Customer Reviews

Sarah (Canaan Trilogy, Book 1)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I so much enjoyed "Sarah" that I read it in twenty-four hours. The day before I read the "Red Tent". If you are searching for a historically accurate portrayal of the story of Sarah and Abraham you won't find it here. What you will find is an entertaining historical novel focusing on the women in biblical times. The male author does a really good job (contrary to one reviewers opinion) of writing in a famale voice. I felt he understood the trials and tribulations of women at that time very well. This book is about Sarah so to say it would have been better if it had been written about another character is ludicrous. The ongoing debate between reviewers about the relationship between Sarah and Abraham is also ludicrous given that there is no way to know exactly if they were related or not. The Bible is filled with historical inaccuracies and exaggerations as it was written by men who had an agenda of their very own to protect. The point I'm trying to make here is that this is a fictionalized version of the story of Sarah and Abraham. It is enjoyable, fast paced and gives an overview of life at that time. If you are looking for biblical truths you won't find it here and no amount of arguing will change that.

I really enjoyed this novel--it's not only entertaining as an afternoon read, it gives the reader a lot to think about without ever being didactic.

Ignore the reviewers who argue over whether Sarah was Abraham's sister (they had a child together, so I'm guessing that unless the Bible sanctions incest, they were not. And honestly people, did you even bother to READ the book?)

This is a very well-written book that takes a look at the life and times of an influential woman, without ever losing sight of her essential humanity and the beauty of her spirit. Sarah's constant wrangling with God's will and with whether or not to believe in an invisible God speaks a great deal to what all of us deal with in our own lives, even if we don't go to church or synagogue regularly. It's also a terrific love story between a very intelligent, mystical, headstrong man, Abraham, and his bold, intelligent, practical wife, Sarah. I am glad to see a book that celebrates the love a man can have for a woman who is not only beautiful, but who challenges his worldviews and acts as a total partner with him in his journey to find God. I highly recomment this book to anyone who likes a good novel, especially a historical one.

There are so many "stories from the Bible" novels out there right now, and I have read most of them, but Sarah really stands out from the crowd, and while it's based in the Biblical story, it never hits you over the head with religious dogma.

Sarah is really the story of the journey of Sarai from a pampered daughter of a rich lord to the wife of the nomadic prophet Abraham of the book of Genesis. She's known for her beauty, but is remarkably gutsy and intelligent, and acts as a full partner to the charismatic and determined Abraham. There's a wonderful love story to be found in these pages, the love of two bold and adventurous people who risk everything for each other and for what they believe in.

The descriptions in this book are marvellous, from the opening pages in the great Babylonian city of Ur to the palaces of the Pharaoah and the wide open fields of Canaan. The author has a talent for bringing places and people to life without loading down his work with lots of adjectives and flights of fancy--all the images are vivid and real, and it makes for a great "curl up and enjoy" kind of read.

This book cover caught my eye and the quote on the cover comparing it to The Red Tent convinced me to buy it. I too read this book in 24 hours, not because it was engrossing but because it seemed to lack substance and depth. The problem has nothing to do with the fact that it was biblically inaccurate; The Red Tent was not very accurate either starting with the Leah character whose eyes, according to the old testament, were her best feature, not an abomination. It was the fact that the plot focused almost entirely on Sarai's beauty and her lamentations of all the hardships it cost her. The plot was very underdeveloped and full of holes. The Sarai character came across as incredibly vain and was not very endearing. There were also not a lot of details about the setting. There was a lot of mention of various gods but not a lot a lot about the culture it seemed. What I liked most about The Red Tent was the lush detail and the sense of a world come alive. All the small things from the preparation of meals to the varying tasted of the different kinds of beer served to the men really drew you into the story. It elicited an emotional response from me where as Sarah did not. If I had not read The Red Tent a couple times before I read Sarah maybe I would have enjoyed it more, but as it stands, this book came across more as a fluffy romance novel than a piece of historical fiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read of "Sarah" by Marek Halter. Based on the Bible story of Abraham, who through the miracle of God's voice, led the Hebrews through years of wandering the desert and the trials and tribulations they faced. This novel is told though not through the eyes of Abraham, but through the eyes of his wife Sarai(Sarah), who's inner strength and powerful wisdom may have been the inspiration of countless generations to follow.

In days of long ago, in times of wondrous miracles, and beliefs in pleasing the Gods, and when women were not treated as highly as men, Sarai, the daughter of a wealthy man was destined to marry the man picked for her by her father. At only 12, she was the apple of her father's eye for the beauty she was. But there was more to Sarai then just her beauty. After being subjected to a humiliating bathing ritual, in front of her intended husband, Sarai, perhaps the first to defy her father runs off to the town below her luxurious home, and meets Abram, a man who in class is below the standards set by Sarai's family,but one who will dominate her thoughts for years to come. She also drinks a potion that will make her barren and unwanted by the man her father has chosen.Years later, she has grown into a woman of unmatched beauty and considered a High Priestess. One that has power to bless the men going off to war. Once again Abram comes into her life, and she leaves her people to share a life with him. A life of wandering and miracles.

The story follows the lives of Sarah and Abraham(names God has given them),their great love for each other and others such as Lot , Eliezer and Hagar. How Abraham's followers put their complete faith in him even through the toughest of times. And Sarah although a tower of strength and miracle of nature(with beauty never fading), Halter gives her a very human side as well, sometimes with anger or jealousy. Her journeys take her from riches to rags to riches and back again.

