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Eve by WM. Paul Young
From the internationally bestselling author of The Shack and Crossroads comes a rich and enthralling retelling of the story of Adam and Eve—in which Eve is not to blame.
Everyone knows the story: Eve is tricked by an evil snake and convinces Adam to go against God’s word and eat from the tree of knowledge, causing them to be exiled from the Garden of Eden. But what if Eve wasn’t to blame for humanity’s greatest fall from grace? What if Adam had betrayed Eve—plotting with the snake to convince her to take the apple before she was even “born” from his rib?
In an absorbing and artistic narrative, William Paul Young explores the gaps in the original creation story of Genesis, painting Eve as a beautiful, wise heroine, rather than the unreliable woman history has cast her to be.
Eve’s assumed responsibility for original sin has sparked a division between humans and God, male and female, that has resulted both directly and indirectly in the punishment of women through their perpetual subordination to men. Entirely different from the conversation that has been allowed to dominate our modern theological perspectives, Eve reveals that God and humans were never truly separated by exile, but rather the separation was created in our own minds.
If The Shack challenged existing paradigms regarding the nature and character of God, this compelling narrative questions the nature of humanity and our relationships with one another, fundamentally changing our understanding of a woman’s value in today’s world.
Everyone knows the story: Eve is tricked by an evil snake and convinces Adam to go against God’s word and eat from the tree of knowledge, causing them to be exiled from the Garden of Eden. But what if Eve wasn’t to blame for humanity’s greatest fall from grace? What if Adam had betrayed Eve—plotting with the snake to convince her to take the apple before she was even “born” from his rib?
In an absorbing and artistic narrative, William Paul Young explores the gaps in the original creation story of Genesis, painting Eve as a beautiful, wise heroine, rather than the unreliable woman history has cast her to be.
Eve’s assumed responsibility for original sin has sparked a division between humans and God, male and female, that has resulted both directly and indirectly in the punishment of women through their perpetual subordination to men. Entirely different from the conversation that has been allowed to dominate our modern theological perspectives, Eve reveals that God and humans were never truly separated by exile, but rather the separation was created in our own minds.
If The Shack challenged existing paradigms regarding the nature and character of God, this compelling narrative questions the nature of humanity and our relationships with one another, fundamentally changing our understanding of a woman’s value in today’s world.
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First published September 1, 2015
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About the author
William Paul Young
33 books2,498 followersWm. Paul Young is a Canadian author. Young was the oldest of four. He spend the majority of his first decade with his missionary parents in the highlands of Netherlands New Guinea (West Papua), among the Dani, a tribal people. When he was six he was sent to a boarding school.
The manuscript, that later became The Shack, was intended only for his six kids and for a handful of close friends. After multiple rejections by publishers, Young and his friends published the book under the name of their newly created publishing company. The Shack was one of the top-selling fiction books of 2008 and will be a major motion picture in Spring 2017.
Young lives in Happy Valley, Oregon with his wife and has six children and several grandchildren. He is also the author of Crossroads, Eve and the non-fiction book, Lies We Believe About God.
The manuscript, that later became The Shack, was intended only for his six kids and for a handful of close friends. After multiple rejections by publishers, Young and his friends published the book under the name of their newly created publishing company. The Shack was one of the top-selling fiction books of 2008 and will be a major motion picture in Spring 2017.
Young lives in Happy Valley, Oregon with his wife and has six children and several grandchildren. He is also the author of Crossroads, Eve and the non-fiction book, Lies We Believe About God.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,036 reviews
August 23, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I read The Shack a few years ago and was blown away by it. It was the only book I didn’t want to finish because I truly didn’t want it to end. I wanted to stay in the shack with the warm, loving God I met there. This book, Eve, was at first, extremely confusing. I couldn’t understand the culture of the new society the author wrote about. It wasn’t very well explained until further into the book. Eventually though, that storyline was superseded by the actual storyline, that of the creation and fall of humankind. I’ve always thought Eve got the short end of the stick, and it led to the misogynistic culture that has colored our entire history, and continues to help men “rule over the weaker sex”. In this book, it doesn’t completely absolve Eve of all wrongdoing; however, it doesn’t whitewash Adam into an innocent bystander who happened to get pulled into sin by his evil, corrupted counterpart. It shows the Fall happened insidiously long before the Fall written about in the Bible. As the two storylines melded, the author made it easy to see how subtle the turning from God and to the world can be, how irrevocable it can seem once you find yourself within the quagmire of having turned away from a relationship with God, and yet, how possible it is to fully return back into a relationship with our Father.
August 27, 2015
I don’t have a nice way of starting this review: I hated this book. I am a fan of Young’s The Shack. It was a fairly life-changing book for me (granted, I was eighteen at the time). I loved that the story was enjoyable to believers and non-believers alike; and I loved how it sparked debate in the Christian community – the kind of debate that had been ignored for years.
I was excited about Eve because I expected that Young had something similarly profound to say. The description promises a “refreshing conversation about the equality of men and women within the context of our beginnings.”
Instead, the vast majority of the book is taken up by an esoteric narrative that can’t decide if it wants to be fantasy, sci-fi or paranormal (and does none of these particularly well). The world-building is poorly done and I was confused for the greater part of the novel. The characters are flat and stereotypical, as is the dialogue.
When Young finally reaches the points he has to make… well, he fails to make them. I think I know what he was trying to say, but I can only assume because he never really says it, rather focusing on a retelling of the Creation story.
The book does not leave one begging to discuss ideas with others, because it leaves you confused rather than fascinated.
There are a myriad of loose ends:
1. Lily’s genome being “connected to all other human beings” – it is mentioned, but nothing ever comes of it.
2. Lily is often called “Lilith”. Nothing comes of this connection to the Jewish folklore.
3. Lily’s dark past. First, I think this was sloppy because it uses a dark reality as a plot device. Secondly, besides giving Lily a sense of worthlessness, it is never really addressed either, and the sense of worthlessness that is pervasive for much of humanity is not addressed either.
All of this is problematic, as well as the fact that the writing is done badly. It is verbose, tedious, and tautological (see what I did there). I KNOW that Young can write better, which just made this more disappointing.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited about Eve because I expected that Young had something similarly profound to say. The description promises a “refreshing conversation about the equality of men and women within the context of our beginnings.”
Instead, the vast majority of the book is taken up by an esoteric narrative that can’t decide if it wants to be fantasy, sci-fi or paranormal (and does none of these particularly well). The world-building is poorly done and I was confused for the greater part of the novel. The characters are flat and stereotypical, as is the dialogue.
When Young finally reaches the points he has to make… well, he fails to make them. I think I know what he was trying to say, but I can only assume because he never really says it, rather focusing on a retelling of the Creation story.
The book does not leave one begging to discuss ideas with others, because it leaves you confused rather than fascinated.
There are a myriad of loose ends:
1. Lily’s genome being “connected to all other human beings” – it is mentioned, but nothing ever comes of it.
2. Lily is often called “Lilith”. Nothing comes of this connection to the Jewish folklore.
3. Lily’s dark past. First, I think this was sloppy because it uses a dark reality as a plot device. Secondly, besides giving Lily a sense of worthlessness, it is never really addressed either, and the sense of worthlessness that is pervasive for much of humanity is not addressed either.
All of this is problematic, as well as the fact that the writing is done badly. It is verbose, tedious, and tautological (see what I did there). I KNOW that Young can write better, which just made this more disappointing.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2020
I normally don't look at other reviews before writing one but in this case, I am glad I did. This has to be one of the worst stories that I have come across. I will just leave it at that.
March 9, 2017
My thanks to NetGalley and Howard Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
It really broke my heart to give this one star. I really liked his book The Shack, 4.5 stars in fact. That book was completely the right book at the right time for the right reader. It was magical.
I was hoping the same thing would happen for this book. Not so much.
What I did like.
1) Eve was black. It makes sense that the mother of all people is black. If you look where human life originated, humans didn't start out looking Scandinavian. It worked.
2) The spotlight on the horrors of human trafficking. We need to seriously remember that slavery is alive and well in the world, even in America. It needs to be stopped. That this book highlights that evil is a huge positive in my book.
Now for what really brought this review to one star.
The re-write of Creation and the story of the Fall, pretending to be Biblical, but completely not being Biblical. With no notes, citations or bibliography. If you are going to challenge a SACRED TEXT, then you BETTER have some REALLY good back-up documentation. Granted, this was an ARC, maybe there was some documentation in the final copy.
I am ok with re-writes of Shakespeare, Jane Austen, classic works of literature, but NOT of a sacred text. Seriously, let's all change the Bible to fit how we think things should have gone, with no back-up. Why don't we just do the same with the Koran? We wouldn't do that, because it would be blasphemous and REALLY tick off those who value the Koran as a sacred text. It would be a violation. So why is it ok with the Bible? Open season on Christians and our belief structure and Holy Word? It's ok because the author professes to be a Christian? No. Just no.
If you need examples, these go into spoiler territory, be warned.
1) God told the angels to bow to Him AND man. Ummmm....not sure where it says that in the Bible. I must have missed that part.
2) Eve was tricked by the snake AND Adam to eat the apple, because Adam wanted to leave the garden and be powerful outside of it. He left immediately, Eve stayed. Again...not in my version of the Bible.
3) The Bride of Christ isn't the Church, it's a human being. I can't even.
If the non-Biblical re-write isn't enough, the WAY the book was written was just all OVER the place. We are in some magical land in=between our Earth and...someplace else that isn't defined. There is NO world development of this place. Complete confusion. We also have our plane of existence in flash backs and also the Big Bang and the Garden of Eden. A non-Biblical Garden of Eden.
We are in the non-defined place the longest and it is the most confusing one of the three settings. It HAD a sense, but the sense wasn't shared. The people all had titles starting with Capital Letters and some made sense, but they weren't really explained at ALL.
I'm not saying this is a horrible book, but it was bad for me, because I was looking for fiction that had a strong Christian and Biblical theme and background and this was the complete opposite for me. If you go into this knowing it is not following the Bible or the Bible isn't a sacred text for you, this isn't too bad. The world building is weak, but the plot is interesting. I was personally offended and can't give it more than one star, but that's just me. There are others who enjoyed it. I was just not one of them.
It really broke my heart to give this one star. I really liked his book The Shack, 4.5 stars in fact. That book was completely the right book at the right time for the right reader. It was magical.
I was hoping the same thing would happen for this book. Not so much.
What I did like.
1) Eve was black. It makes sense that the mother of all people is black. If you look where human life originated, humans didn't start out looking Scandinavian. It worked.
2) The spotlight on the horrors of human trafficking. We need to seriously remember that slavery is alive and well in the world, even in America. It needs to be stopped. That this book highlights that evil is a huge positive in my book.
Now for what really brought this review to one star.
The re-write of Creation and the story of the Fall, pretending to be Biblical, but completely not being Biblical. With no notes, citations or bibliography. If you are going to challenge a SACRED TEXT, then you BETTER have some REALLY good back-up documentation. Granted, this was an ARC, maybe there was some documentation in the final copy.
I am ok with re-writes of Shakespeare, Jane Austen, classic works of literature, but NOT of a sacred text. Seriously, let's all change the Bible to fit how we think things should have gone, with no back-up. Why don't we just do the same with the Koran? We wouldn't do that, because it would be blasphemous and REALLY tick off those who value the Koran as a sacred text. It would be a violation. So why is it ok with the Bible? Open season on Christians and our belief structure and Holy Word? It's ok because the author professes to be a Christian? No. Just no.
If you need examples, these go into spoiler territory, be warned.
1) God told the angels to bow to Him AND man. Ummmm....not sure where it says that in the Bible. I must have missed that part.
2) Eve was tricked by the snake AND Adam to eat the apple, because Adam wanted to leave the garden and be powerful outside of it. He left immediately, Eve stayed. Again...not in my version of the Bible.
3) The Bride of Christ isn't the Church, it's a human being. I can't even.
If the non-Biblical re-write isn't enough, the WAY the book was written was just all OVER the place. We are in some magical land in=between our Earth and...someplace else that isn't defined. There is NO world development of this place. Complete confusion. We also have our plane of existence in flash backs and also the Big Bang and the Garden of Eden. A non-Biblical Garden of Eden.
We are in the non-defined place the longest and it is the most confusing one of the three settings. It HAD a sense, but the sense wasn't shared. The people all had titles starting with Capital Letters and some made sense, but they weren't really explained at ALL.
I'm not saying this is a horrible book, but it was bad for me, because I was looking for fiction that had a strong Christian and Biblical theme and background and this was the complete opposite for me. If you go into this knowing it is not following the Bible or the Bible isn't a sacred text for you, this isn't too bad. The world building is weak, but the plot is interesting. I was personally offended and can't give it more than one star, but that's just me. There are others who enjoyed it. I was just not one of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2015
From a man who experientially knows the devastating pain of loss comes a heartfelt story about the courage it takes to allow oneself to be found and held in the loving arms of the Trinity. Set aside your preconceived notions and read this story for what it really is: an invitation to heal, to be loved. I wept along with Lilly and her healers as she uncovers her tragedies and finds herself as a precious and highly sought-after daughter of God.
This story speaks so deeply to my heart. Thank you, Paul, for your diligence and bravery in sharing this beautiful picture of redemption with us all.
This story speaks so deeply to my heart. Thank you, Paul, for your diligence and bravery in sharing this beautiful picture of redemption with us all.
November 18, 2015
This book had moments of goodness and engagement but overall was too confusing. The Shack promoted thought provoking questions. I highly enjoyed The Shack but Eve took on too many topics that jumble things in my head. This book never came together where I felt like I understood the overall objective.
April 4, 2017
This was way weird. I think that's why I kept reading. It's odd how I was aggravated and confused 75% of the time but kept reading. I don't even know.
April 27, 2017
I have no idea what the hell the author is talking about. The end
March 5, 2016
Thank you Net Gallery . I was really excited about reading this book. The Shack was such an impactful story for me I just knew I would love this. I'm really sorry to say I did not. I set it aside for sometime and would try to go back to it and just couldn't do it. Hey I tried.
Well first of all, you may have already surmised it is nothing like The Shack.
A small girl is in a wreak and awakes to find herself on another plane of existence. This story reaks with allegory. Even the allegorys have allegorys to the point that there seems to be little or no reality that I can relate to.
Some of the characters are connected (loosely) to Bible characters. But I could never figure out what they were doing in the story except for the author to be a name dropper.
I read about 75% so who knows maybe it makes sense in the end.
Ok now having given my unbiased personal opinion I will tell you to judge for yourself. I would hate to dissuade someone from reading a book that could have a positive influence with you.
Happy reading.
Well first of all, you may have already surmised it is nothing like The Shack.
A small girl is in a wreak and awakes to find herself on another plane of existence. This story reaks with allegory. Even the allegorys have allegorys to the point that there seems to be little or no reality that I can relate to.
Some of the characters are connected (loosely) to Bible characters. But I could never figure out what they were doing in the story except for the author to be a name dropper.
I read about 75% so who knows maybe it makes sense in the end.
Ok now having given my unbiased personal opinion I will tell you to judge for yourself. I would hate to dissuade someone from reading a book that could have a positive influence with you.
Happy reading.
November 17, 2015
Warning --- spoiler alert.
The only reason I read this book was because I liked The Shack. But this was awful.
I was thoroughly repulsed by the unbelievable lengths Young went to in order to stand the story of the fall on its head. When he talks about the book in interviews, he claims that he is trying to "balance" the male and female roles in the story of how sin entered our world. But there is nothing balanced about his story at all.
First, he has Adam turning away from God and toward self even before Eve is "born." He then colludes with the serpent to get Eve to take the first bite. And when they begin to feel the effects of the forbidden fruit, Eve is grieved and regrets her action, while Adam is glad to have finally made the break with Adoni. Adam then leaves the garden quite willingly, and Eve stays to be restored. The only reason she eventually leaves is because of her love for Adam. She never really "turns" at all.
This is so far off the map it's hard to critique. It puts Eve on a pedestal and makes Adam into a dark, self-seeking, deceptive male who effectively plots the fall of his wife. It truly glosses over the role of the serpent and its lies to both of them. At one point, the main character is even told that the serpent won't lie until Adam lies first.
What Young has done here borders on worship of the feminine and castigating of the masculine. They are so far apart, you are left wondering whether they are even of the same species.
All of that, and a story line so confusing that I had to get about 50 pages into the book before I could form a working hypothesis of what the various settings were.
If I had known, I would have never read the book.
The only reason I read this book was because I liked The Shack. But this was awful.
I was thoroughly repulsed by the unbelievable lengths Young went to in order to stand the story of the fall on its head. When he talks about the book in interviews, he claims that he is trying to "balance" the male and female roles in the story of how sin entered our world. But there is nothing balanced about his story at all.
First, he has Adam turning away from God and toward self even before Eve is "born." He then colludes with the serpent to get Eve to take the first bite. And when they begin to feel the effects of the forbidden fruit, Eve is grieved and regrets her action, while Adam is glad to have finally made the break with Adoni. Adam then leaves the garden quite willingly, and Eve stays to be restored. The only reason she eventually leaves is because of her love for Adam. She never really "turns" at all.
