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Set in the magnificent culture of the Middle East more than four thousand years ago, Lilah is a rich and emotionally resonant story of faith, love, and courage.
Living in exile, Lilah is in love with Antinoes, a Persian warrior. They have known each other since they were children, and Antinoes dearly wants to make Lilah his wife. Yet Lilah does not feel she can marry without the blessing of her brother, Ezra. She and Ezra are close, and Lilah knows her brother well—he does not want his sister to have a husband outside their faith. Ezra is a scholar of the laws of Moses, and Lilah believes it is her brother’s destiny to lead the Jewish people back to the Promised Land. While Antinoes pressures her to accept his proposal, Lilah realizes that before she can consider her own happiness, it is her duty to help her brother accomplish the seemingly impossible task that is before him.
Putting herself in grave danger, and with the help of Antinoes, Lilah wins Ezra an audience with Artaxerxes II, the King of Kings, who grants permission to lead the exiles on their journey back to the Promised Land. After a hazardous trip across the desert, Lilah, Ezra, and the thousands who join them arrive in Jerusalem. But the hardship of rebuilding the Temple takes its toll, and the religious enthusiasm of some turns to extremism. Ezra, listening to the zealots, orders all non-Jewish wives and their children banished from Jerusalem. Lilah, whose love for Antinoes has never wavered, is horrified by this command. She knows she must now choose between her brother and her conscience, which tells her that the time has come to defy him.
Lilah is a timeless story of one woman’s stand against intolerance; it will linger in the reader’s mind long after the last page has been turned.
From the Hardcover edition.
Living in exile, Lilah is in love with Antinoes, a Persian warrior. They have known each other since they were children, and Antinoes dearly wants to make Lilah his wife. Yet Lilah does not feel she can marry without the blessing of her brother, Ezra. She and Ezra are close, and Lilah knows her brother well—he does not want his sister to have a husband outside their faith. Ezra is a scholar of the laws of Moses, and Lilah believes it is her brother’s destiny to lead the Jewish people back to the Promised Land. While Antinoes pressures her to accept his proposal, Lilah realizes that before she can consider her own happiness, it is her duty to help her brother accomplish the seemingly impossible task that is before him.
Putting herself in grave danger, and with the help of Antinoes, Lilah wins Ezra an audience with Artaxerxes II, the King of Kings, who grants permission to lead the exiles on their journey back to the Promised Land. After a hazardous trip across the desert, Lilah, Ezra, and the thousands who join them arrive in Jerusalem. But the hardship of rebuilding the Temple takes its toll, and the religious enthusiasm of some turns to extremism. Ezra, listening to the zealots, orders all non-Jewish wives and their children banished from Jerusalem. Lilah, whose love for Antinoes has never wavered, is horrified by this command. She knows she must now choose between her brother and her conscience, which tells her that the time has come to defy him.
Lilah is a timeless story of one woman’s stand against intolerance; it will linger in the reader’s mind long after the last page has been turned.
From the Hardcover edition.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Marek Halter
81 books181 followersMarek Halter was born in Poland in 1936. During World War II, he and his parents narrowly escaped from the Warsaw ghetto. After a time in Russia and Uzbekistan, they emigrated to France in 1950. There Halter studied pantomime with Marcel Marceau and embarked on a career as a painter that led to several international exhibitions. In 1967, he founded the International Committee for a Negotiated Peace Agreement in the Near East and played a crucial role in the organization of the first official meetings between Palestinians and Israelis.
In the 1970s, Marek Halter turned to writing. He first published The Madman and the Kings, which was awarded the Prix Aujourd’hui in 1976. He is also the author of several internationally acclaimed, bestselling historical novels, including The Messiah, The Mysteries of Jerusalem, The Book of Abraham, which won the Prix du Livre Inter, and Sarah, the first of the Canaan trilogy, and Lilah, the concluding one.
In the 1970s, Marek Halter turned to writing. He first published The Madman and the Kings, which was awarded the Prix Aujourd’hui in 1976. He is also the author of several internationally acclaimed, bestselling historical novels, including The Messiah, The Mysteries of Jerusalem, The Book of Abraham, which won the Prix du Livre Inter, and Sarah, the first of the Canaan trilogy, and Lilah, the concluding one.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
September 29, 2020
Set in ancient times, part romance, part a biblical story of Ezra; unfortunately most of it was rather boring, the opening love scene was cringeworthy and the whole story sort of just ended. And what is with an evil character feeding people to the lions, this form of torture & death seems to be a common device for ancient times. A disappointing read.
April 30, 2024
I came upon Marek Halter's Canaan Trilogy by pure happenstance. I also read it out of order (Zipporah, then Sarah, and Lilah), but it is not a necessity to read this series in order. I loved that the trilogy encompassed almost 1600 years, starting with Sarah (which was set in and around 21st-century B.C.E.) Zipporah (15th-century B.C.E. ) to Lilah (which was set in around 550 B.C.E.).
"Sarah" was an engrossing and beautiful tale, and "Zipporah" was an enriching treat. "Lilah" however, misses the mark completely. One of my major issues is that Lilah, however dynamic and interesting of a character Halter made her out to be, was just that. Unlike Sarah and Zipporah, Lilah was not based on any sister of Ezra, as she is not mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament of the Bible (Book of Ezra or Book of Nehemiah), but I digress. The first half of the novel is very engaging and wonderful.
In the Persian town of Susa, Lilah is an aristocratic young Jewish woman who is torn between the love of her childhood (non-Jewish) friend Antinoes and the loyalty she has for her older brother Ezra. While these three were practically raised as siblings, Ezra's dogmatic studying of the Torah and its rules make them both strangers to him now. While Lilah's aunt and uncle welcome a marriage to such a highly respected member of the royal court, Lilah refuses to unless Ezra gives his blessing to their union (which is not needed, but deeply desired by Lilah). She schemes a way for Ezra to leave the city of Susa with a band of conservative zealots...but it backfires and leaves Lilah forced to venture with her brother, without a husband or a place to call home. The second part of the novel, which I have the most problems with is written a long Epistolary style.
Lilah documents the long, arduous journey she, Ezra, and the Babylonian Jews undertake. They return to Jerusalem, facing exclusion and oppression from other ethnic groups around them who too inhabit the land. The temple and settlements are built for the community, unfortunately divisiveness within the community surfaces. The Zealots and other conservative members of the community called for the expulsion of the "foreign" (the Jebusite, Moabite, Ammonite to name a few) women who married Hebrew men and their progeny so that the Hebrew men would be forced to marry Jewish women. Lilah wholeheartedly objects to this idea and begs Ezra to reconsider this expulsion, but he follows the more archaic and hurtful Mosaic Laws without question or consideration of their validity within their modern situation. Lilah decides to leave with the Outcast Women and become their leader, in hopes of a better future for them all.
One of my major pet peeves in the novel is the fate of the Outcast Women; I found it ironic that Ezra would condone the expelling of these women when some of the most prominent Biblical Patriarchs (Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Boaz to name a few) married non-Jewish women! The big theme that I inferred from this trilogy was that women like Sarah and Zipporah proved that being Jewish is NOT about being born into the religion but making a conscious effort to be an active and constructive member of the community. The trilogy showed over and over how different groups of people joined Abraham and Moses and were welcomed with open arms. I kept hoping a consolation would occur, that Ezra would have the foreign women and their children fully convert to Judaism and abide by the Mosaic Law. But unfortunately, that was not the case. I did enjoy the ending; sanctimonious Ezra thought he would go to bury his sister, a fallen forgotten woman. Instead, he was shocked at the celebration in honor of her. Ezra saw her as just a pariah; others saw her as a leader for the downtrodden.
I also saw heavy parallels to the current sociopolitical situation in Israel, wherein the Conservative/Orthodox Israeli factions (Ezra and the Zealots) and the more secular progressive/moderate Jews and Arabs (Lilah and Outcasts) are in constant conflict as to who the land truly belongs to. Can there be true equity between these two very different groups and does religion matter so much in a national identity when you do not live in a Theocracy?
"Sarah" was an engrossing and beautiful tale, and "Zipporah" was an enriching treat. "Lilah" however, misses the mark completely. One of my major issues is that Lilah, however dynamic and interesting of a character Halter made her out to be, was just that. Unlike Sarah and Zipporah, Lilah was not based on any sister of Ezra, as she is not mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament of the Bible (Book of Ezra or Book of Nehemiah), but I digress. The first half of the novel is very engaging and wonderful.
