This book was written well and the author is great at weaving words and drawing you into story...but I just didn't care for it. The author has a long list of fiction books she has written on historic Biblical women. This is her first nonfiction book but she definitely uses artistic license (likely similar to her fiction books...I haven't read any) in the way she describes the characters. The chapters each center around a woman from the Bible and begin with a fictional account in first person from that character, then the chapter moves on to the author's voice and a nonfiction tone as she describes what we can learn from the historic Biblical woman. It's a nice idea, and some people may like this, but I was not a fan. I don't like that much artistic license when it comes to the Bible, it honestly made me a bit uncomfortable and it doesn't really help me learn from that character when we don't know if that's truly how they were. It's really hard for me to admit I don't like a book and I do NOT like giving bad reviews...but sadly this one was just not my cup of tea. 2 out of 5 stars.
[Thank you to Baker Publishing Group for my complimentary review copy. This contains my honest and original thoughts.]
I wanted to like this book. I love prayer books, devotionals, anything of the written word in a daily format to aid my prayer time. This one sounded beautiful with its variety of prayers from over the years and a wide range of authors. I loved that it included many Catholic prayers from the Liturgy/Mass as well as Liturgy of the Hours. I also like reading prayers from historical men and women. The book itself is a lovely hardcover with deckled page edges and a ribbon bookmark. That all being said, it fell a little flat for me. My favorite prayers were the ones I would get from reading the daily Mass (like Word Among Us devotionals) or the Liturgy of the Hours app on my phone, so I just didn't see a big need for this book in my life. Womp womp. Yet another so-so book review, guys. 3 out of 5 stars.
[Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for my complimentary copy. This review contains my honest and original thoughts.]
The artistic license thing with the Bible isn't my cup of tea, either. Though I did really enjoy The Spear, by Louis de Wohl, when I read it-but otherwise, yeah, not my thing. I also think I'd have similar sentiments about the prayer book. Actually, I am probably pretty weird in that I've never been attracted to the Magnificat devotionals. Even though they have beautiful artwork and meditations, I can get the full prayers for the hours from my one-volume breviary, and I can get the Mass readings from my e-mail (though I've been tossing around the idea of investing in a daily Mass missal someday, just so I don't have to read it off of a screen). But, I'm sure many people would probably love that book!
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