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moirastone's review
3.0
I read the New Testament front to back when I was 14 and a year out of Catholic school. I was a budding atheist, and I framed this as a strictly know-your-enemy move. But no amount of adolescent hauteur could shield me from the beauty of the gospels' prose or the shockingly radical politics of jesus. I was, to understate, confused, and out of that confusion, cast aside any further exploration of a spiritual life.
I wish I could travel back in time and give my younger self the gift of a book like Naamah, so that I could read about a woman making her way in what seems to me to be the best possible version of faith.
I wish I could travel back in time and give my younger self the gift of a book like Naamah, so that I could read about a woman making her way in what seems to me to be the best possible version of faith.
averie13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emma_burcart's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
megelizabeth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
This book is odd and unsettling and gruesome and a bit like a fever dream. The writing is gorgeous and the character of Naamah is wonderfully crafted, and whilst I felt very uncomfortable during and confused during some of my time reading this, I did enjoy the experience overall. As someone with only a very rudimentary knowledge of the original Noah's Ark story, I was slightly surprised by how much I got out of this; it really shifted my perspective and made me think in ways I hadn't previously considered.
I will say that, whilst I liked the ending well enough, I did find it a bit underwhelming, and it didn't have the emotional impact on me that I expected it to, as I did feel emotional at several earlier points throughout the book. Still, I do think this is a story that will stay with me, and I'm glad I got to get to know this version of Naamah - rewritings focusing on historically ignored women will always be my jam.
I will say that, whilst I liked the ending well enough, I did find it a bit underwhelming, and it didn't have the emotional impact on me that I expected it to, as I did feel emotional at several earlier points throughout the book. Still, I do think this is a story that will stay with me, and I'm glad I got to get to know this version of Naamah - rewritings focusing on historically ignored women will always be my jam.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, and Child death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit, Abortion, and Suicide
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
maart_je's review
4.0
Wat een bijzonder boek over Naamah, de vrouw van Noach, tijdens en na de zondvloed. Unieke invalshoek.
En een prachtige vertaling van Elise, well done!
En een prachtige vertaling van Elise, well done!
aprilgetsstitched's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dena_lea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
morahsharon1's review
3.0
The voice is strangely modern. Lots of gratuitous sex that doesn't seem to belong.
The egalitarian relationships are nice to experience. And there are descriptions of tiny human actions that are both mundane and forgettable and also universal.
The author tries to weave together distrust of God, having a woman's body, motherhood, Bible, folklore and metaphor after metaphor. Piecemeal I enjoyed it but it felt so heavy and cumbersome.
The egalitarian relationships are nice to experience. And there are descriptions of tiny human actions that are both mundane and forgettable and also universal.
The author tries to weave together distrust of God, having a woman's body, motherhood, Bible, folklore and metaphor after metaphor. Piecemeal I enjoyed it but it felt so heavy and cumbersome.