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Havah: The Story of Eve
Eve. Myth and legend shroud her in mystery. Now hear her story. From paradise to exile, from immortality to the death of Adam, experience the dawn of mankind through the eyes of Eve -- the woman first known as Havah.
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2008
175 people are currently reading
8765 people want to read
About the author
Tosca Lee
24 books3,369 followers"Superior storytelling."
-Publishers Weekly starred review
Tosca Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of The Line Between, Havah: The Story of Eve, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, Iscariot, The Long March Home (with New York Times bestselling author Marcus Brotherton) and others. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and been optioned for TV and film.
She is the recipient of three International Book Awards, Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion, ECPA Book of the Year, and the Nebraska Book Award, and has finaled for numerous others including the Library of Virginia People's Choice Award, the High Plains Book Award, a second Silver Falchion, a second ECPA Book of the Year, and the Christy. The Line Between was a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery/Thriller of 2019.
You can find Tosca at ToscaLee.com, on social media, or hanging around the nearest snack table. To learn more, please visit ToscaLee.com
For book release news and giveaways, join Tosca Lee's Nocturnal Cafe.
-Publishers Weekly starred review
Tosca Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of The Line Between, Havah: The Story of Eve, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, Iscariot, The Long March Home (with New York Times bestselling author Marcus Brotherton) and others. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and been optioned for TV and film.
She is the recipient of three International Book Awards, Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion, ECPA Book of the Year, and the Nebraska Book Award, and has finaled for numerous others including the Library of Virginia People's Choice Award, the High Plains Book Award, a second Silver Falchion, a second ECPA Book of the Year, and the Christy. The Line Between was a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery/Thriller of 2019.
You can find Tosca at ToscaLee.com, on social media, or hanging around the nearest snack table. To learn more, please visit ToscaLee.com
For book release news and giveaways, join Tosca Lee's Nocturnal Cafe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 459 reviews
March 2, 2012
To start off, I think I'll sum things up easily by stating this: Havah took my breath away. If that sounds a bit romantic, it's because I meant it to. Not the clique kind of romantic, but the awe-inspiring, fearful romance between a creation and its creator. Havah is a beautiful novel written about God's love, His desire for a relationship with His Creation, and the agony of our relationship with Him being broken because of our own disobedience.
The story begins with Eve being created from Adam. Written in first person, the novel does a beautiful job of portraying Eve as she is birthed into existence. I'm not sure how challenging it must have been for Tosca to write from this angle, but she most definitely did an excellent job and it is this simple fact alone that marks her as a truly talented writer.
Eve runs through the garden in fellowship with the One, falls in love with the creation that came before her, Adam, and lives in wonder at the very world that God created for the two of them. Adam and Eve are able to communicate with each other, with the wildlife, and with God without speaking, the thoughts of all understood clearly, without deception or misunderstanding. The world at this time is truly one of bliss. No sin. No violence. Nothing but love and fellowship with each other and the One.
It broke my heart while I was reading these parts because I knew what was coming next in the story. I knew that they were going to rebel against God's direct orders and that the fellowship with God was going to be broken. Eve and Adam partake in the fruit that the serpent - beautifully illustrated as an intelligent and sly creature - gives them and fall into death. What was once a beautiful garden now becomes a wild place that teems with violence and brutality, chasing Adam and Eve out of the paradise that God created specifically for them.
The story is then propelled into Adam and Eve's relationship with each other, which takes a rough turn after their banishment from the garden and with the hostility of the land and the wildlife they have now been thrust into. They have children, and the story goes on to explain the heartaches of the garden they left behind, the children that are now populating the earth and the chronic pitfalls they encounter with the cursed land. The story expands into Cain and Abel, referenced in the novel as Kayin and Hevel, and the birth of murder.
Tosca really put her heart and soul into this novel. The Bible only explains so much about Adam and Eve's banishment from the Garden of Eden and how the world is populated, but Tosca put so much fine effort into filling in the gaps in her own speculative way. I have to say this was truly a story that broke my heart at times and took my breath away at others. I was able to relate to Adam and Eve in a manner of existence, knowing that they were the ones that all life was created from, knowing that God had so much more in mind for them and for us. Their struggles are really no different than the struggles we encounter nowadays: murder, anger, greed, idolatry and lust.
During the novel, the expanse that looms between Adam and Eve as they succumb to their new destiny parallels the expanse that clearly grew between God and us when these events occurred. The silence, the embarrassment and shame of sin, stains the pages of the novel as it does the very core of our own hearts and I couldn't help but feel a sense of fear at some points...fear of what would have happened if God hadn't eventually sent His son to save us from an eternity of misery and broken fellowship with Him.
I am proud to give this book my own set of five stars. Granted, I usually enjoy reading a good science fiction/fantasy or action novel, but Tosca really pulled on my heart strings and, in her own style, drew me closer to realizing God's true character and what He always wanted for us. This is the perfect book for a Bible study group or book club.
The story begins with Eve being created from Adam. Written in first person, the novel does a beautiful job of portraying Eve as she is birthed into existence. I'm not sure how challenging it must have been for Tosca to write from this angle, but she most definitely did an excellent job and it is this simple fact alone that marks her as a truly talented writer.
Eve runs through the garden in fellowship with the One, falls in love with the creation that came before her, Adam, and lives in wonder at the very world that God created for the two of them. Adam and Eve are able to communicate with each other, with the wildlife, and with God without speaking, the thoughts of all understood clearly, without deception or misunderstanding. The world at this time is truly one of bliss. No sin. No violence. Nothing but love and fellowship with each other and the One.
It broke my heart while I was reading these parts because I knew what was coming next in the story. I knew that they were going to rebel against God's direct orders and that the fellowship with God was going to be broken. Eve and Adam partake in the fruit that the serpent - beautifully illustrated as an intelligent and sly creature - gives them and fall into death. What was once a beautiful garden now becomes a wild place that teems with violence and brutality, chasing Adam and Eve out of the paradise that God created specifically for them.
The story is then propelled into Adam and Eve's relationship with each other, which takes a rough turn after their banishment from the garden and with the hostility of the land and the wildlife they have now been thrust into. They have children, and the story goes on to explain the heartaches of the garden they left behind, the children that are now populating the earth and the chronic pitfalls they encounter with the cursed land. The story expands into Cain and Abel, referenced in the novel as Kayin and Hevel, and the birth of murder.
Tosca really put her heart and soul into this novel. The Bible only explains so much about Adam and Eve's banishment from the Garden of Eden and how the world is populated, but Tosca put so much fine effort into filling in the gaps in her own speculative way. I have to say this was truly a story that broke my heart at times and took my breath away at others. I was able to relate to Adam and Eve in a manner of existence, knowing that they were the ones that all life was created from, knowing that God had so much more in mind for them and for us. Their struggles are really no different than the struggles we encounter nowadays: murder, anger, greed, idolatry and lust.
During the novel, the expanse that looms between Adam and Eve as they succumb to their new destiny parallels the expanse that clearly grew between God and us when these events occurred. The silence, the embarrassment and shame of sin, stains the pages of the novel as it does the very core of our own hearts and I couldn't help but feel a sense of fear at some points...fear of what would have happened if God hadn't eventually sent His son to save us from an eternity of misery and broken fellowship with Him.