This is so far off the map it's hard to critique. It puts Eve on a pedestal and makes Adam into a dark, self-seeking, deceptive male who effectively plots the fall of his wife. It truly glosses over the role of the serpent and its lies to both of them. At one point, the main character is even told that the serpent won't lie until Adam lies first.
What Young has done here borders on worship of the feminine and castigating of the masculine. They are so far apart, you are left wondering whether they are even of the same species.
All of that, and a story line so confusing that I had to get about 50 pages into the book before I could form a working hypothesis of what the various settings were.
If I had known, I would have never read the book.
September 18, 2016
This book has one redeeming quality - just one - and that is that it is a quick read. Aside from this, it defies catagorization. Like some other reviewers, I don't know if this is SF, fantasy, paranormal or what the author might be aiming for. The beginning of the book is a confused mess and when I finally realize where it is all going - a retelling of the story of creation - I am already seriously fed up.
The author is so full of himself it hurts. He really thinks he has something amazing going and stumbles over his own feet to try to deliver the message quickly enough. The message gets lost in the mud. This is probably the worst book I've read all year. I can't understand how this book got on my radar in the first place, much less passed my initial screening. Well, full score for poor judgement on my part. Can't win them all. At least I can rest assured that my next read will be better.
The author is so full of himself it hurts. He really thinks he has something amazing going and stumbles over his own feet to try to deliver the message quickly enough. The message gets lost in the mud. This is probably the worst book I've read all year. I can't understand how this book got on my radar in the first place, much less passed my initial screening. Well, full score for poor judgement on my part. Can't win them all. At least I can rest assured that my next read will be better.
August 18, 2015
ARC provided by NetGalley and Howard Books
Eve: A Novel by Wm. Paul Young is really two stories in one book. The first is the tale of a broken girl who washes up on the shore of an island and how she heals. The second story is a retelling of the biblical account of creation and man’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
There was much about the first story I enjoyed. The characters we met were well-written and interesting. I only wish there had been more of them. The few descriptions of the island and the refuge piqued my interest as did the mentions of the various workers, none of whom, unfortunately, were ever seen. If life on the island had been expanded upon, I would have enjoyed this book so much more.
Then there was the creation narrative that was interwoven with the first story. I freely admit a lot of the time while reading this part I was confused and, by the end, disappointed. I understand there are more than a few names for God, but, honestly, this a book for all people and how about a little simplification for the masses? And the use of plural pronouns was just so confusing. I had to go back so many times and re-read passages containing these pronouns to figure out to whom they referred. Way to break up the flow of a story!
I also have some quibbles with holes in the plotlines of both stories. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so the only one I’ll address here is the one concerning the fact that “her genetic code connects her to every known human race.” It was mentioned in the description of the book and a few times in the book, but nothing ever came of it. This was very disappointing.
All in all, I found Eve: A Novel to be an extremely disappointing book.
Eve: A Novel by Wm. Paul Young is really two stories in one book. The first is the tale of a broken girl who washes up on the shore of an island and how she heals. The second story is a retelling of the biblical account of creation and man’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
There was much about the first story I enjoyed. The characters we met were well-written and interesting. I only wish there had been more of them. The few descriptions of the island and the refuge piqued my interest as did the mentions of the various workers, none of whom, unfortunately, were ever seen. If life on the island had been expanded upon, I would have enjoyed this book so much more.
Then there was the creation narrative that was interwoven with the first story. I freely admit a lot of the time while reading this part I was confused and, by the end, disappointed. I understand there are more than a few names for God, but, honestly, this a book for all people and how about a little simplification for the masses? And the use of plural pronouns was just so confusing. I had to go back so many times and re-read passages containing these pronouns to figure out to whom they referred. Way to break up the flow of a story!
I also have some quibbles with holes in the plotlines of both stories. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so the only one I’ll address here is the one concerning the fact that “her genetic code connects her to every known human race.” It was mentioned in the description of the book and a few times in the book, but nothing ever came of it. This was very disappointing.
All in all, I found Eve: A Novel to be an extremely disappointing book.
October 8, 2015
Wm. Paul Young presents a breathtaking view of the Garden of Eden and Creation. While this novel does use scripture as a basis, it is a fictional work and therefore takes license with a great deal. I think the biggest and most important message readers will gain from this book is that there is a God who loves us eternally and makes us worthy of His love. Mankind is broken as the young girl who is found in the shipping container is broken. We all need healing and it is not a quick or a simple thing to accomplish. There are those who work to heal and restore the young girl to wellness and wholeness. But there is a dark force at work that the girl allows to convince her of her ugliness and unworthiness.
As I read of the man and woman talking and walking and resting in the Garden of Eden with God, it made me want to be there too. I wanted to experience it and see it for myself. The author brought an indescribably perfect place to life for me. He presented the idea that each individual has a guardian angel. I am not sure if I believe we do actually have our own guardian angel but the idea is very appealing. The angels eventually presented themselves to their human and they talked. That was mindblowing for me. This book caused me to think deeply about my own brokenness.
I rate this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to broken souls and those seeking the truth.
I received an ebook of this novel from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
As I read of the man and woman talking and walking and resting in the Garden of Eden with God, it made me want to be there too. I wanted to experience it and see it for myself. The author brought an indescribably perfect place to life for me. He presented the idea that each individual has a guardian angel. I am not sure if I believe we do actually have our own guardian angel but the idea is very appealing. The angels eventually presented themselves to their human and they talked. That was mindblowing for me. This book caused me to think deeply about my own brokenness.
I rate this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to broken souls and those seeking the truth.
