A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion #1)
by Francine Rivers
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Book Summary Information
Author: Francine RiversEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-03-01
ISBN: 0842377506
Number of pages: 515
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780842377508
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion #1)
Book Review: Great story, great writing, but some historical inaccuracies and irritations
Summary: 3 Stars
I read this book a couple years ago, but didn't have the courage to write an honest opinion of my thoughts for fear of stepping on toes. But I decided that telling the truth, even when negative, can be important.
I wanted to give this story four, even five, stars for the great writing and the story itself, but the historical inaccuracies just wouldn't allow it.
Ms. Rivers is one of the best Christian author's I've had the pleasure of reading. She spun a tale that was completely unpredictable, and it was a book I enjoyed from beginning to end; however, with some irritations. I'm afraid, despite its great story, it's these irritations that I believe will keep this book from becoming a hit among non-Christian readers who know their history.
Having studied languages of this time period, my biggest complaint was the fact that Ms. Rivers has her characters (ALL her characters) speaking the wrong language in Rome! Yes, her main characters were Greek, but Romans spoke LATIN: hence the Latin dictionary at the back of the book (one small impediment to reading, by the way). Yes, Greek was a popular language back then, much like English is today in Europe. But the French still speak French! And the Romans still spoke Latin.
Another irritation was Hadassah's father. Even Paul had enough sense to escape over a wall in a basket when persecutors were in pursuit (2 Corinthians 11:33). This man risks not only his life, but that of his wife and young children, running into the hands of death (what sane, godly man would put his family in such danger?)! Because of that, I really detested the father and felt he was a royal idiot ("a lot of "good" he was to God and man, since he wiped out himself and his entire family). Because of his lack of God-given sense, I felt this was a plot device to get Hadassah into her horrible situation.
I was pleased with the fact that this story was far less preachy than some of the Christian novels I've read in the past. And this book was my first return to Christian fiction, and I have to say, it was a pleasant return. How wonderful to find a storyteller and not a preacher! But . . . this is Christian fiction, so the sermons are bound to show up . . . sigh. The most obvious time Ms. Rivers got "preachy" was during an abortion scene where we got the "is it really a baby" sermon, something that wouldn't have even been an issue back then since they didn't have ultrasounds to see how "fishlike" a fetus appears, which started today's "modern argument." But the biggest irritation about that part was the fact that AFTER a baby was born, if a person didn't want it, a Roman would have disposed of it (yes, a perfectly healthy baby)! So this "is it really a baby" sermon wouldn't have been realistic back then. I was also surprised at the woman's ease and miraculous recovery after the abortion. Most women in that day would have died. This woman barely suffered.
This is a minor thing, but I was also surprised to see that the first "fight" Marcus and Julia had attended in Rome was in an "arena" and not the Circus Maximus (which was used regularly for the games before the completion of the Colosseum). Also, the Colosseum's connecting ludus was already in existence in Rivers' book, despite the fact that it had yet to be completed over 20 years after the construction of the Colosseum. Still, all authors are allowed literary license, and Ms. Rivers penned a grand story around these irritations of mine.
Out of all the characters, I think I liked Atretes (the gladiator) the best, simply because he had flaws and was more realistic. Haddassah was a bit too perfect for my tastes, and I couldn't relate to her at all (what person is dumb enough not to know she has a beautiful singing voice? Or maintains a perfect singing voice when under tremendous stress? Or just has the most perfectly calm reaction to each and every situation? YAWN). My only qualms about Atretes were his perfect fighting skills. Surely, even a warrior makes mistakes.
I hesitated to write this review because I knew it would contain my long list of irritations, and I really didn't want to step on toes. As a historian of ancient Rome, it just really grated that Ms. Rivers got these significant details wrong. There were more, but these stood out the most to me.
Despite that, I still feel Ms. Rivers is a talented writer, and one of the best in Christian fiction. She did get lot of details right, and she had a way of pulling me into the story where I felt I was there. Only a talented author can do that, and I want to thank Francine Rivers for reintroducing me to Christian fiction. My only hope is that next time, the publisher or writer will make sure the historical details are accurate. I'd hate for Christian authors to look bad to non-Christian readers since the goal is to reach them. Right?
(I wasn't able to finish the second book of this series because I feared it would get preachy. The fact that Marcus had to go on a journey to "think" about his faith gave me that impression, and I'm afraid I couldn't get past that point, so I have not read the next two books in this series.)
Summary of A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion #1)
This classic series has inspired nearly 2 million readers. Both loyal fans and new readers will want the latest edition of this beloved series. This edition includes a foreword from the publisher, a preface from Francine Rivers and discussion questions suitable for personal and group use.#1 A Voice in the Wind: This first book in the classic best-selling Mark of the Lion series brings readers back to the first century and introduces them to a character they will never forget?Hadassah. Torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, a young slave girl clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome.
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