The book is a fast and enjoyable read. Sarah's story was that of a woman to lead and to be admired. I thought there were many instances that although took place and were specific to ancient times, could be made into a story for modern times. Times change, but people are people. It(paperback edition) also has a Q & A with the Author, and a guide for group discussion. This book is the first of a trilogy of novels based on women from the bible, followed by "Zipporah", and "Lilah". After reading this one, I'll say that although based on stories from the Bible, these are no Sunday School lessons. The material is quite adult, akin to a romance novel. Also included in the book is a nice map to follow the long journeys.

Enjoy the read.....Laurie

also recommended:
ECHOES
Semele: A Novel
Ethan Frome

This book was better than I expected it to be, but then again I was not expecting all that much. Like other reviewers have noted, this is not a factual read. It is what I like to call a "theological fantasy". Characters are based on real individuals and events albeit loosely at times. The story is told from Sarah's perspective and the male author does a very good job using the feminine voice. I'll be perfectly honest in letting you know that I did not even know that it was a male author until I had finished the book - I simply had not read the author bio nor had I noticed his picture on the book jacket. The only thing that I really did not like too much about this book was that the author -at times - made Sarah seem incredibly self centered and vain (bordering on conceited). Worth taking out of the library if you are interested theological fantasy.

Marek Halter's SARAH is already a bestseller in France and has been translated into ten languages. The debut of SARAH in the United States will lend credence to Halter's sensitive treatment of women in the Bible. His plans for the two subsequent books in the trilogy are the stories of Zipporah and Lilah, lesser known than Sarah, wife of Abraham, but with tremendous impact on the shaping of society.

SARAH is the story of civilization's first rebellious teenager who became one of the world's most powerful women. An interview with the author reveals that he sees his women as those "beside," not "behind" great men. The book emphasizes Sarah's working side by side with Abraham to create a life filled with his religious beliefs. Sarah was not a believer in Abraham's God until late, after her early mistakes came back to haunt her unfulfilled life.

SARAH begins in the region now known as Iraq, the cradle of history, between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. The region was then known as Sumeria and the city-state where Sarai lived was known as Ur. She is the daughter of a powerful lord of Ur, a beautiful child who comes to womanhood in the first chapter. Her father arranges a marriage with a suitable man when she is twelve years old. The young girl is terrified of the prospects of the marriage bed and flees. Overnight, she runs from safety in the walled city to unknown terrors beyond it. On a riverbank she meets Abram, a poor but exotic member of a nomadic tribe. She spends the night with him and longs for his kiss. But soldiers discover her in the morning and return her to her father's house.

Halter has a unique way of entering his heroine's mindset and allowing the reader to see and feel the turmoil swimming in her head. Sarai's beauty is the quality that sets her apart from other women and allows her to once again return to family's favor. But her fate rests solely with her father. He again arranges a marriage, not as opulent with preparation as the first. Sarai is terrified. She cannot erase the memory of her night with the young nomad, Abram. Terrified, she sneaks away, buys a powerful potion from a witch and drinks it. She has made herself barren, unfit to wed. She becomes the powerful priestess of the god, Ishtar, idolized by residents of the entire city. During this period she meets Abram for the second time and follows her heart to remain with him.

The Bible has inspired Halter with stories of its feminine heroines. He feels that women were at times the true founders of world history. He takes liberty with Sarai's life, introducing stories about her that cannot be documented. But the sensual, exotic role she plays in Abram's story is one of both support and leadership. Aloof at times, her beauty both enhances and betrays her power in her newfound home. She has qualities that all humankind possesses: tenderness, love, jealousy, self-loathing, self-servitude, kindness and leadership. Sarai becomes Sarah, in final recognition of her husband's one God.

SARAH is the story of a modern woman, one who learns and profits from her mistakes. From her experiences, she is able to lend strength to the others in her care. This is a story of desire, intense emotion and consequences of sins committed to justify those feelings. I look forward to reading the second and third books in the Canaan Trilogy. Halter's message is one of hope for future generations through reflections upon a rich past.

--- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad

I was so disappointed by this book. I read a review somewhere that said if you liked the Red Tent you will love Sarah. I cannot disagree more. The book was just flat. The characters were not well developed and the plot dragged. There was so much made of Sarah's beauty it was daunting to get through the chapters. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

I read the book last night in about four hours. It was well-written enough that I wanted to see what happened next, and after finishing Lawrence's Women in Love, this was a welcome break.
It's a quick and entertaining read, but do not expect it to bring anything new to the table. This type of story has been written many times before in historical fiction, both biblical and general, including perhaps most famously The Red Tent. Also, you might be interested in reading James Michener's The Source since that book addresses the changing religions and their development in the same general area.
There was much more time and detail focused on Sarai's childhood, and early adulthood. It is not until about halfway through the novel that Abram leaves his father's tribe, and starts his wanderings westward. Their actual marriage could have been developed a bit more, since they don't actually seem to interact that much as a couple outside of sex (for example, in the later parts of the novel, Abram and Sarai go for long periods without speaking).
That said, as long as it is only seen as a quick,easy, fun read, the novel delivers and satisfies.

The story was good, but I think the English translation leaves much to be desired. The wording is very simple at times, and the descriptions are just not that imaginative. I found some glaring typos in the paperback edition. Furthermore, (I'm nit-picking a little, I know) "the small of her back" was way overused, and the phrase has lost all of its romantic power for me now.

Like I said, the story was good, but I was expecting (as mentioned on the cover) that this book would be similar to the Red Tent (which I loved). Plain and simple: There are similarities between the two books, but Sarah doesn't have the same language and descriptions.