I am proud to give this book my own set of five stars. Granted, I usually enjoy reading a good science fiction/fantasy or action novel, but Tosca really pulled on my heart strings and, in her own style, drew me closer to realizing God's true character and what He always wanted for us. This is the perfect book for a Bible study group or book club.
June 29, 2025
UPDATED Review 💜🔥Overall I loved rereading Havah. I cried at the end. It was a beautiful expression of what could have been Eve’s heart. Re-reading this caused me to reflect on the faithfulness of Christ and my own weakness.
Yet, there are aspects that could be problematic in regard to attraction , and social practices perhaps accepted then that are not accepted in today’s time. Also there are some sensual scenes between Adam and Eve as well. Upon re-reading I can see some aspects of this story in fact majority of it being more of a speculative fiction of Eve’s life rather than a retelling.
So poignant and yes even visceral were moments of heartbreak, confusion and devastation because of the consequences of sin. Praise be to Christ who has overcome the world for us all!
++++++++++++++++
This was an amazing book. It showed the humanity and the awe inspiring relationship between the Lord of Hosts towards us.
CW/TW: animal deaths, death, sensual scenes(1-2), violence and grief
Yet, there are aspects that could be problematic in regard to attraction , and social practices perhaps accepted then that are not accepted in today’s time. Also there are some sensual scenes between Adam and Eve as well. Upon re-reading I can see some aspects of this story in fact majority of it being more of a speculative fiction of Eve’s life rather than a retelling.
So poignant and yes even visceral were moments of heartbreak, confusion and devastation because of the consequences of sin. Praise be to Christ who has overcome the world for us all!
++++++++++++++++
This was an amazing book. It showed the humanity and the awe inspiring relationship between the Lord of Hosts towards us.
CW/TW: animal deaths, death, sensual scenes(1-2), violence and grief
December 12, 2012
A very interesting take on the Biblical account of Adam and Eve (Havah). While much of the book is literary license, there are some very pointed insights from this book. One thing that stood out to me was Eve's constant struggle throughout her life with Adam's betrayal before God. Scripture notes that Adam was with Eve when she ate the fruit, yet did nothing to prevent her from doing so. When God questions Adam as to why he ate, Adam blames the woman for giving him the fruit. Nothing new there - humans have been constantly looking to shift their blame ever since. But what we don't often consider is what this must have done to the relationship between Adam and Eve. Lee explores this in detail, weaving this hurt throughout the story.
There will be moments when the reader will disagree with Lee's license, but it is important to remember that this is a long fictional account regarding an account in Scripture that takes up only a few chapters of Genesis. Thus, there are many gaps that are left to be filled in. Read the book as historical fiction, rather than Scripture, and be prepared to disagree with some aspects. However, don't let those disagreements detract you from a very good work from a very good writer.
There will be moments when the reader will disagree with Lee's license, but it is important to remember that this is a long fictional account regarding an account in Scripture that takes up only a few chapters of Genesis. Thus, there are many gaps that are left to be filled in. Read the book as historical fiction, rather than Scripture, and be prepared to disagree with some aspects. However, don't let those disagreements detract you from a very good work from a very good writer.
February 11, 2013
Ack! This book was on my to-read list for SO long. My libraries in Arizona didn't carry it and I'm loathe to purchase books at full price. After moving to Washington, I had to see if the local library carries it. Success!! I had to put it on hold and wait for it to come available but I was so excited to finally read this story of Eve.
The Bible doesn't give us much information about Adam and Eve's life after the garden and even less information about their life before they sinned. I just don't think the events in this book are possible.
It was depressing; Adam and Eve had no communion with God. After their sin, God is completely silent. They were never taught to sacrifice, just stumbled across it (therefore no symbolism in Jesus' death; therefore the rejection of Cain's offering makes no sense).
Additionally, Adam and Eve never share the story of their creation, their time with God, and their fall with their children. The descendants are never given the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and instead only know a sinful life with death, pain, and separation from God. Why would they hide their mistakes? Why would they not attempt to teach their children a better way?
I hope there is no truth in this story. What a horrible way to live for 900 years, completely separated from a silent God with no understanding of His sacrifice and losing hope that things will ever be restored.
The Bible doesn't give us much information about Adam and Eve's life after the garden and even less information about their life before they sinned. I just don't think the events in this book are possible.
It was depressing; Adam and Eve had no communion with God. After their sin, God is completely silent. They were never taught to sacrifice, just stumbled across it (therefore no symbolism in Jesus' death; therefore the rejection of Cain's offering makes no sense).
Additionally, Adam and Eve never share the story of their creation, their time with God, and their fall with their children. The descendants are never given the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and instead only know a sinful life with death, pain, and separation from God. Why would they hide their mistakes? Why would they not attempt to teach their children a better way?
I hope there is no truth in this story. What a horrible way to live for 900 years, completely separated from a silent God with no understanding of His sacrifice and losing hope that things will ever be restored.
April 26, 2021
Havah was a well done beautifully written book. I would have likely been more into it, and rated it higher, had I not been in "A year of Eve", and I daresay that as a character, she is quite left to the imagination, and its easy to tire of her after awhile. I do think I felt this way about Cleopatra in 2020, that after awhile, I felt a little overdosed on her.
Eve is hard to write about, because in her story, we have to imagine a human born whole, as an adult form, without language or history. In each of the scenarios I have read thus far, and there are great similarities, in each one, Eve is very connected to three things. Her natural environment, (Eden), God, and to Adam. In many ways, it is the first and most original love story. Where this love is divine and as natural to the heavens and to flora and earth. It's even more deeply spiritual, as they are the beginning of life and love, as we "know" it.
Most of us understand this story as allegorical. As Eden representing a time of innocence and lack of awareness, where everything is beautiful and natural. We are supposed to see the serpent, as the introduction of evil, but also awareness and imperfection. It's tied up with sexuality and sexual maturity less in my eyes due to temptation, but to growth. Choosing human love over God. With its frailties and vulnerabilities, and immense power, over the idea of an all encompassing divine parent. As i've said, its about maturity, and a different kind of love that includes humanity. Watching Eve become a mother, is the most relatable part of the three stories so far. How she experiences that divine and completely selfless and totally human experience. And as our first mother, she typifies that experience with intensity. The story of Eve (and Adam) is the knowledge and maturity of how life is infused with death and eventual dying, which changes how one views the world. Which makes us human and aware. This version, begins and ends with the death of Adam.
Many of you, whether Jewish or not, would not know that Havah is the Hebrew translation of Eve. There is a lot of power in naming things, and that too is a compelling theme that links these three books so far. Assuming a name, being named, is part of what the evolution of this story is. Who one is, and who they might become. It's significant to name and be named. Havah is connected to the Hebrew name Chaya (female version of Chaim) which means life. (e.g. L'Chaim, to life!). Its also connected to Chana (Hannah). In this tradition, (called Gematria, you could consider it Jewish Ancient numerology), words are connected, by the change of simply one letter, that changes the whole meaning of a word, simply by that numerical change. Names are important for that reason. I can't remember what Havah means (other than Eve) but for some reason the idea of Giver comes to mind. I read once in a name book, during one of my pregnancies, that all girls names originate from eight different root names. For which the categories are wide, but that every girls name is connected somewhere to a root. Eve is connected to the root name Genevieve, for which Jennifer, Jenna, Jean are connected, also Ava and Amy. And naturally a whole host of others. But I say this, to add that since that discovery, which may have meant very little, I have always known that Amy and Eve are connected. That intrigued me. Although I never got to name a daughter.
