Title: Asenath
Author: Anna Patricio
Review: What I enjoyed about this book was the fact Anna Patricio, the author, took a woman who was only mentioned maybe a few times in the bible and created a detailed story about her.
Something else I enjoyed was the way the author wrote how and why Asenath became the wife of Joseph, and the twist on the different biblical characters we have all read about as children. This book had great potential if the author would have taken the time and done the research that other great works of historical fiction writers have, like Herman Wok.
What I thought could use some work: The book felt like something a senior in High school would write for his or her creative writing class. The author used structurally simple sentences when more complex sentences would have given the narrative a better flow. For example: "Her eyes met mine. We shared a look. Father." It could have sounded like this, "Her eyes met mine as we shared a look. Father." The sentence has a better flow and doesn't feel quite as choppy.
I felt like the author didn't do enough research other than a quick bible reference or Google search and it showed throughout the book. Many times the author would reference people, places, and objects using very modern language. It may have been a historical novel, but the author wrote it with a too modern feel in the way the characters acted, what they said, and how scenes were portrayed. Did the ancient Egyptians really sit on couches and if they did could the author have used a more period specific word to lend the text more authenticity? There were a few references similar to couch that seemed out of place along with the modern slang and profanities.
The concept was there, but the execution failed to bring the reader along for the ride.
Thank you to Heidi for this fabulous review.
Publisher: Published September 28th 2011 by Imajin Books
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 224
ISBN: 9781926997261
Quick Review: 2 Stars out of 5.
Why I Read it: The author sent a review request.
Where I Obtained the Book: Sent by the author.
Synopsis: Two Destinies...One Journey of Love
In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered.
When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph.
Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace…and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master’s wife and thrown into prison.
Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?
Author Biography: Anna Patricio is a lover of ancient history, with a particular interest in Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Rome. She is also intrigued by the Ancient Near East, though she has not delved too much into it but hopes to one day.
She undertook formal studies in Ancient History at Macquarie University. She focused mostly on Egyptology and Jewish-Christian Studies, alongside a couple of Greco-Roman units, and one on Archaeology. Though she knew there were very limited job openings for ancient history graduates, she pursued her degree anyway as it was something she had always been passionate about.
Then, about a year after her graduation, the idea to tackle historical fiction appeared in her head, and she began happily pounding away on her laptop. ASENATH is her first novel.
Recently, she traveled to Lower Egypt (specifically Cairo and the Sinai), Israel, and Jordan. She plans to return to Egypt soon, and see more of it. In the past, she has also been to Athens and Rome.
Anna is currently working on a second novel, which still takes place in Ancient Egypt, but hundreds of years after ASENATH
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