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Obedience
Ham is a man of passion and questions. He's adored his wife, Lita, since he first saw her draped in her father's fishing nets and threatened to leave with her if his father, Noah, didn't allow the marriage. She becomes his greatest comfort when Ham is at odds with his father and brothers.
When Noah claims their God has commanded him to build an Ark to escape a devastating flood, Ham worries about the construction stripping the land and the community's ridicule of the family. He and Lita draw closer together as outsiders.
They're shocked when the rains come and the entire family is forced into the Ark, along with the animals that appeared.
Confinement and uncertainty of fate amongst the refugees exaggerate normal family tension, rivalries and forbidden love. On land, they feel independent and invincible, chosen by their God to survive and thrive.
But for Ham, there's tragedy and more doubt. Noah warns him he must yield his will, lest there be even graver consequences. Ham can't imagine anything worse and careens down the path that forever links him with depravity and harsh judgment.
When Noah claims their God has commanded him to build an Ark to escape a devastating flood, Ham worries about the construction stripping the land and the community's ridicule of the family. He and Lita draw closer together as outsiders.
They're shocked when the rains come and the entire family is forced into the Ark, along with the animals that appeared.
Confinement and uncertainty of fate amongst the refugees exaggerate normal family tension, rivalries and forbidden love. On land, they feel independent and invincible, chosen by their God to survive and thrive.
But for Ham, there's tragedy and more doubt. Noah warns him he must yield his will, lest there be even graver consequences. Ham can't imagine anything worse and careens down the path that forever links him with depravity and harsh judgment.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2017
4 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 29, 2017
Such a wonderfully written story. The sentences are gems in themselves and the imagery is stellar. Such a unique story with a special perspective. Kudos Wow, the author of this story has such wonderful writing. She is definitely a wordsmith of the utmost quality. She evokes beautiful imagery and parts of the story are written very sensually. And the dialogue seems perfect for the time period the story takes place in.
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May 7, 2017
Obedience by V.G. Kilgore builds on the Old Testament story of Noah’s Ark. Each chapter begins with a sentence from the biblical story, and the chapters then unfold in the light of those words. Ham doubts his father Noah’s wisdom in building an ark, but he takes refuge on board when the rains begin, along with his brothers and their families. His wife Lita is his love and friend, and he had had to stand up to his father (who believed marriage was a mere arranged union where men are obeyed and women lead a subservient existence) in order to marry her. Livi, Ham’s daughter, seeks a better way and a happier relationship too, but Noah’s patriarchal authority causes nothing but fear, secrets, and rebellion. Will Noah’s vision of a better land and life after the flood really happen or will what he sees as disobedience to his rules and El (God) result in an irreversible family split?
V.G. Kilgore’s Obedience is a thought-provoking and well written biblically based story that ponders the reasons and motivations, the relationships, the hopes and fears of characters caught up in saving themselves from the flood. The story explores the need for and the consequences of patriarchal authority through Noah, and how his belief in his God causes his strict and unyielding treatment of his family. The reader is given insights into how life would have been in Old Testament times – the desire to obey family rules which, though seemingly unreasonable, were there in order to ensure survival and the continuation of the human race. However, we see how, without compassion, choice and individual freedom, people become resentful, frustrated and belittled, and how this then shapes their minds and their lives.
The author depicts vivid and very believable characters and the narrative moves from their many points of view. So the reader has insight into the thoughts and desires of each and the impact they have on one another. I got a real sense of how hard life was for the families and it is easy to identify with Livi and the others' desire for freedom i.e. a desire for more. Noah’s obedience to El/God results in the ark and the survival of animals and people. But I felt it also showed how unquestioned adherence to one man’s interpretation may cause too narrow a view of their Creator and end in unfair ruling of one type of people over another. An intricate story with a compelling message.
V.G. Kilgore’s Obedience is a thought-provoking and well written biblically based story that ponders the reasons and motivations, the relationships, the hopes and fears of characters caught up in saving themselves from the flood. The story explores the need for and the consequences of patriarchal authority through Noah, and how his belief in his God causes his strict and unyielding treatment of his family. The reader is given insights into how life would have been in Old Testament times – the desire to obey family rules which, though seemingly unreasonable, were there in order to ensure survival and the continuation of the human race. However, we see how, without compassion, choice and individual freedom, people become resentful, frustrated and belittled, and how this then shapes their minds and their lives.
The author depicts vivid and very believable characters and the narrative moves from their many points of view. So the reader has insight into the thoughts and desires of each and the impact they have on one another. I got a real sense of how hard life was for the families and it is easy to identify with Livi and the others' desire for freedom i.e. a desire for more. Noah’s obedience to El/God results in the ark and the survival of animals and people. But I felt it also showed how unquestioned adherence to one man’s interpretation may cause too narrow a view of their Creator and end in unfair ruling of one type of people over another. An intricate story with a compelling message.
