Courtesy of Beaverdale Books

Review by Cathryn Lang

By T.K. Thorne

Published by Blackburn Fork Publishing

8/17/11

$16.95

334 pp

I had been looking for a historical novel comparable to “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant for years. After thinking of biblical characters as cardboard cut-outs and impossibly perfect, the characters in “Noah’s Wife” hit the spot much the way the characters in Diamant’s book had. These were flesh-and-blood people who experienced every emotion possible. They became characters to whom we could relate in this historical fiction/adventure. ForeWord Magazine chose “Noah’s Wife” as the Book of the Year in the historical fiction division.

Na’amah is a young girl living in present day Turkey. Because she thinks with deep perception and asks questions no one else dares to, she is considered to be damaged. Today her condition would be diagnosed as a form of autism known as Asperger’s. She wants only to be a shepherdess, but the turns of her life take her away from this simple desire. Her relationships with her powerful brother and this very human Noah are complex. Circumstances lead to exile from her father’s home, slavery and becoming a victim of violence. As the society of the time reconciles the existence of Mother Goddess and Father God, Na’amah is caught in the middle. Events leading up to the great flood would rival the adventures of Indiana Jones.

“Noah’s Wife” is beautifully written with vivid descriptions of Turkey in 5500 BC. Thorne’s descriptions were the result of intensive research of this ancient land. The character of Na’anah, with her insights into events and the minds of those around her, will engage you more than you could imagine possible. CV