Friday, December 19, 2014

Church Library Online: A Review of Historical Christian Romances


Post-Modern Hagiography: 

Christian Fiction Stays Busy 

Filling in the Blanks


Evelyn Smith

Ph. D. in English, Texas Christian University (1995)
M. S. in Library Science, University of North Texas (2012)


Judging by the reviews of recent historical Christian romances, hagiography, or the literary genre that retells the lives of saints and biblical figures, is alive and well even if readers demand that authors don't stray too far from the biblical narratives that inspire each tale. While this inspirational literature can also be classified as “Chick Lit”, the parameters of the original Bible stories limit the independence of female protagonists. Aimed mostly at an audience of evangelical women readers, these novels pay scrupulous attention to historical details while leaving any love scenes to the reader's imagination. Thus, book club reviews of these romances supplement biblical study while their audience also eager awaits the debut of a new novel in a series each year. For the most part, these books go unnoticed by professional critics, but blogs often review them.

 Novels About the Early Church 
Invent Scenarios & Characters

 Authors find it easier to invent characters than to follow the lives of the disciples when setting novels in first-century Palestine; or else, the disciples put in only cameo appearances.  After all, Christian audiences don't really like the facts tampered when historical fiction chronicles the life of Christ or the early church. 
Bunn and Oke include Mary and Martha as memorable 
secondary characters in their Acts of Faith series.

Bunn, Davis and Oke, Janette. (2009). The Centurion's Wife. Acts of Faith, Book I, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House.

In the weeks following Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, Leah, the maid of Pontius Pilate's wife, and Alban, a God-fearing Centurion from Gaul, each try to determine what happened to the missing body of Jesus. Along the way, Leah agonizes over a troubled childhood before finding solace among new-found Christian friends.  At the same time, circumstances force Matthew's “faithful Centurion” to momentarily take a skeptic's view of the resurrection. Bunn and Oke entitle this novel, The Centurion's Wife, but the two characters don't even meet until they are betrothed half way through the novel, and they don't marry until almost the very last page, so don't expect too many love scenes in this historical romance.

See also:

The Faith of the Centurion. Matthew 8: 5-13 (NIV). (2011). Bible Gateway. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW+8%3A5-13&version=NIV

The Centurion's Wife Discussion Questions. (n. d.). Baker Publishing Group. Retrieved from http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/book-resources/files/TheCenturionsWifeDiscussionQuestions.pdf

Baker Publishing Group has furnished a discussion guide to The Centurion's Wife Online.

Reviews:

Barbara H. (2009, April 30). Book Review: The Centurion's Wife. Stray Thoughts. Retrieved from https://barbarah.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/book-review-the-centurions-wife/

It took several chapters for Barbara H. “to connect with the characters” but she “was drawn in as the story progressed” (para. 4).

The Centurion's Wife: Acts of Faith, Book 1. (11 hours and 52 minutes). Audible. [Free with 30-day membership. Retrieved from http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Centurions-Wife-Audiobook/B003BDMOG6

Reviewers used terms like “inspirational” and “thought-provoking” to praise The Centurion's Wife, but other listeners also found it boring, the authors interjecting commentary about the characters' feelings instead of showing them while filling the scenes with anachronisms. The book also has a misleading title, for Leah only becomes Alban's wife at the end of the novel.

The Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith #1). Goodreads. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3900619-the-centurion-s-wife

Even though most Goodreads reviewers like the concept of following the lives of converts to Christianity during the weeks following the Crucifixion, 5,426 respondents gave The Centurion's Wife only a 3.95 rating. Most probably because the two protagonists never meet until halfway through the story, some readers complained that the story lagged . Others faulted Bunn and Oke with fiddling with the historical details following the Crucifixion, or else thy pick at logical flaws in the story. Curiously enough, neither Albion or Leah never meets the resurrected Christ or the disciples, although they do become friends with members of a house church organized around Mary and Martha, who witness to the two first-century detectives.

The Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith, Book 1). (2009). PaperBack Swap. Retrieved from http://www.paperbackswap.com/Centurions-Wife-Acts-Faith-Bk/review/0764205145/

Most of the eleven reviewers enjoyed this “historical novel with a light love story woven in”, although one reader complained that the ending really didn't wrap up the story.

