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felinity's review
3.0
It's really 3.5 stars. I liked the book, but the main reason is that the story ends with Rachel's wedding, a week after Leah's, and despite being published in 2004, the next book has not yet been written. The result is that this book is much more fictionalized than the others because so little is recorded in the Bible about the seven years when Jacob was first working for Rachel and the interesting parts come *after* this point.
nadoislandgirl's review against another edition
3.0
An alternative take on the classic Bible story. I didn't really buy the relationships portrayed in this novel, but an interesting read nonetheless.
raejeanr's review
2.0
I was hoping to like this book, but there were several "too much info" moments. The main characters were really hard to like, even though they improved at the end and it's a conceivable back story to the bible account. I was hard to see what Jacob would see in either one of them most of the time.
boureemusique's review
3.0
I really liked this book, but I couldn't give it a four because it made me angry. The resolution of how Rachel and Leah both became wives of Jacob was upsetting, and the way Jacob is a know-it-all perfect human being until, arguably, the end, was infuriating. It's hard to tell if this or The Red Tent was more accurate. I know many people's dislike of RT - too fairy tale, too perfect, etc. I think if you're interested in the women of Genesis in a historical fiction context, both books are worth your time. Just try not to take it too seriously.
Card's own religious philosophy shone through in a lot of the religious conversations between Jacob and Leah, and that was interesting to me. I also enjoyed reading the Afterword, where he thanks his wife and talks about friends and such. Despite relative doozies like Treasure Box, Card is still near the top of his game :-)
Card's own religious philosophy shone through in a lot of the religious conversations between Jacob and Leah, and that was interesting to me. I also enjoyed reading the Afterword, where he thanks his wife and talks about friends and such. Despite relative doozies like Treasure Box, Card is still near the top of his game :-)
jillreads77's review
4.0
I listened to this book and I really loved Emily Card's reading. She really brought personality to all the characters. I love the Card's interpretation of Racheal and Leah and how they both end up marrying Jacob. Though he clarifies what is fact and what is fiction, it is interesting to think about the women and their motivations to be the way they were.
rebeccabateman's review
2.0
Blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, moan.
For more insight into my feelings for the books of this series, see my reviews for [b:Sarah Women of Genesis] and [b:Rebekah|7966|Rebekah|Orson Scott Card|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317064210s/7966.jpg|2176569]. After reading one, the others feel like the same characters reincarnate.
One may wonder, if these books cause me such irritation, why I continue to read them. OSC does bring a unique perspective to these stories and his offerings may have some validity. His development (limited though it may be) of these women will help in my gospel studies as I seek to differentiate them. I had never before taken the time to think about Leah, the mother of Judah and ancestor of Jesus Christ, let alone Zilpah and Bilhah, Mothers of the Children of Israel. They are now clear as individuals in my mind. I just wish I didn't think about them with petulance.
Were it not for the frankness of the wedding night festivities and the emphasis on child-bearing, this would make fairly decent reading for early teens. After all, it reads like a Disney Chanel After School Special script: moody, whiny girls and sensitive, yet confused, men who aren't sure how to respond to those females. The dialogues are anachronistic, sappy and contrived... And sometimes horrible.
My favorite horrible line: "It's a world of wombs and men who are panting to make use of them." Eeegghh.
For a slight moment, I thought OSC was about to create a wonderfully symbolic visual when Leah anointed her eyes with mud. A more sophisticated writer would have used this opportunity to show the symbolic awareness and "sight" Leah would receive. Unfortunately, he never went there.
For more insight into my feelings for the books of this series, see my reviews for [b:Sarah Women of Genesis] and [b:Rebekah|7966|Rebekah|Orson Scott Card|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317064210s/7966.jpg|2176569]. After reading one, the others feel like the same characters reincarnate.
One may wonder, if these books cause me such irritation, why I continue to read them. OSC does bring a unique perspective to these stories and his offerings may have some validity. His development (limited though it may be) of these women will help in my gospel studies as I seek to differentiate them. I had never before taken the time to think about Leah, the mother of Judah and ancestor of Jesus Christ, let alone Zilpah and Bilhah, Mothers of the Children of Israel. They are now clear as individuals in my mind. I just wish I didn't think about them with petulance.
Were it not for the frankness of the wedding night festivities and the emphasis on child-bearing, this would make fairly decent reading for early teens. After all, it reads like a Disney Chanel After School Special script: moody, whiny girls and sensitive, yet confused, men who aren't sure how to respond to those females. The dialogues are anachronistic, sappy and contrived... And sometimes horrible.
My favorite horrible line: "It's a world of wombs and men who are panting to make use of them." Eeegghh.
For a slight moment, I thought OSC was about to create a wonderfully symbolic visual when Leah anointed her eyes with mud. A more sophisticated writer would have used this opportunity to show the symbolic awareness and "sight" Leah would receive. Unfortunately, he never went there.
t2p's review
1.0
I really liked the first two books of this series, but the story of Jacob's wives is just hard for me, and the fictionalized version wasn't any easier. Maybe if I pick it up later I can finish it, but I'm just not feeling it right now.