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A review by rebeccabateman
Rachel & Leah by Orson Scott Card
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.