Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
This book is a beautiful fever dream. It's the story of Naamah, the wife of Noah, who keeps the ark's crew together, caring for animals and people alike. But Naamah is not just the docile workhorse she's been made out to be, standing in the shadow of her husband, chosen by God. Blake's writing is lyrical and lovely, and brings us deep into Naamah's mind as she contemplates God's cruelty, and her husband's goodness, and her own inadequacies.
Naamah wants to know - did she live only because of her husband? Why doesn't God talk to her too? And she's conflicted, because sure the others on the earth, wiped out by this massive flood were sinners, but isn't Naamah too? In the flood she's lost her lover, a woman and widow who was not interested in climbing onto the ark, but was ready to face God's vengeance. Naamah cannot see the animals anymore, but she can see an angel, as she swims and swims, to feel free from this tiny boat, she must choose whether to stay forever with this strange celestial being or to return to her family.
Naamah wants to know - did she live only because of her husband? Why doesn't God talk to her too? And she's conflicted, because sure the others on the earth, wiped out by this massive flood were sinners, but isn't Naamah too? In the flood she's lost her lover, a woman and widow who was not interested in climbing onto the ark, but was ready to face God's vengeance. Naamah cannot see the animals anymore, but she can see an angel, as she swims and swims, to feel free from this tiny boat, she must choose whether to stay forever with this strange celestial being or to return to her family.
challenging
I had no idea what to expect as I headed into Naamah, but I was also so excited because this book promised to push me outside of my comfort zone.
This is the story of Noah’s Arc as told from the point of view of his wife, Naamah, but in a very modernized way. Naamah is complex - she grieves the world as it was and she worries what it will be when the waters recede. She gets caught up in hallucinating dreams where she grapples with her existence and her relationship with God and faith. She has lots of sex - graphic sex - with women as she is bisexual.
While this book will not be for everyone, I was certainly thankful for reading it because it expanded my thinking in relation to biblical stories that we just kind of take for granted at this point. It was unapologetically feminist and it really made me think about the ways we’re always given men’s points of view on history and rarely get a glimpse into the ways women have had a hand in history as well.
This is exactly the type of book that would make for a lively book club discussion.
This is the story of Noah’s Arc as told from the point of view of his wife, Naamah, but in a very modernized way. Naamah is complex - she grieves the world as it was and she worries what it will be when the waters recede. She gets caught up in hallucinating dreams where she grapples with her existence and her relationship with God and faith. She has lots of sex - graphic sex - with women as she is bisexual.
While this book will not be for everyone, I was certainly thankful for reading it because it expanded my thinking in relation to biblical stories that we just kind of take for granted at this point. It was unapologetically feminist and it really made me think about the ways we’re always given men’s points of view on history and rarely get a glimpse into the ways women have had a hand in history as well.
This is exactly the type of book that would make for a lively book club discussion.
Made it to three stars for the concept alone, but I'm baby, and it was so much for me. Naamah is interesting, I support her, but I spent most of the read just, huh???? Why??? What???????
With gently powerful prose, Blake breaths life into the character of Naamah, a woman who is married to Noah and who confounds God himself.
I did not want to stop reading Naamah from the moment I started the first page. The book guides its readers through the flood and through the lives of the women who must survive it. Romantic. Fierce. and Feminist. This book does its best work when it intervenes in the overarching narrative of womanhood and motherhood.
I did not want to stop reading Naamah from the moment I started the first page. The book guides its readers through the flood and through the lives of the women who must survive it. Romantic. Fierce. and Feminist. This book does its best work when it intervenes in the overarching narrative of womanhood and motherhood.
I honestly didn’t have many expectations for the book, but the plot itself was already so intriguing. I loved how the author chose to write about the flood from Naamah’s perspective. I still don’t know how I feel about Naamah’s character; I enjoy her impulsiveness but at times she came off as frustrating to me. I think it may be the author’s intention. Either way, a good read!
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Naamah wonders if God has considered this: women so distrustful of Him that they might never bear children for the new world.”
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The Old Testament story of Noah's Ark, told from the perspective of Noah's wife. (This premise immediately intrigued me ngl)
A dream within a dream within a dream. Biblical modernity. Surrealism and stream of consciousness. Motherhood, God, time, space, earth, the destruction of earth and people and society and the rebuilding of all of that. Surprisingly humorous at times.
I read this outside on the back porch basically all in one sitting. Mental notes for pages 22, 99, 176, plus others i don't remember. This was gorgeous and ethereal and vast, and I don't have any criticisms of it right now because my mind is still wrapping around it, but that might change.
A dream within a dream within a dream. Biblical modernity. Surrealism and stream of consciousness. Motherhood, God, time, space, earth, the destruction of earth and people and society and the rebuilding of all of that. Surprisingly humorous at times.
I read this outside on the back porch basically all in one sitting. Mental notes for pages 22, 99, 176, plus others i don't remember. This was gorgeous and ethereal and vast, and I don't have any criticisms of it right now because my mind is still wrapping around it, but that might change.