In the tradition of the international bestseller The Red Tent comes a beautiful, sexy novel featuring Hannah, one of the most well-known and beloved heroines of the Old Testament.
Hannah and Pninah, once close childhood friends, become rivals for the attention of Elkanah, the man who has married them both. Pninah, passionate and independent, easily bears Elkanah many children, but bitter that he has taken her friend as a second wife, seeks fulfillment with her own secret lover. Hannah, the epitome of goodness and grace, remains completely devoted to her husband, but remains childless for many years, until a promise to God brings her the son she has yearned for.
Despite their differences, these two women must learn to live together, protecting their own interests as well as each other's, while sharing not only the love of their husband, but that of Hannah's son Samuel, who will become one of the great prophets of the Jewish people.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
The Bookschlepper Recommends:
The Song of Hannah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy: There is a sizeable subgenre of women's novels retelling Old Testament stories from the heroine's point of view; The Red Tent was an excellent example. Some are little more than chick-lit. The best of them document daily life in ancient Israel adding depth and understanding to Bible stories; they correct the male-centric nature of the original. The savvy authors walk a fine line: can they convey the Biblical icons from 4,000 years ago in a manner that today's reader... more info
Small Comfort for those with Infertility:
Etzioni-Halevy weaves a clever tale based on the Biblical account of Hannah. However, considering that Hannah is one of the primary sources of Biblical comfort for those struggling with infertility, it's disappointing that the author infers that Hannah's barrenness was punishment for her fictional betrayal of Pninah. It's too bad that, in this book, Hannah couldn't just be infertile without it being retribution for her crime. It's a slap in the face for anyone struggling with infertility to suggest that... more info
"Desperate Housewives" meets the Old Testament:
This novel, one of a trilogy written by Etzioni-Halevy about prominent women in the Old Testament, is an enjoyable, easy read. The author, who reportedly wrote these novels after "rediscovering" her Judaic heritage, has done a good job of making the often bland ciphers of Biblical accounts come to life. The only problem I have with this book (and the rest of the trilogy) is that it sacrifices a great deal of character development for steamy sex scenes. Of course, many readers won't have a problem with this,... more info
I was transported!:
For the short time it took me to read this book (I couldn't put it down), I was totally transported in time and place. Was this what life was really like for these Biblical characters? Etzioni-Halevy certainly gives us some food for thought and she does it in such a perfectly composed manner that you feel their joy, their sadness, their anger. I loved The Garden of Ruth and can't wait to read the author's most recent book - The Triumph of Deborah. You go Eva!
