"Havah: The Story of Eve" Review

She knew the earth when it was perfect...

 

 

Made by God in a manner like no other, she lived in utter peace without flaw in paradise until one fateful decision changed everything. Now, all humanity suffers for her mistake. But what did it feel like then to first sin and be exiled, to see all innocence crumble so vividly, and a strange new world take its place?

Experience the epic dawn of mankind through the eyes and heart of Eve—the woman first known as Havah.



About the Author: Tosca Lee is author of the critically acclaimed and extensively-awarded novels Demon: A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve. A sought-after speaker and former Mrs. Nebraska, she continues to work for local charities and as a senior consultant for a global consulting firm. Tosca holds a degree in English and International Relations from Smith College and also studied at Oxford University. She enjoys travel, cooking, history, and theology, and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.

For more information about Havah, please click here.


My Take:
 
The selection for August for my Book Club was Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee, and, fortunately, it was also available for review from B&H Books through Netgalley.
 
I was a little reluctant going into reading this book because I am not a huge fan of fictional stories about Biblical people. In the past, I have had to be cautious because when I go back and read the account from the Bible, I tend to see the fictional story in my head. That's not necessarily a horrible thing, but I also don't like to get the fictional story mixed up with what has been given in the true account from God's Word.
 
Because of that, I'm not sure I enjoyed Havah as much as I might have if I was someone who enjoyed speculative fiction.
 
Overall, I thought the novel was well-written, even though it was rather graphic in its telling. The descriptions of life in the Garden of Eden were beautiful, and the realities that Adam and Eve had to have faced after being removed from the garden were told in gritty detail. However, I could have done with fewer descriptions of their bodily functions. I would also not recommend this novel for younger readers due to some intimate details that are given.

For me, this novel was a bit long and drawn-out, but I do understand that the author had a lot of ground to cover! One thing that I also didn't understand was Eve's actual relationship with God towards the end of her life. She seemed to believe that they would all be going back to God in heaven after they all died (including Cain), but it was not clear why that would actually happen. Had she been restored to a relationship with God through faith? According to the novel, I wasn't really sure.

I guess that there were just things about this book that I liked and things that I didn't. It was interesting to read about Adam and Eve's lives before and after the Fall. The contrast between the Garden and living out on their own was monumental - I really felt their loss and despair. However, this well-done contrast came with gritty descriptions and other aspects of the novel that, while mostly appropriate, are not something I enjoy reading on a regular basis.

If you enjoy speculative fiction and vivid descriptions, then I would recommend this book. And let me know what you think!

I will give Havah ... 3 BookWorms.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from B&H Books through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."