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Miriam's Song
Miriam and her people have prayed for deliverance from the cruel tyranny of Egypt for generations. She believes her brother is the long-awaited answer to their pleas. But how can the exiled prince-turned-shepherd Moses stand against the most powerful man in the world?
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2021
116 people are currently reading
2899 people want to read
About the author
Jill Eileen Smith
28 books1,479 followersJill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, the Wives of the Patriarchs, Daughters of the Promised Land, Heart of a King, Star of Persia, Miriam's Song, The Prince and the Prodigal, Daughter of Eden, and The Ark and the Dove. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Bible times.
When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable cats Kody and Kaelee. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).
When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable cats Kody and Kaelee. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
April 12, 2021
3.5 stars
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. So I’m not familiar with her other Biblical fiction stories for which she is known and praised.
The story begins with young Hatshepsut. She is the only child of Pharaoh Thutmose’ I first wife. From the young age she dreams of wearing her father’s crown. She eavesdrops on his conversations as she wants to find out the fate of the Israelites. He told her previously that “they had to be cruel to people who could oppress them.” Now, he says they have to be harsher. What does it mean? The heads of the Hebrew midwives are told to kill all newborn boys.
When Miriam’s brother is born, young Miriam understands she needs to keep this as secret. What she doesn’t understand is her mother’s plan. After weaving a basket, the mother places the baby-boy in it and puts “the basket in the water near the bulrushes along the Nile, where the princess comes to bathe.” Hatshepsut finds the baby and makes an arrangement with Miriam’s mother to care for the baby until the child is weaned. Hatshepsut names him Moses, because she “drew him out of water.”
With passing of Thutmose I, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II are to wed. Will the fate of Hebrew slaves change?
The story has a very strong beginning, but then it becomes obvious it’s a retelling of Moses’ story without any fresh edge to it. It fails to bring a compelling story. I was very much drawn by the character of Hatshepsut and thought she would take integral part in this story as she is the adoptive mother of Moses. But that’s not the case.
Also, the character-development, the sense of place and suffering are not well-depicted. There is constant forward time jump, and because of that it lacks concentration on developing those aspects. It just glazes over them. For example, at the end of one chapter, Moses is warned about his life and told to leave the palace. In the next chapter, there is a lapse in ten-years and no one knows where Moses is.
For those who enjoy mellow retelling of stories, this still might be an enjoyable read.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. So I’m not familiar with her other Biblical fiction stories for which she is known and praised.
The story begins with young Hatshepsut. She is the only child of Pharaoh Thutmose’ I first wife. From the young age she dreams of wearing her father’s crown. She eavesdrops on his conversations as she wants to find out the fate of the Israelites. He told her previously that “they had to be cruel to people who could oppress them.” Now, he says they have to be harsher. What does it mean? The heads of the Hebrew midwives are told to kill all newborn boys.
When Miriam’s brother is born, young Miriam understands she needs to keep this as secret. What she doesn’t understand is her mother’s plan. After weaving a basket, the mother places the baby-boy in it and puts “the basket in the water near the bulrushes along the Nile, where the princess comes to bathe.” Hatshepsut finds the baby and makes an arrangement with Miriam’s mother to care for the baby until the child is weaned. Hatshepsut names him Moses, because she “drew him out of water.”
With passing of Thutmose I, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II are to wed. Will the fate of Hebrew slaves change?
The story has a very strong beginning, but then it becomes obvious it’s a retelling of Moses’ story without any fresh edge to it. It fails to bring a compelling story. I was very much drawn by the character of Hatshepsut and thought she would take integral part in this story as she is the adoptive mother of Moses. But that’s not the case.
Also, the character-development, the sense of place and suffering are not well-depicted. There is constant forward time jump, and because of that it lacks concentration on developing those aspects. It just glazes over them. For example, at the end of one chapter, Moses is warned about his life and told to leave the palace. In the next chapter, there is a lapse in ten-years and no one knows where Moses is.
For those who enjoy mellow retelling of stories, this still might be an enjoyable read.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2021
Like all biblical fiction reviews, let me recap what I think makes for good biblical fiction. First, it doesn’t blatantly contradict anything in Scripture. Second, it tells its own story while being faithful to the biblical text. Third, it is able to make sense of the biblical setting’s context—that is, it is accurate to what we know of the historical and cultural contexts.
This puts Jill Eileen Smith in quite a difficult spot with Miriam’s Song because the time period of the Exodus is both extensively covered in fiction, but also very much disputed academically. I mean, your bar for excellence in any Exodus retelling includes The Prince of Egypt and The Ten Commandments. Smith’s unique modifier is her focus on Miriam, the older sister of Moses who plays an integral part in Moses’s upbringing and in the Exodus journey, yet about whom we have little knowledge. There’s a lot of contextual gaps that Smith could wave her wand of fiction over and indulge readers in a speculative journey.
Unfortunately, that’s not what happen. Smith binds herself too tightly to the biblical text, only talking about Miriam at points when she shows up in Scripture. Since the book of Exodus is mainly told from the perspective of Moses within a patriarchal society, that leaves Smith with very little to work with. Miriam’s Song is really the story of Moses told from the perspective of Miriam.
This becomes very evident when Smith gives readers a few chapters in the perspective of Moses and even Moses’s wife, Zipporah. Smith writes in the afterword that she had to do this, “because all three people saw things from completely different perspectives,” but this is supposed to be Miriam’s story. It’s Miriam’s Song, but the novel casts her aside in favor of Moses. Smith never tells the story of Miriam. It’s simply Scripture with some flair rewritten mostly, but not entirely from Miriam’s perspective.
Smith also struggles to integrate the historical reality of Israelite enslavement into the book. There is the actual sentence “They’d had a good life these past five years, despite the slavery.” And…I just can’t. This is a story that begins with infanticide and comes in the context of 400 years of oppression, but, hey, not so bad, right?
Another historical inaccuracy comes in the dispute over Moses marrying a Cushite (Num. 12). For some reason, Smith writes this as some sort of secret love affair that happens after the death of Zipporah and Miriam and Aaron’s disapproval stem from a quick remarriage. But it is far more likely that Zipporah is the Cushite of Numbers 12 and that Moses only married one person. Cush and Midian are sometimes used interchangeably (see Hab 3.7) and while there is scholarly debate, the consensus is that Zipporah is the Cushite of Numbers 12.
Altogether, Jill Eileen Smith failed to pull me into the story, never really said anything interesting or new, or provided context backed by the history and culture of the time. Though styled to be the story of Miriam, it fails to be even that. Miriam’s Song fails to tell a cohesive story, or an interesting one. It’s a collection of scenes that read more like biblical fanfiction than a coherent story. I do appreciate the themes of female empowerment, but the positives of this book are outweighed by the negatives and I cannot recommend it. Go rewatch The Prince of Egypt instead.
This puts Jill Eileen Smith in quite a difficult spot with Miriam’s Song because the time period of the Exodus is both extensively covered in fiction, but also very much disputed academically. I mean, your bar for excellence in any Exodus retelling includes The Prince of Egypt and The Ten Commandments. Smith’s unique modifier is her focus on Miriam, the older sister of Moses who plays an integral part in Moses’s upbringing and in the Exodus journey, yet about whom we have little knowledge. There’s a lot of contextual gaps that Smith could wave her wand of fiction over and indulge readers in a speculative journey.
Unfortunately, that’s not what happen. Smith binds herself too tightly to the biblical text, only talking about Miriam at points when she shows up in Scripture. Since the book of Exodus is mainly told from the perspective of Moses within a patriarchal society, that leaves Smith with very little to work with. Miriam’s Song is really the story of Moses told from the perspective of Miriam.
This becomes very evident when Smith gives readers a few chapters in the perspective of Moses and even Moses’s wife, Zipporah. Smith writes in the afterword that she had to do this, “because all three people saw things from completely different perspectives,” but this is supposed to be Miriam’s story. It’s Miriam’s Song, but the novel casts her aside in favor of Moses. Smith never tells the story of Miriam. It’s simply Scripture with some flair rewritten mostly, but not entirely from Miriam’s perspective.
Smith also struggles to integrate the historical reality of Israelite enslavement into the book. There is the actual sentence “They’d had a good life these past five years, despite the slavery.” And…I just can’t. This is a story that begins with infanticide and comes in the context of 400 years of oppression, but, hey, not so bad, right?
Another historical inaccuracy comes in the dispute over Moses marrying a Cushite (Num. 12). For some reason, Smith writes this as some sort of secret love affair that happens after the death of Zipporah and Miriam and Aaron’s disapproval stem from a quick remarriage. But it is far more likely that Zipporah is the Cushite of Numbers 12 and that Moses only married one person. Cush and Midian are sometimes used interchangeably (see Hab 3.7) and while there is scholarly debate, the consensus is that Zipporah is the Cushite of Numbers 12.