July 20, 2017
The story of Noah’s Ark is an important fixture in Old Testament scripture from the Christian Bible, but previous to reading this account (which sparked some interest in further research), I was not aware that it also has ancient origins in religions such as Judaism, Islam and Bahá'í, as well as the earliest surviving work of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh.
Kilgore’s account follows the Bible’s characters, though is infused with personalities, actions, and motives beyond the original narrative. It follows the story of Noah’s son, Ham, and his family from the years before the flood, through their perilous ordeal and the aftermath.
Ham is Noah’s third and least favored son. Though he is skilled and hard-working, he was obstinate about selecting his own wife—of course his choice being a woman beneath the family in Noah’s eyes. Lita will come to prove her worthiness, but the patriarch nonetheless shows prejudice toward Ham’s progeny, which plays out in the Bible with the curse of Canaan. In this story, Ham’s young son Canaan is yet a child, but the events which would prove to shape his life unfold, giving a detailed account of why that particular branch of Noah’s family falls from grace.
This is a love story several times over, and can be a little silly with it. The characters are full of faults, nature logistics is off (indeed, how else to explain the supernatural events?), and reasoning seems to be heavily influenced by El, the mysterious deity whom only speaks to Noah directly. This cannot be categorized simply as religious fiction, as it uses a rather historically balanced approach, and I believe this is the author’s aim. As stated in her guest post a few weeks ago, “It’s important to consider these ancient stories with a more enlightened perspective.” Overall, I would label it a historical novel with Biblical undertones, but I do not think overly religious readers will feel it adds substance to their belief system. Luckily, I am not one of those and enjoyed the story. Any novel that prompts readers to dig further into a subject is worth a read, and this one raises questions that go beyond the Bible’s interpretation.
Historical-Fiction.com
Kilgore’s account follows the Bible’s characters, though is infused with personalities, actions, and motives beyond the original narrative. It follows the story of Noah’s son, Ham, and his family from the years before the flood, through their perilous ordeal and the aftermath.
Ham is Noah’s third and least favored son. Though he is skilled and hard-working, he was obstinate about selecting his own wife—of course his choice being a woman beneath the family in Noah’s eyes. Lita will come to prove her worthiness, but the patriarch nonetheless shows prejudice toward Ham’s progeny, which plays out in the Bible with the curse of Canaan. In this story, Ham’s young son Canaan is yet a child, but the events which would prove to shape his life unfold, giving a detailed account of why that particular branch of Noah’s family falls from grace.
This is a love story several times over, and can be a little silly with it. The characters are full of faults, nature logistics is off (indeed, how else to explain the supernatural events?), and reasoning seems to be heavily influenced by El, the mysterious deity whom only speaks to Noah directly. This cannot be categorized simply as religious fiction, as it uses a rather historically balanced approach, and I believe this is the author’s aim. As stated in her guest post a few weeks ago, “It’s important to consider these ancient stories with a more enlightened perspective.” Overall, I would label it a historical novel with Biblical undertones, but I do not think overly religious readers will feel it adds substance to their belief system. Luckily, I am not one of those and enjoyed the story. Any novel that prompts readers to dig further into a subject is worth a read, and this one raises questions that go beyond the Bible’s interpretation.
Historical-Fiction.com
May 12, 2017
Obedience is sensual, descriptive, and well-written. This novel is a flawless combination of research and imagination, a retelling that leaves the reader filled with wonder and captivated enough to want to read more. Characterization, setting, and building tension kept me reading throughout the night.
June 9, 2017
One of the most beautiful books I have read in a while. Even better than the Red Tent.
This book made me laugh, cry and then totally devastated me.
A unique twist on the Noah tale, masterfully written. I can't recommend it enough.
This book made me laugh, cry and then totally devastated me.
A unique twist on the Noah tale, masterfully written. I can't recommend it enough.
April 29, 2017
This is a lovely story that actually makes the tale of Noah's Ark seem like plausible historical fiction. There's much to recommend here: careful attention to historical detail; the dynamics of a somewhat dysfunctional family; forbidden love; rebellious children, and even a little steamy sex. Kilgore's writing is gorgeous, breathing new and vibrant life into a story we all thought we knew so well.
May 3, 2017
"Obedience" is such a wonderful read, with vivid descriptions that helped me to escape into the life and time of Noah and the building of the arc. And yet, it was so much more than Noah's tale! I was hooked with the romantic story lines, and found it very hard to put this book down, especially towards the end - very suspenseful the way everything comes to a close :) I would highly recommend this book to fans of Francine River's "A Voice in the Wind."
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews