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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
This book was good, but not great for me. I recently read a book about the similar time period, and I felt this one was really good, until close to the end.
So, for those of you that like great biblical fiction, this is a good one. It just was not quite as detailed as I would have liked it to finish out the story. I love Jochebed's story. The abuse the Hebrew's suffered in the book was incredibly described, so that you felt the pain of the women that lost their children. The story of the midwives also was wonderful.
I had never read any books by this author, but I will pick one up again, if I see her name.
So, for those of you that like great biblical fiction, this is a good one. It just was not quite as detailed as I would have liked it to finish out the story. I love Jochebed's story. The abuse the Hebrew's suffered in the book was incredibly described, so that you felt the pain of the women that lost their children. The story of the midwives also was wonderful.
I had never read any books by this author, but I will pick one up again, if I see her name.
3.5 Stars
When I first picked this up, I expected it to be like most Biblical Fiction. That is, a main character's romantic story woven into a Biblical narrative. Slender Reeds is nothing like that.
In ways, this is good. It is far more realistic to the cultural setting and time period, where survival outweighs romance. The slavery of the Hebrews is also more realistic, with the characters' daily lives filled with pain and drudgery as they seek out a glimmer of God's hope. Hope is slender as a reed in this story, with arranged marriages, barrenness, and ever breaking friendships. This is not the story for someone looking for a light-hearted read.
On the other hand, Jochebed's lack of a romance leaves Pharaoh (you know, murderer of Hebrew children) with a far better love story. Amram is virtually ignored in this story of Moses' humble origins, which disappointed me as I would have loved to see how all of this affected him. Instead, friendship was the main relational conflict of the novel, one which unfortunately seemed to repeat the same pattern.
Gregory's depiction of Hebrew slavery is likely a very honest one. While the full extent of their suffering is not detailed in the Bible, it is none the less known that the people suffered greatly. However, there were things I think could have been written better and I wish Amram had played a larger role. I would keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to read this.
I have provided an honest review after I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley.
When I first picked this up, I expected it to be like most Biblical Fiction. That is, a main character's romantic story woven into a Biblical narrative. Slender Reeds is nothing like that.
In ways, this is good. It is far more realistic to the cultural setting and time period, where survival outweighs romance. The slavery of the Hebrews is also more realistic, with the characters' daily lives filled with pain and drudgery as they seek out a glimmer of God's hope. Hope is slender as a reed in this story, with arranged marriages, barrenness, and ever breaking friendships. This is not the story for someone looking for a light-hearted read.
On the other hand, Jochebed's lack of a romance leaves Pharaoh (you know, murderer of Hebrew children) with a far better love story. Amram is virtually ignored in this story of Moses' humble origins, which disappointed me as I would have loved to see how all of this affected him. Instead, friendship was the main relational conflict of the novel, one which unfortunately seemed to repeat the same pattern.
Gregory's depiction of Hebrew slavery is likely a very honest one. While the full extent of their suffering is not detailed in the Bible, it is none the less known that the people suffered greatly. However, there were things I think could have been written better and I wish Amram had played a larger role. I would keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to read this.
I have provided an honest review after I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley.
I've always enjoyed Biblical stories but this one has become a favorite. Reading this book it really touched me and I couldn't stop reading. The Characters lives were so real. You felt their heartache and issues every step of the way. I recommend this book to everyone. This is a quick read that will keep you entertained through each page.
I found this book to be an easy read that captured my interest with its focus on motherhood, the bonds of friendship, and of course faith. Jochebed's transition from placing her hope in her mother's God to embracing God for herself is realistically filled with doubts and questions. Despite the foreign culture and ancient practices, modern-day readers will find this story relatable and see their own struggles reflected in the relationships of these characters from long ago.
I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.
I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.
Slender Reeds is a take on a Biblical story that most all know. We have all read and seen stories about Moses and the exodus from Egypt, but never have we really been exposed to the story before his birth.
Texie Susan Gregory takes on this challenge. She proposes a "what-if" scenario into the life of the Hebrews held captive in Egypt. Seen from the eyes of not just Jochebed, Moses' mother, but also her friends, Ramses, and others.
We see, as if floating above watching a movie or play unfolding before us, the madness of Ramses, the heartache of Jochebed and Shiphrah, and the anguish of the Hebrews.
Told with such exquisite detail I could see the love, hope, and faith that God works in the darkness. I felt the horror at the little lives lost in such hatred. I understood in further detail the madness of Ramses and his rule.
With historical accuracy, Slender Reeds brings to life a new outlook on an old, old story that was a promise 400 years in the making.
Once I finished this book, I wanted more. So many nuances, so many reeds, so many stories told within these pages that it created a wonderful work of art to be savored and read time and time again.
Texie Susan Gregory resurrected the writing styles of the classical masters and breathed new life into how stories should be told. A highly recommended read for anyone.
***I received this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange of an honest and complete review***
Texie Susan Gregory takes on this challenge. She proposes a "what-if" scenario into the life of the Hebrews held captive in Egypt. Seen from the eyes of not just Jochebed, Moses' mother, but also her friends, Ramses, and others.
We see, as if floating above watching a movie or play unfolding before us, the madness of Ramses, the heartache of Jochebed and Shiphrah, and the anguish of the Hebrews.
Told with such exquisite detail I could see the love, hope, and faith that God works in the darkness. I felt the horror at the little lives lost in such hatred. I understood in further detail the madness of Ramses and his rule.
With historical accuracy, Slender Reeds brings to life a new outlook on an old, old story that was a promise 400 years in the making.
Once I finished this book, I wanted more. So many nuances, so many reeds, so many stories told within these pages that it created a wonderful work of art to be savored and read time and time again.
Texie Susan Gregory resurrected the writing styles of the classical masters and breathed new life into how stories should be told. A highly recommended read for anyone.
***I received this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange of an honest and complete review***
As popular as the Exodus seems to be in Biblical fiction at the moment, this is the first time I have come across a novel featuring Moses' mother, Jochebed, as a main character. It’s fair to say I was keen to read this story and see where it took me. In the end, I had a mixed response: There were good points, but also aspects that were less satisfying.
First, let me say I enjoyed Texie Susan Gregory’s illustrative writing style. She used very active, descriptive verbs to give colour and motion to her writing, which was also quite poetic in its use of imagery and expression, regularly invoking my senses. There were occasions when it crept into ‘purple prose’ territory – or at least lavender prose – as well as a few instances where the imagery became repetitive; for example, there were two separate occasions when Jochebed likened her doubts to the gnats that she is continually swatting away. But these moments were not frequent, nor did they overwhelm.
On the other hand, I did think the author relied overmuch on the characters’ inner narrative to convey the story, some of which became repetitive and too static. There were also times in the story when it became apparent that we had skipped a certain amount of time, but I was unsure of how much or when it had happened.
The main source of my disappointment was that I didn’t think either the story or the characters realized their full potential. For a story entitled ‘Jochebed’s Hope’, I felt there was a surprising lack of hope throughout. The only character who exhibited a strong faith in God in the novel was Jochebed’s mother (and Puah, although she appears much less frequently). Even at the end of the novel, I felt as though the characters were hanging on to the hope Jochebed’s mother had (“While it is yet dark, God is at work”) rather than their own assurance that God was with them. I wanted to understand from the story how God comforted and strengthened them in this time, but I didn’t really get that.
Jochebed is only twelve or thirteen at the opening of the story, fatherless, and about to be betrothed to Amram, her father’s kinsman. She is particularly nervous about this transition in her life, and one of the biggest holes in this story for me was missing out on seeing the way in which these two grew into their marriage and love for one another. We’re told of how Amram mourns the death of his first wife and their son every year with the flooding of the Nile, and the way in which this affects Jochebed, but we’re also told that Jochebed appreciated the way in which her husband loved her. Yet we weren't shown any of this. In fact, we barely saw Amram at all.
Ms Gregory’s Shiphrah is a half Egyptian cripple who struggles with acceptance the whole story through. I was never convinced she found that acceptance, despite the last minute attempt to show otherwise. For the most part, the female characters in this novel (mostly contemporaries of Jochebed and Shiphrah) were petty, catty, whingy, and generally immature, and this didn't really change as time went on, despite some isolated instances that might have made it appear otherwise.
The inclusion of Ramses (the Pharaoh) as a third point of view character was a bit of a surprise, but it would have worked well if his point of view had included scenes that showed specific incidents that awakened his fear of the growing Hebrew population. Instead, we spent a lot of time meandering in his thoughts, a considerable number of which were occupied with Nefertari (his beloved Great Wife) and his building projects. We got many insights into Egyptian religious beliefs and practises, but not much that moved the story along.
I guess, for me, there just wasn’t a lot to take away from this story. I wasn't inspired by the characters, although I certainly sympathised with them at times, and I didn’t feel as though it deepened my understanding of God or how He was at work in this difficult time. I also felt some of the details in the Biblical narrative were overlooked - for example, in relation to Pharaoh’s command to kill the baby boys, we are told the midwives, “...feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do.” In the novel, this was true of Puah, but the deciding factor for Shiphrah was not her fear of the Lord, but the fact that she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She seemed to fear Pharaoh more than the Lord.
This was not a bad read overall, but neither did it capture me the way I hoped it would. I understand Ms Gregory has other books in the works based on little known Biblical women, and I will be interested to see what comes next.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not effect the content of my review.
First, let me say I enjoyed Texie Susan Gregory’s illustrative writing style. She used very active, descriptive verbs to give colour and motion to her writing, which was also quite poetic in its use of imagery and expression, regularly invoking my senses. There were occasions when it crept into ‘purple prose’ territory – or at least lavender prose – as well as a few instances where the imagery became repetitive; for example, there were two separate occasions when Jochebed likened her doubts to the gnats that she is continually swatting away. But these moments were not frequent, nor did they overwhelm.
On the other hand, I did think the author relied overmuch on the characters’ inner narrative to convey the story, some of which became repetitive and too static. There were also times in the story when it became apparent that we had skipped a certain amount of time, but I was unsure of how much or when it had happened.
The main source of my disappointment was that I didn’t think either the story or the characters realized their full potential. For a story entitled ‘Jochebed’s Hope’, I felt there was a surprising lack of hope throughout. The only character who exhibited a strong faith in God in the novel was Jochebed’s mother (and Puah, although she appears much less frequently). Even at the end of the novel, I felt as though the characters were hanging on to the hope Jochebed’s mother had (“While it is yet dark, God is at work”) rather than their own assurance that God was with them. I wanted to understand from the story how God comforted and strengthened them in this time, but I didn’t really get that.
Jochebed is only twelve or thirteen at the opening of the story, fatherless, and about to be betrothed to Amram, her father’s kinsman. She is particularly nervous about this transition in her life, and one of the biggest holes in this story for me was missing out on seeing the way in which these two grew into their marriage and love for one another. We’re told of how Amram mourns the death of his first wife and their son every year with the flooding of the Nile, and the way in which this affects Jochebed, but we’re also told that Jochebed appreciated the way in which her husband loved her. Yet we weren't shown any of this. In fact, we barely saw Amram at all.
Ms Gregory’s Shiphrah is a half Egyptian cripple who struggles with acceptance the whole story through. I was never convinced she found that acceptance, despite the last minute attempt to show otherwise. For the most part, the female characters in this novel (mostly contemporaries of Jochebed and Shiphrah) were petty, catty, whingy, and generally immature, and this didn't really change as time went on, despite some isolated instances that might have made it appear otherwise.
The inclusion of Ramses (the Pharaoh) as a third point of view character was a bit of a surprise, but it would have worked well if his point of view had included scenes that showed specific incidents that awakened his fear of the growing Hebrew population. Instead, we spent a lot of time meandering in his thoughts, a considerable number of which were occupied with Nefertari (his beloved Great Wife) and his building projects. We got many insights into Egyptian religious beliefs and practises, but not much that moved the story along.
I guess, for me, there just wasn’t a lot to take away from this story. I wasn't inspired by the characters, although I certainly sympathised with them at times, and I didn’t feel as though it deepened my understanding of God or how He was at work in this difficult time. I also felt some of the details in the Biblical narrative were overlooked - for example, in relation to Pharaoh’s command to kill the baby boys, we are told the midwives, “...feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do.” In the novel, this was true of Puah, but the deciding factor for Shiphrah was not her fear of the Lord, but the fact that she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She seemed to fear Pharaoh more than the Lord.
This was not a bad read overall, but neither did it capture me the way I hoped it would. I understand Ms Gregory has other books in the works based on little known Biblical women, and I will be interested to see what comes next.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not effect the content of my review.