Could not finish this book I was bored. Miriam song failed to meet my expectation as a reader and I was disappointed

Miriam's Song
by Jill Eileen Smith
Pub DateMar 02 2021 |
Revell
Christian| Historical Fiction

I received Miriam's Song for review from Revell and Netgalley:


Miriam was many things to many people: a protective older sister, a song leader, a prophetess, a leper. Despite the highs and lows, she was a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who craved love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection.


The bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith tells this epic story with impeccable research and a keen eye for detail that fills in the gaps and illustrates how Miriam managed to hold on to hope, build a family despite incredible hardship, and serve as a leader of difficult people as she lived in the shadow of her brother. From childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and yearning to fulfillment, Miriam learns that what God promises, he provides--in his own perfect time.


I give Miriam’s Song five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I'll admit this was a difficult one for me to review. First off, I'd like to say that the author did the best she could with what she had, but it is very difficult to tackle one of the most well-known time periods of Biblical history, through the perspectives of the main figures while giving it a fictional flair as well. I think that the author did a great job of for the most part sticking to the text, but for me it made the book predictable and hard to get into because of the strong focus on well-known people, rather than a fictional person experiencing things alongside the main characters.

The story is told from various viewpoints, like Zipporah and Moses' adoptive mother, as well as Miriam. It is obviously well researched, and a few choices were made on divisive details.

Overall, this is a hard one to review, as I think that it was as well done as it could be considering the various factors at play, and I think she did a great job of being accurate to the Bible and times. But it did make for a predictable fiction read. A good reminder of God's plan at work and His mighty deeds!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Stopped at page 164, chapter 23.

I have to DNF. Not sure if it's a hard or soft DNF, but this is too fast paced. Too many time skips and I can't connect to any of the characters. Miriam is the side character to her own story.

I absolutely love biblical fiction and I especially love books by this author so I was thrilled to have a chance to read it!

I read this book in about 2 days because it was interesting and easy to read in my opinion. The book was divided up into multiple parts (5 parts) and spanned over 40 years. It was interesting to read about the life of Moses thru Miriam’s eyes as well as the time period and the slavery of the Jews.

There were a couple parts in the story that I questioned whether they were from scripture or just fiction added to enhance the scripture. But the story and characters lives felt real and alive to me which I loved!

I love reading biblical fiction because it makes the stories and characters more relatable and human to me. I really enjoyed this book! I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

Miriam’s Song is a retelling of Moses from Miriam’s perspective. Pharaoh Thutmose I has ordered the killing of Hebrew baby boys. Miriam’s mother puts her son in the basket, and he floats down the Nile river. Miriam follows her brother and watches him being picked up by Hatshepsut who adopts him as her own. Events unravel as Miriam believes that Moses is God’s answer to her people’s freedom.

In the Bible, very few details are given about Moses’s sister, Miriam. Miriam’s Song makes Miriam a fully fleshed-out and complex character. As a slave, Miriam has a harsh life. However, her light is Moses. Since he was born, Miriam has watched Moses and was very protective of him. Miriam also has a close relationship with Aaron. Miriam is a very smart character, and she learns from her experiences. One of the most surprising elements in this novel that I didn't really expect was Miriam's romance. Miriam is a wife and a mother. I thought it was interesting because it was never mentioned in the Bible. Therefore, Miriam was a very admirable, courageous, and relatable woman.

Overall, this novel is about faith, freedom, and hope. The message of the book is that God always has a purpose. While I liked Miriam’s story, I did not particularly care for Moses and Zipporah’s chapters. I thought it detracted from Miriam’s story, and I did not think they were necessary. I did find it interesting that the author made Hatshepsut the Pharaoh's daughter. While I am not convinced that Hatshepsut was in fact Moses’s adopted mother, I still found it a compelling storyline. Hatshepsut was shown as a woman who believed in justice and cared for her people. The writing is very lyrical and is filled with lush descriptions of ancient Egypt. While there are a few creative liberties taken with Miriam’s story, I found it to be a faithful retelling of Moses. Jill Eileen Smith has given a deeper look at an important but overlooked biblical figure. Miriam’s Song will delight readers of Mesu Andrews, Angela Hunt, and Tessa Afshar!

