Customer Reviews

No Woman So Fair (Lions of Judah Series #2)

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

 

 

Isn't it exciting to "stumble" on to an excellent author that you've never read before? This was the case for me with the very prolific, best selling author, Gilbert Morris.

In his 2nd book of the LIONS OF JUDAH series, Mr. Morris brings to life the Old Testament characters of Sarah, Abraham and all the others they encounter on their journey of faith.

In NO WOMAN SO FAIR, the author beautifully adds "meat to the bones" of the scriptural account of Abraham and Sarah. Even though his characters are fictional, the journey they undertake and the relationship they develop with "God Most High" is very believable and exciting, never a contradiction of the scriptural account.

We see how God tests Abraham and Sarah to mature their faith in Him. He brings to light, with fuller understanding, the lesson of how we can suffer terrible consequences when we take things into our own hands; when we "help" God with our carnal actions...we produce Ishmaels! Sarah's motives, in offering her maidservant Hagar as a host for the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham for a son, were born out of unbelief. And the afermath has been monumental. I'm sure she could never have imagined the full scope of her decision to "get ahead of God"; the consequences are in today's headlines, thousands of years later. May we truly learn from this mistake; our limited, carnal foresight is no better than Sarah's was.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I can't help but comment on the fact that, although the title certainly implies that this story's main character is Sarah, it is really about Abraham. As important as Sarah's role was in Abraham's life, she is still a relatively small aspect of the overall theme. I don't mean to criticize and I don't presume to possess the talent and writing skill that Gilbert Morris has in his little finger, but, in my opinion, the title is a little misleading. I state this at the end of my post because it isn't really that important. The story is excellent and well worth reading. I certainly intend on reading more from this much loved storyteller and hope you will too.

--- reviewed by Ginny Sutton for Christian Bookshelf

I just loved this, finished in quickly, great depiction of the bible. accurately told.
Thank you Gilbert for all of your wonderful books

Gilbert Morris brought the lives of Abraham and Sarah into the perspective of people facing God's will for their lives and having problems, as we all do, following God's will implictily.

This book is part of a set. I received the book on time and in excellent shape. It now sits on my bookcase with the others in the set.

This was a used book and not in the best of conditions. The story is based on a Bible character, but it goes on and on about a figure sho is only mentioned in one verse in the Bible. He runs a good yarn, but not very realistic.

Although I don't enjoy this book as much as part one of Gilbert Morris's Lion series, it still vibrates with the same rich characterizations, humor, and drama as the Noah book did. It brings to vivid life the Biblical characters of Abram/Abraham, Sarai/Sarah, Isaac, Hagar, Ishmael, Lot, and Eleazar. One thing that I really get from reading the book is anxiously awaiting the debut of Isaac. Although I know the book of Genesis well, and we know Abraham and Sarai wait more than half their lives from the time of their marriage for their promised child, the anticipation is still palpable. It's easy to sympathize with Sarai/Sarah as she struggles with being unable to provide a child for Abraham.

That being said, there are a few flaws with the novel. It is understandable that the author decides to leave out Lot's incestuous union with his daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, but the omission of the squeamish scene without a mention of only Lot's wife dying is still questionable. Also, I had a problem with the portrayal of Hagar in the novel. I have always sympathized with Hagar in the Bible. She is thrown out of Abraham's camp by Sarah and leaves with just her son. Morris portrays her as a very evil woman, though, which strikes me as unfair.

Apart from that, though, this book is excellent, and I recommend it highly.

I loved this book. They should have never marketed it looking like it was a book for women. It's a great story that helps you think through the life of Abraham and Sarah! I highly recommend it!

I have always enjoyed every book that I have read by Gilbert Morris very much. It is very evident that he does his research for each book that he writes. This book is right on biblically. Mr. Morris transported me into the life & times of Sarah & Abraham and into their culture and customs. It gave me a better understanding of their lives and of this biblical story. I am never disappointed whenever I pick up one of Gilbert Morris's books. I wish it was easier to get copies of his earlier books. I highly recommend this book. Thank You Gilbert Morris for giving us an outstanding book.

I usually love books by Gilbert Morris, however this one is severely flawed. When writing a novel based on a Bible character, I think it should be as accurate as possible. Yet Mr. Morris circumvents the topic that Abraham and Sarah are half-brother and sister (as stated by Abraham in Genesis 20:12-13 when justifying himself to King Abimelech). Instead, Abraham & Sarah have supposedly never met before their engagement in "No Woman So Fair". Unlikely. Also, Abraham gives a cheesy answer to the Pharaoh of Egypt as to why he stated Sarah was his sister and not his wife. In the Bible, Abraham does not answer the Pharoah, but later addresses this question when answering King Abimelech (Genesis 20:11). Christian historical and bibliographical fiction using Bible characters should be built upon what is already known, not override the truth.

The second book of the series, "A Woman So Fair", was good but did not keep me attention like "Heart of a Lion". It started out good but was slow in the middle. Thankfully, the book ended as good as the beginning, if not better. Morris stretched out the story of Abram and Sarai when a shortened version would have been enough for us to get the point. I would recommend this book but read "Heart of a Lion" about Noah first. I loaned it to my friends and they couldn't put it down.