In the Persian town of Susa, Lilah is an aristocratic young Jewish woman who is torn between the love of her childhood (non-Jewish) friend Antinoes and the loyalty she has for her older brother Ezra. While these three were practically raised as siblings, Ezra's dogmatic studying of the Torah and its rules make them both strangers to him now. While Lilah's aunt and uncle welcome a marriage to such a highly respected member of the royal court, Lilah refuses to unless Ezra gives his blessing to their union (which is not needed, but deeply desired by Lilah). She schemes a way for Ezra to leave the city of Susa with a band of conservative zealots...but it backfires and leaves Lilah forced to venture with her brother, without a husband or a place to call home. The second part of the novel, which I have the most problems with is written a long Epistolary style.
Lilah documents the long, arduous journey she, Ezra, and the Babylonian Jews undertake. They return to Jerusalem, facing exclusion and oppression from other ethnic groups around them who too inhabit the land. The temple and settlements are built for the community, unfortunately divisiveness within the community surfaces. The Zealots and other conservative members of the community called for the expulsion of the "foreign" (the Jebusite, Moabite, Ammonite to name a few) women who married Hebrew men and their progeny so that the Hebrew men would be forced to marry Jewish women. Lilah wholeheartedly objects to this idea and begs Ezra to reconsider this expulsion, but he follows the more archaic and hurtful Mosaic Laws without question or consideration of their validity within their modern situation. Lilah decides to leave with the Outcast Women and become their leader, in hopes of a better future for them all.
One of my major pet peeves in the novel is the fate of the Outcast Women; I found it ironic that Ezra would condone the expelling of these women when some of the most prominent Biblical Patriarchs (Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Boaz to name a few) married non-Jewish women! The big theme that I inferred from this trilogy was that women like Sarah and Zipporah proved that being Jewish is NOT about being born into the religion but making a conscious effort to be an active and constructive member of the community. The trilogy showed over and over how different groups of people joined Abraham and Moses and were welcomed with open arms. I kept hoping a consolation would occur, that Ezra would have the foreign women and their children fully convert to Judaism and abide by the Mosaic Law. But unfortunately, that was not the case. I did enjoy the ending; sanctimonious Ezra thought he would go to bury his sister, a fallen forgotten woman. Instead, he was shocked at the celebration in honor of her. Ezra saw her as just a pariah; others saw her as a leader for the downtrodden.
I also saw heavy parallels to the current sociopolitical situation in Israel, wherein the Conservative/Orthodox Israeli factions (Ezra and the Zealots) and the more secular progressive/moderate Jews and Arabs (Lilah and Outcasts) are in constant conflict as to who the land truly belongs to. Can there be true equity between these two very different groups and does religion matter so much in a national identity when you do not live in a Theocracy?
May 24, 2010
This is my least favorite book in the trilogy, probably because I was not as familiar with the story of Ezra and Lilah as I was with Abraham and Moses. But this book is enjoyable because of the diversity of the characters that evoke emotion. Lilah is strong, proud, and full of love, like Sarah and Zipporah. However, we have a wider range of characters. Some are easy to root for, like Ezra's mentor, his servant, and Lilah's lover. And others are easy to despise, like the Queen, and even Ezra himself, who is not a very sympathetic character. Yes, the Jews are lead to the Promise Land and the Temple is rebuilt, but Ezra does not care at what cost these tasks are done.
MY REVIEW OF THE TRILOGY AS A WHOLE (SPOILER ALERT!!!)
I may seem like I'm slightly bashing these books just because I'm pointing out some flaws, but I did give these books 4 or 5 stars.
Halter should not switch from first person to third. Yes, he distinctly separates them via prologues and epilogues and parts, but once he's really established style in one or the other, he changes ineloquently.
These women of god were not as chaste as we were lead to believe. Mind you, I'm no conservative, but generally, when people are reading biblical stories, they're not reading it for moderately steamy romance. Sarah committed adultery with Pharaoh, Zipporah slept with Moses before they were married and acknowledged that she lived in sin, and Lilah slept with her lover before they were married and did so with considerable passion.
All of these women had a bit too much in common, and having concluded the third book, the trilogy seemed a bit redundant. All three women were raised in privilege and wanted men outside of their class. They all embarked in holy journeys and received both blessings and sorrow. It was a bit formulaic.
Overall, I enjoyed the series. It was a quick read with familiar characters and a good sense of setting and atmosphere. I felt the heat of the deserts and texture of the fabrics. But while I knew what was in the character's hearts, I never FELT it.