Altogether, Jill Eileen Smith failed to pull me into the story, never really said anything interesting or new, or provided context backed by the history and culture of the time. Though styled to be the story of Miriam, it fails to be even that. Miriam’s Song fails to tell a cohesive story, or an interesting one. It’s a collection of scenes that read more like biblical fanfiction than a coherent story. I do appreciate the themes of female empowerment, but the positives of this book are outweighed by the negatives and I cannot recommend it. Go rewatch The Prince of Egypt instead.
November 22, 2020
Jill Eileen Smith is a master storyteller of biblical fiction. Her newest book, Miriam's Song, doesn't disappoint at all. It made me think of Miriam's story in a new way which I loved. It was a wonderful book and I am glad I was able to devour it!
March 19, 2021
Having recently read and loved Mesu Andrew’s Miriam, I was pretty excited to dive into Jill Eileen Smith’s take on this somewhat enigmatic Bible character. Smith is one of my favorite Biblical fiction authors, after all. But this book was a frustrating disappointment for several reasons, which I will list here.
NOT REALLY MIRIAM’S STORY
This is one of my biggest complaints. You’d expect a book called Miriam’s Song to be about Miriam herself. But as other reviewers have pointed out, this book is almost more about Moses than about his sister. Miriam’s thoughts often focus on Moses throughout the book, to the exclusion of her husband and children and life in general. The parts from Moses’ (or, even more bewilderingly, from Zipporah’s) point of view didn’t help matters any. Miriam isn’t mentioned that much in the Bible and I would have loved a rich, deep look into her inner life and what made her do the things that she did. Sadly, that was all but denied me.
TIME JUMPS
From what I remember of Smith’s other books, time jumps are a thing with her novels. I’m pretty okay with that, usually. But the time jumps in Miriam’s Song border on ridiculous. Because Smith set herself of the task of capturing almost all of Miriam’s life, there were time jumps of near decades that happened from one chapter to the next. I don’t want to compare Miriam’s Song to Miriam (by Mesu Andrews) at every turn (though I could). But what the latter does so well is focus on a specific time in Miriam’s life and really make you feel what she’s feeling–as opposed to jumping all over the timeline so that we never really see the characters grow and change all that much.
NO REAL SENSE OF CHARACTERIZATION
Miriam was a pretty flat character throughout the book, in my opinion. And kind of annoying as well. I think it probably had a lot to do with the time jumps, as well as how a lot of Miriam’s mind/motives seemed focused on Moses. However, I will say that not all of the characterization was bad. I really liked Moses–at least in the parts where it was other characters observing him, instead of his point of view. (I think Miriam’s Song would have worked much better if only Miriam had had a point of view.) Zipporah and Elisheba (Aaron’s wife) were also quite well-written. But when your main character is meh, it’s harder to be excited about the story.
BORINGNESS
Which leads me to the boring factor of Miriam’s Song. Despite all the time jumps, the story felt really long-winded, especially once the Israelites left Egypt. Also, if you thought you’d get some excitement with all the plagues…nope. They’re mostly glossed over in a few paragraphs. Probably one of the best words to describe Miriam’s Song is, sadly, ‘dull’.
TOO EXHAUSTIVE
As I said before, Smith tried to cover all of Miriam’s life from when she was five to when she died. It’s just too much, I feel, unless you’re going for a 600-page epic or something. And in the ‘too exhaustive’ vein, there are multiple, multiple occasions throughout the book where Smith quotes verse after verse as coming from God or one of the characters’ mouths. Paragraphs of Bible verses disguised as ‘dialogue’. I get that the Bible does record what these people/God said, but it just sounds stilted and lame in the text. I don’t know how to describe it exactly, but it annoys me.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Miriam’s Song to someone looking for a good novel about Miriam’s life. That recommendation would instead be–you guessed it–Mesu Andrews’ excellent book.
Also, this is nit-picky, but I do NOT like the cover. For most of the book, Miriam is in her eighties and also she was a slave when she was younger, so if the woman on the cover is her younger self, why would she have eyeshadow, lipstick, and flawless skin??? I know book covers need to conform to genre standards and all that, but it still irks me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review.
NOT REALLY MIRIAM’S STORY
This is one of my biggest complaints. You’d expect a book called Miriam’s Song to be about Miriam herself. But as other reviewers have pointed out, this book is almost more about Moses than about his sister. Miriam’s thoughts often focus on Moses throughout the book, to the exclusion of her husband and children and life in general. The parts from Moses’ (or, even more bewilderingly, from Zipporah’s) point of view didn’t help matters any. Miriam isn’t mentioned that much in the Bible and I would have loved a rich, deep look into her inner life and what made her do the things that she did. Sadly, that was all but denied me.
TIME JUMPS
From what I remember of Smith’s other books, time jumps are a thing with her novels. I’m pretty okay with that, usually. But the time jumps in Miriam’s Song border on ridiculous. Because Smith set herself of the task of capturing almost all of Miriam’s life, there were time jumps of near decades that happened from one chapter to the next. I don’t want to compare Miriam’s Song to Miriam (by Mesu Andrews) at every turn (though I could). But what the latter does so well is focus on a specific time in Miriam’s life and really make you feel what she’s feeling–as opposed to jumping all over the timeline so that we never really see the characters grow and change all that much.
NO REAL SENSE OF CHARACTERIZATION
Miriam was a pretty flat character throughout the book, in my opinion. And kind of annoying as well. I think it probably had a lot to do with the time jumps, as well as how a lot of Miriam’s mind/motives seemed focused on Moses. However, I will say that not all of the characterization was bad. I really liked Moses–at least in the parts where it was other characters observing him, instead of his point of view. (I think Miriam’s Song would have worked much better if only Miriam had had a point of view.) Zipporah and Elisheba (Aaron’s wife) were also quite well-written. But when your main character is meh, it’s harder to be excited about the story.
BORINGNESS
Which leads me to the boring factor of Miriam’s Song. Despite all the time jumps, the story felt really long-winded, especially once the Israelites left Egypt. Also, if you thought you’d get some excitement with all the plagues…nope. They’re mostly glossed over in a few paragraphs. Probably one of the best words to describe Miriam’s Song is, sadly, ‘dull’.
TOO EXHAUSTIVE
As I said before, Smith tried to cover all of Miriam’s life from when she was five to when she died. It’s just too much, I feel, unless you’re going for a 600-page epic or something. And in the ‘too exhaustive’ vein, there are multiple, multiple occasions throughout the book where Smith quotes verse after verse as coming from God or one of the characters’ mouths. Paragraphs of Bible verses disguised as ‘dialogue’. I get that the Bible does record what these people/God said, but it just sounds stilted and lame in the text. I don’t know how to describe it exactly, but it annoys me.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Miriam’s Song to someone looking for a good novel about Miriam’s life. That recommendation would instead be–you guessed it–Mesu Andrews’ excellent book.
Also, this is nit-picky, but I do NOT like the cover. For most of the book, Miriam is in her eighties and also she was a slave when she was younger, so if the woman on the cover is her younger self, why would she have eyeshadow, lipstick, and flawless skin??? I know book covers need to conform to genre standards and all that, but it still irks me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review.
February 15, 2021
quote is a favorite of mine because it is Moses telling Joshua " You understand much already, Joshua. It is hard to wait on the Lord, for He sees far beyond what we can see.
Excellent advice my friends! God's timing is not ours. His ways can be hard to understand. "
Yes, God's ways are hard to understand but the way Smith writes this story makes it a lot easier to.
Miriam's point of view from the story of Moses was wonderful! It's like Moses's story has taken on a whole new and fresh look at this beloved story of our Biblical hero.
Moses was wise beyond his years and I liked how he really listened to God in his later years. Sometimes we just have to grow up and grow with God in those years.
I enjoyed Miriam's story because it offers hope through the book and wisdom too.
My favorite thing of this book was learning about Miriam's life and I was tickled pink to learn that she had a family of her own.
I loved her integrity and I think that we can all relate to Miriam at one time or another. Most especially in her feelings. I loved that she was flawed.
Lessons as well. It's the lessons I liked the most.
Lessons on the patience of God's love and how far and how much He can taken of our sins.
God is merciful and mighty. His Love is greater.
God knows when we are ready to listen. He has plans for us that we could never begin to imagine.
Smith did an excellent job with Miriam. I finished the book in one day.
I love Smith's books and this one is my favorite. This book has earned a place on my list for my favorite 2021 reading list.
5 stars for this favorite story!
I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
Received from Revell/Baker books publication
Excellent advice my friends! God's timing is not ours. His ways can be hard to understand. "
Yes, God's ways are hard to understand but the way Smith writes this story makes it a lot easier to.
Miriam's point of view from the story of Moses was wonderful! It's like Moses's story has taken on a whole new and fresh look at this beloved story of our Biblical hero.
Moses was wise beyond his years and I liked how he really listened to God in his later years. Sometimes we just have to grow up and grow with God in those years.
I enjoyed Miriam's story because it offers hope through the book and wisdom too.
My favorite thing of this book was learning about Miriam's life and I was tickled pink to learn that she had a family of her own.
I loved her integrity and I think that we can all relate to Miriam at one time or another. Most especially in her feelings. I loved that she was flawed.
Lessons as well. It's the lessons I liked the most.
Lessons on the patience of God's love and how far and how much He can taken of our sins.
God is merciful and mighty. His Love is greater.
God knows when we are ready to listen. He has plans for us that we could never begin to imagine.
Smith did an excellent job with Miriam. I finished the book in one day.
I love Smith's books and this one is my favorite. This book has earned a place on my list for my favorite 2021 reading list.
5 stars for this favorite story!
I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
Received from Revell/Baker books publication
March 26, 2021
RATING 3.5 STARS
I appreciate the difficulty in the undertaking of writing in the perspective of Miriam. She is the elder sister of Moses and is known for her obedience to make sure her baby brother is safe from the edict of Pharaoh. The movie the 10 Commandments may be the only version of Moses many know and the bible of course is told in the bigger story which is God redeeming mankind and using the people of Israel to do that. Not much is told of Miriam and what is told is written in Miriam's Song. What led to the leprosery of Miriam and how did she feel about Moses and why. There was jealousy of course because we all are human. I have to say I did feel better about Miriam's story after I read the author's note to the reader and agree with her that Miriam's Song reflects the holiness of God.
God deals with Miriam with her insecurities and questions and her relationship with her brothers Aaron and Moses. What God was teaching the people of Israel and why did they have to wander for 40 years. My personal opinion is that Israel's story is prophetic to the churches and the return of Christ. We must realize the holiness of God and let it be the way we draw near to him and his plan for redemption. Miriam's Song is our story as well. A story about working out our faith to a holy God.
A Special thank you to Revell and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
I appreciate the difficulty in the undertaking of writing in the perspective of Miriam. She is the elder sister of Moses and is known for her obedience to make sure her baby brother is safe from the edict of Pharaoh. The movie the 10 Commandments may be the only version of Moses many know and the bible of course is told in the bigger story which is God redeeming mankind and using the people of Israel to do that. Not much is told of Miriam and what is told is written in Miriam's Song. What led to the leprosery of Miriam and how did she feel about Moses and why. There was jealousy of course because we all are human. I have to say I did feel better about Miriam's story after I read the author's note to the reader and agree with her that Miriam's Song reflects the holiness of God.
God deals with Miriam with her insecurities and questions and her relationship with her brothers Aaron and Moses. What God was teaching the people of Israel and why did they have to wander for 40 years. My personal opinion is that Israel's story is prophetic to the churches and the return of Christ. We must realize the holiness of God and let it be the way we draw near to him and his plan for redemption. Miriam's Song is our story as well. A story about working out our faith to a holy God.
A Special thank you to Revell and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
March 13, 2021
Jill Eileen Smith's Biblical fiction never disappoints, and her newest release continues her amazing trend. This book was so enjoyable as it told the story of Moses life through the Exodus from Miriam's perspective. It was also interesting to note that Smith speculated that Miriam could have been married and gave her both a husband and children. Beautifully written with a wonderful Biblical and historical foundation, it retold the story of Moses life and the Exodus in such a manner that it brought it vividly to life.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy Biblical fiction.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy Biblical fiction.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
May 22, 2021
I'm gonna start this review off by saying that Biblical fiction isn't really my favorite genre. I'm also gonna add a quick note that I have not finished this book because it just really wasn’t my thing and I didn’t feel like spending more time on it.
The Characters
Miriam was good. I liked her character development, her kindness towards those she loved, her sense of responsibility, and her level-headedness (do you see a theme here? I tend to appreciate level headed girl characters.)
I did not like Moses from the beginning. That being said, I don’t think the Biblical Moses and I would be very close friends either, even if he was chosen by God to lead the people (and God bless him in it).
I did not like Moses's wife at all.
The Plot
Like Biblical fiction tends to be for me, I didn't really get pulled in. The author is retelling a story that I already know and have heard many times. enough times to develop these people and their personalities in my own way. So this isn't really a negative towards the book, just a personal preference. That being said, I HAVE found biblical fiction that has pulled me in and I've really enjoyed. That's why I still read them once in a blue moon.
The pace was a little slow for me. The scenes in the Bible were much shorter than and I felt like they didn't need to be elaborated on as much as they were?! Again, personal opinion.
The Content.
So far, there wasn't too much content. After Miriam was married it does mention "marital duties" and her husband wanting a kiss.
Obviously (I hope you have read the stories in the Bible before reading a fiction version, otherwise, spoiler warning! XD) Moses kills an egyption and there is mention on blood. Also there is a couple of child births on screen, but not graphic. more blood is mentioned. Hebrews are beaten and there is mention of welts, sores, screaming and one mention of stabbing.
For the most part this story is clean for most ages! Probably 14 and up. Especially if you're reading your Bible on your own.
In summary. If this Is your genre, go for it! It's got some good descriptions and era setting, and the writing style is not hard to keep up with! This one has potential for a lot of enjoyment.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own!
The Characters
Miriam was good. I liked her character development, her kindness towards those she loved, her sense of responsibility, and her level-headedness (do you see a theme here? I tend to appreciate level headed girl characters.)
I did not like Moses from the beginning. That being said, I don’t think the Biblical Moses and I would be very close friends either, even if he was chosen by God to lead the people (and God bless him in it).
I did not like Moses's wife at all.
The Plot
Like Biblical fiction tends to be for me, I didn't really get pulled in. The author is retelling a story that I already know and have heard many times. enough times to develop these people and their personalities in my own way. So this isn't really a negative towards the book, just a personal preference. That being said, I HAVE found biblical fiction that has pulled me in and I've really enjoyed. That's why I still read them once in a blue moon.
The pace was a little slow for me. The scenes in the Bible were much shorter than and I felt like they didn't need to be elaborated on as much as they were?! Again, personal opinion.
The Content.
So far, there wasn't too much content. After Miriam was married it does mention "marital duties" and her husband wanting a kiss.
Obviously (I hope you have read the stories in the Bible before reading a fiction version, otherwise, spoiler warning! XD) Moses kills an egyption and there is mention on blood. Also there is a couple of child births on screen, but not graphic. more blood is mentioned. Hebrews are beaten and there is mention of welts, sores, screaming and one mention of stabbing.
For the most part this story is clean for most ages! Probably 14 and up. Especially if you're reading your Bible on your own.
In summary. If this Is your genre, go for it! It's got some good descriptions and era setting, and the writing style is not hard to keep up with! This one has potential for a lot of enjoyment.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own!
March 4, 2021
2.5
I'm sorry to say that this book was a miss for me. I so enjoyed the author's past two books that I had been eagerly anticipating this one, but "Miriam's Song" did not sit well with me.As it started out, I was pulled in and interested, moved by the glimpse we got into the time of Moses' birth, how his life was spared when so many baby boys were killed by the Egyptians. But as the novel continued, and much time passed, my concerns grew. With how much the book jumped from time period to time period (sometimes only days, or months, but then other times by a decade or more), I didn't really get the chance to bond to the characters themselves. But even so, I held on, knowing that covering such a significant time span would be difficult but necessary. However, I got such a feeling of disrespect from the female characters for the male characters and God even, that it could not sit well with me. Miriam came across extremely prideful for the majority of the book, but it wasn't portrayed as if that was bad. And from each of the female characters, it was so often stressed that they were the real leaders, and stronger at least emotionally than the men...and the men came across as much weaker characters. I'd even go so far as to say that the way Moses was portrayed for a portion of the book was almost wimpy. He never stood up to his wife, and just came across as weak. I don't like to give a book a low rating, but for many reasons, I'm afraid I can't personally recommend this book. Even the portrayal of the Holy character of God felt watered down. Yes, it was stressed how Holy He is, but when I read the sections revolving around Him in this book, they didn't seem to really be of Him, but rather a watered down portrayal of a fictional character.Perhaps this book won't sit this way for others. And I'm hoping that I will enjoy the author's next works as I have her previous two.
I received a copy from the publishers as apart of Interviews and Reviews program. All thoughts expressed are entirely my own.
I'm sorry to say that this book was a miss for me. I so enjoyed the author's past two books that I had been eagerly anticipating this one, but "Miriam's Song" did not sit well with me.As it started out, I was pulled in and interested, moved by the glimpse we got into the time of Moses' birth, how his life was spared when so many baby boys were killed by the Egyptians. But as the novel continued, and much time passed, my concerns grew. With how much the book jumped from time period to time period (sometimes only days, or months, but then other times by a decade or more), I didn't really get the chance to bond to the characters themselves. But even so, I held on, knowing that covering such a significant time span would be difficult but necessary. However, I got such a feeling of disrespect from the female characters for the male characters and God even, that it could not sit well with me. Miriam came across extremely prideful for the majority of the book, but it wasn't portrayed as if that was bad. And from each of the female characters, it was so often stressed that they were the real leaders, and stronger at least emotionally than the men...and the men came across as much weaker characters. I'd even go so far as to say that the way Moses was portrayed for a portion of the book was almost wimpy. He never stood up to his wife, and just came across as weak. I don't like to give a book a low rating, but for many reasons, I'm afraid I can't personally recommend this book. Even the portrayal of the Holy character of God felt watered down. Yes, it was stressed how Holy He is, but when I read the sections revolving around Him in this book, they didn't seem to really be of Him, but rather a watered down portrayal of a fictional character.Perhaps this book won't sit this way for others. And I'm hoping that I will enjoy the author's next works as I have her previous two.
I received a copy from the publishers as apart of Interviews and Reviews program. All thoughts expressed are entirely my own.
January 23, 2021
This work of historical fiction begins with Miriam as a very young girl, and follows her throughout her life. When her mother directs her to follow the basket that holds her baby brother Moses, floating through the bulrushes in the Nile river to where the princess is, it is just the beginning of Miriam’s devotion to her brother. And though many things will separate them, both literally and figuratively, that bond never breaks. It was quite interesting to hear the story of Moses through the eyes of Miriam. Because little is truly known of her from the Bible, author Jill Eileen Smith worked hard to mesh what is known of Moses and Miriam with other facts from that time period, and then to work that knowledge into an exciting and dramatic work of fiction. That she succeeded in doing so is evident in this account of Miriam’s life, a well written and enjoyable tale. It clearly evokes the times and customs as well as the struggles the Hebrew people experienced as they go from being slaves of the Egyptians to wandering in the wilderness, anticipating the promised land. As a work of fiction based on fact, it fleshes out a bare bones account of a character where not much is really known, does it in a credible manner, and perhaps will inspire readers to do more research into the Biblical story of Moses and the Hebrews exodus from Egypt.
April 1, 2021
This is a difficult review to write, in so many ways. First, to be totally honest, I had trouble finishing this book. Like, I was finishing the book earlier today, when I was supposed to have the review already written and posted . . . a problem with procrastination? Maybe. But I seldom procrastinate when it comes to reading.
This was a great concept, to be honest. The story of the Exodus, told from Miriam's perspective? Sounds like I'd learn a great deal! I mean, Miriam would have a different perspective than Moses, being that she didn't experience everything Moses did, and being that she was raised as slave and Moses was raised in opulence, and being that she's a girl, and Moses is a guy. And maybe, if the book had a different cover and a different title, the whole concept would have worked. But there isn't enough of Moses, and Miriam is older during most of the story, and I'm pretty sure I went into the book expecting more of Miriam and less of Moses.
The storyline and plot followed the biblical account really well -- and I really enjoyed that. But I *know* the story of Moses, and when it comes to Biblical fiction, I like to leave thinking, "hmm . . . I've never considered that before . . . " andI just didn't with this book. There were one or two parts, but in a 400 page book, I'd like a few more of those "hmm . . . " moments.
And then there were the parts when the story *didn't* follow biblical guidelines and there was way too much "modernness" to fit into the biblical account. Women in this period of history had little to no voice -- that is the historically accurate fact. And there were times when Miriam came across as a bit pushy, a bit too forward, too opinionated, too . . . liberated, almost. For her to be the only woman in a council meeting and speak up and share her thoughts and not one man to say anything to her is a bit far fetched, to my thinking. There weren't many of these scenes, but still. These were details added to the biblical account that I wish weren't, while I wish more details and musings had been added to Miriam's earlier life that we don't know.
And I kinda had trouble following the time gaps and the leaps in the years. It made the story seem choppy, and I was never able to connect with the characters, really. To me, it seemed like an historical narrative of the exodus, and not an historical fiction book. Which there's nothing wrong with, per say, but I just wasn't expecting that.
Bottom line: This would be great to read if you homeschool and like living history books and want to study ancient Egypt in a safe way. The historical facts were amazing, even if they did bog the story down some, and I did learn about the ancient Egyptian culture. There were discreet mentions of birth, a few beatings and murders, and the story mentioned the gods the Egyptians worshiped in a *safe* way. I would hand it to a 12 year old for a school assignment, but as a fictional book, it just didn't work for me. As a history book, it was pretty great!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley, and was under no obligation to enjoy this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
This was a great concept, to be honest. The story of the Exodus, told from Miriam's perspective? Sounds like I'd learn a great deal! I mean, Miriam would have a different perspective than Moses, being that she didn't experience everything Moses did, and being that she was raised as slave and Moses was raised in opulence, and being that she's a girl, and Moses is a guy. And maybe, if the book had a different cover and a different title, the whole concept would have worked. But there isn't enough of Moses, and Miriam is older during most of the story, and I'm pretty sure I went into the book expecting more of Miriam and less of Moses.
The storyline and plot followed the biblical account really well -- and I really enjoyed that. But I *know* the story of Moses, and when it comes to Biblical fiction, I like to leave thinking, "hmm . . . I've never considered that before . . . " andI just didn't with this book. There were one or two parts, but in a 400 page book, I'd like a few more of those "hmm . . . " moments.
And then there were the parts when the story *didn't* follow biblical guidelines and there was way too much "modernness" to fit into the biblical account. Women in this period of history had little to no voice -- that is the historically accurate fact. And there were times when Miriam came across as a bit pushy, a bit too forward, too opinionated, too . . . liberated, almost. For her to be the only woman in a council meeting and speak up and share her thoughts and not one man to say anything to her is a bit far fetched, to my thinking. There weren't many of these scenes, but still. These were details added to the biblical account that I wish weren't, while I wish more details and musings had been added to Miriam's earlier life that we don't know.
And I kinda had trouble following the time gaps and the leaps in the years. It made the story seem choppy, and I was never able to connect with the characters, really. To me, it seemed like an historical narrative of the exodus, and not an historical fiction book. Which there's nothing wrong with, per say, but I just wasn't expecting that.
Bottom line: This would be great to read if you homeschool and like living history books and want to study ancient Egypt in a safe way. The historical facts were amazing, even if they did bog the story down some, and I did learn about the ancient Egyptian culture. There were discreet mentions of birth, a few beatings and murders, and the story mentioned the gods the Egyptians worshiped in a *safe* way. I would hand it to a 12 year old for a school assignment, but as a fictional book, it just didn't work for me. As a history book, it was pretty great!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley, and was under no obligation to enjoy this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
March 15, 2022
It started out interesting and held me until about halfway through the book. For some reason introducing Moses and other people who weren't Miriam kind of killed it for me. Maybe because I'd seen Cecil B Demille's The Ten Commandments on TV so many times I felt like it didn't play out with as much drama as it could have. Regardless, I enjoyed the first half. Then it got a bit convoluted. I found myself wanting to skim and ended up not finishing the book as nothing new from Miriam's perspective grabbed me. Plus, I saw Zipporah's POV and Moses's POV again. If you want to read a fantastic book by Jill Eileen Smith try Bathsheba or Sarai. Those were fabulous.
Read
March 11, 2021Do you like biblical fiction? What is your favorite biblical fiction book?
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I was really excited when I got the email saying that I was accepted into the review team for Miriam's Song. Jill Eileen Smith is a talented author and I love biblical fiction.
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I couldn't get into this one, unfortunately. I don't know why. The characters are interesting, the writing style is great. I've read other books by this author and loved them. This one just wasn't for me. I think I'll give it another try at somepoint. And I'll still definitely be reading other books by Jill Eileen Smith.
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*I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts expressed are strictly my own.*
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I was really excited when I got the email saying that I was accepted into the review team for Miriam's Song. Jill Eileen Smith is a talented author and I love biblical fiction.
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I couldn't get into this one, unfortunately. I don't know why. The characters are interesting, the writing style is great. I've read other books by this author and loved them. This one just wasn't for me. I think I'll give it another try at somepoint. And I'll still definitely be reading other books by Jill Eileen Smith.
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*I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts expressed are strictly my own.*
March 4, 2021
I have heard of Jill Eileen Smith so getting an ARC of this book was a great joy to me.
Miriam’s Song is a well detailed fictional book with Bible scenes meshed together to give you a glimpse of the life Miriam led in the Bible times.
Coincidentally, I was reading the book of Exodus when I got this ARC so I can say that this book helped me to understand the Bible because I could see some familiar characters Jill used from the book of Exodus.
Overall, this is a good book written by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
Miriam’s Song is a well detailed fictional book with Bible scenes meshed together to give you a glimpse of the life Miriam led in the Bible times.
Coincidentally, I was reading the book of Exodus when I got this ARC so I can say that this book helped me to understand the Bible because I could see some familiar characters Jill used from the book of Exodus.
Overall, this is a good book written by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
April 9, 2021
“As she watched the fire of God move and breathe like a spirit ablaze, somehow she knew. He cared for her. She might never see His face, but she had felt His touch. And that was enough.”
This may be the first book by Jill Eileen Smith that I’ve read, but it most certainly won’t be the last! Biblical fiction is difficult enough as a genre when using fictional characters who serve as onlookers to major historical events, but taking on the formidable task of writing about some of the main Biblical figures is something else altogether. As Smith herself mentions in her note to readers at the end of this book, there is not much information about Miriam in the Bible, and extracting her character means working through that of her brothers Aaron and especially Moses. In doing so, Miriam emerges as a woman who has been called by God to serve, alongside her brothers, in leading His chosen people out of Egyptian slavery.
