Title: The Rise of
Shem
Author: R. Fredrick
Riddle
Pages: 326
Year: 2012
Publisher: PublishAmerica
Note: I received a
complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely
my responsibility. Other reviews can be
read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/. Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988
Many
have either heard of the Book of Genesis, a revelation of the beginning;
without it we wouldn’t know our beginning.
The Rise of Shem is strictly a work of fiction based loosely on a small
section of the Book of Genesis the time of Noah, beginning with the flood and
ending the story shortly after Noah’s passing.
One of
the benefits of reading fiction based loosely on Scripture is that it helps us
remember that the people, places and events revealed therein are real. It is a story that engages the imagination of
the reader and transport them back to the beginning, if only in the mind. I wonder how much of the description of the
places were based on archeological findings.
While we know the Ark hasn’t been uncovered, it still grips the heart of
many who long to discover it.
The
imagination of the reader is pulled into the story as we begin mentally
traveling with the family of eight on the Ark. We read a fictional tale of the
sons of Noah, their wives and peoples that come from them after the Ark. Altars and worship are spoken of many times
in Scripture, and appropriately in the story as well.
When
marriages happen, babies born, elders die, and civilization is being born, it
is hard to put the book down. The event
at Babel with Nimrod as its leader, followed by the confusion of languages can
almost be sensed as the reader progresses in the tale. To be reminded that from these eight came
civilizations and peoples, the spreading of them after the confusion reminds
one and all of how Holy God is.
Abram
burying his father and beginning his journey of following God is wonderful to
think and follow along with in the novel.
To be reminded that people knew each other like Noah and Abram because
of the length of time they lives is a solemn reminder that years didn’t
separate the people or events in Scripture.
While the story being told is fictional in many ways, I hope it also
reminds anyone who reads it to go back to the Book to read what is not fiction
at all, but fact.
Prior
to reading The Rise of Shem, I had
not heard of the author nor read his other books. I looked up his other works of fiction and
plan on reading them and passing them on to my husband and sons to read. The novel is a wonderful adventure. You can learn more about the author on his
website at http://www.rfrederickriddle.com/Home_Page.html
My
rating of The Rise of Shem is 4 stars.