Havah's story is one of intense love, romantically, mothering, and of God. She loves all three. But as the book and story goes on, she grows in he awareness, maturity, complexity, and this deepens her ability and capacity for love in all of those dimensions.
Next month I am reading the Rainbow Serpent. A 92 page take on the story from the serpents point of view. I am dearly ready for that!
Eve is hard to write about, because in her story, we have to imagine a human born whole, as an adult form, without language or history. In each of the scenarios I have read thus far, and there are great similarities, in each one, Eve is very connected to three things. Her natural environment, (Eden), God, and to Adam. In many ways, it is the first and most original love story. Where this love is divine and as natural to the heavens and to flora and earth. It's even more deeply spiritual, as they are the beginning of life and love, as we "know" it.
Most of us understand this story as allegorical. As Eden representing a time of innocence and lack of awareness, where everything is beautiful and natural. We are supposed to see the serpent, as the introduction of evil, but also awareness and imperfection. It's tied up with sexuality and sexual maturity less in my eyes due to temptation, but to growth. Choosing human love over God. With its frailties and vulnerabilities, and immense power, over the idea of an all encompassing divine parent. As i've said, its about maturity, and a different kind of love that includes humanity. Watching Eve become a mother, is the most relatable part of the three stories so far. How she experiences that divine and completely selfless and totally human experience. And as our first mother, she typifies that experience with intensity. The story of Eve (and Adam) is the knowledge and maturity of how life is infused with death and eventual dying, which changes how one views the world. Which makes us human and aware. This version, begins and ends with the death of Adam.
Many of you, whether Jewish or not, would not know that Havah is the Hebrew translation of Eve. There is a lot of power in naming things, and that too is a compelling theme that links these three books so far. Assuming a name, being named, is part of what the evolution of this story is. Who one is, and who they might become. It's significant to name and be named. Havah is connected to the Hebrew name Chaya (female version of Chaim) which means life. (e.g. L'Chaim, to life!). Its also connected to Chana (Hannah). In this tradition, (called Gematria, you could consider it Jewish Ancient numerology), words are connected, by the change of simply one letter, that changes the whole meaning of a word, simply by that numerical change. Names are important for that reason. I can't remember what Havah means (other than Eve) but for some reason the idea of Giver comes to mind. I read once in a name book, during one of my pregnancies, that all girls names originate from eight different root names. For which the categories are wide, but that every girls name is connected somewhere to a root. Eve is connected to the root name Genevieve, for which Jennifer, Jenna, Jean are connected, also Ava and Amy. And naturally a whole host of others. But I say this, to add that since that discovery, which may have meant very little, I have always known that Amy and Eve are connected. That intrigued me. Although I never got to name a daughter.
Havah's story is one of intense love, romantically, mothering, and of God. She loves all three. But as the book and story goes on, she grows in he awareness, maturity, complexity, and this deepens her ability and capacity for love in all of those dimensions.
Next month I am reading the Rainbow Serpent. A 92 page take on the story from the serpents point of view. I am dearly ready for that!
December 7, 2010
From a Christian point of view this book went too far off the course of the real thing, and there were plenty of things that bothered me. Not to mention Adam and Eve spend their entire lives (long, long, long lives) yearning for the Garden of Eden and resenting one another for getting kicked out of it. Also, they yearn for "the One" (God) who is apparently absent for most of their lives (though they do have dreams/visions on occasion from God). That's not my view of God at all, so it bothered me that Lee made Him mostly an absent being who Adam and Eve waited around and yearned for.
That being said, strictly looking at this as a fiction piece of work the writing is exceptional. The imagery and description are beautiful and the words flow together wonderfully. Lee truly knows how to weave a story.
So. I give it 2 stars because of the things I mentioned in the first paragraph. But if I were to rate it strictly on the skill of writing, it'd be a 4.5 star rating. :)
That being said, strictly looking at this as a fiction piece of work the writing is exceptional. The imagery and description are beautiful and the words flow together wonderfully. Lee truly knows how to weave a story.
So. I give it 2 stars because of the things I mentioned in the first paragraph. But if I were to rate it strictly on the skill of writing, it'd be a 4.5 star rating. :)
February 10, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was the first book I've read by Tosca Lee and it won't be the last one. As I read, it felt like being there with the creation of the first man and woman. Her detailed explanation as to how the entire world changed with just one touch of the forbidden tree brought things to mind that I would never have considered. Our world has never been the same since and will never be again until the second coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Thank you TL for taking me on this journey back through time and reminding me that we have all fallen short of the glory of God. I thank God for Jesus, that his sacrifice can bring us ALL back to God. I highly recommend this book to all believers and non-believers. Just think how the world would be if Adam and Eve had been obedient to God....We would all be living in the Garden of Eden all over the world....forever.
August 13, 2012
It is an awesome rendering of a most powerful story. LOVED it, front to back!
The first person of this book also is great in the fact that you see and more clearly understand that: Eve was made second - in Adam's image, not in God's image as Adam was. She was Adam's helpmate and being so they struggled in their relationship as all human women and men do - just imagine being the only couple on earth and no one to bounce off of your frustrations/or to ask someone for help/insight. She was faulty - which we all knew because she ate of the fruit of the tree - but she was faulty because she became "human" and thus shared the same faults as we do. Christianity was not the religion of the "time" and later on in the book you can see that the strife of humanity really does ruin the goodness of God's perfect creation. Its an awesome book.
The first person of this book also is great in the fact that you see and more clearly understand that: Eve was made second - in Adam's image, not in God's image as Adam was. She was Adam's helpmate and being so they struggled in their relationship as all human women and men do - just imagine being the only couple on earth and no one to bounce off of your frustrations/or to ask someone for help/insight. She was faulty - which we all knew because she ate of the fruit of the tree - but she was faulty because she became "human" and thus shared the same faults as we do. Christianity was not the religion of the "time" and later on in the book you can see that the strife of humanity really does ruin the goodness of God's perfect creation. Its an awesome book.
April 22, 2009
This was an intriguing look at the Biblical Character of Eve (Havah). A bit slow in the beginning, the story of the Fall is so clearly presented in all its consequences. You grow to care about this woman and the challenges that life presents to her....especially her lingering memories of the Garden of Eden and her relationship with God ("the One"). I thoroughly enjoyed her creating a fully woman's experiences, as Eve loves her husband, her children, her animals and wonders as to the time they would be able to overcome the serpent to return to the Garden.
I love books like this, that flesh out a well known character in a well known story and bring it all to life.
I love books like this, that flesh out a well known character in a well known story and bring it all to life.
June 21, 2025
Rating: 3.5
I can be a bit picky when it comes to Biblical retellings, especially if they stray too far from Biblical truth. However, there is a large portion about Eve and her story that we don't know. This set Tosca Lee up for quite a bit of artistic liberty without having to go too far off the path of Biblical truth. The writing is beautiful and the story is heart-wrenching. The way that she describes the changes in relationships and the world around them broke my heart.