I received an ebook of this novel from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
January 6, 2016
I enjoyed "The Shack" and "Crossroads" but Young takes extreme liberties with the biblical story of Adam and Eve that it is borderline heretical. The story was entertaining but in no way representative of the biblical narrative.
September 23, 2015
I looked forward to this book as I have loved both The Shack and Crossroads. This book however fell short in so many ways. I can try to understand how an author can take certain liberties with a biblical story, I'm good with that but the author just took it to a level that almost made me sick. Much like the recent movie Noah, some of the story line just made me mad and sick at the same time. Some of it was lovely, the ending way to weird. I forced my way through it hoping to find something redeeming, but when I turned the last page, I felt relieved to be done with it. I honestly tried to like the book but a beloved author can only take it so far.
December 28, 2015
Rarely do I not finish a book. This is one of those times. As I got further in the storyline, the contradictions with God's Word became greater and greater. I think the story lost me when God was described as a "she" who has breasts and nurses "her" child. Too bad I wasted my time, but at least not my money (library find).
January 8, 2016
Horrible. Not what I expected from this author. Unbearably repetitive and rambling. Constantly eludes to something important that will happen "soon," but never gets around to it. So far-fetched that it seems to read like it was written to be a sci-fi movie ... and a bad one at that. I rarely give up on a book, but this story couldn't grab or hold my interest even after several hours of trying.
October 21, 2015
I never do this, but I put it down unfinished. Made it halfway and just don't have ANY desire to continue. I Don't recommend it
August 24, 2015
Simply put, this book was incredible.
As our story starts, John the Collector is called upon to help investigate a ship-like container that has washed up on the beach. What starts out as a simple collection missions turns into so much more as he discovers the badly broken body of a young girl not quite dead. John along with his team must work together to help fix the girl and bring her back from whatever terror she has succumbed to.
But there is so much more to this multi-faceted story. On the surface you have the rehabilitation of this lost girl, Lilly. However, underneath this easily readable tale there is a much deeper story unfolding, where the author delves further into a much more eternal plane. For as Lilly struggles to understand her personal history and works towards physical recovery, she also has an otherworldly experience where she visits the utter beginning of everything.
In a true to form battle of good vs evil, Eve is a book that demonstrates that there is so much more going on outside off ourselves. In a manuscript that truly sets itself apart, Eve shows readers how no matter this life has brought you, you are never alone. And in a manner in which your every day, non-religious person can read and relate to, this book extends a hand that expresses just how immeasurable God's love is for us if we will only take a moment to recognize it.
My one and only complaint, and the reason for my 4 star review instead of 5 is because I'm not 100% sold on the way the author placed the heavy blame of man's fall from grace on Adam as opposed to Eve. Perhaps I have misunderstood, but I was always lead to believe that Eve first tempted Adam- not the other way around.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for this review opportunity.
As our story starts, John the Collector is called upon to help investigate a ship-like container that has washed up on the beach. What starts out as a simple collection missions turns into so much more as he discovers the badly broken body of a young girl not quite dead. John along with his team must work together to help fix the girl and bring her back from whatever terror she has succumbed to.
But there is so much more to this multi-faceted story. On the surface you have the rehabilitation of this lost girl, Lilly. However, underneath this easily readable tale there is a much deeper story unfolding, where the author delves further into a much more eternal plane. For as Lilly struggles to understand her personal history and works towards physical recovery, she also has an otherworldly experience where she visits the utter beginning of everything.
In a true to form battle of good vs evil, Eve is a book that demonstrates that there is so much more going on outside off ourselves. In a manuscript that truly sets itself apart, Eve shows readers how no matter this life has brought you, you are never alone. And in a manner in which your every day, non-religious person can read and relate to, this book extends a hand that expresses just how immeasurable God's love is for us if we will only take a moment to recognize it.
My one and only complaint, and the reason for my 4 star review instead of 5 is because I'm not 100% sold on the way the author placed the heavy blame of man's fall from grace on Adam as opposed to Eve. Perhaps I have misunderstood, but I was always lead to believe that Eve first tempted Adam- not the other way around.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for this review opportunity.
August 27, 2015
Unlike my all-night reading marathon of the Shack, I struggled to get through this book. As in, I had to force myself to keep reading, to follow the narrative, to like the characters. From the very first page, I felt like I was lost and it a good 50 pages or so before I felt like I was in. Had I not loved the Shack so much, I would have abandoned this book.
What's difficult/different about this book? It was difficult to figure out what was real or what could be real. I understand fantasy and I understand allegory, but to be honest I couldn't figure out where to place this book. Even more so than with the Shack, I kept wondering what theological underpinnings were there and where I might be being tricked. Perhaps a reader's guide would be helpful -- the book claims to be thoroughly researched, but since I am not an expert on the creative narrative and theology surrounding it that it might be helpful for readers to understand Young's theology so they understand what he is trying to do in this tale. The book felt preachy in a relational sort of way, which maybe isn't even a thing, but I grew so tired of hearing the phrase "face-to-face" and "turning" that it nearly made me want to turn my back on the whole message -- but since I wasn't even exactly sure what the message was, it was difficult to even do that.
For those who do read -- I might suggest reading it with a group of people so you can discuss what you think is actually happening and what is trying to be said. Young does not simply write stories for story sake -- and this is clearly more than a story. But what it is beyond that, I simply could not tell you. Maybe a second read is in order, but I can't bring myself to do that.
What's difficult/different about this book? It was difficult to figure out what was real or what could be real. I understand fantasy and I understand allegory, but to be honest I couldn't figure out where to place this book. Even more so than with the Shack, I kept wondering what theological underpinnings were there and where I might be being tricked. Perhaps a reader's guide would be helpful -- the book claims to be thoroughly researched, but since I am not an expert on the creative narrative and theology surrounding it that it might be helpful for readers to understand Young's theology so they understand what he is trying to do in this tale. The book felt preachy in a relational sort of way, which maybe isn't even a thing, but I grew so tired of hearing the phrase "face-to-face" and "turning" that it nearly made me want to turn my back on the whole message -- but since I wasn't even exactly sure what the message was, it was difficult to even do that.
For those who do read -- I might suggest reading it with a group of people so you can discuss what you think is actually happening and what is trying to be said. Young does not simply write stories for story sake -- and this is clearly more than a story. But what it is beyond that, I simply could not tell you. Maybe a second read is in order, but I can't bring myself to do that.
September 16, 2015
Admittedly, the first few chapters of this book were difficult for me to follow. You are dropped in a place where you are not quite sure where you are and who you are with. It took me a while to get my bearings in this story but once I did, it was an interesting journey.
As many other reviewers have mentioned, this is a fictional book. No one can know the entire story of everything that happened in the Garden of Eden, other than what is included in the Bible. There are many questions as to how it occurred from Point A to Point B in this part of history, but no one other than God, Himself, knows it all. While reading this book, I do feel like God pulled back the curtain and showed the author glimpses of what really happened. The emotional depths felt by both God and humans throughout this experience is intense. It was beautiful. It was real. I think the author did pour his all into this book to show the depths of sin and evil and the infinite love, grace, and mercy of God.
I hope that readers do not get confused with this book in that it is a novel and not a perfect, factual history. It will certainly open up a lot of discussion about this story and who God is and how did we get to the point where we are today.
I received a free copy of this book from Howard Books, for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
As many other reviewers have mentioned, this is a fictional book. No one can know the entire story of everything that happened in the Garden of Eden, other than what is included in the Bible. There are many questions as to how it occurred from Point A to Point B in this part of history, but no one other than God, Himself, knows it all. While reading this book, I do feel like God pulled back the curtain and showed the author glimpses of what really happened. The emotional depths felt by both God and humans throughout this experience is intense. It was beautiful. It was real. I think the author did pour his all into this book to show the depths of sin and evil and the infinite love, grace, and mercy of God.
I hope that readers do not get confused with this book in that it is a novel and not a perfect, factual history. It will certainly open up a lot of discussion about this story and who God is and how did we get to the point where we are today.
I received a free copy of this book from Howard Books, for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
August 29, 2019
Pročitah i Jangovu Evu. Suma sumarum - zadovoljan sam. Ocenu manje od petice dajem zbog malo konfuznijeg početka (prvih 30-ak stranica) koji sam par puta, pod punom koncentracijom čitao. Kraj mi je malo mlak, međutim to je isključivo subjektivno.
Janga ili voliš ili ne voliš.
Meni se njegovo predstavljanje religijskih motiva dopada, uz dodatak doze avanture i misterije, tako da sa nestrpljenjem čekam da pročitam i Raskršća.
Janga ili voliš ili ne voliš.
Meni se njegovo predstavljanje religijskih motiva dopada, uz dodatak doze avanture i misterije, tako da sa nestrpljenjem čekam da pročitam i Raskršća.
November 2, 2018
A fantasy in the Garden of Eden. The birth of Adam and of Eve too.
There was the talking serpent with his suggestive evil ways.
There was the talking serpent with his suggestive evil ways.
December 5, 2020
Šajā darbā bija sajūta, ka teoloģisku jautājumu risināšana ņem virsroku stāstam, līdz ar to biju vīlusies, jo Būda man ļoti, ļoti patika.
August 31, 2015
An Unusual Take on the Story of Creation
A shipping container filled with the bodies of young women washes up on the shore of an island between worlds. John the Collector is called to see what's in the container. Surprisingly, he finds one of the young women alive, badly broken, but alive.
During the healing process, the young woman experiences the story of creation in the presence of Mother Eve. It's beautifully told and although the young woman feels unworthy to be a witness, she loves the experience.
The question that hangs over the early part of the story is the identity of the young woman, and why she feels so unworthy. It's a question that will keep you reading as she gradually recovers her identity.
I have mixed feelings about the book. The story of creation is beautifully written, but it you're a biblical purist shifting the blame for the fall from Eve to Adam may be unsettling. The description of the island and the healing of the girl are fascinating. I wish we had more than a few glimpses of this unusual place. The other problem I had with the story stems from the blurb that made me select the book. It said the girl was special because her DNA connects her to every human. I was disappointed that this was not pursued in the book.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
A shipping container filled with the bodies of young women washes up on the shore of an island between worlds. John the Collector is called to see what's in the container. Surprisingly, he finds one of the young women alive, badly broken, but alive.
During the healing process, the young woman experiences the story of creation in the presence of Mother Eve. It's beautifully told and although the young woman feels unworthy to be a witness, she loves the experience.
The question that hangs over the early part of the story is the identity of the young woman, and why she feels so unworthy. It's a question that will keep you reading as she gradually recovers her identity.
I have mixed feelings about the book. The story of creation is beautifully written, but it you're a biblical purist shifting the blame for the fall from Eve to Adam may be unsettling. The description of the island and the healing of the girl are fascinating. I wish we had more than a few glimpses of this unusual place. The other problem I had with the story stems from the blurb that made me select the book. It said the girl was special because her DNA connects her to every human. I was disappointed that this was not pursued in the book.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
November 21, 2015
I loved "The Shack" by William Paul Young, but this one, not so much. It was a confusing jumble of too many elements. Many were just sort of introduced and then dropped, others were expounded on but in such a convoluted way that I was left wondering what point the author was trying to make.
Note: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free e-galley of this book.
Note: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free e-galley of this book.
September 17, 2015
My review (as published at Read, Run, Ramble)
Thank you, Howard Books via Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book!
I’m sorry to say that this novel was a struggle for me. I spent most of the book quite confused and bored.