Miriam's Song is another fabulous read by Jill Eileen Smith. I have always loved her Biblical fiction and this one is no different. I enjoyed Miriam being brought to life and the author’s vision of how she lived. It was interesting and captivating to see this point of view of Moses. I thought it was a great book to read.
I am giving Miriam's Song four and a half stars. As always, I will be looking forward to more by Jill Eileen Smith in the future. This one is definitely not one to be missed.
I received a paperback copy of Miriam's Song from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Follow the story of Moses through the eyes of his sister, Miriam. Although very little is known of Miriam in the Bible, the author has done background research to fill in the background and give the reader a fully-rounded view of the community at that time. Miriam and Aaron (the brother) are a life-long support crew for Moses.
I appreciated the picture of how Miriam's role may have been key in reaching the women of Israelites pre and post exodus from Egypt.

I enjoyed this book. It captured a view of Miriam, Moses and Aaron that is not often told. The storytelling style rather than experiencing it is a different writing style that is not used as often now, but it was enjoyable in the end.

Classic Jill Eileen Smith. Well researched Biblical fiction. Historical. Intriguing. Easy to read and appreciate. Savor this novel. Five stars.

First, I want to mention that I have loved this author’s books. She does excellent research and she very skillfully incorporates that into her stories. I always get a new glimpse into the time period of setting of the book, and that was true of this book, too. Jill Smith has a gift for retelling Biblical stories and helping the reader glean the Biblical truth that’s there for us. The author took care to make sure the storyline was Biblically sound.

That being said, this book didn’t reach out to me. The author did tell a good story, but somehow I never felt close to the character of Miriam. This story just didn’t seem to have the “spark” to it that would keep me eagerly reading it. But I know other readers will enjoy it, and I’ll be looking forward to reading the next book from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Ms. Smith has done extensive research to give us a book that could come close to what it may have been like to walk in the shoes of Moses's sister Miriam. I found myself reading this book much slower than I usually read and I'm not quite sure what the reason was. I'm wondering if it is because of the subject matter. It is so difficult to read about how hard it was for the Israelites while they lived in Egypt to be in slavery for 400 years. Even when they were released and Sent to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. When I have read about this time period in the bible I have to admit that I have wondered how the Israelites could so easily turn their back on God with the miracles He was performing. This book brings everything into so much better prospective that my heart broke for these people and I was able to understand their plight so much better. It made me very thankful that I live under so much Grace that I should be so much more thankful to Our Saviour for what He has done for me. I truly enjoy reading biblical fiction if it makes me open my heart and understand the Bible more clearly. Thank you Ms. Smith for an excellent book!
I received a free download of this book from Netgalley and Revell publishing. This review is totally my own honest opinion.

I am a long-time fan of Biblical fiction writer Jill Eileen Smith, so I always have high expectations when I begin a new book by this talented author. I am happy to say Miriam’s Song did not disappoint me!
This wonderful book tells the story of Exodus through the perspective of Miriam, the older sister of Moses. When Moses is born, Miriam believes he is the answer to the prayers of her people to be delivered from the tyranny of Egypt they have experienced for generations. At her mother’s request, she places him in a basket in the Nile River and discreetly watches over him to save him from Pharaoh’s decree that all Hebrew baby boys be killed. Miriam’s Song follows Miriam, Moses, and the events in the Bible’s second book from this time until her death, around the end of the years the Hebrews spent wandering in the desert after their escape from Egypt.
Little is really known about Miriam herself, but the depth of Smith’s historical research is evident in how she brings her and all the other characters to life. In fact, Smith’s gift for imagining and fleshing out characters so fully and in such a highly credible manner is perhaps the key skill that makes her a master in the Biblical fiction genre. When reading one of her books, I always feel as if I have been transported back in time and find the story nearly impossible to put down.
Miriam’s Song is an uplifting book filled with hope and a beautiful call to faith and perseverance amidst the messiness of life. I highly recommend it to fans of richly detailed Biblical fiction, as well as anyone seeking a bit of inspiration in today’s challenging times.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

I think this was a decent book, but it just was not for me. Biblical retelling are not a subject I usually go for, so as much as I liked the book, it just is not really my genre.

