Review: The Sinners and the Sea: The Untold Story of Noah's Wife

The Sinners and the Sea: The Untold Story of Noah's Wife by Rebecca Kanner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Arc received through NetGalley.

This is a story about Noah and the arc tolled by his wife.

I thought that the beginning was kind of slow and not so interesting, but the further into the book I got the more interesting it got. I am not knowledged about the stories of the Bible and especially not about Noah, so it was interesting to read it through a fictional book, to have the characters fleshed out as real humans. I found Noah to be a stubborn, selfish old man that cared more for righteousness and his God than his mortal life. I did not like him, but he felt very human so I felt for him. The wife, I had a hard time deciding if I liked her or not. I still don't know. On the other hand she seemed meek and not able to stand up for herself, which you can't blame her for due to her background and her crazy husband, but she also did the best that she could in her situation and the time of superstition and hardship of women. She too came across as very human so I felt for her, being stuck with Noah. I often found myself sympathizing with the town and the fallen against Noah.

The story became more interesting once the three sons had been born. It gave more to tell about. I liked the sons best of all the characters, everyone of them with their flaws and strength. The most interesting in the whole story for me was not Noah and the arc itself, but all of the relationships; the relationships between the sons, the sons and their parents, as well as the wife's relationship with Javan and her daughter. The story for me isn't biblical, but tells a story about a family, that has it ups and downs like every other family. Javan did fascinate me a strong woman, and it had been interesting to know more about her. Zilpha was also a fascinating character.

Aside that the story didn't grab me right from the start the dialogue bothered me a bit. It was typical rigid in the way when you try to mimic "how they spoke in the past". But the narration as a whole was solid and true to the character and good.

I don't know if I will buy or read the book again, but I liked it and I think those that are interesting in Christian mythology will also.



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