Abigail's Story

Women of the Bible #4

by Ann Burton

The bible is filled with women of faith, bravery, and cunning. Here is one woman's tale- as it might have happened.

Genres: Biblical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Biblical, Christian, Ebooks

280 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Margaret Hardie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm . . . I don't know how to rate this. I don't think I can quite give it a three, but almost? As Historical accuracy, not so much. I mean, there is so much for speculation from such antiquity, but the author uses today's thoughts and political correctness in all (or as least two, I'm working on the others) of her books, which does NOT work for me. This book rather surprised me as it has some sexual content that seems quite inappropriate for a Hebrew biblical woman. What? Seriously?

O.k. that is what I did not like. What I did like was that this book made me go to the Bible and READ the real story (or what very little there is). I do like that this story made me appreciate the women of such an ancient time, and ponder their lives. I just wish Burton's assumptions were a little more logical for that time period. I guess you have to read it to know what I mean.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Burton had delivered a well written, Bible-based, fictional version of the life and times of Abigail in the bible. Her research into the customs, dress, social mores and history of the time period fill this story with historical detail.

All we know about Abigail is found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Samuel where she has a confrontation with an angry David and asks him not to take personal vengeance on her foolish husband, Nabal, and his household. We also know that she became David's second wife. Perhaps she can be considered the first woman peacekeeper.

Although much of this story is speculative, it still gives us a beautifully imagined picture of Abigail's life.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abigail's brother got himself deeply into a gambling debt. To help him out, Abigail decides to offer herself as a wife to Nabal , the richest man but surliest man in town. Immediately after the wedding he sends her off to the hill country to be in charge of taking care of his sheep. There she meets David who was the leader of an army of outlaws. He and his men protect the shepherds and their flocks. Cruel and heartless Nabal cares nothing about them and refuses them food when asked for help. David seeks revenge and as soon as Abigail hears about hurries to create peace.

[Hannah Leggett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this book. This was the third book I've read from Ann Burton. She did such a good job on the other books! She made the mistake of putting in some stuff that I really didn't think was very biblical and made me uncomfortable. She does a very good job most of the time using the what little information there is on these women!

[Lindsey Mann · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I enjoyed most of the book but ran into two major deviations from the Biblical account of Abigail. The Bible says Abigail was 2 things: Beautiful and wise. This author makes her so plain looking that no one but Nabal will wed her. Worse, she is so unwise as to engage in activities reserved for married couples with David before Nabal dies and she marries David. This scene is pornographic. Despite how I enjoyed the cultural insights and storyline, this simply isn't appropriate for a Christ follower to be reading, whether or not they are married.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The throng female character was interesting to read about. The historical fiction was ok. I wished the use of biblical words were easier to understand. I didn't like having to stop, go to glossary of terms to get the meaning.

[Mr John Callaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful story telling

Absolutely loved the story of Abigail and loved your interpretation of what might of happened in her life before she met David which grew her into such a courageous woman.
Penny Callaghan

[Christina A · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t even finish reading this book. Disgusted by the way Abigail and David interacted and some of the conversations and scenes that happened in this book. If it had been the first book I read in the series, I probably would not have attempted anymore.

[Allison Anderson Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had potential and was a creative story, but she ruined for me when things got sexual with David before her other husband was dead.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can not give much comment other than... Abigail, wife of foolish Nabal becomes one of King David's wives, but not much is mentioned of her in the Bible. This is a work of fiction by the author of what could have been??? There were a few encounters of Abigail and David that were not necessary to the story, in my opinion.

[Deb]

plot summary: what happens, when & where, central characters, major conflicts[return]burton retells the story of the biblical figure of abigail, making her the daughter of a potter in carmel. abigail's father is infirm, as is her mother, and her brother is not good at working the clay, so abigail has all but taken over the family pottery business. her brother causes major trouble for the family when he runs up a gambling debt with a rich but greedy swindler named nabal. to save her family abigail works out a deal where she becomes nabal's wife (pretty much in name only) and the debt is forgiven. nabal sends her up north to see to his flocks of sheep. these she and her servant woman befriend the tribe of shepherds--and also run into a band of warriors whose leader is the outlaw/future anointed king david. [return][return]style characterisics: pacing, clarity, structure, narrative devices, etc.[return]told entirely from abigails p.o.v. very much a romance novel, even with almost explict sexual scenes. the flavor of the time period is present in the variety of hebrew words used and hebrew customs illustrated, but the heroine has a independent streak that is appealing to modern day readers. some scenes seemed far fetched to me as the characters acting too modern for the time period. abigail is fairly well-rounded, but the other characters aren't. david's character is one minute singing psalms, the next lusting after abigail (which may not be all that far off, but it is a strech from the biblical story). [return]too much of a romance with explicit content to appeal to conservative biblical fiction fans, but this could make it appealing to typical romance readers.

[Anne Hawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann Burton has taken the few sentences about Abigail in the Bible and turned it into an inspiring story that might have been. We aren't given a lot of details in the Bible, but what facts there are have been skillfully woven into a story which depicts the lives of the people of the era in a way we can all identify.

Abigail is an only daughter who has to offer herself in marriage to an odious and greedy man in order to pay off her wastrel brother's debts to keep him and her elderly parents from being sold off into slavery. She is send off to the hill country the day after her marriage to manage the wild herdsmen in preparation for the annual accounting. When she arrives she finds an almost unlivable cottage with virtually no roof and starving herdsmen whose lives have been made miserable by her greedy husband. As she comes to know these people, her heart goes out to them and she travels back to her husband to obtain food to keep them from starving. At the same time, she meets and befriends the outlaw shepherd, David, who is to become King of Israel.

What I liked most was the way Biblical events came alive in this story. The author doesn't pretend that this is what happened, but it could have happened.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about the wonderfully brave Abigail from the Bible. Ann Burton paints a wonderful picture of a wonderfully brave yet normal woman who grew up in poverty and marries a monster to pay her brother's debt and keep her parents from being sold into slavery. She's sent into the country where she meets many of her husband's people who are starving. She also meets David who's an outlaw, slayer and future king. Abigail's a creative person coming up with a way to feed her husband's starving people and intervins to stop a war. A great story.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 I will probably listen to other books in this series of historical fiction about women in the Bible. Even though there is a little unnecessary "romance novel" type description of the wedding night scene between Abigail and her brutish husband and of Abigail's meetings with David, there are enough details about the time and place and good stories showing Abigail's kindness and generosity to those around her to make this a worthwhile book. Unfortunately, if somebody asks me about Abigail a month from now, I probably won't remember what's fact and what's fiction.

[Erin Bartos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this book has too much of a romance moment, but other than that it was pretty good. I was happy to read in the bible that David did indeed ask Abigail to be his wife like in the book, I was pretty disappointed with the ending before I knew that. She puts a disclaimer in there that she took a lot of liberties with making the personalities of the characters, but at least the basic stuff was pretty much true. good to see the life and times of that era come to life.

[Loraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started listening to this book three times. I finally listened to it all because it was the only one available to me and I needed something to do! It ended up being a pretty good story. Since I had recently read "Michal" (the first of the King David series), it fit together nicely with it. it was kind of slow moving and boring. I thought there could have been more description of the people, the lands, etc.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when it was first published and remembered liking it. I skimmed through it again since I am currently reading The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks and Abigail is mentioned it that book as well. It is historical fiction and Ms. Burton takes liberties with the story of Abigail and David telling it from Abigail's viewpoint. I would recommend this book and I intend to read the other books in this series.

[Becki]

Includes special previews of the author's 'Rahab's story' and 'Deborah's story.'\n\nAn interesting take on Abigail's life. I liked it, for the most part. The only part I didn't enjoy was David seducing Abigail while she was still married to Nabal. I guess it could have happened. David seduced Bathsheba.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ann Burton did an good job fleshing out the possibilities in Abigail's meager story. I was impressed with the way she kept to the societal norms of the day and still managed to create Abigail as a character of tremendous strength and power. It was an enjoyable journey into the tumultuous time of the Israelite kingdom under Saul, with David waiting in the wings.

[Abigail · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I not like this book?
A. Abigail is a tomboy.
B. She is "ordinary, not pretty at all."
C. She is a shepherd of Nabal's sheep.

I can understand drama, but this is too farfetched. It clearly ignores the Bible which states she was "extremely beautiful and grace filled."
I am very disappointed in this version of the Abigail story. It may appeal to some, but not to me.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel just did not live up to my expectations. I did not find it as engaging as The Red Tent or other Biblical historical fiction novels I've read.

[Moonmomie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable Biblical Fiction read. Strong female main character and satisfying plot. There are four unrelated books in this series. All are equally well written.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story.

[Jennifer Yanos]

I love Ann Burton's books! They are fabulous and bring the stories and time period to life for me. I realize that they are complete fiction, but it's such an amazing story. I loved it!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book of fiction from the time when David was on the run from King Saul. I listen to these books and enjoy the occasional foreign words. In this book, the God of Israel is named Adonai.