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Loading... Two Women Of Galilee (edition 2007)by Mary Rourke
Work InformationTwo Women Of Galilee by Mary Rourke
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. The two woman are Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Joanna, the wife of the Herod's chief steward Chuza. Joanna only gets a brief mention in the Bible, but here the author has her tell her story in detail. Along the way she does a great job of capturing the historial feel of the first century. Joanna is also a believable character, from her motivation to meet Jesus because of a personal illness to her subsequent support of his ministry. Her life changes drastically, but she finds something she was missing along the way. The only quibble I had with this book was the words the author put in Jesus' mouth (always a risky proposition). I wasn't sure about the message she seemed to be trying to push there, that it was a genuine "Jesus" message. But of course that is a matter of my own opinion, the rest of the story was wonderful and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical/Biblical fiction. no reviews | add a review
Seeking to restore health to her lungs, Joanna, wife to Herod's chief steward, approaches her cousin Mary, mother of the healer Jesus. Though their families were estranged when Joanna's parents adopted Roman ways, Mary welcomes her graciously. Jesus indeed heals Joanna's body...and her soul blossoms through her friendship with Mary and with her work as one of his disciples. But as word of Jesus' miracles reaches King Herod's court, intrigue, treachery and murder cast shadows onto Joanna's new path, changing her life forever. No library descriptions found. |
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After her healing she gets a renewed sense of her Jewish heritage, and she becomes a follower of the great teacher, a move fraught with danger in the Roman world that she lives. As Jesus moves toward his fate, Joanna is caught between the Roman world, where her loyalties are in question. Herod is mad - and has no respect for life - or for loyalty - in fact loyalty is often repaid in death.
Mary Rourke tells the Crucifixion story, but from a social point of view - rather than spiritual - she writes about human relationships and the politics of the time is kept in the background - and no doctrine is rammed down the readers throat. It is a very easy to read and gentle tale with a respectable mix of religion, suspense, murder and romance. ( )