As I said in my review of Sarah, I don't typically compare books to other books, but this series didn't hold a candle to The Red Tent.
MY REVIEW OF THE TRILOGY AS A WHOLE (SPOILER ALERT!!!)
I may seem like I'm slightly bashing these books just because I'm pointing out some flaws, but I did give these books 4 or 5 stars.
Halter should not switch from first person to third. Yes, he distinctly separates them via prologues and epilogues and parts, but once he's really established style in one or the other, he changes ineloquently.
These women of god were not as chaste as we were lead to believe. Mind you, I'm no conservative, but generally, when people are reading biblical stories, they're not reading it for moderately steamy romance. Sarah committed adultery with Pharaoh, Zipporah slept with Moses before they were married and acknowledged that she lived in sin, and Lilah slept with her lover before they were married and did so with considerable passion.
All of these women had a bit too much in common, and having concluded the third book, the trilogy seemed a bit redundant. All three women were raised in privilege and wanted men outside of their class. They all embarked in holy journeys and received both blessings and sorrow. It was a bit formulaic.
Overall, I enjoyed the series. It was a quick read with familiar characters and a good sense of setting and atmosphere. I felt the heat of the deserts and texture of the fabrics. But while I knew what was in the character's hearts, I never FELT it.
As I said in my review of Sarah, I don't typically compare books to other books, but this series didn't hold a candle to The Red Tent.
February 17, 2012
Absolute rubbish, I'm sorry to say. The writing obscured the plot and distorted the characters, which where little more than cookie cutouts to begin with. The books structure was awkward and meandering and it changed in tone abruptly. It's a shame too, I really wanted to like this piece of biblical fiction :/
January 14, 2016
This is the story of Ezra's sister and the events leading up to and included in the book of Ezra in the bible. I was disappointed to look up Lilah after reading the book and find out there was no such person mentioned in the bible. Still, she could've existed, and her inner turmoil could've been as complex and painful as it was in this book. Certainly when I read the book of Ezra in the bible I imagine the pain his work caused. Personally, I don't think Ezra would've spared his own sister if he had one. I rate this book only a 3, but it's a relatively short and easy read. Not a high price to pay in terms of time, and I got my 'money's' worth.
March 2, 2009
Listened to this on a road trip to/from Vegas.
The first half was GREAT. The second half was so utterly depressing that it would have been a four star book if not for the sad ending. It really left a damper on my mood!
Still an enjoyable read (or listen in this case).
The first half was GREAT. The second half was so utterly depressing that it would have been a four star book if not for the sad ending. It really left a damper on my mood!
Still an enjoyable read (or listen in this case).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2016
Pleasant read, nothing spectacular. I enjoyed the way that Ezra's story was brought to life as that is a book of the Bible that I haven't spent a lot of time contemplating.
November 9, 2014
For all of my snark on religion in books and film, I genuinely enjoy portrayals of biblical women, and I still count The Red Tent as one of my favorite books.
Lilah, though, was a challenge for me. The whole book felt like three strange short stories that were spliced together to form one sliver of a novel.
The first part centers on Lilah, a Jewess, after her lover, Antinoes, a Persian warrior, returns from war. Their reunion is a passionate one, with Antinoes going on and on about how angry he was at all the beautiful women he encountered because they were not Lilah, and how he has already started the process of preparing for their wedding.
I really felt for these two in their struggle to be together, and in a sense the relationship is the only part of the novel that pulls the three sections together.
Continually the story mentions the back story about how Lilah, her brother Ezra, and Antinoes grew up together, and how as children they were inseparable.
I was never clear on why Ezra and Antinoes came to blows. I understand that Ezra's "religious self" is his only self, but there wasn't an adequate bridge between Antinoes as his brother and Antinoes as his enemy.
The middle part of the story focused on Lilah being summand by the queen for a heavy dose of humiliation while the queen tries to seduce Antinoes herself.
I also didn't find it believable that Lilah would give up her life with Antinoes o follow Ezra to Jerusalem. Ezra as a character was never fully explored for me - was he merely a zealot or was he truly insane?
In the third part, Lilah writes Antinoes an endless letter detailing e their journey to Jerusalem, and going into detail about how Ezra expels all the Jews (that traveled all this way with him) who are unclean. Lilah, believing this is wrong, goes with them. She goes on to detail rape and murder, and then in the epilogue Ezra leans that she is dead (I'm presuming after she's been sexually assaulted) and the exiles revere her as a savior.
