Ramah - Rob Munday

Sarah, a young woman abandoned in love, is returning home to Bethlehem with her young son Issa when she meets young couple Mary and Joseph on the road and is warned of coming danger.  This is the start of a connection between Issa and Yeshua which will last their whole lives.  

 

In the face of rejection, suspicion and hatred, Sarah and Issa struggle to survive, eking out an existence on the fringes of Bethlehem both physically and socially.  They meet kind shepherd Daniel, who apprentices Issa, and deaf-mute Moshe who is at the birth of Yeshua in the cave stable where he tends his animals and who becomes almost a brother to Issa.

 

Moshe was my favourite character of the whole story, and I was constantly curious as to who he was and what would happen to him.  Despite his disability he is shown to be caring, supportive, and able.  

 

This is a fascinating and compelling read.  The author’s gift for descriptive writing immerses the reader into the dust, heat and struggle of the Bible lands so effectively that you can almost feel and taste it.  The story brings biblical characters to life in sometimes surprising ways with depth and richness in the telling.  I loved the use of song and Psalm throughout  and it lifts the text.  This is a hard-hitting novel, sometimes shocking and often unexpected.  An excellent read for both male and female readers.

9781912863907, Malcolm Down Publishing

Note: for transparency, I was sent an advance copy of this book, but I was not required to write any specific or favourable review. All views herein are my own.