Book Review: A Voice in The Wind by Francine Rivers

This is the first book I read for the Summer Reading Challenge that De'Etta is holding over at her blog. (Choosing Joy) I've read it before & really enjoyed it. On reading it again, I liked it even more.

I tend to read books for enjoyment that are light & fluffy. You know, the ones that have an enjoyable storyline - even totally engrossing - but you don't have to think too hard to enjoy. I read to escape - I always have. I like to read things that don't require my brain to do more than see the pictures in my mind as I read the words. I'm sure many of you know what I'm talking about. This is most likely the reason my non-fiction list will take me a LONG time to get through. ::big grin::

However, A Voice in the Wind does something more for me. It did it the first time I read & the second time. I enjoy the storyline - a lot. Hadassah is a young Jewish girl who gets caught up in the destruction of Jerusalem by Romans back in the early time of Christianity. Jesus has come & been crucified. As a child her father was raised from the dead by Jesus. The Christian faith is still new. Then Romans come & conquer. Her entire family dies & she is left alone in the world - a world where she is now a slave. Yet, her faith is strong & continues to grow. She serves her new family/mistress wholeheartedly. Not because she has to (although she does) but simply because she is doing it all for God. Her life doesn't remain wonderful - or maybe not in the way she first thought or hoped or I, as a reader, would have anticipated.

I won't give away the ending, but it is a fantastic book to read to see how those early Christians suffered for their new faith. It makes me realize that the faith I live is so small compared to those early Christians who had to meet in secret & didn't even have a Bible (I have four of my own plus the ones my hubby & children have). It amazes me & makes me yearn for a closer relationship with my Lord. It also portrays the depravity of Roman very well & I saw many parallels with our current state of affairs in the world. I'm eagerly waiting for the next book to arrive from the library.