Pate, James Bradford. (2014, November 27). Book Write-Up: The Centurion's Wife. James' Thoughts and Musings. Retrieved from http://jamesbradfordpate.blogspot.com/2014/11/book-write-up-centurions-wife.html

Pate, a Ph. D. candidate at Hebrew Union College, finds The Centurion's Wife a more-or-less historically accurate “good read” that reminds him of Lloyd Douglas' classic The Robe wherein a Roman tribune learns about Jesus by talking to those who knew Him (2014, November 27, para. 2 & 8). Bunn and Oke depict the Jewish movement as devoutly Jewish, while powerful Roman officials as well as members of the Sanhadrin have only heard rumors about an empty tomb (Pate, 2014, November 27, para. 8 & 9). Pate, however, acknowledges that one scene may offend some politically correct readers: Christians tell a fleeing slave to return to witness to her master (Pate, 2014, November 27, para. 9).
Leah is befriended by the Samarian woman 
Jesus spoke to at the well on the way to Damascus.
Bunn, Davis and Oke, Jannette. (2011). The Damascus Way. Acts of Faith, Book 3. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House.

The Damascus Way sends Jerusalem's Christians fleeing persecution along the Damascus road, but because scriptures don't hem in the narrative, the authors can indulge in a little bit more swashbuckling action than the two earlier historical romances in the Acts of Faith Series. Even so, by novel's end, Bunn and Oke pair all the major characters off in in a loving, God-ordained marriage.

See also:

Since Saul's persecution of the early church sends the Acts of Faith series characters into exile upon the Damascus Road, the reader may beneath from reading about his life and conversion:

Prat, F. (1911). St. Paul. The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11567b.htm

Paul. (2012, January 1). from Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Retrieved from http://christianityinview.com/biography/paul.html

Saul's conversion. Acts 9 (NIV). (2011). Bible Gateway. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9

Reviews:

Booklist publishes starred review of 'The Damascus Way' (2011, January 17). Davis Bunn the Gentleman Adventurer. Retrieved from http://www.davisbunn.com/blog/booklist-publishes-starred-review-of-%E2%80%98the-damascus-way%E2%80%99

In this reprint of a January 2011 review, Booklist notes that “a new underground religion, sandstorms, bandits, murders, and zealous vigilantes make for exciting reading (Bunn, 2011, January 17, para. 5).

The Damascus Way (Acts of Faith #3). (2014). Goodreads. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8471713-the-damascus-way

The Goodreads community of readers gives The Damascus Way a 4.20 rating as Saul's persecution of  the Jerusalem Church sends Abigail and her young daughter, Dorcas, towards Damascus, accompanied by Linux, Alban's Centurion buddy. Meanwhile, Leah's brother, Jacob, accompanies Julia, the daughter of a wealthy caravan driver, who acts as an undercover Christian spy. Although most reviewers liked this this well-organized page turner, some of the readers who had previously read the first two novels in the Acts of Faith series were disappointed.

Library Journal reviews 'The Damascus Way'. (2010, November 6). Davis Bunn the Gentleman Adventurer. Retrieved from http://www.davisbunn.com/blog/library-journal-reviews-the-damascus-way-janette-oke-davis-bunn

Davis Bunn's Website reprints a review of The Damascus Way found in the November 15, 2010 issue of the Library Journal (107, p,, p. 20) wherein the reviewer applauds The Damascus Way for its “relaxed, character-driven pace and engaging story” and recommends it to fans of Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis series (Bunn, 2010, November 6, para. 2).

McKee, Leslie. (2011, January 1). The Damascus Way. RT Book Reviews. Retrieved from http://beta.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/damascus-way

McKee notes that while The Damascus Way is “detailed and filled with strong biblical ties, the numerous characters and various settings cause the tale's momentum to lag at times” (McKee, 2011, January 1, para. 2). Accordingly, Romantic Times gives the inspirational, historical romance a three-star rating.

Bunn, Davis, and Oke, Janette. (2010). The Hidden Flame. Acts of Faith, Book 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House.

Abigail is courted by two suitors she doesn't want to marry, so Peter comes up with an ingenious solution, pairing her with the Jerusalem's Church's archdeacon, Stephen.

See also:

Butler, Alban Butler. (1866). December 26: St. Stephen, the First Martyr. The Lives of the Saints. XII. Bartleby.com. Retrieved from http://www.bartleby.com/210/12/261.html

Most probably a Hellenized Jew, Stephen was one of the 72 disciples of the Lord. Since Acts names him first in a list of deacons, church fathers styled him as an archdeacon (Butler, 1866, para. 1-2). When summoned before the Sanhedrin and charged with blasphemy, Stephen's defense so angered those present that they laid their cloaks at the feet of Saul and stoned Stephen, making Stephen the Church's first martyr (Butler,1866, para. 3-4).

Souyay, C. (1912). St. Stephen. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14286b.htm

Acts first mentions Stephen when the Church appoints the first deacons to look after poor and widowed Hellenized converts (Souyay, 1912, para. 1).  However, a fifth-century CE tradition holds that the Greek name Stephanos is the translation of the Aramaic Kelil. Some scholars also infer that Stephen was a pupil of Gamaliel, given his defense before the Sanhedrin. However, opposition to Stephen most probably sprang from a group of Hellenized Jews (Souyay, C., 1912, para. 2).

  • Acts 6:5 – The Jerusalem Church chooses Stephen as a deacon.
  • Acts 7 – Stephen's Speaks to the Sanhedrin.
Reviews:

Bunn, Davis, and Oke, Janette. (2010). The Hidden Flame. Acts of Faith, Book 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House.

The Hidden Flame (Acts of Faith Series,Book 2). (2014). Reviews. The Gentleman Adventurer Bunn. Retrieved from http://www.davisbunn.com/book/the-hidden-flame.htm

Booklist's Selley Mosley recommends The Hidden Flame to those readers who would enjoy Quo Vadis, Ben Hur, and The Robe (Bunn, 2014, para 4).

The Hidden Flame: Acts of Faith. (2014). Audible. [Free with 30-day membership]. Retrieved from http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Hidden-Flame-Audiobook/B003FVW842

Three out of the four reviewers found the love story of Abigail and Stephen a “great book while 77 readers gave it a 4.50 rating. However, one reviewer pronounced it “uninspiring” and one couldn't open the Audible download from a desktop computer.

The Hidden Flame (Acts of Faith #2). Goodreads. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6525434-the-hidden-flame

Most readers enjoyed this sequel to The Centurion's Wife, 1,452 ratings awarding it a 4.16 out of 5 Some reviewers, however, found that the first part of the book dragged when Alban's friend and fellow centurion, Linux, and the smug, rich merchant, Ezra, competed for Abigail's affections.

Old Testament Protagonists Easily
 Intrigue Today's Audiences

 Novels depicting Old Testament women address surprisingly 21st-century themes.  Sarah in No Woman So Fair, for example, can be seen as very much a feminist; Unveiled uncovers the abuse of women during the time of the Patriarchs, and Bathsheba chronicles the consequences of adultery.  Since the Old Testament offers just a brief outline of these women's lives, present-day authors use the scriptures to illustrate contemporary themes.

 Morris, Gilbert. (2003). No Woman So Fair. Lions of Judah. Bethany House.

Morris chronicles the life of Sarah from her courtship with Abram through old age in a straightforward retelling of the biblical narrative
.
See also:

All of Women of the Bible – Sarah, Sarai, Sara. (1988). Bible Gateway. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Sarah-Sarai-Sara

Scripture References—Genesis 11:29-31; 12:5-17; 16:1-8; 17:15-21; 18; 20:2-18; 21:1-12; 23:1-19; 24:36, 37; 25:10, 12; 49:31; Isaiah 51:2; Romans 4:19; 9:9; Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6
Sarah (Sarai). (1906). Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13194-sarah-sarai

Although Sarai discloses to the Pharaoh that Abram is her brother in Genesis 12: 10-20, Jewish tradition identifies her as Abram's niece, the daughter of his brother Haran (Sarah, 1906, para. 4). Even so, she is certainly regal, for Sarai means “my princess” and Sarah means “princess” as well as renowned for her beauty (Sarah, 1906, para. 3 & 4). The Quran doesn't mention her directly, but Arabic literature makes her the sister of Lot and daughter of Aran, Abraham's paternal uncle (Sarah, 1906, para. 18 & 20). Legends, not mentioned in Morris' novel connect the matriarch's death with her her hearing that Abraham had sacrificed Issac (Sarah, 1906, para. 5).

Sarah (c. 1540 -c. 1677 BCE). (2014). Jewish Virtual Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Sarah.html

When Genesis 11: 28-30 first mentions Sarai, it identifies her as Abraham's barren wife (Sarah, 2014, para. 5). At age 65, however, she was so beautiful that she attracted the attention of the Pharaoh (Sarah, 2014, para. 3).

Schultz, Rachael Gelfman. (n. d.). Sarah in the Bible. My Jewish Learning. Retrieved from http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Bible/Torah/Genesis/Sarah.shtml

Schultz views Sarah or Sarai as a strong independent character, who seizes the initiative, for when Sarai can't have children, she suggests that Abraham take her maid, Hagar, as a concubine. Then when Hagar starts to disrespect Sarai while pregnant with Ishmael, Abram let's Sarah decide what to do; moreover, when she doesn't like Ishmael's behavior during Isaac weaning ceremony, she asks Abram to send him away. One critic speculates that Sarah's behavior thus conforms with the behavior of a Mesopotamian priestess as found in paragraph 146 of Hammurabi's Code (Schultz, n. d., para. 3-4, & 7). Then again, while the matriarchs might be “socially subordinate” to men, they weren't “necessarily inferior” (Schultz, n. d., para, 11).

Reviews:

Edgehill, India. (2003, August). No Woman So Fair. HNR, 25. Historical Novel Society. Retrieved from http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/no-woman-so-fair/

Edgehil labels No Woman So Fair “basically an expanded version” of Abraham and Sarah's story in Genesis with “no revisionist or feminist reimaging” (2003, August, para. 2).

Hollingshead, Anise. (2014). No Woman So Fair. Bookloons. Retrieved from http://www.bookloons.com/cgi-bin/Review.asp?bookid=534

Morris doesn't mean his novel to be an accurate retelling of Sarah and Abraham's life together, but Hollingshead finds a few of his choices disconcerting: She reasons that both Sarai's disregard for her brother's wishes and the idea that she was left alone with a suitor unbelievable, and Hollingshead totally disregarding claims that Sarai was Abraham's half sister or niece. Furthermore, she can't swallow Sarah's putting up with Hagar's rudeness during the handmaiden's pregnancy. Then neither can the Midrash, a rabbinic exegesis of the Torah (2014, para. 3).

No Woman So Fair (Lions of Judah 32). Goodreads. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/359538.No_Woman_So_Fair

Goodreads readers rate No Woman So Fair  a 4.11 out of 5, and for the most part they found it a good read, although one reader didn't like the time Morris spent on minor characters and subplots and his “playing fast and loose” with the biblical account of Sarah and Abraham.

No Woman So Fair. (2011, February 18). Library Thing. Retrieved from http://www.librarything.com/work/459640

Readers give Morris' historical fiction a 4.08 rating, and the single review lauds him for his “extensive research” and skillful plotting” (2011, February 18, para. 1).
Judah and Tamar, Rembrandt  School
Judah didn't recognize Tamar as a prostitute because
otherwise she was always veiled.
Rivers, Francine. (2000). Unveiled. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House. Retrieved from http://www.francinerivers.com/books/53/discussion-guide

Although this novella depicts Tamar as a much-victimized and abused wife, her trickery and deception ensure the survival of the line of Abraham.

See also:

Judah and Tamar. Genesis 38. (NIV). Bible Gateway. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+38&version=NIV

Unveiled: Tamir. (2010). Discussion Guide. Francine Rivers. Retrieved from http://www.francinerivers.com/books/53/discussion-guide

The Francine Rivers Web page reproduces the discussion guide found in the back of the novel. Interestingly enough, although the novel tells Tamar's story from her point-of-view, the discussion guide first focuses on Judah's actions, and it doesn't ask readers to answer questions identifying with her until half way through the questions.