Thank you, Jill Eileen Smith for an ARC of your book. It is potient and true. It just is not the genre I am most interested in.

This was an outstanding book about Moses’ sister, Miriam and told the story of Moses from infant to when Miriam died sometime after Joshua and Caleb’s first trip into the Promised Land. The story was timely and was a spiritual experience for me. I could not put it down.

This book was well researched and I felt like I was along for the journey. This is another one of this author’s wonderful Biblical historical novels. I highly recommend it to fans of this genre.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A story of Miriam, Moses's sister that guarded him in the bulrushes when he was rescued by the Egyptian Princess. All boys born to the Israelites were subject to death. Due to the careful planning of his mother, Moses was saved. Even though he is Israelite he is raised as an Egyptian prince. His heart is with his people and his greatest desire is to see them released from slavery.
A great story. The author has taken artistic liberties but it adds to the smooth reading of the story.

Miriam's Song is a great story. Miriam is one who has always fascinated me, especially with 'how could she have lived through all that, and still speak against Moses?' This book does a remarkable job of answering that.

Following Moses' journey through his sister's eyes was both fun and hard. You could see just how it would be possible for her to be a prophetess, and a leader, and follow God and Moses her whole life, and still fall into trouble. Little bits of pride and 'self' can skew your worldview.

I loved how the author wove Miriam's story into the known facts of the time, and was left satisfied at the end. I love how God uses us to do things only He can do. As long as we remember that We're not the ones doing these things, God is, it'll go well with us!

I received a copy of this book from #Netgalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

This book was very well written. The characters were well developed and the action moved. The fictional characters were well thought out and the real ones were very well researched.. At times I wondered if I was reading the actual Bible. I gave the book 4 stars for that reason. I don't like to bring the rating down for my personal opinion. For me, the book seemed to drag. Maybe because I am familiar with the story, I wasn't drawn back to the book after having put it down. I'm not sure how the author could have made it more interesting for me. But if you are not familiar with Miriam, this is a good book to read.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

3.5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. So I’m not familiar with her other Biblical fiction stories for which she is known and praised.

The story begins with young Hatshepsut. She is the only child of Pharaoh Thutmose’ I first wife. From the young age she dreams of wearing her father’s crown. She eavesdrops on his conversations as she wants to find out the fate of the Israelites. He told her previously that “they had to be cruel to people who could oppress them.” Now, he says they have to be harsher. What does it mean? The heads of the Hebrew midwives are told to kill all newborn boys.

When Miriam’s brother is born, young Miriam understands she needs to keep this as secret. What she doesn’t understand is her mother’s plan. After weaving a basket, the mother places the baby-boy in it and puts “the basket in the water near the bulrushes along the Nile, where the princess comes to bathe.” Hatshepsut finds the baby and makes an arrangement with Miriam’s mother to care for the baby until the child is weaned. Hatshepsut names him Moses, because she “drew him out of water.”

With passing of Thutmose I, Hatshepsut and Thutmose II are to wed. Will the fate of Hebrew slaves change?

The story has a very strong beginning, but then it becomes obvious it’s a retelling of Moses’ story without any fresh edge to it. It fails to bring a compelling story. I was very much drawn by the character of Hatshepsut and thought she would take integral part in this story as she is the adoptive mother of Moses. But that’s not the case.

Also, the character-development, the sense of place and suffering are not well-depicted. There is constant forward time jump, and because of that it lacks concentration on developing those aspects. It just glazes over them. For example, at the end of one chapter, Moses is warned about his life and told to leave the palace. In the next chapter, there is a lapse in ten-years and no one knows where Moses is.

For those who enjoy mellow retelling of stories, this still might be an enjoyable read.