In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
★: Didn't Like it
★★: It was Ok
★★★: Liked it
★★★★: Really liked it
★★★★★: It was amazing
Suggested Age: 18+
Genre:Biblical Fiction, Christian Fiction
I’m really not sure where to start with this review. I guess I’ll say—I LOVED the cover. I just wasn’t very crazy about the story.
I read quite a bit of historical fiction and Biblical fiction. I’m fine with fillers to the story but this stuff was kind of farfetched. Nowhere in the Bible does it mention that Boaz had another wife and children. I probably could have overlooked that but I also felt that some of the language wasn’t very—fitting. I don’t think “bumpkin” and “hussy” fits well in this type of story. I really can’t imagine Boaz even kidding with Ruth about her being a hussy…I think my jaw dropped when I read that. It feels too modern and out of place.
I also thought similes were overused and everyone in this story was nauseous over every little situation they faced in life. They were nauseous from heat or embarrassment or from hunger. These poor folks needed a prescription for Zofran…just saying.
Further, Ruth nearly died in every chapter it seems. This lady had very little luck. Heatstroke, hemorrhage, smoke inhalation…you name it and she nearly died from it.
I was also bothered that Ruth was credited as writing some of the poetry found in Song of Solomon—I’m not a Bible scholar so maybe I’m wrong but I’ve never read any inclination that Ruth was responsible for the poetry from the Song of Solomon. I read the author’s note on this matter but it still just didn’t resonate with me.
The swift point of view change from that of Ruth to Solomon and David was also rather abrupt. These are simply my views. You may read the book and love it. I won’t say that others shouldn’t read the book—simply that it was not a book that I particularly enjoyed.
