Verse of the Day {KJV}

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Book Review: I, Saul {Worthy Publishing}



Jacketed hardcover, 400 pages
ISBN: 9781617950063
Publisher: Worthy Publishing
Retail: $24.99

About the book (from the publisher):
A MURDERER who would change the WORLD

From multi-million copy best-selling novelist Jerry Jenkins comes a compelling international thriller that conveys you from present-day Texas to a dank Roman dungeon in A.D. 67, then down the dusty roads of ancient Israel, Asia, and back to Rome.

A young seminary professor, Augustine Knox, is drawn into a deadly race to save priceless parchments from antiquities thieves and discovers a two- thousand-year old connection with another who faced death for the sake of the truth. I, Saul consists of two riveting adventures in one, transporting you between the stories of Augustine Knox and Saul of Tarsus.

Filled with political intrigue, romance, and rich historical detail, I, Saul is a thrilling tale of loyal friendships tested by life-or-death quests, set two millennia apart, told by a master storyteller.

About the author:
Jerry B. Jenkins's novels have sold more than 70 million copies, including the phenomenal mega-best-selling Left Behind series. Twenty of his books have reached the New York Times bestseller list, including seven that debuted at number one, as well as the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine. He and his wife, Dianna, live in Colorado.

My thoughts:
Difficult to get into at the start, hard to put down by the end! I will admit I had to make myself stick with this book for the first 5 or so chapters. The pace was agonizingly slow for me. I expected more from the start because there is a sense of urgency in the first chapter. But it really drags on for quite awhile. I am not a 'read the last page of a book' type, but this one I was tempted. If I'd read the last page though, I would have missed the best of this book.
I give it 3 stars because, after it finally got me into the story, I couldn't put it down until the end. Also the characters are really not well developed but personally by the end, I cared about what happened to them.
In the 'present day' there are a few primary characters: Augustine (referred to as Augie, August, Dr. Knox, Aug- the inconsistent name was a little annoying to me), Roger Michaels (or Rog), Sofia Trikoupis (Augie's fiance) and her parents Malfees (her dad) and Mrs. Trikoupis. Edsel Knox, Augie's father, and his mother ('Mom'; she has a name but it escapes me). There are other characters that personally their names were insignificant to remember, and their roles were not front and center for majority of the book.
In the days of AD 67, the characters are Paul (Saul), Luke, Primus Paternius Panthera (Roman guard at the prison where Paul is kept), and a few tertiary characters. Briefly portayed are Timothy and Mark from the New Testament. There are also references to characters from history and the Bible, such as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, Peter, and Stephen.
I really think I enjoyed the "first century" portions of the book more than present day. Since I can't really say what would have happened back then, it was easier to not focus on the details that may have been out of place. The present-day portions weren't as easy to ignore things that possibly could not have happened as written. Knowing it is fiction helps some, but who doesn't want to 'believe' the story they are reading.
It was a fairly good book; could have been better in some places but some were done quite well.

***Disclaimer: I received the above reviewed book for free from Worthy Publishing for the purpose of this review. No compensation was given. All opinions are my own. This post does contain affiliate links. See Disclosure/Policies.***

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