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43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read, March 7, 2001
I have read the story of the woman at the well many times and never once thought to wonder about her life - why she had five husbands - why she wasn't married to the man she was living with when she met Jesus. The book described a courageous and sensitive woman who matured through adversity. It also painted a detailed picture of the daily life in Shechem where she lived. It was evident that the author had done a tremendous amount of research into the culture of that part of the world during the time of Christ and effectively wove the details into the plot. The story is full of interesting twists and turns - especially at the end.The writing, as well as the character development, deepens as the book progresses. A good read - one that made me want to get back to the book to see what was going to happen next. It also encouraged me to wonder more about the characters in the Bible and the details of their lives.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful story, August 28, 2009
This review is from: Journey to the Well: A Novel (Paperback)
I bought this book for my mom. She really enjoyed it and passed it to her friend. Her friend said she couldn't put it down, she had to see what would happen next. I decided to take it camping and got through it quickly as well.
My mom and her friend did not realize the story was about the famous woman at the well from the Bible, the gospel of John, chapter four. The author, Diana Wallis Taylor, did good research on the culture and customs of that place and time to add plausibility to the fictional license since this woman's life is a mystery. All we really know of her is she was transformed in an afternoon because of her faith in the long promised Messiah, and that many more people were led to believe in the Messiah and change their lives as well.
The story is a wonderful example of the faithfulness of a "God who sees" and cares for His faithful people. Even in times of trouble, He is there offering a way out of our bad circumstances. And for those who choose to make the Messiah their Savior, they will be given forgiveness, peace and joy in an otherwise desperate world.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing look at a familiar bible passage, July 13, 2009
This review is from: Journey to the Well: A Novel (Paperback)
"Journey to the Well" is a stand-alone novel by Diana Wallis-Taylor.
Marah, a young girl of 13 lives in the village of Shechem. When her aunt Reba arranges for her to marry an older man, she is fearful of what her life will be. The story goes through the ups and downs of her life as she loses one husband after another. First was Zibeon, the man her aunt arranged who had a mother obsessed with having a grandchild. Next was Shimei, the brother of Zibeon who had a shameful secret. He presents Marah with a bill of divorcement before the wedding even takes place. Next is Jesse, whom Marah loved since childhood. He too had lost his first wife, leaving behind an infant son named Caleb. Marah becomes his mother and loves him as if he were her own. After Jesse dies in an accident, Marah marries Haman, a man who claimed to be Jesse's cousin. When he is killed for being found a murderer, the gentle and respectable man from the caraven named Ahmal offers Marah his home and the offer of marriage. When Ahmal goes missing for 3 years, Rueben, a man claiming to be his half-brother appears to Marah, and robs her of her dignity. When Rueben sets out for a journey, Marah takes a walk to Jacob's Well. There she meets Jesus, in which he tells her of everything she has done in her life. And as she comes to believe, she finds healing and forgiveness to all which she has done.
I loved the story. From just reading the Bible passage, you would think the Samaritan woman was one who lived in sexual sin. What woman would go through 5 husbands, only to currently live with a man who was not her husband? But through the story we see that, that woman was a normal person like any of us. Her life was just full of tragedy. Yet she believed her life to be God-willed, and tried to make the best out of everything in life. By the end of the book when she meets Jesus, and you see the dialogue found in the Bible, we know Marah. We know why she responds the way she does and we know what she has gone through in life. The research that the author did in the book is greatly evident. While reading, I felt like I myself was thrown into first century Samaria. She herself says in the 'author's note' of the book that it was a story 25 years in the making.
I blindly got the book after seeing the description of it in a catalogue. I enjoy biblical fiction and the synopsis sounded intriguing. I was not disappointed. I always enjoy reading more into the life of a certain biblical figure. Even if it is ficitionized. And if you enjoy any type of biblical fiction, I am sure this will be the right book for you. :)
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