Eve was a weird book. The Shack was weird too, but I read and enjoyed it because it took normal theology and gave it character, personalization, familiarity – it helped it make sense and feel comforting. Eve didn’t do that for me. The book felt confused to me – bouncing between the time of Creation and some futuristic state as well as current day. The bouncing in time made everything feel disjointed and I had a hard time just understanding exactly what the book was trying to do or tell me.
I’m not sure if the lack of character depth and my inability to connect with any of them (including what should have been a protagonist that stole my empathy and heart right off the bat) was also due to the chaotic story line or not, but I was also less than impressed with the cast.
I will say that the alternative view of theology is interesting. Because the story fell so horribly flat for me, I don’t really have any strong feelings about it, but it wasn’t off putting. Though, I do imagine biblical purists won’t necessarily like what Young presents. I do think the difference just added to the confusion though – readers are jumping all over in time, reading a mix of traditional theology and alternative ideas from the author, while also trying to keep up with a plethora of names for God (many I’d never even heard…YIKES).
There were a few things about Lilly (protagonist) that were briefly mentioned, but never fully disclosed or explained. These items left me wondering and wishing they had been explored. Without giving too much away (no spoilers!!) I will say that there is a DNA storyline and a betrothal storyline that are both mentioned in relation to Lilly, but nothing more…literally nothing. Both are mentioned in ways that leave readers thinking it means something, but when nothing else happens, it just leaves questions and confusion.
Honestly, I thought about giving up several times. I did not and I’m glad that I finished because some things did get a little clearer by the conclusion of the story; however, it wasn’t until the last 10% or so. For that reason I’m sticking with 2 stars – this book just wasn’t one I enjoyed.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not compensated for any of my reviews.
Thank you, Howard Books via Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book!
I’m sorry to say that this novel was a struggle for me. I spent most of the book quite confused and bored.
Eve was a weird book. The Shack was weird too, but I read and enjoyed it because it took normal theology and gave it character, personalization, familiarity – it helped it make sense and feel comforting. Eve didn’t do that for me. The book felt confused to me – bouncing between the time of Creation and some futuristic state as well as current day. The bouncing in time made everything feel disjointed and I had a hard time just understanding exactly what the book was trying to do or tell me.
I’m not sure if the lack of character depth and my inability to connect with any of them (including what should have been a protagonist that stole my empathy and heart right off the bat) was also due to the chaotic story line or not, but I was also less than impressed with the cast.
I will say that the alternative view of theology is interesting. Because the story fell so horribly flat for me, I don’t really have any strong feelings about it, but it wasn’t off putting. Though, I do imagine biblical purists won’t necessarily like what Young presents. I do think the difference just added to the confusion though – readers are jumping all over in time, reading a mix of traditional theology and alternative ideas from the author, while also trying to keep up with a plethora of names for God (many I’d never even heard…YIKES).
There were a few things about Lilly (protagonist) that were briefly mentioned, but never fully disclosed or explained. These items left me wondering and wishing they had been explored. Without giving too much away (no spoilers!!) I will say that there is a DNA storyline and a betrothal storyline that are both mentioned in relation to Lilly, but nothing more…literally nothing. Both are mentioned in ways that leave readers thinking it means something, but when nothing else happens, it just leaves questions and confusion.
Honestly, I thought about giving up several times. I did not and I’m glad that I finished because some things did get a little clearer by the conclusion of the story; however, it wasn’t until the last 10% or so. For that reason I’m sticking with 2 stars – this book just wasn’t one I enjoyed.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not compensated for any of my reviews.
March 26, 2019
Acho que só quem leu A Cabana é que vem até este livro. E talvez já não se surpreenda que Eva siga o mesmo registo bíblico onde é preciso, enquanto leitores, sabermos distinguir o romance da teologia. E sermos, acima de tudo, leitores de espírito aberto. Mas eu não li A Cabana, então Eva foi uma leitura muito estranha.
Em traços rápidos, Eva é um romance fantasiado mas baseado na ideia da criação e queda da humanidade, onde Eva foi a culpada por ter provado do fruto proibido, o que levou à cultura misógina que marca toda a nossa história e que continua a ajudar os homens a perpetuar a ideia de que as mulheres são o sexo fraco.
E o que o autor faz é criar duas histórias num só livro: à superfície, acompanhamos a história de uma jovem que é encontrada num contentor, juntamente com mais raparigas traficadas, que dá à costa de uma ilha mágica cheia de personagens, refúgios e um outro universo para lá da vida real. Ao longo do livro vamos acompanhando a sua cura e redenção face ao seu passado (a mãe vendeu-a, foi violada, traficada, literalmente esterilizada para poder ser violada sem engravidar e acaba num contentor) e como a cura exterior (está fisicamente mutilada) precisa de acompanhar a cura interior. Mas debaixo desta leitura desdobra-se uma história muito mais profunda onde acompanhamos uma releitura bíblica da expulsão de Adão do Jardim do Éden onde, neste caso, o autor procura absolver Eva da total culpa, expondo o lado fraco de Adão.
Mas a verdade é que, neste romance, mergulhamos num universo cheio de criaturas mágicas criado por William Paul Young onde o enredo fantasioso se mistura com a história de Adão e Eva. Somos confrontados com conceitos tão básicos mas que, no dia a dia, nos esquecemos: felicidade, perdão, redenção, cura, crescimento. E com questões tão práticas como o bem e o mal e como, não importa o que a vida nos traga, nunca estamos sozinhos. Mesmo uma pessoa não-religiosa consegue ler e identificar-se com a premissa e ensinamentos deste livro.
Acho que o universo mágico da ilha podia ter sido melhor explorada pelo autor. Isso acaba por ser esquecido com a temática Adão/Eva e, ao ler, estava com imensa curiosidade em conhecer mais das pessoas da ilha, do que fazem, dos seus mistérios.
