About the Book:
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented characters of the New Testament is Martha. Often painted in the colors of reproach, Martha seems to be the poster child for how not to be a follower of Jesus. From the mind of Diana Wallis Taylor comes this touching, well-researched portrayal of Martha of Bethany, sister of Mary and Lazarus. Through Taylor's lush descriptions and inspired combination of imagined and recorded dialogue, Martha's world--her trials, triumphs, and loves--vibrantly comes to life. Follow Martha as she is jilted by her betrothed, falls in love with a Roman soldier, grieves the death of her father, cares for her siblings, and serves her Lord with dignity and grace. Readers will never read the biblical story of Martha the same way again.
My Comments:
It is interesting to see how an author can take a Biblical character about whom little is known and weave a whole life story. Martha's story is relatively short (243 pages) and is filled with interesting details of life in her time and place in history. As in the Bible, she's the worker; her sister Mary is the dreamer, the impractical one. This book is yet another example of how a novel, even though you know it is made-up, can help you better visualize scenes from Scripture. Grade B-
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a complimentary review copy. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.
This is very interesting. I've always felt a certain sympathy for Martha. I think she got a bad reputation when she seemed like such a typical "type A" woman. LOL
ReplyDeleteI'll have to see if I can find a copy of this one. Thanks for sharing!