Magdalene Paperback – August 15, 2013

I enjoyed this book very much. Not only does it contain great movement in storyline and solid character development, but it offers a fresh perspective on Mary Magdelene whom many, myself included, deemed a prostitute. A discussion of Mary Magdalene is included at the end, in the form of Q&A. It was very helpful in unveiling the real Mary Magdalene from the perspective of the Bible, and, most significantly, how misconceptions of her personhood took root. The reader, of course, can (and should!) study the subject further for clarification. I appreciate this book as a catalyst for such inquiry, and as a very interesting and thought-provoking read about loss, pain, vengeance, and healing.

For readers of the biblical and historical fiction genres, this is an outstanding and well-researched tale. I was very impressed by the author's attention to cultural detail and portrayal of the conflicting world views of first century Jews and Romans. She skillfully brought several voices to the story, which offered a chance to view events and belief systems from various perspectives. She also weaves narratives and facts from the gospels and Acts into the story, giving readers a chance to take something new away from well-known Bible stories and teachings. I appreciated that Mary Magdelene is not portrayed as a prostitute, which the oldest traditions about her also do not. The description of her demon possession and exorcism in the early chapters is outstanding from a literary perspective. Unexpected plot twists and a satisfying though realistic resolution make this a fine read for fans of the genre.

I thought it was a very inspirational story depicting the life and tragedies facing Jewish women at that time in history. I do have issue with it being a story of the life of Mary Magdalene of the bible, being based on at least one misconception that has been acknowledged to be inaccurate. Mary Magdalene was NOT a fallen women or a prostitute at any time in her life. She also wasn't a camp follower of Jesus and his disciples. She was a teacher and someone important enough to Jesus to have some of his disciples jealous of her relationship with Him. However I found the book well written and interesting and will continue to read this author.

Angela Hunt, author and Darla Middlebrook, narrator, have formed an excellent team to provide the audio book, Magdalene. It is a beautiful historical fiction that takes place during and immediately following Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. Yeshua the Messiah is, of course, the central focus, and His teachings and ministry are scripturally accurate.While some of the conversations may not be exactly as occurred, they are essentially who Jesus was with Mary Magdalene - Rabboni. Jesus did call out demons from Mary Magdalene – known in this story as Miryam of Magdala. However, we do not know anything about her life outside of following Jesus and being one of the women who cared for the needs of Jesus and later, His disciples. And this is an encouragement to search the scriptures – the gospels and book of Acts, to clarify for yourself exactly the truth the Lord has given us in His love letter, the Bible.The rest of the story is fiction that is rich in history and with beautiful, emotive prose; that it is a work of fiction is made clear from Angela Hunt’s notes. Along with taking place during and after Jesus’ life on earth, it is also the period of the Roman occupation of Israel. Very well researched, one can almost hear the boots of the soldiers, and experience the fear and even anger of some of those under the occupation when soldiers were in town for any reason.In the novel, Miryam was a seller of fine cloth, and experimented with and made unique dyes to use on these cloths; she was a successful businesswoman. Her husband was Yaakov the fisherman. She was a mother to both her infant son and adult son, with a grandbaby on the way. When the unfathomable occurred at the hands of the Roman soldiers, she unknowingly sets events in motion that bring an even greater horror for her to endure, being possessed by several demons.Meeting Jesus, being immensely relieved of the demons by Jesus, and becoming a follower of Yesua, brought about heartache and rejection from Miryam’s friends. She believed in Jesus as Messiah and wanted to be part of His coming kingdom. Like many others of that time, however, she thought Yeshua’s kingdom would be earthly, and the revenge she so desired against the Romans would occur. She supported the work, travelled with and cared for the needs of the Messiah and His disciples. After His crucifixion, resurrection, and return to heaven, she continued to support the disciples’ work. Yet the thirst for revenge was not something she had given to her Lord – and it ate away at her very being.The characters are strong and vibrant men and women who are very well defined. Yeshua’s teaching and actions were in line with the Bible. Miryam and her fellow travelers and friends each have their feelings and convictions. Atticus, the Roman soldier, and his lady friend and son, and the transformation in their lives after their son was healed by Jesus, was nothing short of the Holy Spirit’s work.The plot is a tapestry of spiritual lessons. When we meet Jesus, there may be things from our past that we have to deal with and let go of, one by one. If we don’t turn over those things, they can lead us to make horribly destructive decisions, blocking our view of Jesus as they stand between us. There are interesting twists in the story; some took this reader completely by surprise and some did not. I am in awe of the historical research that Angela Hunt had done before writing, and the way she could weave a tale such that the spiritual lessons live on in the reader’s heart long after listening to the final credits.Angela Hunt’s excellent prose is taken to the next level with Darla Middlebrook’s narration. I was so appreciative of the beautiful sound of a gifted narrator reading Magdalene with emotions appropriate to the culture and time. I like audio books – I had purchased the book on Kindle a couple years ago but not yet read it, and this audio book showed me what I had missed! I highly recommend this to adults of any age who appreciate historical fiction written around the time of the New Testament writings, especially Jesus’ life. Fans of Angela Hunt will not want to miss this!With a grateful heart, I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

A wife of a fisherman, a seller of fabric, at home, till Romans took everything. A woman who had seven demons cast out of her, was she then a woman of compassion, or set on revenge. A different take on a familiar Biblical woman who knew Jesus. Very well written and enjoyed the narration. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

The ending was not what I expected. Love the Author and her style of writing x

Another brilliant novel from Angela Hunt

Over the years I have read and enjoyed many of Angela’s books, especially her novels of Biblical characters. She brings the times and places alive to those of us living in the 21st century. This story about Mary Magdalene is by far her best work.

A super portrayal of the people, the period and a new level of persecution not witnessed before. Thank you AH

My mom is fond of her writing .