For those who don't like any amount of spice, there are times that it can feel like Tosca was pushing the limits. There were also a few moments that felt a little icky between characters. Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book.
I can be a bit picky when it comes to Biblical retellings, especially if they stray too far from Biblical truth. However, there is a large portion about Eve and her story that we don't know. This set Tosca Lee up for quite a bit of artistic liberty without having to go too far off the path of Biblical truth. The writing is beautiful and the story is heart-wrenching. The way that she describes the changes in relationships and the world around them broke my heart.
For those who don't like any amount of spice, there are times that it can feel like Tosca was pushing the limits. There were also a few moments that felt a little icky between characters. Overall, however, I really enjoyed this book.
December 28, 2008
I thought that "Havah" would be this nice little historical fiction book about Eve and I was looking forward to it. I had no idea what I was getting into...WOW! The scope of this project was huge - we are talking covering about 900 years where we have a little fact in Genesis and a lot of speculation. Tosca manages to take all of that and make Eve a real woman who engineered the downfall of man, birthed the world of man, helped form civilization, went from paradise to life as we have never known it and yet dealt with many of the issues we still deal with today. Tosca makes Eve real in a way that I have never thought of her. The hard thing is that like most Biblical fiction books - it can become hard to separate truth from fiction in our heads, but most importantly this book will make you want to go back and reread Genesis and figure it out. It is beautifully written and will make you think about your real roots.
May 18, 2021
I love when biblical fiction doesn't feel preachy, and the reader need not be religious to enjoy it. The same thing happened with The Red Tent. Tosca Lee weaves an excellent story around Eve, building the garden and everything after with the same careful attention.
June 22, 2025
While some parts of the book were interesting takes on "what may have been," most of the story is so far removed from what the Bible has to say.
Also, the author writes from an "old earth" perspective, which I don't agree with at all. She also admits to being informed by multiple gender equality books.
Overall, I don't think this is a helpful book for Christians to read, even if it is fiction.
Also, the author writes from an "old earth" perspective, which I don't agree with at all. She also admits to being informed by multiple gender equality books.
Overall, I don't think this is a helpful book for Christians to read, even if it is fiction.
December 29, 2011
Put aside the flannel-graph figures of the Adam and Eve, and the coloring pages of the Garden of Eden. This book fills in the details behind the well-known Sunday-school story, from the creation of Eve until almost a millennium later. Beginning at the moment that God ("the One") calls out "Wake!" to the woman he's just taken from Adam's side, Eve tells us the joys, pains, victories, and mistakes of her life.
The first part of the book describes life in the garden, showing us how the perfection of that world really looked. The animals and humans communicated with each other without the need of spoken words. Beautiful sights and sounds made up the paradise that housed these first inhabitants, and the author's descriptions were both detailed and poetic. (At this point let me caution future readers that some content is a bit mature. The marital relationship was handled delicately but with more candor than would be appropriate for teenagers.)
Hearing the story from Eve's perspective made so many points come alive, such as the first sin. I felt as if I was there with her as she neared the tree and fell into the serpent's trap. And even though I knew what she'd do, I was begging her not to. I felt the emotions along with Eve throughout the exile, in the adjustments she and Adam had to make in living outside of paradise, and the stages of life and death that she learned about. The child-like innocence she possessed and the fact that she'd lived in a perfect state, gave her a unique perspective.
As the story and the years go on, sin and its effects on the world are more and more prevalent. I was reminded of how truly sad this life is, in comparison to what the Creator intended.
Even knowing the important details in the Biblical account, I never became bored. I loved the way the author delved into the interesting extra things that the Bible doesn't mention. For example, how did the exile play out? How did Adam and Eve learn to survive after the exile? What did the mark on Cain look like? The story showed things such as the beginnings of idol worship, the evolution of arts, how the Fall affected Adam and Eve's relationship. And none of these elaborations took away from the facts I know from the Bible. If anything, I finished this book with a greater understanding of God's love, the effects of sin in our lives, and how beautiful the second Adam's sacrifice was in reconciling us to the One.
**netGalley.com provided this eARC without obligation.
The first part of the book describes life in the garden, showing us how the perfection of that world really looked. The animals and humans communicated with each other without the need of spoken words. Beautiful sights and sounds made up the paradise that housed these first inhabitants, and the author's descriptions were both detailed and poetic. (At this point let me caution future readers that some content is a bit mature. The marital relationship was handled delicately but with more candor than would be appropriate for teenagers.)
Hearing the story from Eve's perspective made so many points come alive, such as the first sin. I felt as if I was there with her as she neared the tree and fell into the serpent's trap. And even though I knew what she'd do, I was begging her not to. I felt the emotions along with Eve throughout the exile, in the adjustments she and Adam had to make in living outside of paradise, and the stages of life and death that she learned about. The child-like innocence she possessed and the fact that she'd lived in a perfect state, gave her a unique perspective.
As the story and the years go on, sin and its effects on the world are more and more prevalent. I was reminded of how truly sad this life is, in comparison to what the Creator intended.
Even knowing the important details in the Biblical account, I never became bored. I loved the way the author delved into the interesting extra things that the Bible doesn't mention. For example, how did the exile play out? How did Adam and Eve learn to survive after the exile? What did the mark on Cain look like? The story showed things such as the beginnings of idol worship, the evolution of arts, how the Fall affected Adam and Eve's relationship. And none of these elaborations took away from the facts I know from the Bible. If anything, I finished this book with a greater understanding of God's love, the effects of sin in our lives, and how beautiful the second Adam's sacrifice was in reconciling us to the One.
**netGalley.com provided this eARC without obligation.
March 26, 2018
Excellently and beautifully written, this book explores the possibilities of the life of Havah, known to most of us as Eve.
The story of Eve is wrapped up in a lot of foundational theology/doctrine, and in that regard, I disagreed with some of the scenes, ideas, and storylines developed in this book. For example, I believe Genesis is pretty clear that creation was a literal 6-day period, but this author hints at more of a day-age idea, at least in the aspect that Adam was alone in the garden for a much longer period than just part of a day. There are other things that I disagreed with as well, from a Biblical perspective, most of them small things.
Having said that, I can agree to disagree with the author on a few things while still enjoying the book: it's a fascinating pursuit to imagine what Eve's life was really like, both before and after the fall. The author admirably imagines and describes scenarios that help you experience what it might have been like to experience a fallen world for the first time. And also what it would be like to live in a perfect world with a perfect body and perfect nature. I learned some new things, too, like the fact that nobody ever gave Adam a name. Poor Adam! He's just "the man".
There are a couple things that keep me from giving it a full five stars: one, Adam and Eve's relationship with God in the garden seemed rather mystical than I personally think is warranted. The very brief description in Genesis seems to indicate a much more literal relationship than the one portrayed in this book. And two - I chuckle as I say this, because for goodness' sake, the lady lived almost a milennium! - the majority of the book covers the first half century in pretty good depth, but the rest of her life passes by in a really quick blur. I'm honestly not sure how it could be balanced a little better, but I did find myself wanting a little more insight into the issues Eve (and Adam) experienced as they aged. And I also felt that, purely from a literary standpoint, their reconciliation was too little too late. And since that storyline was more of a dramatization than it was a reality based on the Biblical record, I think it could have been dealt with differently. Nine hundred years is a long time to hold a grudge, no matter how much reason you might have to do so!
