Riveting Biblical fiction: "In the Field of Grace" by Tessa Afshar
Courtesy of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, check out an introduction and my review of "In the Field of Grace" by Tessa Afshar:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.
ABOUT THE BOOK
But God has other plans for her life. While everyone considers Ruth an outcast, she is astounded to find one of the most honored men of Judah showing her favor. Long since a widower and determined to stay that way, Boaz is irresistibly drawn to the foreign woman with the haunted eyes. He tells himself he is only being kind to his Cousin Naomi's chosen daughter when he goes out of his way to protect her from harm, but his heart knows better.
Based on the biblical account of Ruth, In the Field of Grace is the story of a love that ultimately changes the course of Israel's destiny and the future of the whole world.
If you would like to read the first chapter of In The Field of Grace, go HERE.
Purchase the book here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802410979
My review....
I have read a number of different fictional accounts of Ruth and Naomi's Biblical story over the past many years, and I can say hands down that "In the Field of Grace" simply shines above the rest! Their story has been beautifully reimagined, all while faithfully following the account that has been laid out in the Bible. I absolutely enjoyed Afshar's take on Ruth, from the mistreatment she suffered at the hands of her own family, to the welcoming arms she finds with Naomi, to the blossoming that occurs as her character faces challenge after challenge and emerges all the stronger. After reading this novel, I could more easily understand why Ruth would have made the decision to leave her own land and her own people and go with Naomi. Not only that, but I loved how Ruth's relationship with God develops and how Ruth shines as an example of someone who grows from a fledgling relationship with God to one where she cannot help but draw others to God through her faith. The characters are wonderfully developed and Ruth and Boaz's story was filled both with tender moments and those that left me smiling as well. This is one of those novels that has found a permanent place on my shelf and which I will be fondly taking down to devour once again!
I leave the pages of this story with a fresh appreciation for Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, and God's faithfulness to us, his people. I highly recommend this book and award it 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and CFBA for the purposes of this unbiased review.
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