Alabaster by Chris Aslan (Book Review!)

Alabaster

By Chris Aslan

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

Genre- Fiction / History

Published by- Lion Fiction

Copyrighted- 2016

Number of pages- 208

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN: 978-1-78264-228-2

Maryam and the rest of her family are living in a overly religious village in the first-century Middle East..  Her father helps a dying leper and contracts the disease himself.  He’s exiled from the village, but is able to leave an alabaster jar of an expensive perfume, given to him by that leper.  Maryam and her brother and sister experience shame because of their father.  Maryam lives with her in-laws in an abusive marriage, her brother has left the village, and her sister lives alone.

Will they ever feel hope again?  Who is this mysterious doctor that everyone has been hearing about?

About the Author-

Chris Aslan currently studies in Oxford, guides tours around Central Asia, and lectures on textiles.  He grew up in Beirut.  He has written a book, A Carpet Ride to Khiva: Seven Years on the Silk Road, about life in Uzbekistan.  

My Thoughts-

Alabaster was an interesting book.  I don’t know a lot about the first-century Middle East, but I feel that I learned a lot about what society could be like.

I discovered that during this time, women didn’t have much of a say in their own lives.  Maryam was raped, became pregnant, and had to marry the man, who then abused her.  It wasn’t until much later, when the doctor/teacher came that she finally was able to have some hope. 

The storytelling was done so well that I felt I was there with Maryam and her family.  I could feel their hope and their pain.  I think that women will especially enjoy this book, because they can learn how the teacher can help them with any pain in their lives.

I recommend it!    

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Alabaster, by Chris Aslan, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.