The Prince and the Prodigal - Jill Eileen Smith

Jill Eileen Smith is well known for her novels about Bible characters and her latest volume shows why her book sales have reached over 400,000 copies. The Prince and the Prodigal tells the story of Joseph and also follows his older brother Judah who tries to make a new life and forget about his role in the evil done to Joseph. 

Something I really like about good novels set in Bible times is the way they encourage me to think about a well-known Bible story differently. In this case, the early part of the book made me think much more about Joseph’s brothers and the reasons why they hated him, while the part following Judah caused me to look up his story  as I’d not really taken it on board before.

 

The author has a real ability to create a sense of place with her descriptive writing, and her characters spring to life off of the pages. Highly recommended for any fan of Biblical fiction, and a superb introduction to anyone who hasn’t dipped a toe into this genre before.

9780800737634, Revell, out now

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. 

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. 

Mosaic - Chris Aslan

“When a pot breaks, it’s useless; at best there might be a shard that you can use to scoop grain.  But what about a broken life? What about me? I feel so fragmented. Can I be repaired somehow? How do I live with the hate I fell towards those I'm supposed to be closest to? My life is in pieces and I don't know what to do..."

Tabita is growing up in a mountain village in the Middle East.  When a tragic accident results in the death of her closest friend Sholem and the paralysis of her brother Phanuel, Tabi’s life is shattered.  When word comes of a miracle-working teacher it’s not only Phan who needs healing. 

 

The author’s childhood in Turkey and Lebanon is reflected in his immersive descriptions of the people and landscape.  Although I found the early chapters a bit hard going, before long I was captivated.  When Tabi and the four friends who with Phan make up ‘The Hand’ take him to the Teacher, it’s far from being the end of the story.   Influence for The Hand comes from Luke 12:52 and the overall story arc includes events from Mark and Acts which are woven in very well.  I like ‘biblical novels’ which don’t follow key characters, they give their authors scope for wider turns in the storytelling.

 

Mosaic gives the reader an insight into what life may well have been like for many in Jesus’ time.  It clearly describes the rift between those who followed The Way and the Jewish leaders, while making people on both sides of that rift ‘real’.  When reading the Bible we often go quickly through its stories.  Here, we’re aware of how tensions would be building over time, and the struggle of knowing what was right not just in the bigger things, but in individual lives where many broken pieces can be restored and create a beautiful mosaic.

9781782643388, Lion Fiction, £9.99, pb, Apr21

A Dance in Donegal - Jennifer Deibel

Grieving the recent loss of her mother, Irish-American Moira Doherty leaves Boston to take up the post of teacher in the small Irish village of Ballymann in Donegal, a place her mother had often spoken of with deep affection.  But the welcome extended to Moira is far from friendly and it seems a secret related to her mother’s past is going to impact Moira’s present with increasingly devastating results.  Yet among the suspicious locals are people who become Moira’s close friends – and a green-eyed thatcher who she may just come to love.

Jennifer Deibel writes an engaging story with a real sense of place and some beautifully developed characters.  It’s a bit of a shame that the school and most of the children feature very little, but the community itself is well described, and it’s not surprising to learn that it’s based on the Irish village where the author lived for two years.  I could ‘see’ the village and nearby countryside in my mind’s eye as I read, and I loved the characters of Brid, Peg and Colm especially.  

This is a book which is very strongly ‘Christian fiction’.  In fact, it’s much more direct with the faith elements than many inspirational novels of the last several years.  I liked the way Moira heard God’s voice/His prompting, and although I personally found some of the other elements a little more heavy going at times I can see this being appealing to many Christian readers.  

There’s much here of how actions have consequences which can be much bigger than expected, and there are also strong themes of forgiveness.  Almost the entire story shows the dangers of making assumptions about other people, for good or ill.

There are a few oddities – duvets are mentioned frequently, but were not used at all widely until the 1950’s, we don’t call carts, traps, carriages, gigs or wagons ‘rigs’ on this side of the Atlantic, and the final scene while lovely seems at odds with much of the rest of the story where what would be considered ‘proper’ in the 1920s is often mentioned.  

I’d give this 4 stars.  It’s a comfortable read to while away a winter evening and I look forward to the author’s next novel set in Ireland.

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.

Phoebe - Paula Gooder

Although many would refer to her book as ‘Biblical fiction’, Paula Gooder doesn't consider it a novel, but rather a look at Pauline Christianity through story, bringing to life those referred to in Romans 16 and taking as the key character Phoebe, a deacon in the early church.  Paula aims to encourage the reader to imagine what it would be like to live in an early Christian community, and she does this well.  

The book is in two sections, with the first being the narrative re-telling of phoebe’s life, interweaving her story with those of others we meet in the New Testament.  Paul himself is largely absent, but the impact of his letters is very strikingly portrayed and gives plenty of room for thought, particularly as characters argue over the ‘correct’ interpretation. 

The second section is made up of many reference notes explaining why the settings and people are described the way they are and giving biblical references and details for those about whom Paula writes.  This is, perhaps, a particular strength of the book, and gives it a strong point of difference from most novels, even those containing notes, references and study questions.

Personally, I found this book quite hard going for the first couple of chapters and I didn’t immediately warm to Gooder’s portrayal of Phoebe, but persevering did pay off.  I seem to be in a minority in regards to finding this a more challenging read, owing by the very many glowing reviews it has received!  I would recommend it as a study group read, as there is much to discuss from both the story and the notes.  

Isaiah's Daughter - Mesu Andrews

Isaiah’s Daughter tells the story of orphan Ishma, who finds refuge in the prophet Isaiah’s home after the violent deaths of her parents during the sacking of Bethlehem.  

In the fullness of time Ishma is adopted by Isaiah, and given a new name, Hepzibah, and her childhood friendship with Prince Hezekiah matures into love.  But these are turbulent times, Hezekiah’s father King Ahaz is a cruel man and Isaiah’s prophecies are often increasingly confusing and are not well received.

Mesu Andrews has written another superb Biblical novel.  Her great talent is to open the lands, peoples, and times of the Bible to us 21^st century readers.  She has a gift for creating characters with flaws and failings as well as strengths, and for creating settings which you can almost feel.  

In Isaiah’s Daughter, we are given a powerful insight into the life of a prophet, with all the challenges, confusions, and risk that such a role carried.  While it’s very clear this is a novel, it has much to offer in terms of enabling a deeper connection with the cultures and peoples of the Bible.