Review by ~Mary
Sarai is a treat for fans of biblical fiction. I ricochet between the wants of Sarai and the needs of Abram. At times Sarai was spoiled and selfish; I understood why as Smith revealed the hardship in living in that time era and not being able to produce an heir. What an intense burden to bear, and in the end, the temptation to take matters into her own hands proved too great for Sarai.
I recognized many areas in my life that imitated Sarai's. I have tried to help God along and made a mess of things instead of counting on his faithfulness. Haven't we all? In many aspects, Sarai represents patience, or better yet, the lack of. It is a universal language we all identify with. I also have felt the remorse in making decisions I would live to regret. When Sarai offered Hagar to Abram, this changed the dynamics of their marriage forever. It introduced jealousy, anger, resentment....the very things that were missing from their union for many years. In our modern culture where polygamy is against the law, it is incomprehensible that women were forced to share their husbands. The thought alone makes one squimish; when Smith delivers a realistic version of this in her Wives of King David series and now, in Saria, it is a thought one can not escape. It is historical. It is biblical. It is fact.
Smith uncovers a time era we love to escape to and does not disappoint. You will identify with each character and have a better understanding of history when you finish reading Sarai. I am looking forward to the release of the second in the series, Rebekah, and will find it hard waiting patiently for its release next year. But then again, that's the Sarai in me.
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling author of Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, all part of the the Wives of King David series. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell (March 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800734297
ISBN-13: 978-0800734299
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
