The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy
First I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the author of this extraordinary novel,
Eva Etzioni-Halevy, for sending me this book. If it had not been for her, I may have never had the honour of reading it.
This is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction. Etzioni-Halevy has created a richly laid out account of the woman known as Deborah, and she is heralded as one of the greatest judges and female leaders of biblical times. But this is not the main reason why I loved it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, strong woman, good role model... yadda.... but it is BARAK who is the real page turning force in this book. SEEERIOUSLY. I kept picturing Gerard Butler in the part, but you can pick any swoon-worthy man you like. I mean, he must have been HAWT. Every single female was practically throwing themselves at his hottie-hot-hot muscular feet, and it was through his eyes, or should I say, naughty bits, that we are propelled through this story. Wow. What a man. And a BAD boy, but not TOO bad. There were times where I thought he was a total creep, a cretin, a letch. And other times when I thought he was somewhat honorable. He was kind of like Warren Beatty, if you get my meaning, who was on the search for his Annette Benning but doesn't know it yet. I am not sure why the book is called The Triumph of Deborah, when really the entire story revolves around Barak, but I am not complaining. Not me. Not one bit.
Okay, but OTHER than THAT. This book is absolutely stunning in its writing. Etzioni-Halevy is an extremely talented writer who successfully weaves several lives together and knows when to leave one character and visit another, and you are taken from storyline to storyline seamlessly and with nary a jarring scene change. I simply could not put it down. There is plenty of historical content, but set against a backdrop of the relationships of Barak, Asherah, Nogah and Deborah, it is anything but dull or dry. It is as vibrant and colorful as the rugs that lined the tents of Deborah. It is as gilded as the great Judges chair upon which she sat. It is as fragrant as the spices that laced the wine. In short, it is FANTASTIC.
I can give it none other than a very exhuberant 5 OUT OF 5.
I am now going to rush out and read the other two of her novels: The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth!
You can read more about the author and her works along with great interviews with her on
her website.
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