Unveiled: Tamar. (2013, June). Audiobook (Unabridged). Audiobookstore. (4.25 hours). Retrieved from http://www.theaudiobookstore.com/francine-rivers/unveiled-tamar-lineage-grace_b00dhj262g.aspx

Internet users can download an audio version of Unveiled free-of-charge.

See also:

Fletcher, Elizabeth. (2006). Tamar and Judah: Her story. Women in the Bible. Retrieved from http://womeninthebible.net/1.5.Tamar_and_Judah.htm

The meaning of the characters' names in Tamar's story points to their allegorical meaning:
  • Tamar means “date palm”, a source of life in the desert;
  • Judah means “give praise to God”;
  • Er spelt backwards is “evil”;
  • Perez translates as “he who passes through”;
  • Zerah means “Scarlet”
  • Onan paradoxically translates as “the virile one”
(Fletcher, 2006, para. 1)

Tamar's take has three main themes:
  • God fulfills His promise to continue Abraham's line;
  • Even though bad things happen to good people, and they fail to see God's plan, good can come from evil;
  • God rewards the quest for social justice.
(Fletcher, 2006, para. 3)

This morality play as recorded in Genesis 1-30 has four distinct episodes:
  • Tamar marries but remains childless (Genesis 38: 1-11);
  • Tamar claims her Levirite rights (Genesis 38: 12-19);
  • Judah accuses Tamar of fornication (Genesis 38: 20-26);
  • God rewards Tamar with the birth of twins (Genesis 38: 27-30).
(Fletcher, 2006, para. 4)

Parsons, John J. (n. d. ). Judah & Tamar. Parashat Vayeshev. Hebrew for Christians. Retrieved from http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Vayeshev/Tamar/tamar.html

Genesis 38 inserts Tamar's story in the middle of the story of Joseph and his brothers supposedly to remind the reader that “God creates the cure before the plague” (Parsons, n. d., para. 1). The Midrash also fills in some details that Genesis leaves out (Parsons, n. d., para. 2). When Tamar realizes that Judah fails to fulfill his promise to give her in marriage to his youngest son, she disguises herself as a prostitute and solicits her widowed father-in-law on the road to Timnah (Parsons, n. d., para. 3).

Tamar. Midrash and Aggahah. (n. d. ). Encyclopedia. Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved from http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/tamar-midrash-and-aggadah

Rabbinical literature spares no criticism in its depiction of Judah and his sons while the Midrash defends Tamar as a woman of modesty who observes the laws of niddah, following the purity rituals Jewish law demanded of women following menstruation (Tamar, n. d., para. 2). Different traditions, however, give different reports of her origin: Either she was an orphan or else the daughter of Melchizedek, the King of Salem and “Priest of God Most High” (Tamar, n. d., para. 3).

More importantly, Tamar's story concerns itself with motives; for example, Er, Judah's oldest son, wouldn't perform his duties as a husband since he feared that pregnancy would take away from Tamar's beauty while his younger brother, Onan, spilled his seed since he knew that any child that Tamar bore wouldn't be counted as his (Tamar, n. d., para 4). Here, the Midrash takes pains to discuss why Tamar's story appears in the middle of Joseph's story, noting that the death of Judah's two oldest sons was punishment for either telling his father, Jacob, that Joseph was dead, or else it served as a penalty for Judah's failure to rescue Joseph from slavery (Tamar, n. d., para. 5). God, however, rewards Tamar for her faithfulness and modesty since she gives birth to twins (Tamar, n. d., para. 33).

Tamar of Judah. (2004). Bible Study Monthly. Retrieved from http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/2004/Mar_Apr/Tamah.htm

Tradition holds that Tamar is a Canaanite, but given that her name is of Jewish origin, the author of Bible Study Monthly argues that since Abraham took steps to ensure that Issac married a relative, its also likely that Tamar might be a descendant of one of Abraham's sons by Keturah, the woman Abraham married after the death of Sarah, or else the descendant of one of Abraham's unnamed concubines, or even a descendant of Nahor Abraham's brother (Tamar of Judah, 2004, para. 8).

Reviews:

Unveiled. (2014). Historical Novel Society. Retrieved from http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/unveiled/

Closely following the Bible story in Genesis, Rivers' simple narrative” validates loyalty, strength of character, and faith (Unveiled, 2014, para. 2).

Chapman, Lynne. 2014). Unveiled by Francine Rivers book review. Christian Living Site. Bella Online. Retrieved from http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art12636.asp

Unveiled is the first novel in Rivers' Lineage of Grace Series that tells the stories of five female ancestors of Jesus listed in Matthew 1: 1-16 —Tamar, Rahah, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—all of whom have somewhat scandalous pasts (Chapman, 2014, para. 3). Chapman finds the novel both “captivating and enjoyable” as well as “probable” (Chapman, 2014, para. 3 & 6), for even though Rivers' Tamar is a Canaanite, patriarchal mistreatment won't distract her from ensuring the continuance of Abraham's line (Chapman, 2014, para. 5).

Unveiled. (n. d.). Library Thing. Retrieved from http://www.librarything.com/work/334223

Five reviews  give Francine Rivers' Unveiled a 4.13 rating, most of them finding it an inspiring read that remains true to the biblical story. However, the reader of the first review, written in 2009, finds it a trite tale when compared with Anita Diamant's The Red Tent.

Unveiled: Tamar. (Lineage of Grace # 1). (2014). Goodreads. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95607.Unveiled

A 2001 Christy Award finalist, Unveiled rates a 4.22 rating. Readers praise the novella as an easy and quick read, commenting upon Tamar's courage as well as her willingness to accept Jehovah's will despite enduring years of mistreatment and abuse from Judah's two eldest sons, Judah himself, and even her own family.
Rembrandt's Bathsheba
      Did Bathsheba write some of the Psalms?

Smith, Eileen. (2011). Bathsheba. The Wives of King David, Book 3. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Revell.

Jill Eileen Smith attempts to provide motives for the adulterous David and Bathsheba.
David and Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11-12. (NIV). Bible Gateway. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+11-12&version=NIV

Surat S'ad 38. (n. d.). Quran. Retrieved from http://quran.com/38

A possible reference to the story of David and Bathsheba—or at least a reference to Nathan's admonishment of David occurs in the Quran in Surah S'ad 38: 21-26. However, this passage doesn't mention Bathsheba at all.

Reviews:

Bathsheba. (2014). Historical Novel Society. Retrieved from http://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/bathsheba/

Although “Smith writes well and fills her story with interesting historical detail,” the unidentified reviewer finds the novel “unsatisfying”, for most of the characters remain “mere sketches' while David “never truly becomes three-dimensional” (Historical Novel, 2014, para. 2). The reviewer also finds the narrative disjointed and most troubling of all, he or she sees Bathsheba as “a colorless character” who lacks “an inner life”. Indeed, the reviewer dismisses Bathsheba as “a trophy wife who beats back the competition (Historical novel, 2014, para 2 & 3). Thinking of David as a sugar daddy and Bathsheba as a gold digger, however, perhaps trivalizes the narrative.

Bathsheba (The Wives of King David # 3). (2014). Goodreads. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8471729-bathsheba

Most reviewers found themselves seduced by the charms of Bathsheba, 121 reviews giving this third novel in the Wives of David series an average rating of 4.20. Thus, following the stories of Michal and Abigail, Bathsheba should capture the interest of readers who have earlier read the novels about King David's other favorite wives. But readers new to the series will not feel that they are missing out on earlier action, for the tale also easily works as a stand-alone novel. 

Generally, readers credit Smith with writing a book that is both true to the scripture and that also reflects historical research. Smith, however, has additionally filled in some missing parts of Bathsheba's story that the 2nd Samuel narrative doesn't divulge, for not only does she explain why Uriah refuses to see Bathsheba while home on leave, but David and Bathsheba mutually share the blame for their adultery, each one trying to relieve their own loneliness and boredom. Some readers nevertheless complain about a lack of character development.

See also:

Bathsheba discussion questions. Jill Eileen Smith. (2014). Christianbook.com. Retrieved from http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1174911

The discussion questions provided by Christianbook.com should serve as as a synopsis of the novel while opening up the novel to book club discussions.

All the Women of the Bible – Bathsheba. (1988) . Bible Gateway. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Bathsheba

____________

Haskins,Theresa. (2011, March 19). Bathsheba—by Jill Eileen Smith. Passionate Children's Servant. Retrieved from http://passionatechildrensservant.blogspot.com/2011/03/bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith.html

Haskins find Bathsheba a “true-to-life scenario of how innocent encounters with the opposite sex can ease into the life of a married Christian” (2011, March 19, para.3). Never mind that a recently uncovered inscribed rock measuring 13 by 16 inches dates the House of David is ruling in about 830 BCE—a time when the average Israel was still struggling to conform to the precepts that separated obedience to from the worship of a pantheon of neighboring gods (Wecker, 2014, December 18, para. 2 & 3). Most citizens of Judah didn't readily affirm their allegiance to a monotheism until shortly before the Babylon exile or even later (Tigay, n. d., p. 2).

However, after reading Smith's retelling of David and Bathsheba affair along with the Prophet's Nathan's confrontation of David in 2 Samuel 12 and the King's subsequent heart felt repentance, it's easy for a 21st-century audience to forget that the Talmud meted out a death sentence only to the faithless wife if two valid witnesses testified against her (Isaacs, n. d., p. 1). Since the Talmud groups incest murder, and adultery and incest as the most grievous of sins and condemns both the man and the woman caught in adultery, it adopts a surprisingly modern view (Adultery, 1906, para. 3 & 13).

See also:

Adultery. (1906). Jewish Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/865-adultery


Tigay, Jeffrey. (n. d.). Monotheism My Jewish Learning. Retrieved from http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Theology/God/About_God/Monotheism_or_Monolatry.shtml?

Wecker, Menachem. (2014, December 18). Ancient rock points to a real King David. J Weekly.com. Retrieved from http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/73463/ancient-rock-points-to-a-real-king-david
___________

Kraft, Tamera Lynn. (2011, March 14). “Bathsheba” by Jill Eileen Smith. My Review. Word Sharpeners. Retrieved from http://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith/

Kraft applauds not only Smith's faithfulness to the biblical account, but she also loves how Bathsheba's characters”were real human beings come alive” (2011, March 14, para. 1 & 3), finding Smith's retelling of David's reaction upon Absalom's slaughter of his other sons as found in 2 Samuel 13: 30-31 particularly moving (2011, March 14, para. 4).

Mosley, Sheley. (2011). Bathsheba. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=4632609&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Mosley notes that Bathsheba reads like Anita Diment's The Red Tent, for it “puts a refreshingly different spin on this familiar tale of adultery”, exploring the protagonists' motivations (2011, para. 1).

Nichelson, Mary. (2011, April 29). Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith. Mary's World. Retrieved from http://marysworld411.blogspot.com/2011/04/bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith.html

Bathsheba “accurately depicts the demands and pleasure of being King David's wife”, but Smith also adds motive to David's adulterous affair (Nichelson, 2011, April 29, para. 3 & 4). This validates Nichelson's belief that authors should take artistic license when exploring “the realm of truth” (2011, April 29, para. 6).

Ruth A. (2011, March 20). Review. Bathsheba byJill Eileen Smith. Booktalk More. Retrieved from http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith.html

Since the Bible gives no insight into Bathsheba's character and personality, this leaves Smith free to determine Bathsheba's motives surrounding this infamous affair (Ruth A., 2011, March 20, para. 1). Thus, the novel introduces the reader to Bathsheba as the daughter of one of the King's advisers given in marriage to Uriah (Ruth A., 2011, para. 2). Even if Smith “doesn't shy away from Bathsheba's complicity, the reviewer believes that Bathsheba's culture expected her to comply with men's wishes without questioning them (Ruth A., 2011, para. 3).

Stacey. (2011, March 18). Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith. WORDup. Retrieved from http://word-up-studies.blogspot.com/2011/03/bathsheba-by-jill-eileen-smith.html

Promising that readers “will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in the same way again”, Stacey claims that the novel “reveals the depth of God's grace and forgiveness” (2011, March 18, para 3).

Swanson, Lindy J. (2011). Bathsheba. RT Book Reviews. Retrieved from http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/bathsheba


Swanson rates this Inspirational Romance as “magnificient”, giving it 4 ½ stars (2011, para. 1). 
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