In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar: A Book Review

In the Field of Grace
Author: Tessa Afshar
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: River North
Release Date: 2014
Pages: 304
Source: My State Public Library

Synopsis: Destitute, grief-stricken, and unwanted by the people of God, Ruth arrives in Israel with nothing to recommend her but Naomi's, love. Her loftiest hope is to provide enough food to save Naomi and herself from starvation.

But God has other plans for her life. While everyone considers Ruth an outcast, she is astounded to find one of the most honored men of Judah showing her favor. Long since a widower and determined to stay that way, Boaz is irresistibly drawn to the foreign woman with the haunted eyes. He tells himself he is only being kind to his Cousin Naomi's chosen daughter when he goes out of his way to protect her from harm, but his heart knows better.

Based on the biblical account of Ruth, In the Field of Grace is the story of a love that ultimately changes the course of Israel's destiny and the future of the whole world.

My Review: In the Field of Grace is a retelling of the Book of Ruth. Ruth is a Moabite woman who is often neglected by her family. One day, an Israelite woman named Naomi strikes up a friendship with her and encourages her to marry her son, Mahlon. Ruth marries him and has a comfortable marriage. Mahlon teaches Ruth to read and write. When he and his brother die suddenly, Naomi decides to return to her homeland. Ruth leaves her home and false gods to follow Naomi into a foreign land.

Ruth is one of my favorite books in the Bible. Ruth’s story is one of loyalty, compassion, and sacrifice. Mrs. Afshar’s Ruth is not only a faithful retelling of the Bible, but it also fills in some of the missing pieces in the story. We get a fleshed-out backstory of Ruth. In this story, Ruth feels like an outsider to her family. It is Naomi and Mahlon who makes her feel like she belongs. She is loyal to Naomi because she was the first woman who showed her kindness. It is because of Naomi’s goodness that Ruth is willing to make her sacrifice and live in a foreign land that is hostile to foreigners. I also like how Ruth was also such a hard worker who worked tirelessly to provide for herself and Naomi.

I also like how Boaz was also a fully fleshed-out character. Boaz is a man who was burdened by the grief of the loss of his wife and children. However, he falls for Ruth because she also has known grief. It is through Ruth’s goodness and compassion that Boaz finally learns to love again. Even though they both have known loss, they are able to love one another and find faith in God.

Overall, this novel is about loyalty, courage, and determination. The message of the book is to trust God. I found all the characters to be realistic. My favorite character was Dinah. She was a fun and snarky character. I liked how Mrs. Afshar made ancient Israel come alive. Even though this was a short novel, there were some parts of the book that I thought were drawn out. Nevertheless, In the Field of Grace is a light and sweet love story! I recommend this for fans of Ruth, Redeeming Grace, and Unshaken: The Biblical Story of Ruth!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer by Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein: A Book Review

Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer Author: Samuel Noah Kramer and Diane Wolkstein Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Religion, Mythology Publisher: Harper Perennial Release Date: 1983 Pages: 256 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: With the long-awaited publication of this book, we have for the first time in any modern literary form one of the most vital and important of ancient myths—that of Inanna, the world’s first goddess of recorded history and the beloved deity of the ancient Sumerians. The stories and hymns of Inanna (known to the Semites as Ishtar) are inscribed on clay tablets which date back to 2,000 B.C. Over the past forty years, these cuneiform tablets have gradually been restored and deciphered by a small group of international scholars. In this groundbreaking book, Samuel Noah Kramer, the preeminent living expert on Sumer, and Diane Wolkstein, a gifted storyteller and folklorist, have retranslated, order...

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The AncientWorld by Adrienne Mayor: A Book Review

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The Ancient World Author: Adrienne Mayor Genre: Nonfiction, History Publisher: Princeton University Press Release Date: 2014 Pages: 530 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: Amazons—fierce warrior women dwelling on the fringes of the known world—were the mythic archenemies of the ancient Greeks. Heracles and Achilles displayed their valor in duels with Amazon queens, and the Athenians reveled in their victory over a powerful Amazon army. In historical times, Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and the Roman general Pompey tangled with Amazons. But just who were these bold barbarian archers on horseback who gloried in fighting, hunting, and sexual freedom? Were Amazons real? In this deeply researched, wide-ranging, and lavishly illustrated book, National Book Award finalist Adrienne Mayor presents the Amazons as they have never been seen before. This is the first comprehensive account of warrio...

Interview with Paula Margulies

Today, I have the opportunity to interview Paula Margulies. She has recently wrote a novel about Pocahontas called Favorite Daughter, Part One , which won an Editor’s Choice Award at the 24th Annual San Diego State University Writer’s Conference. The story creates a different perspective to the American heroine. It is told in first person narrative, and it is how Pocahontas at a young age embarks through the many changes of her life. By doing so she transforms into a strong, courageous, wise woman. I am very pleased that she took the time to grant me this interview and to generously donate a copy of her novel to the giveaway. I look forward to reading her books in the future, and check back for my review of Favorite Daughter’s Part One soon. This interview is to give readers insight about her and her novel. Thank you, Mrs. Margulies. 1. Where and when do you write? In my home office mostly, although I try to sneak away to artist residencies whenever ...

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