Love Amid the Ashes

Title: LOVE AMID THE ASHES
Author: Mesu Andrews
Publisher: Revell
March 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3407-7
Genre: Inspirational/biblical fiction

Grandfather Isaac has just died, and Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, has been promised to one of Esau’s descendents, Job’s son. But as the family is packing up, Jacob and Esau are fighting like cats and dogs over Isaac’s belongings, and they both refuse to pay the brides price or give a dowry for Dinah, a woman “defiled”.

When Dinah accompanies Job to Uz to marry his son, she arrives just in time for a messenger to arrive telling Job that all his children have died…

If you read the scriptures or attend Sunday School (in most churches) you are familiar with the biblical story of Job. This is a fictionalized retelling of that true account, but I’m not sure how accurate it is.

Biblical fiction is not my favorite genre. It’s probably among my least favorites. I’d rather read the Bible’s account, in most cases, than a fictionalized retelling. There are a few exceptions though. However, this one is not one of my favorite biblical fictions. Still, it was well-written, and interesting. Dinah was realistic, still in mourning for her husband—years after he was murdered—and virtually shunned by her family—despite the fact that they caused a lot of her problems. My heart went out to her. And I wanted her to find happiness—.

Well, I’ll say no more. But if you like biblical fiction, then LOVE AMID THE ASHES is a book that you’ll want to read. The author’s notes at the end of the book are interesting reading as well. $14.99. 411 pages.