Customer Reviews

Journey to the Well: A Novel

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

"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. :)

I have to start by saying that I rarely post reviews, I wait till I come across a book that really moves me, either by being really good or really bad.

This book moved me immensely in a very good way. I was crying by the last few pages, and it is rare for a book to touch me that deeply.

I found myself longing to be a friend to Marah, and my heart broke for all she had to endure. The joy and hope she found in Jesus when he met her at the well...I wanted to be there too!

This is a great book, it makes you think, the story flows, I found myself wanting to pray for Marah, that she would be spared so much pain, that she would finally be happy, it was like she was a dear friend.

I read most of this book in one sitting, I simply could not put it down.

I don't know if it's because this was ingrained in me from years of Sunday School, but my impression of the woman at the well was always negative. I mean, she had five husbands so to my childhood mind back then, anyone who had five husbands couldn't be good! For some reason, I never thought of her situation to be not her fault. I mean seriously, why did becoming a widow, abandonment or abuse never get brought up at all in Sunday School? Reading this book put that story in a totally different light and helped me to understand her a whole lot better.

I felt so sorry for Marah throughout the book. To be forced to marry at the age of 13 is just unthinkable. You're barely out of your childhood and then forced to become a married woman. Her aunt was NOT a nice character so it was good that she had Hannah as a surrogate mother to help her out throughout the years. Each man that she ends up with brings other joy or unhappiness for Marah. However with each husband, we see how she is able to adapt and begin a new life for herself, no matter how much heartbreak or sorrow she had felt before. I don't think I could have been as strong as she had been and I admired her greatly for it. The situation with Shimei was rather interesting. The issue mostly likely did happen back during that time period but it would have been taboo and never brought up in polite society. It was totally unexpected to read in the book but it does shed light on the lives of people during that time.

Taylor does her research for this book and it's a wonderful blend of history, Biblical fact, and a page turning story. If you're a Biblical fiction fan, you will enjoy this book for its rich storytelling and descriptive narrative. If you're not a fan of Biblical fiction because you think that it's sacrilegious to add things to the Bible, you will still enjoy this book. Everything from the scene at the well is included in this story keeping that whole passage intact. What Taylor does though, is draw out the story and helps you to understand what exactly Marah was going through and why she became a believer.

It's one of the best Biblical fiction novels I've read this year and I hope to read more of Taylor's works in the future. HIGHLY recommended.

This book was 25 years in the making. The author paints an amazing story which will take you back in time - a time when Jesus lived. I have to admit I had always thought of the 'woman at the well' to be a woman of poor moral character. Diana describes a tale of a faithful woman, a woman after God's own heart, who is thrust into circumstances beyond her control. How quickly people judge someone without knowing all the facts...but once all the facts are known, and they can't pin it to one bad choice that brought about all the bad luck. People start to speculate things or imagine stuff. You can't win - especially back then. There is no redemption except through Jesus. Forgiveness, love, compassion...those are just a few things Marah finds at Jacob's well that day.

The author not only tells the tale of Marah and how women were treated back then, but she also tells of other characters that could have or did intersect with her life. Some of the people discussed at length were Reba, Zibeon, Shimei, Jessie, Hamon, Ahmal and Jesus. To me, a good book brings the bible to life in a very creative way. I love that it caused me to turn to scripture and see what else I can glean from its pages. Diana Wallis Taylor walks you through Jesus' time customs and the many people he met and healed along the way. After reading "Journey to the Well", scripture will come alive for you and you'll find yourself (like I did) digging though its pages and coming to your own conclusions of what could have happened back then.



Finding Hope Through Fiction
[...]

I downloaded this novel because it was offered promotional and free. I got so much more than I imagined. Not only was the book historically accurate, it gave such insight to the period and lifestyles of the time. I was so drawn into the story that when Marah met Jesus I found myself crying with joy. I was overcome with happiness at the prospect of coming face to face with our Lord that I found myself anxious to be given the same opportunity.

Marah's life before meeting Jesus is of course speculation for those of us who didn't know her, but I like to think it played out much like Diana Wallis Taylor has designed.

I have a confession to make. I should be working on a writing project but have been side tracked for the last few days. Needing a reprieve from the subject matter I had been researching, I half heartily scanned my yet-to-be-read books and hoped one would jump out at me. As a lover of Biblical fiction, I couldn't resist choosing Journey to the Well and settled in for what I needed to be a good read.

When the Bible mentions the woman at the well and her interaction with Jesus, we immediately paint a mental picture of a woman living in sin. Shame on her. Taylor offers another more realistic scenario after a God inspired plot and much research formed to become Journey to the Well. As accurate as any title can be, it nails the synopsis of the novel in four words. What circumstances have transpired in her life that causes the woman at the well to require an almost urgent meeting with Jesus? What events in her life have brought her to the desperate crossroads she finds herself at? Her journey there is as important as the actual meeting of Jesus, and Taylor tells the story with vivid detail and rich descriptions.

Journey to the Well is a smooth stroll along the pathway of one woman, accentuated by the many characters that enter her life. With an unexpected ending, you have the perfect wrap up to a fascinating and sometimes sad story. I found it easy to get emotionally invested in the story and can guarantee I will never say "Shame on you" again when I hear someone mention the woman at the well.

I love Biblical fiction. It's my baby-my pride and joy. I read it, review it and edit it whenever I can. Journey is an exquisite buffet of heartache and redemption while demonstrating how a meeting with the Savior really does change lives.

I will return to my writing project now after a much needed break, but somehow, I know my mind will remain on the woman for a few more days. This was a well written, well portrayed person. I won't easily be forgetting her.

This was a nice read and I was very interested in what would happen next. The author did a good job in describing the times and interesting details of life in Samaria in the days Jesus walked the earth. I think it was a huge stretch of imagination to paint this un-named "woman at the well" as an innocent victim of her times. I suppose we want to give her a plausible explanation for all these husbands and living with a man who is not her husband. Then again, maybe she really was a woman of less noble character- perhaps no less a victim of her times- but saved by grace when Jesus took the time to meet her where she was and love her anyway. The book was nicely done but I think when reading it, we need to not take too seriously the supposition of innocence. Jesus came for the lost and dying, the unloved, the unwanted, the shunned of society. Just something to keep in mind here.

We are told in the bible to judge not least ye be judged the same. Unfortunately few people take that teaching to heart. I loved this book because it drives home that message.
I thoroughly enjoyed the look into what might have been the life of the Samaritan woman at the well. Her life could have been any of ours. It should give us all pause that we to could become the unwarranted recipient of such community degradation as this woman went through.
This is a well written riveting story and I highly recommend this book.