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A review by bookishblond
Sarah by Marek Halter
3.0
Having very much enjoyed Orson Scott Card's [b:Sarah|7958|Sarah (Women of Genesis, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388190360l/7958._SY75_.jpg|1466883], I just had to grab this book when I found it for $1 in the Half Price Books clearance section. (As an aside, I say this way too frequently before negatively reviewing a book... maybe I should stop picking up so many books from those shelves!). I definitely enjoyed the Card re-telling more.
Sarah is a strange read. It is only vaguely biblical, which I appreciate in my biblical fiction/re-tellings, and very sexual, which felt authentic and not like it was written as a "gotcha." But, I was not overly invested in the story. The pacing was weird (lots of time dedicated to wandering in the wilderness, and the story ends with what perhaps is the most memorable or well-known moment of Sarah's life. I know I just said that the story was only vaguely biblical, but the story did waffle between following the biblical narrative (wandering in the desert, traveling to Egypt and meeting Pharaoh), and almost jarringly not-biblical (Sarai as a celebrated pagan priestess who we aren't sure ever accepted Abram's god).
Also... this book is a translation from the French, a fact hidden in my paperback copy. The translator was not even named, which I found strange.
Overall, a very meh book. 2.5 stars.
Sarah is a strange read. It is only vaguely biblical, which I appreciate in my biblical fiction/re-tellings, and very sexual, which felt authentic and not like it was written as a "gotcha." But, I was not overly invested in the story. The pacing was weird (lots of time dedicated to wandering in the wilderness, and the story ends with what perhaps is the most memorable or well-known moment of Sarah's life. I know I just said that the story was only vaguely biblical, but the story did waffle between following the biblical narrative (wandering in the desert, traveling to Egypt and meeting Pharaoh), and almost jarringly not-biblical (Sarai as a celebrated pagan priestess who we aren't sure ever accepted Abram's god).
Also... this book is a translation from the French, a fact hidden in my paperback copy. The translator was not even named, which I found strange.
Overall, a very meh book. 2.5 stars.