THE GARDEN OF RUTH

Author: Eva Etzioni-Halevy ISBN: 0452286735 1/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: PLUME
Time Period: Ancient Bethlehem

Sitting beneath a tree in ancient Bethlehem, Osnath, niece of the prophet Samuel, examines a dusty scrap of parchment she found hidden in her relative’s scroll room. Scrawled on the decaying page is an intriguing message addressed to Ruth the Moabite—great-grandmother of David, the future king of Israel. Compelled to discover the truth about Ruth’s life, Osnath begins searching for the identity of Ruth’s nameless lover and the secret that is cloaked behind his anonymity. But as she digs deeper into the past, she finds her inquiries blocked by David’s brother Eliab. What is the long-buried truth he fears will come to light? And what is the threat that Ruth’s story poses to his family’s vast inheritance?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE GARDEN OF RUTH is in the same vein as THE RED TENT or SARAH, steeped in history and filled with Biblical references and characters. It could be a ponderous, dry novel, as so many of the genre are. But, like the other two mentioned here, it is not. Rather, it is a tale of romance and mystery that is not, in many respects, unlike contemporary tales. After all, suspense, greed, love and longing are themes that transcend the ages.

Osnath, the niece of the prophet Samuel, is a young woman determined to find love and happiness regardless of the price she must pay for it. One day, she finds an old piece of parchment which introduces the mystery of Ruth's life into her own. Osnath discovers the secrets of Ruth while she acknowledges the desires of her own heart, as well. It is a parallel tale of love and self-realization, one that kept me completely intrigued.

THE GARDEN OF RUTH is not a book for everyone. I know some will find it slow in spots, due to the setting. But if you're a lover of history and mysteries, this is one book I highly recommend reading.

Kay James