Book Review: Asenath by Anna Patricio

Posted on March 26, 2012 · 5 Comments


Asenath
by Anna Patricio
Genre: Biblical/Historical Fiction
Publication Date: September 24, 2011
Publisher: Imajin Books

Two Destinies…One Journey of Love

In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman’s daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered.

When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph.

Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown into prison.

Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

My Thoughts:
I truly enjoyed this book. The author created this amazing character with a in-depth and detailed back story and she is only briefly mentioned in the Bible! I have a few little quibbles about some things, which I’ll talk about in a minute, but overall this is a richly drawn story and one I would definitely recommended to anyone who enjoys historical/biblical fiction.

In the beginning we meet Kiya, a young girl whose village is overrun by rebels and her parents are killed. When she and her fellow villagers are later freed by Egyptian soldiers and taken to the city of Heliopolis to live, Kiya cannot believe her luck. She continues to miss her village, but over time she comes to accept where she is and actually likes it.

Soon, Kiya is adopted as a priestess-in-training and given the name Lady Asenath. She has many encounters with Joseph throughout her young life and is immediately drawn to his strength and to his God. I found these parts of the novel very sweet. To think that they were smitten with each other years before they actually got married and were star-crossed lovers, so to speak, was an interesting way to approach the character of Asenath.

I think the author took a bit of liberty with the story of Joseph and Potiphar. The Bible tells us that Potiphar “burned with anger” (Genesis 39:19, NIV) after hearing about Joseph supposedly taking advantage of his wife (even though she advanced on him and he ran from her), so he threw him in prison. In the fictional account of Asenath, Potiphar has a soft heart for Joseph and does what he can to help Asenath see Joseph in prison and to help Joseph however he can. I do not see his fondness for Joseph backed up by scripture, so I had a hard time believing it. Now, I do understand that this is fiction, but I think the main themes of the Bible should remain intact. If Potiphar “burned with anger”, I cannot see him softening toward Joseph and helping him while he was in prison. On the other hand, since we know literally nothing about Asenath, I had no problem with the back story that the author created. The Joseph/Potiphar relationship was my only quibble with the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It is easy to read and I found myself anxious to get back into the story each night. It is a rather quick read, too, at less than 200 pages. I would definitely recommend it.

About the Author:

Anna Patricio is a lover of ancient history, with a particular interest in Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Rome. She is also intrigued by the Ancient Near East, though she has not delved too much into it but hopes to one day.

She undertook formal studies in Ancient History at Macquarie University. She focused mostly on Egyptology and Jewish-Christian
Studies, alongside a couple of Greco-Roman units, and one on Archaeology. Though she knew there were very limited job openings for ancient history graduates, she pursued her degree anyway as it was something she had always been passionate about.

Then, about a year after her graduation, the idea to tackle historical fiction appeared in her head, and she began happily pounding away on her laptop. ASENATH is her first novel.

Recently, she traveled to Lower Egypt (specifically Cairo and the Sinai), Israel, and Jordan. She plans to return to Egypt soon, and see more of it. In the past, she has also been to Athens and Rome.

Anna is currently working on a second novel, which still takes place in Ancient Egypt, but hundreds of years after ASENATH.

Visit Anna’s website at http://www.annapatricio.blogspot.com

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Book Giveaway: Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green

Posted on March 13, 2012 · 7 Comments

Another Piece of My Heart
by Jane Green
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: March 13, 2012
ISBN: 978-0312591823

From the New York Times bestselling author of JEMIMA J, and THE BEACH HOUSE, comes Jane Green’s most emotional and powerful novel yet: a story that explores the complications of a woman marrying into a ready-made family, and the true meaning of motherhood.

Andi has spent much of her adult life looking for the perfect man, and at thirty-seven, she’s finally found him.  Ethan–divorced with two daughters, Emily and Sophia–is a devoted father and even better husband.  Always hoping one day she would be a mother, Andi embraces the girls like they were her own. But in Emily’s eyes, Andi is an obstacle to her father’s love, and Emily will do whatever it takes to break her down. When the dynamics between the two escalate, they threaten everything Andi believes about love, family, and motherhood—leaving both women standing at a crossroad in their lives…and in their hearts.

ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEART is a novel that illuminates the nuances and truths about relationships and is Jane Green at her absolute best.

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About the Author

Jane GreenJane Green is the author of twelve bestselling novels, dealing with real women, real life, and all the things in-between, with her trademark wisdom, wit and warmth. She contributes to various publications, both online and print, including Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, and assorted Anthologies. Passionate about both food and the home, most weekends see her cooking up a storm in her home in Westport, Connecticut, where she lives by the beach with her husband and their many children.

Website: www.JaneGreen.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janegreen
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorJaneGreen

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Giveaway

Thanks to the publisher, I have 2 copies of this book to give away to lucky readers in the USA!

Rules:
1. Fill out your name and e-mail address in the Contestmachine widget below.
2. The giveaway will end on March 20, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.
3. I will contact the two winners at the conclusion of the giveaway. They will have 48 hours from the date of my email to contact me with their full name and mailing address. Failure to respond in the allotted time will result in forfeiture of the prize and a new winner will be selected.
4. I will forward the winner’s name and address to the publisher for prize fulfillment. By entering this giveaway, you are giving me permission to forward your information to a third party in order for your prize to be mailed to you.
5. Neither Crazy-for-Books nor the publisher is responsible for lost or misdirected prize shipments. It is the winner’s responsibility to ensure that the information provided to me is accurate.

Good Luck!
 

The giveaway has ended and the winners are Jinky and Annette! Congratulations!

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Book Review: Before the Last All Clear by Ray Evans

Posted on March 8, 2012 · 3 Comments

Before the Last All Clear
by Raymond Evans
Morgan James Publishing
Genre: Memoir; World War II
Publication Date: August 2008

About the Book:

Some recall it as the greatest adventure of their lives. For others, being a wartime evacuee was a nightmare. These are the witty yet deeply poignant memories of a man still haunted by the cruelties he endured. During World War II, around three and a half million British children were evacuated away from possible air raids in the big cities in one of the largest social upheavals Great Britain has ever seen. One of those children was Ray Evans. This is the story of a young evacuee from Liverpool sent to live in the Welsh town of Llanelli. Separated from his mother, brothers and sisters, six-year old Ray was dispatched to a series of families who ignored, exploited and brutalised him. Pushed from pillar to post, he finally finds happiness with a family who make him so welcome that he is reluctant to leave when war ends. Set in a world of ration books, air-raid sirens and ever-present danger, this is a candid and direct account of wartime Britain as seen through the eyes of a child.

Raymond Evans was just six years old when he was forced to leave the comfort of his family home and take up residence at numerous “billets” (similar to foster homes)  in Llanelli, England.

The story is captivating. The editing left a lot to be desired. I had to overlook a lot of basic grammatical and spelling errors in this book, which is disappointing. Due to my real-life job, I’m a bit anal about editing and spelling errors in the books I read. In addition, the story was difficult to follow at times. There were transitions in the narrative that were very confusing. For example, Ray is talking about wanting to see his father at a Christmas party that is in a few weeks. Then, without any modifier to transition to it, the next paragraph discusses Ray being at the party. Odd shifts like this in the storytelling were confusing to me. I think with a good editor, this story could be tightened up and pack a greater punch than what is currently presented.

Aside from the editing issues, I really enjoyed Ray’s story. The shipping of English children away from potential air raids is a part of WWII history that I was not at all familiar with. Ray was moved around from different billets, initially able to be with his brother, but soon separated and on his own. Some families were strict and harsh; others neglectful and abusive; and another was so wonderful that Ray didn’t want to leave once the war ended. Told from the eyes of a young boy, Before the Last All Clear is a compelling and moving story of a lesser-known period of World War II. If you can look past the editing issues, the story is one I would definitely recommend.

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Blog Tour: The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya

Posted on March 7, 2012 · Leave a Comment

About the book:
The Beautiful Wife
by Sandy Ralya
Source: I received a free copy of the book, prayer journal, and mentor’s guide for participation in this blog tour.

