Review: Tokens of Promise

9/25/2013

I was given this book by Bookcrash in order that I might read it and then give you my thoughts on it.   I was not compensated in any other way.

This book is an easy read, I got it finished in less than two hours while waiting for my son at his club meeting.   It is one book, divided into two books. 25 chapters in all. 222 pages, followed by notes of the author's research as well as discussion guide.

I did NOT like this book.   I have a hard time reading booked based in biblical fact that are then fictionalized. This particular story is based on Genesis 38, the story of Tamar and Judah.    I have a hard time separating the "but you don't know if that was how these folks were, you don't know if they said that, you don't know if ....".   And when I perceive that the truth is being stretched I end up wanting to have nothing to do with it.   I had this too often with this book and it totally turned me off of it. But I read it through as I promised I would.

Overall the writing style is engaging, you do want to know what happens, you do get a good feel for the characters in the story, you do learn more about the practices of the day and how patriarchal the society was. There are GOOD things about this book.   There really are. :)

I'm kinda glad that I persevered as I thoroughly enjoyed going through the author's research notes.   I was also appreciative of the discussion guide, it's good to think more on books and I am happy the author gave that opportunity.

Is that enough to sway my overall opinion of this book? NO. I do not recommend you read this book. But if you do, remember this..... it is a work of fiction.

Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Michele Pleasants link

9/26/2013 03:19:52 am

Some books are just like that, huh? I, too, have a hard time fictionalizing the Bible.

Kayla Arrowood link

9/26/2013 03:24:25 am

Thank you for the honest review. I too see where and why you had an issue with it. Some many times people think us reviewers have to write a positive review just because it's what is suppose to happen, Thank you for stepping up for everyone!

annette

9/26/2013 04:19:17 am

Difficult review to write it was.

Lynellen

9/27/2013 04:50:58 am

The bookcrash listing is very clear that this is a Biblical fiction book. If you don't like Biblical fiction to start with, why on earth did you request the book?

annette @ a net in time

9/28/2013 10:21:36 am

Why did I choose to review this? Just because I don't tend to like a genre of books, doesn't mean that there aren't some gems in the midst of them. I've read biblical fiction that I DO like, this just wasn't one of them. I understand taking license in creating a story around a story. I DO NOT understand the changing the actual story and making it into something else. There were biblical UNTRUTHS in this story and I despise that. It is possible to tell the biblical truth and put the story around it, but when you change fundamental truths in the story, then it is no longer biblical, but is just fiction.

Lynellen

10/1/2013 12:32:14 am

Would you please send me an email with the "untruths" that you see?
Thank you.

Teresa Pollard link

10/8/2013 07:01:26 am

I am so sorry that you didn't like Tokens of Promise, but I studied Hebrew for an entire year just so I could study this one story and know EXACTLY what it was saying! So did I stray from the Bible says or from your concept and what you've been taught the Bible says? For example, did you know the name Shelah means "righteous one" and it also means "trickster?"
If he weren't involved, Judah could not have said of Tamar, "she is more righteous than I." These are exactly the same words spoken of King David. I can give you many more examples. The sin of Er in the book is the sin the Talmud (Jewish scriptures) accuse him of. Both ancient and modern scholars accuse Onan of idolatry. Yes, all the trimmings of this novel are entirely fiction-as far as I know there was no iron oven (although this was the very beginning of the Iron Age) and the character of Ruah was constructed from the "someone" who told Judah about Tamar's pregnancy-things like that--but the core story is as true to the Bible as I could get it. I didn't even change the ending which would have been nice to have a "happy ever after" type end. The problem is that most people simply don't understand this story, and because of its sexual nature, it's never been properly taught by the church. They'd rather see it as a "meaningless story of dubious morality" which is what most scholars deem it. But it's not!

annette @ a net in time

10/8/2013 09:35:41 am

my overall thinking is... biblical fiction needs to stay very true to the bible. in this particular story I was bothered too often by the "adding to the story". yes, it was fleshed out... but in that fleshing too often it was like ...hmm... that's not what the bible says, how can this be added, and at the end of it, not my cup of tea. The bits that I was particularly bothered by I would read to my hubby and he (pastoral biblical man) was in agreement that it strayed too far. So that's where I'm at. :)

Candi Pullen

10/9/2013 03:03:03 pm

I confess unashamedly that I know the author well. I co-wrote another book, "Not Guilty" with her thirty years ago that was just published and debuted in February of this year. So now you know how long and how well I know the author's ethic and moral compass, and her passion for research and expertise in writing. I have spent many an evening with her as she worked her way through the research process and decision making of what historical fact of the times should be included based on when it was originally written in the Scriptures. I hold a Bachelor of Theology degree and am also very careful about additions made to Scripture, but find no fault in writing stories based on careful and thorough historical research that includes historical fact not given in the Scriptures. I find it interesting that those unfamiliar with the traditions of certain historical times do not reason that those times helped define the perceptions of the average Bible readers' understanding of the Scriptures of that era. I am actively involved in Bible study on an ongoing basis and I constantly find myself reminding students that they must not apply today's perceptions on those of the past for we live in our own time just as those of history have. When the Bible is read, it should be read in two parts:
1. What was being said at the time of the original writing and...
2. What does it require of me today?
Without authors, like Teresa Pollard, who pursue the painstaking research to ascertain the original understanding of the people living at the time these historical events occurred, as best as one can after so many millenia, how could we understand fully the original intent of the lessons to be learned? God bless the writers who venture forth to weed through years of research before they ever put pen to paper in an effort to maintain historical accuracy and give us glimpses of the times in which these life-giving lessons were first wrought.

Teresa Pollard

10/10/2013 12:34:54 am

Thanks, Candi.

Candi Pullen

10/10/2013 03:45:29 pm

No thanks needed. I simply tried to point your readers to the truth. I only ommitted one thing - in the days of the patriarchs of the faith, life was much less gentile and far more brutal than life today. No one questioned the brutality because it was a requirement of survival. The characters you explored were accurate to their historical era, and our modern views must not be read into their descriptions if we are to fully understand what God is showing us. Instead of debating the representations of the personalities of the past we should be thanking God that man has softened much under the guidance of His love for mankind. Despite their moral frailty our forefathers endured and grew in their basic nature. Thank God that we no longer live according to those ancient survival instincts, but have accepted and allowed God to mature and develop more of His own nature within us through the centuries.

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