Too many wholes, not enough cohesive storytelling. This could have been something I loved, but I just didn't.
October 14, 2011
"Lilah is the final book in the Canaan Trilogy by Marek Halter and though it is a good book on its own, it probably will not be good compared to the other books in the series. Halter decided to write a trilogy in which are based off of women who are very important in the Bible but not so prominent like Ruth or Esther. These women are strong and play a vital role in the prominent person they represent and Halter wrote these novels as their side of the story.
With Lilah, the story is pretty strong on plot but delivery was way too rushed in my opinion. There was enough build-up but not enough detailing for a detailed story. It goes from the basics of Lilah's life to the beginnings of Ezra's purpose who is her brother. The constant struggle between Lilah's love for the man she loves named Antinoes and the brotherly love she has for Ezra is the driving theme but a theme that is taken a little too much upon with basics thus why some people were easily disappointed with this novel on that behalf.
My favorite part of the novel is easily going to be the very end where Lilah is writing on a scroll to Antinoes of what is going on in her life and this part has the most depth and human relevance compared to the entire story. I felt like I was really there more than anything else at this part. All in all, this story is a good story on its own but as a conclusion to the Canaan Trilogy, it probably should have been first but I understand why Halter went the way he did since in series of the trilogy, he went from oldest to newest. The events in Sarah happened first, then Zipporah, then Lilah. I recommend a rental from the library before purchasing unless you have the entire trilogy and want to complete it like I did."
With Lilah, the story is pretty strong on plot but delivery was way too rushed in my opinion. There was enough build-up but not enough detailing for a detailed story. It goes from the basics of Lilah's life to the beginnings of Ezra's purpose who is her brother. The constant struggle between Lilah's love for the man she loves named Antinoes and the brotherly love she has for Ezra is the driving theme but a theme that is taken a little too much upon with basics thus why some people were easily disappointed with this novel on that behalf.
My favorite part of the novel is easily going to be the very end where Lilah is writing on a scroll to Antinoes of what is going on in her life and this part has the most depth and human relevance compared to the entire story. I felt like I was really there more than anything else at this part. All in all, this story is a good story on its own but as a conclusion to the Canaan Trilogy, it probably should have been first but I understand why Halter went the way he did since in series of the trilogy, he went from oldest to newest. The events in Sarah happened first, then Zipporah, then Lilah. I recommend a rental from the library before purchasing unless you have the entire trilogy and want to complete it like I did."
Read
February 18, 2015I listened to the audio version of this book and found it riveting. At times I was uncomfortable with the ongoing "relationship" between brother and sister - and found myself challenged by their dynamics.
However, the most riveting and compelling part of the book focused on the role of the Persian empire ( all the way to the Queen) and its power over the common person - absolute dictator like control over who one marries, and ones very existence...sounds a bit too much like the type of control ISIS is attempting to exert, and seems to be quite effective.
We here in the West do have issues with the way that religion dictates politics in the Middle East, Syria, etc. However, when you did just below the surface, we here in the US are not really that different - witness the recent case that went to the Human Rights Commission involving an employee of Moody's Diner ....how because of this employee's relationship with the diner's owner's son,(The owner holds strong religious beliefs) , the owner felt "entitled" to pressure this employee in the name of Jesus .
It was truly amazing and also heart breaking to witness Lilah's decision to go up against her brother's obvious religious fervor. LIfe is extremely messy, and it was amazing how this writer dealt with numerous complex issues.
Rosie Hartzler
WIndham, Maine
However, the most riveting and compelling part of the book focused on the role of the Persian empire ( all the way to the Queen) and its power over the common person - absolute dictator like control over who one marries, and ones very existence...sounds a bit too much like the type of control ISIS is attempting to exert, and seems to be quite effective.
We here in the West do have issues with the way that religion dictates politics in the Middle East, Syria, etc. However, when you did just below the surface, we here in the US are not really that different - witness the recent case that went to the Human Rights Commission involving an employee of Moody's Diner ....how because of this employee's relationship with the diner's owner's son,(The owner holds strong religious beliefs) , the owner felt "entitled" to pressure this employee in the name of Jesus .
It was truly amazing and also heart breaking to witness Lilah's decision to go up against her brother's obvious religious fervor. LIfe is extremely messy, and it was amazing how this writer dealt with numerous complex issues.
Rosie Hartzler
WIndham, Maine
January 6, 2016
*** Spoilers alert ***
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I loved the Biblical insights. I haven't read a book on Biblical times in ages and when I was a little girl, I used to love reading snippets of Old Testament from the Holy Bible. I was and still is, fascinated by the period.
I love the title character. Her strength amazed me. On the other hand, I don't agree with some rash decisions which she took, and which ultimately affected not only her but also the people around her.
I totally despised another male character. He annoyed me from the very beginning to the very end, when the story takes a tragic turn and in truth, the book left me with a very sad and poignant taste.
As I was reading it, I knew the story had a tragic underlying but about three quarters into the book, there seemed to be a little hope, which was unfortunately completely shattered at the end.
All in all, I loved the diction of the book, and it is a very easy read. I will still look out for the 'Sarah' and 'Zipporah' novels because I love Biblical stories especially those concerning women.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I loved the Biblical insights. I haven't read a book on Biblical times in ages and when I was a little girl, I used to love reading snippets of Old Testament from the Holy Bible. I was and still is, fascinated by the period.
I love the title character. Her strength amazed me. On the other hand, I don't agree with some rash decisions which she took, and which ultimately affected not only her but also the people around her.
I totally despised another male character. He annoyed me from the very beginning to the very end, when the story takes a tragic turn and in truth, the book left me with a very sad and poignant taste.
As I was reading it, I knew the story had a tragic underlying but about three quarters into the book, there seemed to be a little hope, which was unfortunately completely shattered at the end.
All in all, I loved the diction of the book, and it is a very easy read. I will still look out for the 'Sarah' and 'Zipporah' novels because I love Biblical stories especially those concerning women.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2010
this story is one that will stick with you, making you question things of love, loyalty, family, tolerance. i'd actually never heard of lilah before and the only reason i even picked the book up is because it is the final chapter to marek halter's women of canaan series. but i'm thoroughly glad that i did.
i love diving headfirst into past cultures and this depiction of the persian empire made me want to learn more. i'm glad that there was a balance of multi-dimensioned persian characters along with the jews. i was also impressed with lilah's strength as well as the depth of her convictions.
my main issue was the way the book was written. it is split in 2 parts: the first is the back story of how through lilah, ezra was able to bring the children of israel back to jerusalem. the second is written in letter/diary-form from lilah's perspective. and like book 2 of this series (zipporah: the wife of moses), the ending was utterly abrupt. of course i had hopes of what the ending could be, but halter stays true to his research.
i love diving headfirst into past cultures and this depiction of the persian empire made me want to learn more. i'm glad that there was a balance of multi-dimensioned persian characters along with the jews. i was also impressed with lilah's strength as well as the depth of her convictions.
my main issue was the way the book was written. it is split in 2 parts: the first is the back story of how through lilah, ezra was able to bring the children of israel back to jerusalem. the second is written in letter/diary-form from lilah's perspective. and like book 2 of this series (zipporah: the wife of moses), the ending was utterly abrupt. of course i had hopes of what the ending could be, but halter stays true to his research.
April 24, 2007
I came home from my last trip to the library with an armful of books based on Bible stories. I guess because it was close to Easter. This one was okay. I read the first book in the trilogy but I missed the second one. I don't think it mattered though; they're all about different women in the Old Testament. I didn't relate to Lilah very well and the ending left me outraged. I don't remember the lesser-known Old Testament stories very well, but did that really happen? I'm going to have to look it up. Anyway, the writing was a little weak. I wound up poring over the title page and publishing info to see if it had been translated from a different language.
December 7, 2007
I was not as keen on this last installment of Halter's Canaan as I was with the first two. I am not sure if it is because I am tired of reading about women sacrificing everything for their God or what. Nice, right, on Chanukah, near Christmas? I am religious but... Do not get me wrong; I highly admire the women in this series, including Lilah but it leaves me feeling sad for them too. For their mental well being, love-wise. And with Lilah, I did not feel the "love" she had for Antinoes as much as I felt the intensity of Sarah's love and Zipporah's. All in all a good historical fiction novel. I love learning the history of the people through these but not my favorite of the series.
November 9, 2012
I picked this book up not quite knowing what to expect from it-- normally I'm not the biggest fan of books based on biblical stories. But I fell absolutely in love with Lilah's story. The relationships between Lilah, Ezra and Antinoes are very well developed; each felt like a fully fleshed-out character who could believably exist. The decisions each character makes throughout the narrative are engaging and at times heartbreaking; I couldn't put this book down. The ending, when it came, left me absolutely stunned and touched. A book that engages my emotions and imagination this strongly deserves the highest of praise. I will definitely recommend this to my fellow bibliophiles.
November 12, 2014
What an interesting story based on some of the charactes in the Book of Ezra, I don't know if he had a sister but the story line with the most impact for me was when this sister Lilah followed the women who were banned from Jerusalam along with their children who were married to Jewish men. They were left to take care of themselves without resources which was available to the at first by their husbands and friends and then that stopped putting them at the mercy of men outside of the safety of their husbands. I loved how the women, men and others paid their respect at the death of Lilah which I think was the best part of the story.
August 7, 2015
"
En conclusion, le troisième tome de La Bible au féminin m’aura aussi apporté un éclairage que je ne regrette pas, bien que Lilah m’ait moins embarquée que Sarah et Tsippora. Son histoire et ses sacrifices sont intéressants à suivre, ils se dévorent sans qu’on s’en rende vraiment compte, la psychologie des personnages est bien développée, on en apprend sur le contexte et sur la nature humaine, ainsi que sur les considérations religieuses de l’époque. C’est dur, mais c’est beau…
Ce sera donc un 16/20 pour moi et je vous recommande la saga !"
Chronique entière ici :
http://leden-des-reves.blogspot.fr/20...
En conclusion, le troisième tome de La Bible au féminin m’aura aussi apporté un éclairage que je ne regrette pas, bien que Lilah m’ait moins embarquée que Sarah et Tsippora. Son histoire et ses sacrifices sont intéressants à suivre, ils se dévorent sans qu’on s’en rende vraiment compte, la psychologie des personnages est bien développée, on en apprend sur le contexte et sur la nature humaine, ainsi que sur les considérations religieuses de l’époque. C’est dur, mais c’est beau…
Ce sera donc un 16/20 pour moi et je vous recommande la saga !"
Chronique entière ici :
http://leden-des-reves.blogspot.fr/20...
February 19, 2020
Having read the first two books in this series on Sarah and Zipporah which I thoroughly enjoyed, I was looking forward to reading the final book in this series. But I found it a great disappointment.
First, nowhere in the bible is there a mention of Ezra having a sister named Lilah. Next, the premarital relationship of Lilah with her friend from childhood, a Persian named Antinoes, did not fit Lilah's Jewish persona, but also had needless descriptive intimacies. Finally, it was not nearly as well written as the two previous books.
I did enjoy the role that Sogdiam played in the story and can definitely see God using a lame Jewish boy to play an important role in His work.
First, nowhere in the bible is there a mention of Ezra having a sister named Lilah. Next, the premarital relationship of Lilah with her friend from childhood, a Persian named Antinoes, did not fit Lilah's Jewish persona, but also had needless descriptive intimacies. Finally, it was not nearly as well written as the two previous books.
I did enjoy the role that Sogdiam played in the story and can definitely see God using a lame Jewish boy to play an important role in His work.
February 17, 2020
This was a tragic reading. Meaning full of ego, lust, sorrow, and disobedience.
It was interesting to read about the:
-lust of Antoines and Lilah,
-wrath of the Persian Queen,
-ego of Ezra,
-impact that women had in Jerusalem, and
-love that men had for their wives and children who were exiled because they were not "approved".
The fact that love supersedes the commandments of Moses (Word from God) is powerful.
Upon reading this trilogy, I feel that Zipporah was the best of the three. I also feel that the writing style and delivery of each varied. It felt that each were written or transcribed to English by different writers.
It was interesting to read about the:
-lust of Antoines and Lilah,
-wrath of the Persian Queen,
-ego of Ezra,
-impact that women had in Jerusalem, and
-love that men had for their wives and children who were exiled because they were not "approved".
The fact that love supersedes the commandments of Moses (Word from God) is powerful.
Upon reading this trilogy, I feel that Zipporah was the best of the three. I also feel that the writing style and delivery of each varied. It felt that each were written or transcribed to English by different writers.
June 3, 2020
I'm just not sure about these Marek Halter books. I still have to read Sarah so we'll see. Again, he had Lilah die at the end. Her death was more appropriate at least than Zipporah's was. However, I did NOT like her brother, Ezra, so now the book of the Bible is tainted. He was not at all likeable. He was insecure at times and hardheaded to a fault at others. I did like Antinoes, but I don't know whatever happened to him. Lilah left and that was it. I guess in reality, she wouldn't have known what happened, but in a book the readers can know. I did like Lilah (not that she is real), and her story was told well. I liked at the end how she stood up for what she believed in.
June 9, 2008
This was my fav of the three - probably because of the ending, how she got exasperated by the minute details and not so minute details of the law of Moses, and did what her conscience told her to.
This series was very odd in that 1)all the women were beautiful 2) many women were barren 3) there was too much sex for this type of book and 4) what's with the delaying love thing?
Anyway, I did enjoy this one the best. And very glad I'm done with these so I can read something else, and return the books to my mom.
This series was very odd in that 1)all the women were beautiful 2) many women were barren 3) there was too much sex for this type of book and 4) what's with the delaying love thing?
Anyway, I did enjoy this one the best. And very glad I'm done with these so I can read something else, and return the books to my mom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2015
This is a great book written about the prophet Ezra, through the eyes of his sister, Lilah. It is a form of midrash, a Jewish word when traditional biblical stories are retold through the woman's perspective. If you're a fan of the bible, and don't mind a little "twist" in the story, this book is for you. If you're not a big fan of the bible, but enjoy historical fiction, you will also enjoy this book. If you're a fan of the bible, and think a "twist" in the story would be offensive, then I do not recommend this book. Happy reading!
January 1, 2009
This book is the third in a series of stories about biblical women. In this novel, Halter tells the story of Ezra through the eyes of his sister Lilah. It is an interesting retelling of the story, with much emphasis on the role of Lilah who is barely mentioned in the Bible. The tale has a bittersweet ending, and I usually prefer happy endings. The novel did inspire me to go back and read some of the original story in the Bible.
November 14, 2009
I would actually rate this 3 1/2 stars. it wasn't a book I couldn't wait to resume reading after stopping. I became frustrated with Ezra when he was felt he was doing God's will as well as some of the terrible things he did. I want to read about him in the Bible to find out more about actual facts. I came to love Lilah, I can't find any information about her in the Bible or online on Bible.com but in this book she was quite a beautiful person.
March 18, 2010
Perhaps I had expected too much from this book having so thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series. But, I felt that 2/3 of the book built up to what could have been an interesting and challenging resolution, only to have it fizzle at the more critical point of the book. It read almost like he didn't quite know what to do with the heroine and presented the outcome in a sloppily wrapped gift.
March 18, 2012
Lilah, the third of Marek Halter's series of novels based on biblical women, tells the story of the sister of Ezra and her struggles. She is in love with a Persian, Antinoes. Her brother forbids her to marry him, as the law of Yahweh forbids it. Lilah respects and supports her brother and brings about his journey from Susa to Jerusalem to restore the temple and bring the Israelites back together. She leaves Antinoes behind and accompanies Ezra, providing him counsel and support.
March 6, 2018
This was definitely my least favorite of the Canaan trilogy. Lilah was somehow a side character in her own book. When I think about her overall story, it was much more about the people around her. I would have much rather have read about her time outside the walls of Jerusalem where she was obviously beloved according to the epilogue.
This was a disappointing end to the trilogy. Sarah is by far the best.
This was a disappointing end to the trilogy. Sarah is by far the best.
November 4, 2019
Not what I was expecting when I started. I was expecting a Zionist biblical tale of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, but instead what I got was a political commentary that neither dismisses Jewish claims to Jerusalem nor condones 1948. It was an interesting read, especially since when you look at the book itself it seems like a very typical love story at first, but then rapidly evolves.
April 8, 2009
A story I of course flew over when reading the bible. If you look in Ezra and Nehemiah, you can see the story there, but just too many names people coming a going, dying and being born. This book at least tries to make a real story out of a dark time, tramatic ending, wasn't expecting the turn it took. Liked the other Halter books just a big more though.
July 1, 2014
So far, I thought this was going to be the story of Esther...but it turns out to be about a fictional character Lilah, the sister of the Old Testament prophet, Ezra. I was not a fan of this story whereas Halter's previous books in the Canaan Chronicles are excellent. This one fell short of my expectations.
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