The Beautiful Wife uses these inspiring stories along with biblical principles to guide and encourage any wife looking for God’s best in her marriage. The Beautiful Wife answers serious questions women have about their roles as wives. Discussing everything from romance and money to beauty, communication, and sex, Sandy challenges women to open up and share their journeys so that together they can see God’s plan for their marriages. “It is my passion to help women discover God’s heart for their marriage, just as the other women helped me,” writes Sandy. “When women share with each other the details of their journeys with God as wives, it’s a beautiful thing indeed.” The Beautiful Wife has two companion resources - Prayer Journal and Mentor’s Guide.

My Thoughts:

I’ll be up front with you. I haven’t finished the book yet. But I am absolutely loving it! It’s one where you need to read it slowly, savoring each morsel and incorporating the Prayer Journal for a fully in-depth experience. The Prayer Journal offers guided journaling, scripture references, places to record prayers for yourself and your husband (and to record when they are answered!), and more. The book is set up for either an individual or small group experience. I am currently just reading it on my own, but I am getting so much out of it. I would definitely recommend it for a small group of women to study together. It will help you think through God’s plan for you and your spouse, even if you have those “but how” and “what if” questions! Sandy is honest about her own marriage which is refreshing and helped me to connect with her on a more personal level. It made the book more real to me and didn’t feel like someone preaching at me; rather, I felt like this is someone who has been through some tough times and who I can relate to. I truly respect her for her transparency. The book is very conversational in tone and quite easy to read. It feels like you are having coffee with a friend. I can’t wait to get back and dig in some more!

The optional Mentor’s Guide will also show women’s ministry leaders how to start a Beautiful Womanhood small group in their church and how to prepare to lead the small group discussions each week. There is also discussion on the basics of mentoring, such as confidentiality, the nuts and bolts of meeting in your home, dealing with potential problems, as well as a hostess guide on creating a welcoming atmosphere for your fellow small group members. A week-by-week Leader’s Guide gives instruction on what to do before and during the meeting, including prayer, accountability, recap, points to emphasize, loving God’s Word, and first steps for next time. The Mentor’s Guide is a great resource, especially for someone who may be new to mentoring and needs something to grab onto to feel more confident in their new role. Experienced mentors may find some good nuggets within these pages as well.

About Sandy Ralya: 
Sandy Ralya is the founder and director of Beautiful Womanhood, a marriage mentoring ministry based near Grand Rapids, Mich. Her marriage testimony was the focus of a popular three-day interview on FamilyLife Today, TV’s Walking by Faith, and Time Out for Women. Sandy is a sought-after speaker, presenting BeautifulWomanhood seminars to hundreds of women each year at MOPS groups, women’s retreats, and church leadership conferences across the country and in Canada. Sandy and her husband Tom have been married since 1980, and have a growing number of grandchildren.  www.beautifulwomanhood.com

 

Video Links:
1.  Sandy’s Testimony. This is directed primarily at wives. Sandy speaks to the mentors for a few seconds near the end, but her testimony will be one that resonates with wives as well.
2.  About BEAUTIFUL WOMANHOOD Ministry. This uses Sandy’s experience to speak directly to the marriage mentor to encourage and equip her role as a mentor.
*****

Celebrate with Sandy by entering her Kindle Touch Giveaway and coming to her “Beautiful Womanhood” Facebook Party {3/8}!

One beautiful winner will receive:

  • A Brand new Kindle Touch with Wi-Fi
  • The Beautiful Wife By Sandy Ralya
  • The Beautiful Wife Prayer Journal and Mentor’s Guide

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/7/12. Winner will be announced at Sandy’s “Beautiful Womanhood” Facebook Party on 3/8. Sandy will be hosting an evening of chat, laughter and encouragement – bring your friends! She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, prayer journals and a live chat with Sandy for your Bible study or small group!

So grab your copy of The Beautiful Wife and join Sandy and friends on the evening of March 8th for an evening of fun.

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 8th!

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