vulnerable, Elianna also has a spark of fire in her, and her rich and layered (back)story makes her eventual, few moments with Jesus all the more meaningful.
Now, although elements like hardship and tragedy are necessary to make triumphant stories triumphant, this novel became somewhat of a downer to me. Yes, the heroine's life must be hard to give the book its substance, but with disaster upon disaster and repeating moments in the narrative rehearsing how unhappy Elianna is and all the reasons why, her rather constant sorrow became a little tiresome to me. (Gee, I know that sounds callous.) Then after all of the grief and pain, the sweeping and effusive resolution of it all—for there's much to resolve—borders on being overdone, almost too sweet and perfect.
Still, overall, it's an engaging and moving read, certain to touch the hearts of many Christian Fiction readers.
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Tyndale House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
I loved the author telling readers what Elianna means from the Hebrew word. "Eli" which means "my God" and "Anna" which signifies " favor." What a blessed name to have which " was a sign of God's favor and grace to my parents." I'm sure that Elianna wasn't feeling favored at this time. What a burden she must be feeling now. What punishment will she receive for this terrible accident? The Pharisee believed that she will be punished for her negligence.
The details of the blankets, and towels that Elianna's family made were brilliantly detailed to such a degree that I could see the women making them as they chatted with each other. The authors' knowledge of the trade is well defined as she goes into great detail . The more I read of this story, the more I realized how talented and gifted the author is.
The story is a fictional account of the woman we read about in the bible with the issue of blood. I remember this story so vividly because it talked about the desperation of a woman who wanted to be healed. She believed with all her heart that Jesus would heal her. Do we have that kind of faith when we are sick or struggling with something?
Elianna is the woman we read about in the bible that is afflicted with a bleeding illness. In this story she spend years and lots of money trying to find a cure for her illness. She spends a lot of time praying for healing. At a time of desperation, she travels to hear Jesus speak, thinking if she could just touch his clothing, she would be healed. She plans to touch his clothing and be healed without anyone knowing.
The author has done a lot of research to make the story true to the time in history.I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs to be encouraged. The story is a reflection of healing, faith, unconditional love and the suffering that a woman endures while clinging to hope.
"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace . "
I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.
I recieved this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.
The story
The book is mostly clean--free of bad language, there is some limited violence and a sexual assault scene but neither are graphic.
I recommend this book for Christian readers particularly those struggling with disappointments or long term illness. There are some helpful reminders that God is in control and that His plans for us are for our good. They are woven naturally into the storyline and applied to the lives of the characters. This has the effect of making them also relevant to readers without them feeling judged or preached at!
My only criticism was that the book felt a bit rushed at the end and was maybe a little idealistic in outcome. Also that the Gospel message could've been clearer for non-believers, maybe by including it at the end of the book. Although, I did appreciate that there was a note stating that the best way to learn what really happened was by reading the Bible itself as the true authority.
Land of Silence is my favorite novel by Tessa Afshar to date. Like Elianna, Tessa Afshar weaves her craft adeptly. Blending together Biblical events, tragedy, healing, romance and spiritual truths, Land of Silence, enlivens the story of the unclean, nameless woman with a bleeding disease who is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
There was nothing I disliked about the novel and much that I enjoyed. Having a less popular Biblical figure (compared to Mary or Esther) as the protagonist certainly elevated this book's appeal to me. Tragedy and healing gave Elianna's record depth and authenticity while humor kept it from feeling depressing. By not glossing over the hardships that Elianna endured, a deeply moving story flowed with strength and spiritual truths I found applicable to my life. Example: “Despair is an invitation to prayer. You can either sink or pray when it lodges at your door.” (Page 329)
I know Land of Silence is a fictional retelling. However, after reading this book, I will never look at the Biblical account of the woman with the issue of blood the same way. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction. Land of Silence is a stand-alone novel, but in several ways it reminded me of Tessa Afshar's Harvest of Rubies. If you liked one, you'll probably like the other.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. 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."
The novel is an interpretation of the life of the woman with the issue of blood who reached out to touch Jesus’ garment. Elianna’s story begins with the tragic death of her young brother. From there Elianna struggles with guilt and feelings of unworthiness. Her life is filled with more tragic events, some that are out of her control and some that are of her own choice. But regardless of the causes, the circumstances impact her life and her relationships. The novel is written in Elianna’s first person voice, giving the reader insights into the reasons for her actions. There were some times I wanted to shake her, LOL! How many times did she resist grace and choose her own limited strength? Sounds a bit like my own life. That’s what makes Elianna a character that readers can relate to.
Land of Silence is well-researched and richly detailed. The manners, customs, laws, and traditions of Judea and the Roman rulers are naturally woven throughout the novel giving the reader a glimpse into the lives of the characters. Secondary characters are well-drawn and add depth to the story. Inclusion of historical characters in the fictional framework gives the novel an authentic feel. While the novel is a fictionalized account, the what-ifs presented feel credible. In Elianna’s quest for healing, she endures a number of medical procedures that leave her worse off physically, emotionally, and financially. I found it interesting that she was willing to seek out these so-called physicians yet was reluctant to go to Jesus. It reminded me that many, including myself, will try just about anything to find relief from the trials of the world, but use God as a last resort.
I am glad I chose the audio version of Land of Silence. The narrator did a great job of capturing Elianna’s personality. I felt like I was listening to a real person’s life story. This was especially effective when Elianna finally meets Jesus. The depth of gratitude and awe brought tears to my eyes.
Land of Silence was a great listening experience. This book is a highly recommended read.
Highly Recommended.
Great for Book Clubs.
Audience: adults.
(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)