Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand: A Novel of Adam and Eve [Hardcover]

Gioconda Belli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 10, 2009

The internationally bestselling author and poet offers a wholly creative reimagining of the biblical story of Adam and Eve.

Prepare to enter a fascinating, primitive universe that goes back to the very beginning, to the story upon which Western civilization is based. Poetry and mystery go hand in hand in this transcendent novel about mankind, as never before imagined. Join Adam and Eve as they discover the world for themselves, feel their confusion and panic when they face punishment, and observe in awe as they experience the power to give life and, eventually, the ability to take it away to survive.

Gioconda Belli's beguiling and soulfully rewarding novel is a parable that captures our own time and our own uncertain future.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Belli's poetry and politics meld in this lyrical retelling of Adam and Eve. Here, the Serpent tempts Eve with freedom equal to that of Elokim, the God who created them, and history would begin if she ate of the fruit. But with the dawn of history comes the rudest of awakenings: confusion about worlds seen and unseen. Far from the simple characters of Bible class, the planet's first couple as drawn by Belli is layered with complexity and power. Eve may have been the first to bite the fruit, but she's also the creator of life and art; Adam wasn't just complicit in the original sin—he was the first philosopher (Perhaps we simply weren't aware that we would die. Maybe that was Paradise. The unfolding of knowledge and humanity is both primitive and breathtaking in Belli's view. And without abandoning the timeless biblical story, Belli manages to introduce a modern Darwinian element that's both stark and eloquent. Belli tackles Genesis with perception-rattling gravity. (Mar.)
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From Booklist

Belli’s philosophical re-creation of the Adam and Eve story is a transcendent meditation on a well-worn tale. Shimmering with provocative insight, the narrative repaints an Eden where all is not as straightforward as the Bible would have us believe. Adam and Eve are complex, humanistic creatures whose temptation and subsequent fall perhaps signal the intellectual, social, and artistic fruition of mankind. As the two struggle with new and unexpected challenges, joys, and sorrows, Eve and the serpent philosophize on a variety of searing and soul-searching topics. Rather than merely turning the biblical version on its head, Belli’s luminous portrait of the first couple respectfully provides material for discussion and reconsideration. More multifaceted than Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent (1997), this mystical rendering of Eden and beyond will be in demand by both fans of biblical fiction and book clubs. --Margaret Flanagan

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper (March 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061673641
• ISBN-13: 978-0061673641
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,042,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful interpretation of the Adam and Eve story, April 5, 2009

By 

frk040 (NYNY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand: A Novel of Adam and Eve (Hardcover)

A good book to read for those, like myself, who were taught the abridged version of the story: God creates Adam, Eve gets created out of Adams rib, Eve is tricked into eating the forbidden fruit by the evil serpent and they're both cast out of paradise, Cain kills Abel, etc.

What Ms. Belli does is extraordinary. The story of Adam and Eve is told as a fictionalized account of two people with a pretty profound sense of the world they are thrust into. Is it better to remain in paradise in a state of eternal bliss, not wanting or needing anything? Or perhaps it is better to live life as two human beings capable of the joy of physical love, the pain of hunger and childbirth, the fear of the unknown, and the satisfaction of making your way in this new world on your own without divine intervention. Some intriguing questions are asked in Ms. Belli's story: Was the serpent really as evil as you thought? Why was it almost pre-ordained that Eve take the bite out the forbidden fruit to seal their fate?

Anything else would give too much of story away. I also thought the ending was quite a twist on the creation idea and food for thought for discussion. A great book discussion read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great choice for a book club, April 20, 2009

By 

Nancy (Tempe, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand: A Novel of Adam and Eve (Hardcover)

What was stunning about this book was the philosophical debates - - set to poetry. The imagery was vivid, and the musings were thought-provoking. No matter what your religious beliefs or scientific beliefs, this book will make you think. If you are in a book club, I highly recommend this read...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Work of Wonder, April 1, 2009

By 

Michael Fitzgerald "Michael Fitzgerald, M.D.,... - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand: A Novel of Adam and Eve (Hardcover)

Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand is a beautifully written, eloquent marriage of an ancient tale and modern day

meditation on human life, it's origins, challenges, and triumphs. I awoke each of several mornings, eager to take another bite of Belli's delicious fruit. This novel comes with my highest recommendation. I am sure to return to it time and again for inspiration, joy and perspective.