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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well researched Biblical history woven into a compelling story ..., June 23, 2006
This review is from: Magdalene (Paperback)
Miryam of Magdala is faced with a great tragedy. When she seeks justice from Rome and does not receive it, she seeks help from the spirit world. She knows as a Jew that this is forbidden. But Miryam's desire for vengeance overwhelms everything else, and soon she is controlled by demonic spirits and wandering the countryside, an outcast to everything and everyone she once held dear.
When Miryam meets the prophet Yeshua he releases her from the legion of demons that had taken control of her life. Miryam knows that only the power of God could have delivered her from her torment. She believes that Yeshua is the promised Messiah and does everything she can to help support he and his followers. Yeshua will deliver her people from the tyranny of Rome and bring justice for her family.
Miryam's story is told alternately with that of Atticus, the Roman soldier she holds responsible for the tragedy in her life. Angela Hunt was wise when she chose this method; the reader sees the story from both perspectives and yet understands the choices each character makes individually. They, like us, act only on their limited knowledge and understanding. But the consequences of their decisions affect many lives and the suspense builds as the reader begins to see what those potential consequences may be.
The end of the book is a satisfying one, although not a "fairy tale" happy ending.
I love reading well written and researched biblical fiction. It helps me see with fresh eyes and new understanding stories from the Bible I often take for granted. No longer am I an observer reading the stories from afar. I am now a participant, living the stories with the characters that experienced them.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A powerful portrait of Mary Magdalene..., November 11, 2006
This review is from: Magdalene (Paperback)
Magdalene by Angela Hunt is one of those rare, absorbing novels that grabs you from the first page and simply doesn't let go. Hunt fleshes out the biblical account of Mary Magdalene to create a fully realized woman and give a biblically based answer to the portrait of Mary painted in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Mary appears briefly in the New Testament, but at critical times. She is first mentioned in Luke 8 as being delivered from seven demons, and then following and supporting Jesus' ministry. She was at the cross when Jesus was crucified, and she was the first Jesus spoke to after the resurrection, and then she was charged with carrying the good news to his disciples.
This was a woman who was clearly present at critical times during Jesus' time on earth, but as Hunt points out in the interview included in the back of the book, she has been terribly misunderstood, and the facts of her life have been grossly misinterpreted. She has been called everything from a prostitute to the most recent outlandish claim of being Jesus' wife.
In Magdalene, Miryam is a respected businesswoman with a beloved family, until a foolish act by her oldest son brings the wrath of Rome upon her family, stripping Mary of everything she once held dear and filling her soul with an overwhelming bitterness and hate. Even after her descent into demonic possession and her miraculous deliverance through the touch of Jesus, Miryam's desire for retribution colors her perception of Jesus and his purpose on earth. Only when she discovers that God has used those who she labeled her enemies to prove his profound love and provision for her does she fully realize the meaning of forgiveness and the depth of God's grace.
Hunt constructs a fascinating portrait of Mary, posing one answer to the question -- what brought Mary so low, to the point that seven demons possessed her soul? Who was she prior to being possessed, and what was her relationship with Jesus and his ministry after her deliverance? In attempting to answer these questions, Hunt brings ancient Israel to life with dazzling color and depth. This is some of the best biblical fiction that I've ever read, on par with Francine Rivers' equally extraordinary Lineage of Grace and Sons of Encouragement novellas. Through Mary, Hunt paints a beautiful portrait of Christ's love, his redemption of mankind, and of his ability to reach us where we're at, no matter how far we've fallen.
In addition to Magdalene, two other novels telling the story of Mary Magdalene have been released: the contemporary retelling Divine by Karen Kingsbury and the young adult novel Maggie's Story by Dandi Daley Mackall. Personally, I have no desire to read The Da Vinci Code or see the film. But I am profoundly glad that Hunt was inspired to write such a beautiful, moving novel. Highly recommended.
References: Mary Magdalene; former demoniac (Luke 8:2). Helped support Jesus' ministry (Luke 8:1-3). At the cross (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25), burial (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47). Saw angel after resurrection (Matthew 28:10; Mark 16:1-9; Luke 24:1-12); also Jesus (John 20:1-18).
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful and dramatic!, April 24, 2006
This review is from: Magdalene (Paperback)
In Angela Hunt's latest book, Magdalene, readers are drawn back in time to experience the life of Mary Magdalene. Because of the actions of her strong-willed son, she finds herself alone after Roman soldiers murder her family members and set her house on fire. Mary sees no purpose in continuing with life other than bringing justice to the men responsible for the death of her husband, son, and precious baby. The restitution she seeks is not easily gained from the Roman rulers. Mary finds herself under the influence of demon possession until she is spared from their nagging voices by a man named Jesus. What starts out as a revengeful pursuit turns into a journey of forgiveness.
If readers have never heard the story of Mary Magdalene, or even if they know every detail, Hunt has a way of drawing them in. She brings Mary's emotions to life and makes readers feel as if they are right beside her, encountering everything together. Hunt uses a fictitious format to enhance the understanding of this biblical story.
This book is intriguing from the beginning and continues to peak interest with many scenes and episodes that keep the reader desiring to discover what lies on the next page. It captures multiple audiences by appealing to those who are fans of Bible-based fiction and anyone who likes a well-written, suspense-filled novel. If you are thinking about reading this book, stop thinking about it--pick it up and be ready for a powerful, dramatic, fresh account of this often-told biblical story. -- Alyssa Curry, Christian Book Previews.com
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