Review of The Legacy of Job's Wife

[Ruth Shirk]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Legacy of Job's Wife" by Cynthia Koelker.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The story of <i>The Legacy of Job's Wife</i> by Cynthia Koelker records that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. The story opens with Job lying in bed because he is sick. As he lies there, he recounts the story of being present at his wife's birth despite the fact that he was only five years old. The story quickly unfolds to reveal the other members of her family. His wife I'xiscs, named after her Great-aunt Zhabella, has two older brothers named Hezziah and Islam, an older sister named Rahabal, twin younger sisters named Sariah and Fariah and a younger brother named B'nahram. The reader also soon meets Job's family, which includes his father and mother, two sisters and two brothers.

While Job's family prays about everything, Ix'iscs' family is far less religious. As the story continues, Ix'scs' mother sings a beautiful birthday ballad retelling the family's history. Then, Ix'iscs' parents, B'nahram, Is'scs and Job set out on a journey to the city. While there, Job goes out of his way to help those less fortunate, and this theme is repeated throughout the story. While in town, Job meets Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. As the story continues, these men remain friends for more than 50 years. After arriving back home and getting the animals unpacked, Ix'iscs declares that while the city is nice, home is better.

After a long courtship and having trouble conceiving Ix'iscs gives birth to many children and get two dogs. Then, unthinkable tragedies strike the family, with all happening within only a few hours. This causes Job and Ix'iscs to go into deep mourning.

I especially like the point that the author makes that time often heals things. It is a lesson that I need to remember more often. Another point that the author makes that I like is that people often bring problems on themselves. I need to work on being more kind like Job.

This book contains very minimal sexual content. There is no profanity. While the story is loosely based on Job from the Bible and mentions Old Testament animal sacrifices, it is a book that I think people of all faiths or no faith will enjoy reading. i especially loved the part about overcoming evil by continuing to do right. The author opens each chapter with poetry, but I did not particularly find this enjoyable. I rate this well-edited book 5 out of 5 stars. I believe it is a story that readers of historical fiction will enjoy.

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The Legacy of Job's Wife
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