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Ordinary Women of the Bible
Alone at the Well: Photine's Story
On Photine’s daily trek to Jacob’s well, one step forward is another step back into her past as she relives the dismal events of her life. All she knows is brokenness, much like the waterpot she carries on her head. Rejection from those who used to be her friends is now commonplace. Failure should be her name. After all, who else in all of Samaria has gone through five husbands? And now she no longer sacrifices for her sins. Why bother when she’s just going to commit the same act every single day? She no longer cares.
Then one day, a day that started out like all the others, she meets a man at the well who offers something she had all but given up on. Hope. Hope for healing… Hope for forgiveness. Hope for new life. Can she dare believe that His promises are meant for someone so broken? Someone so lost? Someone like…her?
Then one day, a day that started out like all the others, she meets a man at the well who offers something she had all but given up on. Hope. Hope for healing… Hope for forgiveness. Hope for new life. Can she dare believe that His promises are meant for someone so broken? Someone so lost? Someone like…her?
- GenresBiblical FictionFiction
309 pages, ebook
Published July 1, 2022
About the author
Sandi Rog
10 books54 followers I'm an award-winning author and have been editing since 1999. I write children's books and hysterical--er--I mean, historical fiction for adults. After living in Holland for thirteen years, I'm now in Colorado with my husband and four children. I loved living in Europe with all its history: the ancient ruins of castles and Roman villas, seeing actual dungeons and gladiator arenas, and eating Roman food. Imagine the stories all those places could tell. When I was a girl, I'd dream up stories and play them out in my mind. Now that I’m all grown up, I make those dreams come to life by putting them down on paper.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 24, 2024
Until reading Alone at the Well, I had no idea who Sandi Rog was. Her author list appears to be pretty short, too. But if she continues writing novellas like this, I'll definitely keep an eye on her. Alone at the Well didn't net five stars, but it still made quite the impression, even more than its new-to-me author.
The character of Photine is one of those women I think a lot of Christians are curious about, but may hesitate to delve into too deeply. If they do delve, I think a lot of Christians still get hung up on her marital history, because well, that's mostly what the Bible tells us. That's fine; it lets the focus shift to Jesus and His grace, where it belongs. Yet solid Biblical fiction can open up new windows into what ordinary people might have experienced, and with Photine, that window was a fascinating one.
Sandi Rog made a wise decision, balancing Photine's history and reputation with who she was as a person. That is, we do get a summary and some snapshots of her history with five husbands, and yes, it is more complex and sobering than anyone might imagine, fictionalized or not. Along with that though, and more importantly, we get to see that Photine has a deep well of a heart. She's lonely and desperate, yet not pathetic. She continues seeking and creating beauty in her own world as much as possible. When her neighbors reject her, she seeks solace in the world inside her own head, something with which I could readily identify. She has learned to set boundaries and is admirably prudent.
What I also loved about Alone at the Well was, as with Rich Beyond Measure, Yahshua shows up early in the novella and continues to be a major presence (He would be known by this name in Photine's Samaritan circles). Photine's life-changing moment occurs within the first third or so, and she spends the rest of the book extolling and following "the Man who told me everything I ever did." Her words and actions are either straight from Scripture or directly inspired. But her courage in following Yeshua, if arguably fictionalized, is what stood out to me. Photine is not the first single, female follower of Jesus this series has covered. Yet, her determination to follow, and her determination to live in her new identity even though others still saw her as a multiply-divorced disgrace of a woman, sets her apart and did nothing less than inspire me.
Sandi's take on the woman at the well pops with several small scenes and especially instances of symbolism I haven't seen in the other books of this series. Photine's multicolored water jar, for instance, is a well-placed recurring symbol, as are her multicolored scarves (the white, embroidered one in particular). I also enjoyed several "popping" scenes, such as Yahshua's calm yet pointed confrontation with people bullying Photine, or Photine's interaction with some unexpected protectors, and later, a few of the disciples themselves. (Margin note: The disciples' personalities come through unexpectedly well, considering they don't have much page time).
I did take a star because as much as I enjoyed Alone at the Well, I questioned the necessity of its length toward the end. I wondered, too, if Sandi was trying to pack in too many characters, particularly a man who shows up in Photine's life. He's different from the rest in a good way, but after seeing her grow so much as a single follower of Yashua, I wondered why or if she needed him.
Those issues aside, Alone at the Well remains a strong book. It's not among my absolute favorites, but as usual, that's not saying much. It still gets a recommendation, particularly if you're interested in the ordinary characters of the Bible who get a lot of "coverage" in church but not a lot of detail, or perhaps only a certain type of press. You'll be surprised in the best ways.
The character of Photine is one of those women I think a lot of Christians are curious about, but may hesitate to delve into too deeply. If they do delve, I think a lot of Christians still get hung up on her marital history, because well, that's mostly what the Bible tells us. That's fine; it lets the focus shift to Jesus and His grace, where it belongs. Yet solid Biblical fiction can open up new windows into what ordinary people might have experienced, and with Photine, that window was a fascinating one.
Sandi Rog made a wise decision, balancing Photine's history and reputation with who she was as a person. That is, we do get a summary and some snapshots of her history with five husbands, and yes, it is more complex and sobering than anyone might imagine, fictionalized or not. Along with that though, and more importantly, we get to see that Photine has a deep well of a heart. She's lonely and desperate, yet not pathetic. She continues seeking and creating beauty in her own world as much as possible. When her neighbors reject her, she seeks solace in the world inside her own head, something with which I could readily identify. She has learned to set boundaries and is admirably prudent.
What I also loved about Alone at the Well was, as with Rich Beyond Measure, Yahshua shows up early in the novella and continues to be a major presence (He would be known by this name in Photine's Samaritan circles). Photine's life-changing moment occurs within the first third or so, and she spends the rest of the book extolling and following "the Man who told me everything I ever did." Her words and actions are either straight from Scripture or directly inspired. But her courage in following Yeshua, if arguably fictionalized, is what stood out to me. Photine is not the first single, female follower of Jesus this series has covered. Yet, her determination to follow, and her determination to live in her new identity even though others still saw her as a multiply-divorced disgrace of a woman, sets her apart and did nothing less than inspire me.
Sandi's take on the woman at the well pops with several small scenes and especially instances of symbolism I haven't seen in the other books of this series. Photine's multicolored water jar, for instance, is a well-placed recurring symbol, as are her multicolored scarves (the white, embroidered one in particular). I also enjoyed several "popping" scenes, such as Yahshua's calm yet pointed confrontation with people bullying Photine, or Photine's interaction with some unexpected protectors, and later, a few of the disciples themselves. (Margin note: The disciples' personalities come through unexpectedly well, considering they don't have much page time).
I did take a star because as much as I enjoyed Alone at the Well, I questioned the necessity of its length toward the end. I wondered, too, if Sandi was trying to pack in too many characters, particularly a man who shows up in Photine's life. He's different from the rest in a good way, but after seeing her grow so much as a single follower of Yashua, I wondered why or if she needed him.
Those issues aside, Alone at the Well remains a strong book. It's not among my absolute favorites, but as usual, that's not saying much. It still gets a recommendation, particularly if you're interested in the ordinary characters of the Bible who get a lot of "coverage" in church but not a lot of detail, or perhaps only a certain type of press. You'll be surprised in the best ways.
January 30, 2022
I love this book. I couldn't put it down. It was somewhat of a mystery and a love story. Her love of Jesus and Sabastianus. I know Jesus talked to the woman at the well, but the way the rest of the story is portrayed is amazing. It brought out so many emotions in me. I felt sorry for her and the way her father and the other woman treated her. Even Batia who was supposed to be her best friend didn't take her side. I was happy when she met Jesus and the joy she felt when he spoke to her. How brave she was to go into town and spread the news of His visit and who He was. I was scared that Efah would find her and hurt her. I was happy when her sons came to her rescue and took her back to their father's house. I was sad when Sabastianus left her. It was obvious they loved each other. My heart broke for her when she finds out Jesus has been crucified. I gave a little chuckle when John greets her at the well and she wants to hug him but stops herself just in time. And I cheered at the ending.
I think this is the best book I've read in this series. This is #21.
I think this is the best book I've read in this series. This is #21.
October 1, 2023
We all know Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well and told her everything she had ever done. He also tells her the water He will give will mean never thirsting again. What we don't know is what is her full story and what was her name and did she continue to follow Jesus. Sandi Rog fleshes the story out calling her Photine. Photine in Alone At The Well does repent and follows the Messiah. She leaves the man she is living with and is rewarded with her heart's desire. She witnesses His miracles. It is a faith journey. A look at the very beginnings of Christianity.
July 27, 2021
GREAT BOOK! She has done it again. I had a really hard time putting it down.
August 3, 2021
This is a beautiful imagining of what might have been the rest of the woman at the well's story. Sandi weaves scriptural truth and fiction seamlessly and makes you feel like you were really there.
October 30, 2021
Another great book about Ordinary Women of the Bible.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews