Review of The First Stone

[Praise GodWord]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The First Stone" by Kim Wiese.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Everyone wants to love and be loved in return. Such is a hope that one can hold on to. Kim Wiese, in her book, The First Stone, accentuated the realities of life, the harshness of law, and the actualization of redemption.

This book is historical fiction based on a real-life story. Chava was a beautiful sweet girl, whose childhood was marred by her family. Life wasn't a bed of roses, as she was separated from her childhood sweetheart and married to a man she barely knew. She accepted her new life with hopes of getting away from her abusive brother but apparently, Jerusalem isn't far away enough. Aggravated by her husband's coldness and yearning for love and affection, she resorted to a disgraceful act. In a society where the law is ultimate, is there a hope of redemption for a woman like Chava?

The author did a wonderful job of narrating the biblical story of Jesus and spicing it up in a way that the readers would be eager to read—starting from the teachings which the Pharisees abhorred to the miracles which he performed to his death on the cross. She weaved the plot so well that I couldn't almost recognize the well-told story. She made use of a smile a lot, like when she likened the way Chava's mother paused when talking to dust motes in the sunlight.

I enjoyed the author's writing style. It was very descriptive and engaging. Her description of the scenes and the characters' expressions would create a vivid picture in the mind of readers. Some elements of suspense were also employed. For example, I wanted to find out how Chava and Andrew settled their differences. As I read through, the story flowed with some level of familiarity as it relates to the biblical story of Jesus's life while on earth. It was interesting to see how the law, as the people knew it, was juxtaposed with the interpretation that Jesus gave them.

There was only one issue I considered negative in this book. I would suggest that the author maintains consistency in using the names of characters. She gave the name of Deborah's bodyguard as "Justus" and called him "Justin" in another context. Also, on page 231, the name Caleb was used instead of Andrew. Aside from the issue above, there was nothing else that I disliked about the book.

The book seemed edited professionally, as I found some errors. These errors did not hinder my enjoyment of the book. Therefore, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to readers who like to read about the passion of Christ in a sophisticated form. Also, those who want to know about love, forgiveness, and redemption can have a go at it.

******
The First Stone
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[marta baglioni]

This looks like a very evocative novel. I would find annoying the inconsistency in the use of names, too. Thank you for the review

[asteel18]

It's weird about the discrepancy with names. That would have left me puzzled too.

[Ailakhu Yusau Aizhebiomon]

I hope the disgraceful act Chava indulged in isn't what I am thinking? Your review is captivating I must confess. Well done!

[Bigtreasure06]

Relating two era is og great interest. On top of it, the review is commendable.