Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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...

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.

I couldn't finish. Gave up halfway through, even though I was on a long plane flight and the alternative was to read the shopping magazine. Prose fit for the Bulwer-Lytton competition. Truly insipid. If you want to read well-done novel treatments of Biblical themes, try David Maine instead.

Am I the only reader who sees the "modern Darwinian element" here
as racist?

This book shows very little human emotion

Boring. Pretentious. Written as a vehicle for the "small politics" where mutual adulation is the norm. There a thin barnish of bad poetry -if there such thing- which renders the whole enterprise unreadable. Not reccomended, even if you have time to waiste.

So many good books on the shelves ... this one is a waste of your time. Not only is it boring and unoriginal but it is written at the level of a [...]. Nice effort but it lacks imagination and ends with a feeling wasted hours.