So many aspects of this familiar Old Testament story struck me anew as I read “Miriam’s Song,” not the least of which is a fresh appreciation for the men and women who paved the way for the eventual coming of Jesus. To think that at the time of Moses and the Exodus, the people had not heard from God in four hundred and thirty years! Jochebed refers to her son, the infant Moses, as their “tikvah,” or hope, and years later Miriam’s husband Jephunneh tells Miriam to “Pray God will do something, because if He does not, there is no hope.” Those whom God raised up throughout the Old Testament prove that every person has a propensity for sin, thereby making Christ’s coming and sacrifice necessary to enable God to live among us.
As I read, Smith’s perspective of this time in Biblical history revealed connections that I hadn’t necessarily made before. I can see parallels between the Exodus and the coming Tribulation, as well as between some of the Egyptians joining the Hebrews in fleeing Egypt and, later, the Gentiles joining God’s chosen people for salvation through Jesus. Similarly, I don’t think that I had ever really honed in on the fact that the ten plagues which God released on Egypt also afflicted those Hebrews who had followed sinful Egyptian practices, or that each plague was clearly aimed at defeating a specific Egyptian god. As Miriam attests, “She had never considered that God would judge His own people as well as their oppressors. But sin was sin, and she knew deep within her that no sin went unnoticed by their God.” Miriam learns that they are the ones holding themselves back from the Promised Land, and instead of becoming frustrated and angry with God and with Moses, she recognizes that “If only the people would realize that to obey was freedom. To rebel only brought heartache and loss.” Some things never change!
Related in five parts with third-person narration, “Miriam’s Song” by Jill Eileen Smith delves into the largely-unknown life of Moses’ older sister, Miriam. While fictional, it remains true to the Biblical account in regard to historical events, taking artistic liberty to explore the possible perspective and life of Miriam, prophetess of God and leader of women during the Exodus and afterward. Time lapses in the narrative can be a bit abrupt but are understandable and handled well, with a succinct explanation of the intervening years. I highly recommend this Biblical fiction novel to fans of the genre and to anyone interested in the Exodus and the life of the Hebrews during that time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This may be the first book by Jill Eileen Smith that I’ve read, but it most certainly won’t be the last! Biblical fiction is difficult enough as a genre when using fictional characters who serve as onlookers to major historical events, but taking on the formidable task of writing about some of the main Biblical figures is something else altogether. As Smith herself mentions in her note to readers at the end of this book, there is not much information about Miriam in the Bible, and extracting her character means working through that of her brothers Aaron and especially Moses. In doing so, Miriam emerges as a woman who has been called by God to serve, alongside her brothers, in leading His chosen people out of Egyptian slavery.
So many aspects of this familiar Old Testament story struck me anew as I read “Miriam’s Song,” not the least of which is a fresh appreciation for the men and women who paved the way for the eventual coming of Jesus. To think that at the time of Moses and the Exodus, the people had not heard from God in four hundred and thirty years! Jochebed refers to her son, the infant Moses, as their “tikvah,” or hope, and years later Miriam’s husband Jephunneh tells Miriam to “Pray God will do something, because if He does not, there is no hope.” Those whom God raised up throughout the Old Testament prove that every person has a propensity for sin, thereby making Christ’s coming and sacrifice necessary to enable God to live among us.
As I read, Smith’s perspective of this time in Biblical history revealed connections that I hadn’t necessarily made before. I can see parallels between the Exodus and the coming Tribulation, as well as between some of the Egyptians joining the Hebrews in fleeing Egypt and, later, the Gentiles joining God’s chosen people for salvation through Jesus. Similarly, I don’t think that I had ever really honed in on the fact that the ten plagues which God released on Egypt also afflicted those Hebrews who had followed sinful Egyptian practices, or that each plague was clearly aimed at defeating a specific Egyptian god. As Miriam attests, “She had never considered that God would judge His own people as well as their oppressors. But sin was sin, and she knew deep within her that no sin went unnoticed by their God.” Miriam learns that they are the ones holding themselves back from the Promised Land, and instead of becoming frustrated and angry with God and with Moses, she recognizes that “If only the people would realize that to obey was freedom. To rebel only brought heartache and loss.” Some things never change!
Related in five parts with third-person narration, “Miriam’s Song” by Jill Eileen Smith delves into the largely-unknown life of Moses’ older sister, Miriam. While fictional, it remains true to the Biblical account in regard to historical events, taking artistic liberty to explore the possible perspective and life of Miriam, prophetess of God and leader of women during the Exodus and afterward. Time lapses in the narrative can be a bit abrupt but are understandable and handled well, with a succinct explanation of the intervening years. I highly recommend this Biblical fiction novel to fans of the genre and to anyone interested in the Exodus and the life of the Hebrews during that time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
February 28, 2021
Besides Bible study and reading, I also really enjoy reading Christian fiction and Biblical fiction. One of my favorite authors is Jill Eileen Smith, and her most recent book Miriam's Song, did not disappoint! Most of the book is from Miriam's viewpoint, but it also switches to Moses and Zipporah's viewpoints at times. The story begins with the birth of Moses, and how the Israelites were struggling to hide their baby boys to keep them from being killed by the Egyptians. We follow Miriam through childhood, losing her parents, marriage, motherhood, escape from Egypt, and the journey towards the Promised Land.
This book was very engaging! Even though I knew the story from the Bible, this book still really kept my attention. I hurt for the Israelites stuck in slavery, rejoiced when God led them from Egypt, and sympathized with Moses' feelings of inadequacy. The author took some liberties by making Miriam the mother of Caleb, and giving her a husband, as this was not mentioned in the Bible, but it all fit well. She did not contradict anything in the Bible, so I appreciated that.
If you enjoy Biblical fiction, and want to read a fast paced story with captivating characters, then you will want to pick up a copy of this book! If you are like me, you won't be able to put it down!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book was very engaging! Even though I knew the story from the Bible, this book still really kept my attention. I hurt for the Israelites stuck in slavery, rejoiced when God led them from Egypt, and sympathized with Moses' feelings of inadequacy. The author took some liberties by making Miriam the mother of Caleb, and giving her a husband, as this was not mentioned in the Bible, but it all fit well. She did not contradict anything in the Bible, so I appreciated that.
If you enjoy Biblical fiction, and want to read a fast paced story with captivating characters, then you will want to pick up a copy of this book! If you are like me, you won't be able to put it down!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 12, 2021
In "Miriam's Song", Jill Eileen Smith creates an epic novel, with her flawless, impeccable research and keenly perceptive eye for detail. Miriam's eventful life, from obscurity to notoriety, presents a terribly painful lesson in humility and bowing to authority, without any complaints, grumbles or questions at any cost. While Miriam fervently prayed for deliverance from Egypt, the greatest liberation happened within the precincts of her own heart. Living in the towering shadow of her younger brother, Moses, while thrust into the role of protective older sister, Miriam served both God and her people, in bearing the burden of leading a fledgling nation in the throes of its new birth. Miriam's yearning for fulfillment is finally satisfied when she learns that God provides what He promises, in His own perfect time. In her epic novels, Jill Eileen Smith plumbs great emotional depths in the hearts and lives of her characters, with a modern sensitivity rarely seen in historical novels. She skillfully infuses her narratives with the passion and beauty of ancient Biblical culture, while casting an intriguing, gripping look into the lives and times of her characters. I highly recommend this great book to all readers and researchers alike.
Miriam Jacob
Miriam Jacob
March 7, 2021
I enjoyed this new book by Jill Eileen Smith so much! It tells the story of the sister of Moses who laid his woven basket into the Nile in hopes of saving him from death. I love how the author interweaves the actual historical events and the fiction to bring the life of Miriam into an interesting and gripping story.
Miriam is presented as a loving and faithful sister to Moses throughout her life despite the trials that the Egyptians place upon her and the people of Israel. The book is written in a very easy to read and understandable format making the Biblical story truly come to life. I felt that the book was so interesting and engaging that it was hard to put it down. It became one of my favorite books quite quickly. I hope to read many more of this author's books.
Miriam becomes very real and you can feel her feelings throughout the book. It made this historical person very easy to understand and she became a real important and supportive person in these important historical events and times.
I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. All thoughts are my own.
Miriam is presented as a loving and faithful sister to Moses throughout her life despite the trials that the Egyptians place upon her and the people of Israel. The book is written in a very easy to read and understandable format making the Biblical story truly come to life. I felt that the book was so interesting and engaging that it was hard to put it down. It became one of my favorite books quite quickly. I hope to read many more of this author's books.
Miriam becomes very real and you can feel her feelings throughout the book. It made this historical person very easy to understand and she became a real important and supportive person in these important historical events and times.
I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. All thoughts are my own.
February 14, 2021
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing an advanced review copy through Interviews and Reviews. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.
As much as I was new to Historical Fiction as of last year, I am also new to Biblical Fiction. In fact, this is only the SECOND (2nd) book I’ve read in the genre. The first being Tessa Afshar’s Daughter of Rome from Tyndale House publishers.
As I’ve sadly seen in too many “Biblical Fiction” reviews – some readers tend to view the stories with the biased lens of today. One case is Afshar’s Pearl in the Sand. One of the reviews blatantly attacks the author’s telling of it. The reviewer then goes on to attack the credibility of Rahab’s story. Most of the review is clearly (and sadly) due to the reader’s unfamiliarity of the genre (Biblical Fiction), as well as the passages in the bible that mentions Rahab.
I am including this more as a warning and a notation so readers know what to expect when reading Biblical Fiction, especially stories taken directly from the bible. Readers do need to take note that some of these stories are taken from Biblical accounts, thus this is what has happened in the past. Also, certain “standards” are markedly different today than they were prior to the birth of Jesus. In addition, the treatment of certain people back then will be far different than it is today.
This is my first introduction to Smith’s writing, and this book was a perfect introduction to it. This is a standalone read so readers won’t have to read any books prior to it or after it to know the complete story. I do recommend reading the Exodus chapter in the bible to get a sense of the entirety of the story.
For those who are unsure of who Miriam is – in Exodus she is Moses’ older sister. She was five (5) when she placed her baby brother in the Nile River, who was later found by the then Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as her child. Beyond minor mentions, there is not that much is known about this girl/woman, Miriam. She lived, she died.
Anyone familiar with the bible knows that Exodus is the story of Moses’ birth, his upbringing as an Egyptian, his return as a Hebrew, the plagues of Egypt, and the journey from slavery out of Egypt.
Given the disparities between Biblical history and Egyptian history, it is hard to know with any accuracy which Pharaoh was ruling during the time of Exodus (Approximately 1500 B.C). Egyptian, Hebrew, and Biblical records were not in sync at the time. So, the author does her best (with some errors) to try to bring the two together for this story and to put it in perspective.
Miriam’s Song is the Exodus story from Moses’ sister’s point of view (POV). Smith’s novel covers Miriam from about age 5 until her death at around 126/127, about the end of their time wandering in the desert.
It is the story in between; written with such authenticity; that is captivating, uplifting, tragic, and draws the reader in. At times, it can feel as if the reader is right there. The use of authentic terms (Ima – mother; Abba – father) gives it a realistic feel and begins to become a visual telling of the story. And, it starts right off with the gorgeous and prophetic looking cover. I loved Smith’s use of short chapters to advance the story. In addition, Smith also doesn’t rush the story, but doesn’t linger on any event and/or year too long.
Since most of the story takes place during the Hebrews time in Egypt as slaves; there will be references to slavery, cruelty and abuse, discrimination, infanticide, and potential rape. There are mentions of arranged marriages and by today’s definition, child marriage.
Since Miriam’s Song is based on a bible story, spoilers are inevitable as anyone reading the bible or having read it will know what happened. Told over five (5) parts, and 54 chapters with prologue and epilogue; Smith weaves the threads of the story to bring it to life.
As most know the story of why Moses was spared – this starts off with the cruel order from Pharaoh to kill every male child to prevent the Hebrews from growing too strong as a nation. Thus, when his daughter finds Moses, she decides to raise him as hers. Though, she knows who his family is. She shows compassion for the Hebrews and honestly wishes they were cast from Egypt, though not completely understanding what that would mean.
Due to this arrangement, the Pharoah’s daughter (for this story, Hatshepsut), arranges for Miriam’s family to not labor in the fields as slaves, and to have an allowance.
Throughout the story, which can move a bit fast for some – Miriam loses her mother at 13; when she is 15, she loses her father and marries Jephunneh. Also, Hatshepsut ascends as ruler of Egypt. Despite how she originally felt about the Hebrews as slaves, she makes no effort to set them free, obviously as Moses puts it – she has grown accustomed to the finer things.
During those years, Miriam also wonders if they are still God’s people and when their suffering will come to an end. And, it is clear that while Moses is raised as Egyptian, he isn’t one of them.
Moses is around 40 when he commits a crime, and goes into exile; he is also tired of the Egyptian way of life. As a result, he becomes estranged to his Hebrew family.
Even when Hatshepsut passes, the Hebrews wonder how much longer will they be in slavery under the Egyptians. And interesting fact – at 55, Miriam is not only a grandmother, but pregnant. It is revealed one of her friends died in childbirth giving her second husband a child. She lost her first husband to the abuse of a taskmaster if that speaks to the cruelty of what the Hebrews underwent.
It isn’t until Moses is 80 that he is told to return to free his people; Miriam has about the same dream since she is a prophetess. But, Moses isn’t easily convinced, at one time telling God to send someone else. At first his wife and children accompany him, but after the journey proves dangerous with a consequence of disobeying God, Zipporah takes the boys and heads home to wait. This isn’t the only instance of God’s punishment for being disobeyed.
As everyone knows, Moses then comes back to Egypt to convince the Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. But, the Pharaoh refuses and we know about the plagues – water becomes blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock diseased, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness.
Smith, without going into detail, highlights the effect on the Hebrews the plagues that God has sent. She doesn’t spend too much time on the Egyptians’ suffering.
It isn’t until the death of the firstborn sons that the Pharaoh agrees to let them all go. Though it will not be an easy flight or “exodus”.
In Exodus 15:20, there is a passage about “the song of Miriam” when they praise their good fortune in crossing the sea.
This is about 64% of the way into the book. From there the remainder of the book is spent with their Exodus out of Egypt, Zipporah and Moses’ reuniting, events prior to Sinai, at Sinai, and after; and Miriam’s observations about it.
Smith also details the harshness and complaining of the Hebrews during their delivery to freedom. And, she also shows the family dynamics of belief between Miriam, Aaron, and Moses – even more so when Moses remarries yet another woman not of their tribe.
This is not a happily ever after read, but an inspiring and uplifting read about hope, faith, and perseverance under the harshest of terms that life back then had to offer. This is a testament to the will and faith of the Hebrew people.
As I said, this is a genre I am VERY new to. To be captivated by such a compelling story, so much so I did not want to put it down, attests to the story telling ability of the writer.
Fans of the author and genre are sure to enjoy this particular story.
As much as I was new to Historical Fiction as of last year, I am also new to Biblical Fiction. In fact, this is only the SECOND (2nd) book I’ve read in the genre. The first being Tessa Afshar’s Daughter of Rome from Tyndale House publishers.
As I’ve sadly seen in too many “Biblical Fiction” reviews – some readers tend to view the stories with the biased lens of today. One case is Afshar’s Pearl in the Sand. One of the reviews blatantly attacks the author’s telling of it. The reviewer then goes on to attack the credibility of Rahab’s story. Most of the review is clearly (and sadly) due to the reader’s unfamiliarity of the genre (Biblical Fiction), as well as the passages in the bible that mentions Rahab.
I am including this more as a warning and a notation so readers know what to expect when reading Biblical Fiction, especially stories taken directly from the bible. Readers do need to take note that some of these stories are taken from Biblical accounts, thus this is what has happened in the past. Also, certain “standards” are markedly different today than they were prior to the birth of Jesus. In addition, the treatment of certain people back then will be far different than it is today.
This is my first introduction to Smith’s writing, and this book was a perfect introduction to it. This is a standalone read so readers won’t have to read any books prior to it or after it to know the complete story. I do recommend reading the Exodus chapter in the bible to get a sense of the entirety of the story.
For those who are unsure of who Miriam is – in Exodus she is Moses’ older sister. She was five (5) when she placed her baby brother in the Nile River, who was later found by the then Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as her child. Beyond minor mentions, there is not that much is known about this girl/woman, Miriam. She lived, she died.
Anyone familiar with the bible knows that Exodus is the story of Moses’ birth, his upbringing as an Egyptian, his return as a Hebrew, the plagues of Egypt, and the journey from slavery out of Egypt.
Given the disparities between Biblical history and Egyptian history, it is hard to know with any accuracy which Pharaoh was ruling during the time of Exodus (Approximately 1500 B.C). Egyptian, Hebrew, and Biblical records were not in sync at the time. So, the author does her best (with some errors) to try to bring the two together for this story and to put it in perspective.
Miriam’s Song is the Exodus story from Moses’ sister’s point of view (POV). Smith’s novel covers Miriam from about age 5 until her death at around 126/127, about the end of their time wandering in the desert.
It is the story in between; written with such authenticity; that is captivating, uplifting, tragic, and draws the reader in. At times, it can feel as if the reader is right there. The use of authentic terms (Ima – mother; Abba – father) gives it a realistic feel and begins to become a visual telling of the story. And, it starts right off with the gorgeous and prophetic looking cover. I loved Smith’s use of short chapters to advance the story. In addition, Smith also doesn’t rush the story, but doesn’t linger on any event and/or year too long.
Since most of the story takes place during the Hebrews time in Egypt as slaves; there will be references to slavery, cruelty and abuse, discrimination, infanticide, and potential rape. There are mentions of arranged marriages and by today’s definition, child marriage.
Since Miriam’s Song is based on a bible story, spoilers are inevitable as anyone reading the bible or having read it will know what happened. Told over five (5) parts, and 54 chapters with prologue and epilogue; Smith weaves the threads of the story to bring it to life.
As most know the story of why Moses was spared – this starts off with the cruel order from Pharaoh to kill every male child to prevent the Hebrews from growing too strong as a nation. Thus, when his daughter finds Moses, she decides to raise him as hers. Though, she knows who his family is. She shows compassion for the Hebrews and honestly wishes they were cast from Egypt, though not completely understanding what that would mean.
Due to this arrangement, the Pharoah’s daughter (for this story, Hatshepsut), arranges for Miriam’s family to not labor in the fields as slaves, and to have an allowance.
Throughout the story, which can move a bit fast for some – Miriam loses her mother at 13; when she is 15, she loses her father and marries Jephunneh. Also, Hatshepsut ascends as ruler of Egypt. Despite how she originally felt about the Hebrews as slaves, she makes no effort to set them free, obviously as Moses puts it – she has grown accustomed to the finer things.
During those years, Miriam also wonders if they are still God’s people and when their suffering will come to an end. And, it is clear that while Moses is raised as Egyptian, he isn’t one of them.
Moses is around 40 when he commits a crime, and goes into exile; he is also tired of the Egyptian way of life. As a result, he becomes estranged to his Hebrew family.
Even when Hatshepsut passes, the Hebrews wonder how much longer will they be in slavery under the Egyptians. And interesting fact – at 55, Miriam is not only a grandmother, but pregnant. It is revealed one of her friends died in childbirth giving her second husband a child. She lost her first husband to the abuse of a taskmaster if that speaks to the cruelty of what the Hebrews underwent.
It isn’t until Moses is 80 that he is told to return to free his people; Miriam has about the same dream since she is a prophetess. But, Moses isn’t easily convinced, at one time telling God to send someone else. At first his wife and children accompany him, but after the journey proves dangerous with a consequence of disobeying God, Zipporah takes the boys and heads home to wait. This isn’t the only instance of God’s punishment for being disobeyed.
As everyone knows, Moses then comes back to Egypt to convince the Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. But, the Pharaoh refuses and we know about the plagues – water becomes blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock diseased, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness.
Smith, without going into detail, highlights the effect on the Hebrews the plagues that God has sent. She doesn’t spend too much time on the Egyptians’ suffering.
It isn’t until the death of the firstborn sons that the Pharaoh agrees to let them all go. Though it will not be an easy flight or “exodus”.
In Exodus 15:20, there is a passage about “the song of Miriam” when they praise their good fortune in crossing the sea.
This is about 64% of the way into the book. From there the remainder of the book is spent with their Exodus out of Egypt, Zipporah and Moses’ reuniting, events prior to Sinai, at Sinai, and after; and Miriam’s observations about it.
Smith also details the harshness and complaining of the Hebrews during their delivery to freedom. And, she also shows the family dynamics of belief between Miriam, Aaron, and Moses – even more so when Moses remarries yet another woman not of their tribe.
This is not a happily ever after read, but an inspiring and uplifting read about hope, faith, and perseverance under the harshest of terms that life back then had to offer. This is a testament to the will and faith of the Hebrew people.
As I said, this is a genre I am VERY new to. To be captivated by such a compelling story, so much so I did not want to put it down, attests to the story telling ability of the writer.
Fans of the author and genre are sure to enjoy this particular story.
March 25, 2021
Miriam's Song by Jill Eileen Smith is a beautifully written biblical story. This story featured a character I was not aware existed in reality. I did not know Moses had a sister. That information was completely new to me. I am glad I read this novel. I happened to learn something new. The fictional tale follows along with facts from the bible and builds it up in an captivating way. I was hooked. Jill Eileen Smith's writing is superb. She knows her topics well and with her unique writing style, this was a blast! I love reading Christian fiction and this book has made it to my favorites list. Once I started reading, I had to read the rest. The characterization and settings were done well. My curiosity was caught with this intriguing read. Overall, I recommend it to all fans of this genre, as well as clean and entertaining stories.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
February 23, 2021
Ms Smith writes engagingly from the Scriptures about Miriam, fleshing in a believable and truthful story! I love her Old Testament novels! True to the Bible and fascinating!
March 29, 2021
"Miriam's Song" by Jill Eileen Smith was an impressive book. As the author mentioned in her note at the end, not a lot is historically known about Miriam. Somehow, Ms. Smith managed to take the historical record, combine it with the records of Miriam's contemporaries, and mix it all in with various other histories of those times and events, and end up with a story that was both fascinating to read and educational. While I was familiar with the basic details of Miriam's story going in, I found I learned a lot about life in those times, and was provided enough information to really try to imagine what I would have felt and experienced had I been living then. It also left me with plenty to think about regarding the nature of God and his relationship with his chosen people. I'd love to discuss my thoughts with other readers.
The actual story was very interesting to read. Miriam is a great character, and although not much is known about her, the author did a great job in bringing her to life in a realistic way that felt true to both the known facts about her life and the events she lived through. I enjoyed getting to know her, and watching her grow from a brave little five-year-old to a mature woman of faith.
In reading about Miriam in between the major historical events she witnessed, I learned a lot about what daily life was like for the Hebrew people, both during their enslavement in Egypt, and after they gained their freedom and moved toward their new land. Reading this helped me to better understand some of the things that happened, and the mindset of the people that brought those events about.
I highly recommend this book. Read it for the quality storytelling. Read it for the in-depth character study of a lesser-known historical woman. Read it for the thought-provoking insights. Just read it. You'll be glad you did!
The actual story was very interesting to read. Miriam is a great character, and although not much is known about her, the author did a great job in bringing her to life in a realistic way that felt true to both the known facts about her life and the events she lived through. I enjoyed getting to know her, and watching her grow from a brave little five-year-old to a mature woman of faith.
In reading about Miriam in between the major historical events she witnessed, I learned a lot about what daily life was like for the Hebrew people, both during their enslavement in Egypt, and after they gained their freedom and moved toward their new land. Reading this helped me to better understand some of the things that happened, and the mindset of the people that brought those events about.
I highly recommend this book. Read it for the quality storytelling. Read it for the in-depth character study of a lesser-known historical woman. Read it for the thought-provoking insights. Just read it. You'll be glad you did!
March 23, 2021
I'm new to the Biblical Fiction genre and this is my third book. I've read Francine Rivers' "A Lineage of Grace" and Mesu Andrews' "Pearl in the Sand." These were great and got me excited to read more biblical fiction, however, Miriam's Song was a disappointment.
As several other reviewers have noted, this book is more about Moses than Miriam. I feel like we get more from Moses' point of view than Miriam's and when we do get an insight into her POV, her thoughts are mostly on Moses. The characters are not well-developed and Miriam's character is extremely unlikeable and shallow. She comes across as prideful, jealous, and whinny. There isn't much character development either. The majority of the novel felt rushed and focused on events rather than on Miriam; her thoughts, her growth, her spiritual life, etc.
I was looking forward to reading about Miriam since Scripture doesn't tell us much about her. I was expecting to read more detailed accounts of Miriam's life during the exodus, instead, two-thirds of the novel is spent in Eygpt. I was especially waiting for the account of Miriam's leprosy and her thoughts, and experience of said event however, we only get like 2 pages briefly touching upon the incident and the next thing we know, Miriam is on her deathbed, and a few pages later, the end.
I could go on but it would require a much longer review than I feel like writing at the moment. The main problem with the book is that it covers too much time in 400 pages. The author squeezed in too many events and the main character really is Moses, not Miriam.
I'm interested in reading Mesu Andrew's rendition of Miriam's story, I hear it's better.
I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
As several other reviewers have noted, this book is more about Moses than Miriam. I feel like we get more from Moses' point of view than Miriam's and when we do get an insight into her POV, her thoughts are mostly on Moses. The characters are not well-developed and Miriam's character is extremely unlikeable and shallow. She comes across as prideful, jealous, and whinny. There isn't much character development either. The majority of the novel felt rushed and focused on events rather than on Miriam; her thoughts, her growth, her spiritual life, etc.
I was looking forward to reading about Miriam since Scripture doesn't tell us much about her. I was expecting to read more detailed accounts of Miriam's life during the exodus, instead, two-thirds of the novel is spent in Eygpt. I was especially waiting for the account of Miriam's leprosy and her thoughts, and experience of said event however, we only get like 2 pages briefly touching upon the incident and the next thing we know, Miriam is on her deathbed, and a few pages later, the end.
I could go on but it would require a much longer review than I feel like writing at the moment. The main problem with the book is that it covers too much time in 400 pages. The author squeezed in too many events and the main character really is Moses, not Miriam.
I'm interested in reading Mesu Andrew's rendition of Miriam's story, I hear it's better.
I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
February 2, 2023
I'll admit this was a difficult one for me to review. First off, I'd like to say that the author did the best she could with what she had, but it is very difficult to tackle one of the most well-known time periods of Biblical history, through the perspectives of the main figures while giving it a fictional flair as well. I think that the author did a great job of for the most part sticking to the text, but for me it made the book predictable and hard to get into because of the strong focus on well-known people, rather than a fictional person experiencing things alongside the main characters.
The story is told from various viewpoints, like Zipporah and Moses' adoptive mother, as well as Miriam. It is obviously well researched, and a few choices were made on divisive details.
Overall, this is a hard one to review, as I think that it was as well done as it could be considering the various factors at play, and I think she did a great job of being accurate to the Bible and times. But it did make for a predictable fiction read. A good reminder of God's plan at work and His mighty deeds!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The story is told from various viewpoints, like Zipporah and Moses' adoptive mother, as well as Miriam. It is obviously well researched, and a few choices were made on divisive details.
Overall, this is a hard one to review, as I think that it was as well done as it could be considering the various factors at play, and I think she did a great job of being accurate to the Bible and times. But it did make for a predictable fiction read. A good reminder of God's plan at work and His mighty deeds!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 7, 2022
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Revell for sending me this FREE ARC COPY to review for them last year!! This was my first time reading a book by this author and in this Genre: Bibical Fiction so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say i really enjoyed this one very much and it gave me a whole new perspective about Miriam and Moses' life in the 1400s Before Christ.
The Characters (based on the bible) were so much more interesting and enjoyable to read about and gave me a whole new perspective and amazment at their lives back then. Miriam and Moses' are definately favorites of mine.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the story with Miriam while reading.
I do wish this was part of a series because i'd loved to learn more about Miriam and Moses' life back then.
Overall a Phenomenal Standalone about Miriam's life back then!! Can't wait to read more by Jill in the future!!
Review:
Thank you to Revell for sending me this FREE ARC COPY to review for them last year!! This was my first time reading a book by this author and in this Genre: Bibical Fiction so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say i really enjoyed this one very much and it gave me a whole new perspective about Miriam and Moses' life in the 1400s Before Christ.
The Characters (based on the bible) were so much more interesting and enjoyable to read about and gave me a whole new perspective and amazment at their lives back then. Miriam and Moses' are definately favorites of mine.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the story with Miriam while reading.
I do wish this was part of a series because i'd loved to learn more about Miriam and Moses' life back then.
Overall a Phenomenal Standalone about Miriam's life back then!! Can't wait to read more by Jill in the future!!
April 26, 2025
“Miriam’s Song” by Jill Eileen Smith is a fun book to read during the Passover season. It is a well-researched, fictionalized retelling of the Exodus book of the Bible featuring a woman’s perspective. Miriam is the older sister of Moses, our prophet and our teacher. Miriam is barely mentioned in the Bible: she watches over baby Moses in the Nile, she dances after the Hebrews are safely across the Red Sea, she is stricken by leprosy while wandering in the Sinai Desert—that’s about all we know of her. Using clues from the Hebrew Bible and other historical resources, Smith has put together a credible portrait of what this important woman endured and accomplished. The reader also gets a clear picture of what life in ancient Egypt was like. The book drags a little at the end as the Jews journey through the Sinai. But perhaps this slower pace is a fitting reminder of the patience required to wander for 40 years while waiting to enter the Promised Land.
Want to read
April 15, 2021Miriam's Song is a great story. Miriam is one who has always fascinated me, especially with 'how could she have lived through all that, and still speak against Moses?' This book does a remarkable job of answering that.
Following Moses' journey through his sister's eyes was both fun and hard. You could see just how it would be possible for her to be a prophetess, and a leader, and follow God and Moses her whole life, and still fall into trouble. Little bits of pride and 'self' can skew your worldview.
I loved how the author wove Miriam's story into the known facts of the time, and was left satisfied at the end. I love how God uses us to do things only He can do. As long as we remember that We're not the ones doing these things, God is, it'll go well with us!
I received a copy of this book from #Netgalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.
Following Moses' journey through his sister's eyes was both fun and hard. You could see just how it would be possible for her to be a prophetess, and a leader, and follow God and Moses her whole life, and still fall into trouble. Little bits of pride and 'self' can skew your worldview.
I loved how the author wove Miriam's story into the known facts of the time, and was left satisfied at the end. I love how God uses us to do things only He can do. As long as we remember that We're not the ones doing these things, God is, it'll go well with us!
I received a copy of this book from #Netgalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.
March 6, 2021
“Though she knew God had called her to help Moses lead, she had lost some of the connection she once felt for Him–as if He had given it to Moses and no one else,” Jill Eileen Smith writes about the prophetess in her Biblical fiction, Miriam’s Song.
~ What ~
This four-hundred-and-six-page paperback targets those who enjoy an enhanced version of the Biblical story of Miriam from being a young girl to dying en route to the Promise Land. Containing no profanity or explicit sexual scenes, topics of plagues, murder, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. An author’s note, acknowledgments, biography, and advertisements complete the book.
In this loosely retold story taken from the Old Testament, Miriam’s journey covers protecting her baby brother in the reeds along the Nile, witnessing the plagues of the Egyptians, escaping with Moses across the Red Sea, eating manna, and dying in the desert before reaching the Holy Land. In her trials and tribulations, not only does she encourage the Israeli camp to focus on Yahweh, but she also deals with insecurity, jealousy, and yearning to feel special to God.
~ Why ~
If you do not know much about a woman mentioned limitedly in the Bible, this will give you a synopsis of the book of Exodus and the holiness of God seen through a woman. The reader can tell quickly that the author has done plenty of research while adding her imagination and creativity to the Old Testament stories of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
~ Why Not ~
Those who do not like fictionalized Bible stories may pass on this one as the author uses ample liberties to enhance the story. With the focus on Miriam having dreams and multiple added characters, it is fabricated, especially at the emotional level. Some may find some of the well-known scenes underwritten or without Biblical clarity, yet the author states it was a hard novel to pen.
~ Wish ~
Having read other books by Smith, I found this one a struggle to connect with its protagonist. It seemed Miriam often was the one with all the right answers and responses even though her desire to be needed by God and others was promoted (which is not noted in the Word).
~ Want ~
If you enjoy learning about the Miriam in Scripture, this one shows how God loves each of us in a special way and will always be with us, but realize, the read may not be emotionally or spiritually true to the Bible.
Thanks to Revell for this complimentary book that I am not obligated to review.
~ What ~
This four-hundred-and-six-page paperback targets those who enjoy an enhanced version of the Biblical story of Miriam from being a young girl to dying en route to the Promise Land. Containing no profanity or explicit sexual scenes, topics of plagues, murder, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. An author’s note, acknowledgments, biography, and advertisements complete the book.
In this loosely retold story taken from the Old Testament, Miriam’s journey covers protecting her baby brother in the reeds along the Nile, witnessing the plagues of the Egyptians, escaping with Moses across the Red Sea, eating manna, and dying in the desert before reaching the Holy Land. In her trials and tribulations, not only does she encourage the Israeli camp to focus on Yahweh, but she also deals with insecurity, jealousy, and yearning to feel special to God.
~ Why ~
If you do not know much about a woman mentioned limitedly in the Bible, this will give you a synopsis of the book of Exodus and the holiness of God seen through a woman. The reader can tell quickly that the author has done plenty of research while adding her imagination and creativity to the Old Testament stories of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
~ Why Not ~
Those who do not like fictionalized Bible stories may pass on this one as the author uses ample liberties to enhance the story. With the focus on Miriam having dreams and multiple added characters, it is fabricated, especially at the emotional level. Some may find some of the well-known scenes underwritten or without Biblical clarity, yet the author states it was a hard novel to pen.
~ Wish ~
Having read other books by Smith, I found this one a struggle to connect with its protagonist. It seemed Miriam often was the one with all the right answers and responses even though her desire to be needed by God and others was promoted (which is not noted in the Word).
~ Want ~
If you enjoy learning about the Miriam in Scripture, this one shows how God loves each of us in a special way and will always be with us, but realize, the read may not be emotionally or spiritually true to the Bible.
Thanks to Revell for this complimentary book that I am not obligated to review.
December 3, 2022
I’ve loved everything this author has ever written. I love how the Bible comes alive in her books. Since there is not much mention of Miriam in the Bible, I was excited to see how the author would bring her story to life. I wasn’t disappointed! I know that with so little mentioned about her, this book would be more of an educated guess, but I was so impressed! I loved the story that was created using Miriam’s viewpoint as well as Moses and Zipporah’s perspectives as well. The book was woven together so expertly. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
April 10, 2021
A story of hope and leadership. Miriam's Song tells the story of Miriam and how she stepped up to lead her family and overcome obstacles. It is a well written book and really gives insight into her life and what she had to do to be the person she was. It really gives you insight into how to live you life with the purpose you are given.
I was given a copy to read, the review is mine.
I was given a copy to read, the review is mine.
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