My overall opinion, though, is that the book is very well researched, very well written, and is an enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
The story of Eve is wrapped up in a lot of foundational theology/doctrine, and in that regard, I disagreed with some of the scenes, ideas, and storylines developed in this book. For example, I believe Genesis is pretty clear that creation was a literal 6-day period, but this author hints at more of a day-age idea, at least in the aspect that Adam was alone in the garden for a much longer period than just part of a day. There are other things that I disagreed with as well, from a Biblical perspective, most of them small things.
Having said that, I can agree to disagree with the author on a few things while still enjoying the book: it's a fascinating pursuit to imagine what Eve's life was really like, both before and after the fall. The author admirably imagines and describes scenarios that help you experience what it might have been like to experience a fallen world for the first time. And also what it would be like to live in a perfect world with a perfect body and perfect nature. I learned some new things, too, like the fact that nobody ever gave Adam a name. Poor Adam! He's just "the man".
There are a couple things that keep me from giving it a full five stars: one, Adam and Eve's relationship with God in the garden seemed rather mystical than I personally think is warranted. The very brief description in Genesis seems to indicate a much more literal relationship than the one portrayed in this book. And two - I chuckle as I say this, because for goodness' sake, the lady lived almost a milennium! - the majority of the book covers the first half century in pretty good depth, but the rest of her life passes by in a really quick blur. I'm honestly not sure how it could be balanced a little better, but I did find myself wanting a little more insight into the issues Eve (and Adam) experienced as they aged. And I also felt that, purely from a literary standpoint, their reconciliation was too little too late. And since that storyline was more of a dramatization than it was a reality based on the Biblical record, I think it could have been dealt with differently. Nine hundred years is a long time to hold a grudge, no matter how much reason you might have to do so!
My overall opinion, though, is that the book is very well researched, very well written, and is an enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
December 22, 2020
A fantastic feminist retelling of Genesis. The book is thoroughly researched and humanizes Eve, who has been vilified for thousands of years. A much needed voice in the literary community.
February 1, 2023
This beautifully written story took me on an emotional journey to the beginning of mankind's life on earth. It begins with perfection - perfect love, perfect spirituality, perfect days and nights. I read all this perfection with the tension of knowing the horror to come - The Death.
I was drawn into Havah's love affair with Adam, her time walking with "the One," and watched with despair as the serpent deceived her, her man betrayed her, and they were cast out of Eden. Oh, to live in Eden and have to leave it! I read it with the horrified fascination of someone watching a video of a train wreck. It is in the past, you know what happens, but you can't look away. And I could not, did not want to, stop reading.
If you have not read Tosca Lee's Story of Eve, put it on your TBR list. It is an unforgettable book, gorgeous and expansive, and one I will want to read again.
I was drawn into Havah's love affair with Adam, her time walking with "the One," and watched with despair as the serpent deceived her, her man betrayed her, and they were cast out of Eden. Oh, to live in Eden and have to leave it! I read it with the horrified fascination of someone watching a video of a train wreck. It is in the past, you know what happens, but you can't look away. And I could not, did not want to, stop reading.
If you have not read Tosca Lee's Story of Eve, put it on your TBR list. It is an unforgettable book, gorgeous and expansive, and one I will want to read again.
May 30, 2012
In this place, there is no death, no pain, no birth. Havah awakens in splendor, opens her eyes to beauty and beholds the exquisite world around her. With no cognition of birth, sin or fear, her awareness is only that of knowing and that of pure innocence. The beauty of nature, the taste of pleasure and the intimacy of Adam.
Havah tells the story of the first woman according to Old Testament that was created in the voice of Eve from the Bible. With her exotic detail to the brilliant world around her, Eve's/Havah's voice was radiant describing Eden, the love she had for Adam and the oneness she felt with God and the world. Her voice was also devastating and horrific when she described the fall, being cast from Eden, being plunged into the unknown earth and taking on the fears of human nature. At times even when her voice took on a sharp bitter edge or a weepy pathetic woman, she was a believable protagonist to a vast amount of human emotion.
Beyond the actual account of Eve in the Old Testament what Havah did was to reach beyond Biblical Eve and bring forth how utterly catastrophic her actions must have been. Tosca Lee did not shy away from sensual aspects in her story including sexual intimacy {which most of the book is about} multiple pregnancy's, incest and fidelity. Lee wrote these factors in with the utmost care using sensual language in way that didn't offend and left the characters vulnerable in the readers hands. Many parts of the novel had a very erotic undertone, each sentence heavy in word pleasure, even in the way Havah viewed the Garden and God, the writing felt raw and alive if that makes any sense.
Havah was a story of intimacy, deep longing and pain, loneliness, sexuality and the profound uniqueness of being a woman.
An absolute stunning novel.
(Read Full Review at Blog)
Havah tells the story of the first woman according to Old Testament that was created in the voice of Eve from the Bible. With her exotic detail to the brilliant world around her, Eve's/Havah's voice was radiant describing Eden, the love she had for Adam and the oneness she felt with God and the world. Her voice was also devastating and horrific when she described the fall, being cast from Eden, being plunged into the unknown earth and taking on the fears of human nature. At times even when her voice took on a sharp bitter edge or a weepy pathetic woman, she was a believable protagonist to a vast amount of human emotion.
Beyond the actual account of Eve in the Old Testament what Havah did was to reach beyond Biblical Eve and bring forth how utterly catastrophic her actions must have been. Tosca Lee did not shy away from sensual aspects in her story including sexual intimacy {which most of the book is about} multiple pregnancy's, incest and fidelity. Lee wrote these factors in with the utmost care using sensual language in way that didn't offend and left the characters vulnerable in the readers hands. Many parts of the novel had a very erotic undertone, each sentence heavy in word pleasure, even in the way Havah viewed the Garden and God, the writing felt raw and alive if that makes any sense.
Havah was a story of intimacy, deep longing and pain, loneliness, sexuality and the profound uniqueness of being a woman.
An absolute stunning novel.
(Read Full Review at Blog)
November 12, 2011
I tried really hard to read this book based on all the good reviews. I couldn't get into the style it was written though. A little too fantasy for me. I couldn't keep up with whose thoughts were in italics. Sometimes it was Adam's, sometimes Eve's, God's and maybe even animals/angels. I thought it might get better, so I jumped ahead 100 pages and it was still in the mythical concept. Just seemed to unreal to me. It's probably one of those books that if you are really in the mood for it, it would blow your mind, but I sure couldn't get there. Honestly I did not read the whole book (or even more than a few chapters). But I just didn't want to waste my time being lost the whole way.
September 22, 2024
I listened to this via Audible. I found the story interesting but just ok. A little boring at times. Well written to adapt to the Bible, though fiction, but nothing new for me. As another reviewer wrote, "I felt a bit of modernness was present the attitudes of the characters." I liked the beginning with the descriptions of Eden and God present, but then it seemed the rest of the story was more the disconnect with her, Adam, and God, and the babies and children and ancestors that arose. Interesting story told, but wouldn't read it again. 2.5 stars, ok
October 5, 2015
This is, perhaps surprisingly, a retelling of the Adam and Eve myth. Surprising because I am not at all religious, but I must admit I was persuaded to give this one a go because Tosca Lee’s name has been bandied about as a striking and controversial author of biblical fiction, and glancing at her back catalogue I notice she has a penchant for writing about pariahs and rehabilitating them – Eve, Judas, the Queen of Sheba. I also read a free sample of her work before taking the plunge, and it seemed to me she wrote well.
Having finished reading the book, I have to say it was pretty good… but it also wasn’t as good as I had expected it to be. Tosca Lee had all this build up as an edgy, striking writer of biblical fiction… and in the end it wasn’t as hard-hitting or impactful as I expected it to be. I do like Lee’s style of writing, the creative flair, the attention to sensory details that really bring the environment to life – especially in the Garden chapters. Understandably that’s pretty important to get right in a story which so starkly contrasts two different places. However, I felt that not enough time was spent on the Garden – I got that sense that Havah, and we as readers, had barely begun exploring it, really, when the exile happened. I think I would have appreciated a bit more time exploring that world so that once the exile came it would have been even more of a contrast, even more of a wrench to leave.
The Kayin/Hevel story was a little off too. At first I was intrigued – Lee treats Kayin as she does Havah, and tells the story in a different way – Kayin is more of an admirable and empathetic character, at the very least in Havah’s eyes and arguably in the narrative itself. I thought this was interesting as it would make the brothers’ confrontation even more appalling when it came… but I felt like that didn’t materialise. The confrontation occurs off-screen, and Havah only sees the result later. Whilst upset, she doesn’t seem as devastated as I would’ve anticipated her to be, and later in the story Kayin is welcomed back with open arms. I guess my main beef with this is that the twist in the set up led me to belief the payoff would be even more heightened tragedy, but that didn’t happen. I also thought Havah would spend longer adapting and be more horrified in the aftermath of the exile than she was in the book.
Time stretches as Lee conveys the centuries in which Havah reaches old age, enduring past the lives of her children and living to see so many descendants she no longer knows their names. Understandably, it feels a little rushed and skimmed over, but at the same time I can’t help wishing that it had been given more space in the novel. The author’s note at the end said that material had to be cut, for the sake of length and flow, but I think that’s a pity. Margaret George in her book Helen of Troy does a fantastic job of conveying what feels like an incredible length of time passing during which her characters change and grow even during dull moments – frustrated by their own enforced monotony – and that really brilliantly conveyed a sense of long stretches of time passing, the characters aging, and the years turning. It really added a sense of epic scale to her novel, and that’s rather what I wanted to read here in Havah’s later years, but unfortunately I felt the book just missed the mark.
That was the thing, for me. I actually really enjoyed the book, reading it as a pure fantasy (since I’m not religious), but it just seemed to miss out on being a great book by a hair’s breadth. Havah too. I like how Lee turned around her character, how she looks at things and creates a portrait where actually Havah is a strong female character, and actually she’s been unfairly condemned a little bit – Adam blames her and doesn’t take responsibility, and sometimes behaves ignorantly, and Havah feels justifiably annoyed. However, I felt like she didn’t take Havah far enough. I expected a really strong woman to emerge in this story. I expected her to lead the way in the aftermath of exile, and to be clearer to Kayin about his destiny, and to try to lead the way back to the valley much sooner than she does. I also expected her to get really angry at one point. As it is she does come across pretty strong, but this was not the amazing, mind-blowing portrayal that I had been led to expect.
7 out of 10
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2025
Such...disappointment.
I should be honest and note before I continue that I only managed to digest one third of this novel. I tried. I really tried, friends. But a glance at the remainder of pages, and the task proved too daunting. Too unappealing.
Havah, of course, begins in Eden. But even there, the story feels...off. Adam and Eve only crave each other. Oh, sure, Eve often mentions "the One" - Lee's quite irksome and intimately insipid title for God - and knows God is the source of both her life and Adam's. But God is not present like He should be. He's a footprint in the dirt that Adam sees; a flash of shoulder Eve catches disappearing into a shrub. Nothing more. Instead of the LORD God enjoying perfect communion with His created ones, as close to them as they were to one another and yet a Being entirely separate, I read of more sex scenes between the first man and woman than I ever wanted to read (which, for whoever may be interested, was none). They behave almost like animals. Childlike innocence and moral perfection aside, I can't picture Eve not knowing how to speak until Adam teaches her. Or Adam wanting nothing more than physical passion/pleasure. It just doesn't sound right. They frolic like children, then succumb to a moment of passion - over and over again. Perhaps if God had been with them, they wouldn't have struck me as they did: carnal, empty, and unimaginatively designed. But instead, I was almost insulted by their lack of intelligence.
As far as the writing goes, if you've read one Tosca Lee novel, you've read them all. She's a great fan of flowery prose, and in attempting to tell us everything (about Eden, about Adam, about the many boring dreams Eve has), she ultimately tells us nothing. And there was much nothing in this book. Nothing really happened before Adam and Eve fell. Frolicking and sexual intimacy and the sexual intimacy of animals and the World's First Menstrual Cycle... (I have many questions about Adam and Eve, but how she had her cycle isn't one of them.) Nothing really happened after they fell, either - just sadness and meandering and the effects of sin. And that is why all those unread pages made me nauseous: there was nothing worth staying for. There was simply...nothing.
I quit because of bitterness. Well, no: in all fairness I quit because of the brazen physical descriptions. (). Adam, for his part, picks himself up as best he can after their exile and attempts to create some form of life for them. But Eve belittles him. Berates him. Hates him. Then needs him and loves him and craves him. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you, the One tells her after they eat the forbidden fruit. But did that have to come so quickly? In Eden, Eve was vapid and vainglorious (honestly, how often do you need to flatter yourself with all those italicized paragraphs?); out of Eden, she is a hopeless, critical, bitter nag. She is not Havah; she is Mara (Ruth 1:20). And it seems she remains that way until the final page (I did skim). I hope the real Adam and Eve were not so opposed to each other. I hope they were able to be happy.
If there is one thing Havah did for me, it was make me all the more grateful for Jesus Christ, the second Adam. The Seed that crushed the serpent. Hallelujah, we were not left alone.
"But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever." -Micah 4:4-5
I should be honest and note before I continue that I only managed to digest one third of this novel. I tried. I really tried, friends. But a glance at the remainder of pages, and the task proved too daunting. Too unappealing.
Havah, of course, begins in Eden. But even there, the story feels...off. Adam and Eve only crave each other. Oh, sure, Eve often mentions "the One" - Lee's quite irksome and intimately insipid title for God - and knows God is the source of both her life and Adam's. But God is not present like He should be. He's a footprint in the dirt that Adam sees; a flash of shoulder Eve catches disappearing into a shrub. Nothing more. Instead of the LORD God enjoying perfect communion with His created ones, as close to them as they were to one another and yet a Being entirely separate, I read of more sex scenes between the first man and woman than I ever wanted to read (which, for whoever may be interested, was none). They behave almost like animals. Childlike innocence and moral perfection aside, I can't picture Eve not knowing how to speak until Adam teaches her. Or Adam wanting nothing more than physical passion/pleasure. It just doesn't sound right. They frolic like children, then succumb to a moment of passion - over and over again. Perhaps if God had been with them, they wouldn't have struck me as they did: carnal, empty, and unimaginatively designed. But instead, I was almost insulted by their lack of intelligence.
As far as the writing goes, if you've read one Tosca Lee novel, you've read them all. She's a great fan of flowery prose, and in attempting to tell us everything (about Eden, about Adam, about the many boring dreams Eve has), she ultimately tells us nothing. And there was much nothing in this book. Nothing really happened before Adam and Eve fell. Frolicking and sexual intimacy and the sexual intimacy of animals and the World's First Menstrual Cycle... (I have many questions about Adam and Eve, but how she had her cycle isn't one of them.) Nothing really happened after they fell, either - just sadness and meandering and the effects of sin. And that is why all those unread pages made me nauseous: there was nothing worth staying for. There was simply...nothing.
I quit because of bitterness. Well, no: in all fairness I quit because of the brazen physical descriptions. (). Adam, for his part, picks himself up as best he can after their exile and attempts to create some form of life for them. But Eve belittles him. Berates him. Hates him. Then needs him and loves him and craves him. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you, the One tells her after they eat the forbidden fruit. But did that have to come so quickly? In Eden, Eve was vapid and vainglorious (honestly, how often do you need to flatter yourself with all those italicized paragraphs?); out of Eden, she is a hopeless, critical, bitter nag. She is not Havah; she is Mara (Ruth 1:20). And it seems she remains that way until the final page (I did skim). I hope the real Adam and Eve were not so opposed to each other. I hope they were able to be happy.
If there is one thing Havah did for me, it was make me all the more grateful for Jesus Christ, the second Adam. The Seed that crushed the serpent. Hallelujah, we were not left alone.
"But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever." -Micah 4:4-5
July 20, 2021
Tosca Lee created a beautiful story from the perception of Eve, Havah.
From the moment Havah heard the words, “Wake,” she opened her eyes with all of the curiosity she could muster from the man gazing at her to the animals and the garden that surrounded her.
Full of questions and new life, Havah explores Eden asking many questions and tasting of the goodness The One has provided for her and the Adam. Until the Adam explains to her about the one thing she must NEVER do. You know the Bible story, Havah was deceived into doing just what she was forbidden to do.
I loved how Tosca described the exile. It was powerful, scary and left me not wanting to put the book down for the next couple of chapters. 😂🤣😂 Also Tosca described the birthing of generation after generation. How and we’re they lived and traditions started because the truth was never given to them.
Reading how blame, jealousy, anger, betrayal, hatred, murder, love, distrust and even death entered our world all because of their mistake, was such a journey. At times I despised Havah because it was always about her, her getting her way and her anger getting the best of her. It drove me batty, lol!
Life as they once knew it was no more. After much time, Havah learned that the One has never left them and that their sin was the thing that kept them from The One and that He does not work by the laws of this realm.
Such a good read. I definitely look forward to reading more from Tosca Lee.
From the moment Havah heard the words, “Wake,” she opened her eyes with all of the curiosity she could muster from the man gazing at her to the animals and the garden that surrounded her.
Full of questions and new life, Havah explores Eden asking many questions and tasting of the goodness The One has provided for her and the Adam. Until the Adam explains to her about the one thing she must NEVER do. You know the Bible story, Havah was deceived into doing just what she was forbidden to do.
I loved how Tosca described the exile. It was powerful, scary and left me not wanting to put the book down for the next couple of chapters. 😂🤣😂 Also Tosca described the birthing of generation after generation. How and we’re they lived and traditions started because the truth was never given to them.
Reading how blame, jealousy, anger, betrayal, hatred, murder, love, distrust and even death entered our world all because of their mistake, was such a journey. At times I despised Havah because it was always about her, her getting her way and her anger getting the best of her. It drove me batty, lol!
Life as they once knew it was no more. After much time, Havah learned that the One has never left them and that their sin was the thing that kept them from The One and that He does not work by the laws of this realm.
Such a good read. I definitely look forward to reading more from Tosca Lee.
November 25, 2024
This is a lyrical and fascinating tale, full of vivid storytelling and vibrant characters! The story is from Eve's perspective and begins in the Garden of Eden. The story made me slow down and think about what life might have been like pre-Fall. I LOVED the depiction of how connected Adam and Eve were to one another (and to all of creation!). I also enjoyed the author's interpretation of the serpent. Truly this potion of the book was masterful in every way!
The majority of the book does take place AFTER exile. We don't know much about this time and therefore there is much creative license here. In this section of the book, God feels a little hands-off and distant with confusion reigning and no indication that Adam and Eve ever "hear" or "see" from God again. The story seems to suggest no clear instruction from God regarding a sacrificial system with everyone's big "ah-ha" moment coming when Cain's sacrifice is rejected and Abel's is accepted. Again, there's much we don't know about the specifics during this time. The author's choice to make God so silent definitely paints Cain in a sympathetic light. I would have liked to see a bit more of Cain's culpability.
This is definitely a worthwhile read! It makes you think on so many levels. The shift in Adam and Eve's relationship throughout the book was heartbreaking and poignant, showing how sin truly does affect every aspect of our lives. The ending is brilliant and hopeful. There's so much to love about this book.
The majority of the book does take place AFTER exile. We don't know much about this time and therefore there is much creative license here. In this section of the book, God feels a little hands-off and distant with confusion reigning and no indication that Adam and Eve ever "hear" or "see" from God again. The story seems to suggest no clear instruction from God regarding a sacrificial system with everyone's big "ah-ha" moment coming when Cain's sacrifice is rejected and Abel's is accepted. Again, there's much we don't know about the specifics during this time. The author's choice to make God so silent definitely paints Cain in a sympathetic light. I would have liked to see a bit more of Cain's culpability.
This is definitely a worthwhile read! It makes you think on so many levels. The shift in Adam and Eve's relationship throughout the book was heartbreaking and poignant, showing how sin truly does affect every aspect of our lives. The ending is brilliant and hopeful. There's so much to love about this book.
February 8, 2015
SO depressing. The beginning is weird and esoteric, written almost as a stream of consciousness, with God just a vague presence instead of walking with them. After the fall Adam and Eve never mend their relationship; Adam is silent and withdrawn. They have no hope, except that their first son will somehow return them to the garden. The main thing they long for is to go back, not to have restored relationship with God. There is weird sexual tension between them and some of their children. They have no concept of relationship with God, or a sense of forgiveness or hope for restoration. Cain means well with his sacrifice and doesn't know why God rejects it (because God is always silent). Havah has weird prophetic dreams; it's hard to tell what is a dream and what is actually happening.
Of course the story in the Bible is sad; the worst tragedy imaginable. But there is also God's grace and hope, which are at best misunderstood and at worse absent in this retelling. They receive the promise of the serpent striking the heel and the seed crushing his head, but never recognize it as the seed truth of gospel reconciliation that it was, which is perhaps the most tragic thing about the book.
Of course the story in the Bible is sad; the worst tragedy imaginable. But there is also God's grace and hope, which are at best misunderstood and at worse absent in this retelling. They receive the promise of the serpent striking the heel and the seed crushing his head, but never recognize it as the seed truth of gospel reconciliation that it was, which is perhaps the most tragic thing about the book.