Se se sentirem confusos durante 80% do livro, é normal. Eu também estava. No fim acabamos por perceber toda esta história mas não foi um livro que me tenha marcado ou que queira recomendar. Para mim foi apenas um livro muito estranho de ler.
Em traços rápidos, Eva é um romance fantasiado mas baseado na ideia da criação e queda da humanidade, onde Eva foi a culpada por ter provado do fruto proibido, o que levou à cultura misógina que marca toda a nossa história e que continua a ajudar os homens a perpetuar a ideia de que as mulheres são o sexo fraco.
E o que o autor faz é criar duas histórias num só livro: à superfície, acompanhamos a história de uma jovem que é encontrada num contentor, juntamente com mais raparigas traficadas, que dá à costa de uma ilha mágica cheia de personagens, refúgios e um outro universo para lá da vida real. Ao longo do livro vamos acompanhando a sua cura e redenção face ao seu passado (a mãe vendeu-a, foi violada, traficada, literalmente esterilizada para poder ser violada sem engravidar e acaba num contentor) e como a cura exterior (está fisicamente mutilada) precisa de acompanhar a cura interior. Mas debaixo desta leitura desdobra-se uma história muito mais profunda onde acompanhamos uma releitura bíblica da expulsão de Adão do Jardim do Éden onde, neste caso, o autor procura absolver Eva da total culpa, expondo o lado fraco de Adão.
Mas a verdade é que, neste romance, mergulhamos num universo cheio de criaturas mágicas criado por William Paul Young onde o enredo fantasioso se mistura com a história de Adão e Eva. Somos confrontados com conceitos tão básicos mas que, no dia a dia, nos esquecemos: felicidade, perdão, redenção, cura, crescimento. E com questões tão práticas como o bem e o mal e como, não importa o que a vida nos traga, nunca estamos sozinhos. Mesmo uma pessoa não-religiosa consegue ler e identificar-se com a premissa e ensinamentos deste livro.
Acho que o universo mágico da ilha podia ter sido melhor explorada pelo autor. Isso acaba por ser esquecido com a temática Adão/Eva e, ao ler, estava com imensa curiosidade em conhecer mais das pessoas da ilha, do que fazem, dos seus mistérios.
Se se sentirem confusos durante 80% do livro, é normal. Eu também estava. No fim acabamos por perceber toda esta história mas não foi um livro que me tenha marcado ou que queira recomendar. Para mim foi apenas um livro muito estranho de ler.
August 22, 2015
Review copy provided via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review
Summary:
When a shipping container washes ashore on an island between our world and the next, John the Collector finds a young woman inside—broken, frozen, and barely alive. With the aid of Healers and Scholars, John oversees her recovery and soon discovers her genetic code connects her to every known human race. She is a girl of prophecy and no one can guess what her survival will mean...
No one but Eve, Mother of the Living, who calls her “daughter,” and invites her to witness the truth about her story—indeed, the truth about us all.
Eve is a bold, unprecedented exploration of the Creation narrative, true to the original texts and centuries of scholarship—yet with breathtaking discoveries that challenge traditional misconceptions about who we are and how we’re made. As The Shack awakened readers to a personal, non-religious understanding of God, Eve will free us from faulty interpretations that have corrupted human relationships since the Garden of Eden.
Eve opens a refreshing conversation about the equality of men and women within the context of our beginnings, helping us see each other as our Creator does—complete, unique, and not constrained to cultural rules or limitations.
Thoroughly researched and exquisitely written, Eve is a masterpiece that will inspire readers for generations to come.
Review:
I couldn’t connect with this story. I was bored and had to keep telling myself I requested to read this book as the summery makes it sound like a fun read.
I can say it was edited thoroughly as I found no grammatical or punctuation errors.
Conclusion:
Would I recommend this book to friends? NO
Would I read other books written by this author? Unsure
Is this book priced correctly? I’d never pay 27 dollars for a hardcover of this book it’s way over priced for the length and the difficulties of connecting to story line.
Was it a full length Novel or a Novella? Short Novel
Summary:
When a shipping container washes ashore on an island between our world and the next, John the Collector finds a young woman inside—broken, frozen, and barely alive. With the aid of Healers and Scholars, John oversees her recovery and soon discovers her genetic code connects her to every known human race. She is a girl of prophecy and no one can guess what her survival will mean...
No one but Eve, Mother of the Living, who calls her “daughter,” and invites her to witness the truth about her story—indeed, the truth about us all.
Eve is a bold, unprecedented exploration of the Creation narrative, true to the original texts and centuries of scholarship—yet with breathtaking discoveries that challenge traditional misconceptions about who we are and how we’re made. As The Shack awakened readers to a personal, non-religious understanding of God, Eve will free us from faulty interpretations that have corrupted human relationships since the Garden of Eden.
Eve opens a refreshing conversation about the equality of men and women within the context of our beginnings, helping us see each other as our Creator does—complete, unique, and not constrained to cultural rules or limitations.
Thoroughly researched and exquisitely written, Eve is a masterpiece that will inspire readers for generations to come.
Review:
I couldn’t connect with this story. I was bored and had to keep telling myself I requested to read this book as the summery makes it sound like a fun read.
I can say it was edited thoroughly as I found no grammatical or punctuation errors.
Conclusion:
Would I recommend this book to friends? NO
Would I read other books written by this author? Unsure
Is this book priced correctly? I’d never pay 27 dollars for a hardcover of this book it’s way over priced for the length and the difficulties of connecting to story line.
Was it a full length Novel or a Novella? Short Novel
April 13, 2021
Прекрасен пример защо не трябва да съдим за книгата по анотацията на задната корица, но тъй като не трябва да съдим и по корицата, не знам вече по какво да съдим.. Доста слаба поне за мен - прекрасна идея, никакво изпълнение, размит и неясен сюжет...
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