February 12, 2013
Oh geez. This is the second time in as many weeks that a book has brought me to tears. AND I'm at work. Nice to see you, customer, now just pretend you didn't see me sniffling. WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
This is basically Havah (Eve) telling the story of her life, beginning on the day she was formed from Adam's rib and ending on the day she dies. (Wait, was that a spoiler? Nah.) The reader is taken on a journey from Eden into exile and gets to see briefly-mentioned biblical events in greater detail, as imagined by the author. I like how Lee uses the Hebrew names for the characters instead of the Anglicized versions. Adam is still Adam, but we have Cain/Kayin, Abel/Hevel, etc.
And I seriously wanted to knock some characters' heads together while reading this. Grr. But Havah was still beautifully written.
This is basically Havah (Eve) telling the story of her life, beginning on the day she was formed from Adam's rib and ending on the day she dies. (Wait, was that a spoiler? Nah.) The reader is taken on a journey from Eden into exile and gets to see briefly-mentioned biblical events in greater detail, as imagined by the author. I like how Lee uses the Hebrew names for the characters instead of the Anglicized versions. Adam is still Adam, but we have Cain/Kayin, Abel/Hevel, etc.
And I seriously wanted to knock some characters' heads together while reading this. Grr. But Havah was still beautifully written.
August 5, 2012
I am putting it down. I have read a few chapters and just don't like it. The deciding factor is how irritating it had already become that the word "like" was used over and over and over as the author described and it just became irritating. Maybe that is mean but I miss having a book on my side table that I can look forward to picking up and decided not to try to work through whatever the problem was with this one.
March 23, 2017
I was totally enraptured by Iscariot, my first read by author Tosca Lee and I couldn’t wait to read this book, Havah: The Story of Eve. Once again the author has stunned me with the beauty of her writing and the magic she weaves as she take the reader on a glorious and realistic re-imagining of the first woman and mother of all humankind, Havah/Eve.
I eagerly devoured every word, every chapter in this book. I had to hear her story from beginning to end. I felt transported to the garden at the very moment Havah heard the command in her mind to “wake” and opened her eyes to behold life. I ran with her as she ran with the wind at her back, I reveled in her bold curiosity, I was mesmerized by the pull of her friend the serpent, I felt her terror as she and Adam were driven out of paradise, I wept with her when she buried her murdered son, Hevel, I felt her despair of ever finding and returning to their garden of paradise.
Often during this journey I was asking myself whether I would have made the same choice as Havah/Eve, would I have been just as curious to want to know that which was unknown? My answer is most likely I would have made the same choice as Havah. Upon walking in Havah’s skin through this hauntingly beautiful novel, I came to the realization that I cannot simply vilify her. In walking with Havah on her journey, I learned much about human frailty and the difficulty of learning forgiveness.
Havah is truly a literary masterpiece, a re-telling that is breathtaking, heartbreaking and exquisite. I am looking forward to continuing journeying through the wonderful writing of Tosca Lee.
I eagerly devoured every word, every chapter in this book. I had to hear her story from beginning to end. I felt transported to the garden at the very moment Havah heard the command in her mind to “wake” and opened her eyes to behold life. I ran with her as she ran with the wind at her back, I reveled in her bold curiosity, I was mesmerized by the pull of her friend the serpent, I felt her terror as she and Adam were driven out of paradise, I wept with her when she buried her murdered son, Hevel, I felt her despair of ever finding and returning to their garden of paradise.
Often during this journey I was asking myself whether I would have made the same choice as Havah/Eve, would I have been just as curious to want to know that which was unknown? My answer is most likely I would have made the same choice as Havah. Upon walking in Havah’s skin through this hauntingly beautiful novel, I came to the realization that I cannot simply vilify her. In walking with Havah on her journey, I learned much about human frailty and the difficulty of learning forgiveness.
Havah is truly a literary masterpiece, a re-telling that is breathtaking, heartbreaking and exquisite. I am looking forward to continuing journeying through the wonderful writing of Tosca Lee.
October 3, 2019
I have to say I wasn't sure if I would like this book. As what some might call a Biblical literalist, I wondered if fiction could do justice to this particular sacred narrative. If the doctrines of sin, the fall and creation would be twisted or warped in some way, I knew disappointment may await.
However, Lee has accomplished a tale that resonates across millennia, while remaining faithful to the tenets of that first story. You will be especially touched at Havah's joy and delight at the beauty of the garden and the consuming sorrow which followed her and Adam's transgressions. If you are a mother, you will empathise with her heartbreak at the rivalry of her sons. From there, Havah takes the reader to years which I had never considered. According the Biblical account, Adam was nearly a millennia old when he died and though Eve's years are not recorded, the book takes the viewpoint that Eve lived to a similar ripe age. Creation's echo and the wonder of knowing "the One" are ever-present longings in her heart and it is through these lenses, she observes and interacts with her descendants over the epoch.
Lee's novel is both literary and authentic to the spirit of the Biblical story -- a book that will resonate with a broad audience. Highly recommend.
However, Lee has accomplished a tale that resonates across millennia, while remaining faithful to the tenets of that first story. You will be especially touched at Havah's joy and delight at the beauty of the garden and the consuming sorrow which followed her and Adam's transgressions. If you are a mother, you will empathise with her heartbreak at the rivalry of her sons. From there, Havah takes the reader to years which I had never considered. According the Biblical account, Adam was nearly a millennia old when he died and though Eve's years are not recorded, the book takes the viewpoint that Eve lived to a similar ripe age. Creation's echo and the wonder of knowing "the One" are ever-present longings in her heart and it is through these lenses, she observes and interacts with her descendants over the epoch.
Lee's novel is both literary and authentic to the spirit of the Biblical story -- a book that will resonate with a broad audience. Highly recommend.
June 1, 2018
I am incredibly and remarkably impacted by this work of art. I have to say, in the beginning of reading it, I had no idea what to expect, but it constantly exceeded whatever expectations I may have had.
A caution, is that I am glad I didn’t finish this book when I was single. The imagery is not sinful, but for a single person who struggles with purity, it cannot be fully enjoyed in a pure sense. Reading it as a married woman, I deeply felt many of the struggles Havah was portrayed with. Although no work of fiction can be ascribed to absolute truth, the depth Tosca goes to research her Biblical fiction is truly honorable, and gives the “tired old stories” new depth.
The story of Adam and Eve was recorded so briefly in the scriptures and Tosca gave a beautiful story to what might have happened, what they might have gone through and felt. I am certainly changed by this book, as should be the result of any good fiction.
A caution, is that I am glad I didn’t finish this book when I was single. The imagery is not sinful, but for a single person who struggles with purity, it cannot be fully enjoyed in a pure sense. Reading it as a married woman, I deeply felt many of the struggles Havah was portrayed with. Although no work of fiction can be ascribed to absolute truth, the depth Tosca goes to research her Biblical fiction is truly honorable, and gives the “tired old stories” new depth.
The story of Adam and Eve was recorded so briefly in the scriptures and Tosca gave a beautiful story to what might have happened, what they might have gone through and felt. I am certainly changed by this book, as should be the result of any good fiction.
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