Havah

Aug 13, 2012 Vonna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It is an awesome rendering of a most powerful story. LOVED it, front to back!

The first person of this book also is great in the fact that you see and more clearly understand that: Eve was made second - in Adam's image, not in God's image as Adam was. She was Adam's helpmate and being so they struggled in their relationship as all human women and men do - just imagine being the only couple on earth and no one to bounce off of your frustrations/or to ask someone for help/insight. She was faulty -...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Christie Hagerman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Put aside the flannel-graph figures of the Adam and Eve, and the coloring pages of the Garden of Eden. This book fills in the details behind the well-known Sunday-school story, from the creation of Eve until almost a millennium later. Beginning at the moment that God ("the One") calls out "Wake!" to the woman he's just taken from Adam's side, Eve tells us the joys, pains, victories, and mistakes of her life.

The first part of the book describes life in the garden, showing us how the perfection o...more Put aside the flannel-graph figures of the Adam and Eve, and the coloring pages of the Garden of Eden. This book fills in the details behind the well-known Sunday-school story, from the creation of Eve until almost a millennium later. Beginning at the moment that God ("the One") calls out "Wake!" to the woman he's just taken from Adam's side, Eve tells us the joys, pains, victories, and mistakes of her life.

The first part of the book describes life in the garden, showing us how the perfection of that world really looked. The animals and humans communicated with each other without the need of spoken words. Beautiful sights and sounds made up the paradise that housed these first inhabitants, and the author's descriptions were both detailed and poetic. (At this point let me caution future readers that some content is a bit mature. The marital relationship was handled delicately but with more candor than would be appropriate for teenagers.)

Hearing the story from Eve's perspective made so many points come alive, such as the first sin. I felt as if I was there with her as she neared the tree and fell into the serpent's trap. And even though I knew what she'd do, I was begging her not to. I felt the emotions along with Eve throughout the exile, in the adjustments she and Adam had to make in living outside of paradise, and the stages of life and death that she learned about. The child-like innocence she possessed and the fact that she'd lived in a perfect state, gave her a unique perspective.

As the story and the years go on, sin and its effects on the world are more and more prevalent. I was reminded of how truly sad this life is, in comparison to what the Creator intended.

Even knowing the important details in the Biblical account, I never became bored. I loved the way the author delved into the interesting extra things that the Bible doesn't mention. For example, how did the exile play out? How did Adam and Eve learn to survive after the exile? What did the mark on Cain look like? The story showed things such as the beginnings of idol worship, the evolution of arts, how the Fall affected Adam and Eve's relationship. And none of these elaborations took away from the facts I know from the Bible. If anything, I finished this book with a greater understanding of God's love, the effects of sin in our lives, and how beautiful the second Adam's sacrifice was in reconciling us to the One.

**netGalley.com provided this eARC without obligation.(less)

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Mar 02, 2012 David Alderman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

To start off, I think I'll sum things up easily by stating this: Havah took my breath away. If that sounds a bit romantic, it's because I meant it to. Not the clique kind of romantic, but the awe-inspiring, fearful romance between a creation and its creator. Havah is a beautiful novel written about God's love, His desire for a relationship with His Creation, and the agony of our relationship with Him being broken because of our own disobedience.

The story begins with Eve being created from Adam....more To start off, I think I'll sum things up easily by stating this: Havah took my breath away. If that sounds a bit romantic, it's because I meant it to. Not the clique kind of romantic, but the awe-inspiring, fearful romance between a creation and its creator. Havah is a beautiful novel written about God's love, His desire for a relationship with His Creation, and the agony of our relationship with Him being broken because of our own disobedience.

The story begins with Eve being created from Adam. Written in first person, the novel does a beautiful job of portraying Eve as she is birthed into existence. I'm not sure how challenging it must have been for Tosca to write from this angle, but she most definitely did an excellent job and it is this simple fact alone that marks her as a truly talented writer.

Eve runs through the garden in fellowship with the One, falls in love with the creation that came before her, Adam, and lives in wonder at the very world that God created for the two of them. Adam and Eve are able to communicate with each other, with the wildlife, and with God without speaking, the thoughts of all understood clearly, without deception or misunderstanding. The world at this time is truly one of bliss. No sin. No violence. Nothing but love and fellowship with each other and the One.

It broke my heart while I was reading these parts because I knew what was coming next in the story. I knew that they were going to rebel against God's direct orders and that the fellowship with God was going to be broken. Eve and Adam partake in the fruit that the serpent - beautifully illustrated as an intelligent and sly creature - gives them and fall into death. What was once a beautiful garden now becomes a wild place that teems with violence and brutality, chasing Adam and Eve out of the paradise that God created specifically for them.

The story is then propelled into Adam and Eve's relationship with each other, which takes a rough turn after their banishment from the garden and with the hostility of the land and the wildlife they have now been thrust into. They have children, and the story goes on to explain the heartaches of the garden they left behind, the children that are now populating the earth and the chronic pitfalls they encounter with the cursed land. The story expands into Cain and Abel, referenced in the novel as Kayin and Hevel, and the birth of murder.

Tosca really put her heart and soul into this novel. The Bible only explains so much about Adam and Eve's banishment from the Garden of Eden and how the world is populated, but Tosca put so much fine effort into filling in the gaps in her own speculative way. I have to say this was truly a story that broke my heart at times and took my breath away at others. I was able to relate to Adam and Eve in a manner of existence, knowing that they were the ones that all life was created from, knowing that God had so much more in mind for them and for us. Their struggles are really no different than the struggles we encounter nowadays: murder, anger, greed, idolatry and lust.

During the novel, the expanse that looms between Adam and Eve as they succumb to their new destiny parallels the expanse that clearly grew between God and us when these events occurred. The silence, the embarrassment and shame of sin, stains the pages of the novel as it does the very core of our own hearts and I couldn't help but feel a sense of fear at some points...fear of what would have happened if God hadn't eventually sent His son to save us from an eternity of misery and broken fellowship with Him.

I am proud to give this book my own set of five stars. Granted, I usually enjoy reading a good science fiction/fantasy or action novel, but Tosca really pulled on my heart strings and, in her own style, drew me closer to realizing God's true character and what He always wanted for us. This is the perfect book for a Bible study group or book club.(less)

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Apr 21, 2009 Auntie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone

This was an intriguing look at the Biblical Character of Eve (Havah). A bit slow in the beginning, the story of the Fall is so clearly presented in all its consequences. You grow to care about this woman and the challenges that life presents to her....especially her lingering memories of the Garden of Eden and her relationship with God ("the One"). I thoroughly enjoyed her creating a fully woman's experiences, as Eve loves her husband, her children, her animals and wonders as to the time they wo...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Ownerofmars rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book simply because I wanted to see how Tosca Lee wrote on her own. I had read another book she co-authored and did not enjoy it very much so I thought I would see if I liked anything she wrote on her own.

I chose this one because it was the only one by her that our library had.

The subject and storyline was very interesting. I thought she covered all kinds of things that I would not have thought of at all. She also made me feel like the story was complete when I finished it. I had no...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Cassandra rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biblical-fiction, christian-fiction, historical-fiction

Ack! This book was on my to-read list for SO long. My libraries in Arizona didn't carry it and I'm loathe to purchase books at full price. After moving to Washington, I had to see if the local library carries it. Success!! I had to put it on hold and wait for it to come available but I was so excited to finally read this story of Eve.

The Bible doesn't give us much information about Adam and Eve's life after the garden and even less information about their life before they sinned. I just don't th...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Roy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very interesting take on the Biblical account of Adam and Eve (Havah). While much of the book is literary license, there are some very pointed insights from this book. One thing that stood out to me was Eve's constant struggle throughout her life with Adam's betrayal before God. Scripture notes that Adam was with Eve when she ate the fruit, yet did nothing to prevent her from doing so. When God questions Adam as to why he ate, Adam blames the woman for giving him the fruit. Nothing new there -...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Chris Jager rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book caught my interest the minute I heard about it. I know several of you read or tried to read Demon, it wasn't for everyone. I even struggled with it because it made me a bit uncomfortable.

Havah is the Story of Eve as the subtitle says. I understand that this is not necessarily how it was, but it sure was fun to imagine it.

Where they able to run with the Gazelles? Did they take naps while using a Lion as a pillow? What was it like to walk with God? Did it rain? How big was the garden? Di...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Narelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Havah: The Story of Eve is a speculative fiction love story. The early chapters in the book of Genesis outline Adam and Eve’s story. We know the basic plot. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were banished from the Garden of Eden. Later on in the story their eldest son, Cain, murdered his younger brother, Abel.

The beauty of this book is the way the author has interpreted the events outlined in Genesis and brought these characters to life on the page. The story is a fascinating and thought...more Havah: The Story of Eve is a speculative fiction love story. The early chapters in the book of Genesis outline Adam and Eve’s story. We know the basic plot. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were banished from the Garden of Eden. Later on in the story their eldest son, Cain, murdered his younger brother, Abel.

The beauty of this book is the way the author has interpreted the events outlined in Genesis and brought these characters to life on the page. The story is a fascinating and thought provoking fictionalised account of what may have transpired during Havah’s lifetime. We look at the world through her eyes, and gain an insight into the life of the first woman and mother of all the living.

I was fascinated by the contrast between Adam and Havah’s idyllic and harmonious life in the Garden of Eden and their life in exile as they live with the consequences of their disobedience to ‘The One’. They shared this amazing relationship with ‘The One’ in the Garden that we can only dream about and suffered the pain of silence from ‘The One’ after they sinned and were exiled.

The book highlights the consequences of original sin, for Adam and Havah and their descendents. Things we perceive as a normal part of life eg. disease, ageing, death, difficulties with childbirth, nature being out of harmony, were foreign concepts to Adam and Havah until they were exiled into a broken world. Their harmonious and loving relationship drastically changed after they ate the forbidden fruit.

I was challenged to question the ideas and concepts raised in the story. Havah faced many problems and issues in her relationships with Adam and her growing family. She knew what life was like before sin entered the world and yearned to return to her former life in the Garden of Eden. Havah and Adam lived with incredible guilt as they and their descendents bore the consequences of their sin in the Garden of Eden. Their guilt put additional pressure on their relationship because they knew what they had lost.

This story also contains adult themes that are handled in a tasteful manner, and I give the story a PG rating for children and younger readers. I wouldn’t call this story a romance in the traditional sense because it is the original human love story turned sour. The story explores how Adam and Havah picked up the pieces after their idyllic relationship was shattered. I recommend this book to those looking for an insightful and challenging speculative fiction story.(less)

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May 23, 2012 Jan McClintock rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee

This is a beautifully-written story of the first woman, for believers, and a fictional exploration of the fall of man. The point of view is Havah's (Eve), and it's a fascinating tale of love, innocence, ease and worship of The One in the garden that turns sour as soon as the lovely serpent starts questioning things.

The guilt lies heavily on both Havah and the adam (Adam) after the first couple is evicted and the garden and its inhabitants are destroyed, but s...more

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May 21, 2012 Renn Shearin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Havah, by Tosca Lee is an unique retelling of the Creation story told from the perspective of Eve. The story relates Eve, or Havah's awakening, her joy in the garden and with the adam, her temptation and fall, her travails outside the garden with Adam, and more. Havah experiences pain, loss, and death, and the reader has no choice but to be swept away in the emotion of her experiences. The death of Havel (Abel) and the loss of Kavin (Cain) are heart wrenching, and the reader is left with an ache...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the beginning , God saw that the world was empty so he created Man in his own image , God then saw that Man would be lonely, so he put the man to sleep and with one of the man's ribs he created a companion for man and called her woman. Who were these people ? Man's name was not Tarzan but Adam and Woman's name was not Jane but Eve. However after reading Havah, I discovered that Havah in fact is another name for Eve. In most novels that we read about the Creation and the beginning times, they...more

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May 02, 2011 Jill Kemerer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tosca Lee oozes talent. She gets to the heart and emotions of real Biblical people and fleshes out how life was for them without straying from what the Bible tells us. Her Christian faith shines through in her meticulously researched books.

I loved this book but it depressed me. To read about the communion Eve had with Adam and "the One" before she ate of the forbidden fruit and then the terrible (and vividly written) banishment from Eden broke my heart. The contrasts of before and after cannot b...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Diana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story of Eve, that's the subtitle. It could be said it is the The Story of Eve, the story of women.

I could not put this book down. I soaked in the words of Havah's story. I felt a kinship with her, felt her guilt, her sorrows, her joy and her grief. I cried when she called in a broken woman's voice, 'Adonai' and didn't receive an answer. How much more grievous it had t have been for her after talking to God and hearing from Him in a way none of us have, to lose that would have crushed most o...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Abbie Riddle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is certainly one the most imaginative and thought-provoking novels I have read to date. Tosca Lee accomplished an amazing feat in writing a novel from Eve's perspective that is still in line with the scriptural telling of the story of creation, fall, and the life after. If you have ever wondered how must have felt, what her life was like - you'd enjoy this book.

"Wake!" with this simple command the novel opens its doors to an amazing adventure, an invitation into Eve's life. An invitation to...more This is certainly one the most imaginative and thought-provoking novels I have read to date. Tosca Lee accomplished an amazing feat in writing a novel from Eve's perspective that is still in line with the scriptural telling of the story of creation, fall, and the life after. If you have ever wondered how must have felt, what her life was like - you'd enjoy this book.

"Wake!" with this simple command the novel opens its doors to an amazing adventure, an invitation into Eve's life. An invitation to the beginning - life in the garden, a new relationship untarnished with sin (the wondrous state of marriage unsullied by the filth of the sinful world - in its most beautiful natural state), the fresh and inhibited relationship of God (called the ONE) and mankind - in it's perfect state. The richness of descriptive elements makes this story bound off the pages in full color in your minds imaginative eye.

I had never really taken time to contemplate the pureness of life before sin - how wondrous this must have been. A time of perfect, untarnished union with the Lord. A marriage free of temptation, shame, feelings of inadequacy or guilt - just sheer pleasure in knowing each other completely - neither person having anything to hide, withhold or fear.

Nor had I ever thought about the fact that God's most beautiful angel Satan (the angel of music and beauty) was possibly there deceiving Eve one encounter at a time, slowly leading her to the taking of that which was forbidden. That she was enchanted by his beauty and slick tongue, that she was led astray by his 98% truth and 1% lie. But then how true is that of us - one little fox ruins the entire vineyard. My heart cried out at the recounting of the fall - how Eve states, "I ate. I, who had come second went first. I, who had followed in the steps of every living thing before me, walked ahead. Perhaps my hands trembled as I held it out. Perhaps I already knew. Either way, I ate then gave it to him. He ate." WOW! My breath caught in my throat as I read it written in such a way. Never had I allowed myself to actually imagine this portion of scripture to allow the impact of the action to come to rest fully on my consciences in such a shocking heavy way. In that one moment creation became dull with the entrance of sin - things changed forever.

The remainder of the novel follows the life of Eve outside of the garden in what she calls the "slow death". For the first time all life around her, all creation was in the process of dying. Even now this is what we see - and her heart longed to find a way back to the beginning to a time where there was no word for death or pain. To a time when all creation existed together in perfect harmony a constant beautiful song raised to the Father of it all - and a daily communion with Him whose hands created it all. A relationship with God that was not a struggle to maintain - no enemy to fight - surrounded by peace and beauty unexplainable. This life outside Eden is one of firsts of all kinds - some good, some bad. Again, Tosca Lee's brilliant use of descriptive words and images wakens the reader's imagination, stirs the soul, pricks the heart - awakening that awareness deep in ones self that there is something better, something we are missing, something lost that must be restored. It is as if the reader is there in the midst of it all, experiencing the deep emotions of joy and anguish.

This is an excellent book for adults. I would not recommend it to youth because of some of the graphic details.

Thank you B&H for this review copy.(less)

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Nov 14, 2010 Victor Gentile rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tosca Lee in her new book, "Havah The Story Of Eve" published by B&H Publishing Group explores the opening story of Genesis in the Bible in a way that has never been done before to the best of my knowledge. It is told from the point of view of Eve.

This book begins with joy and with life. Havah, Adam's chosen name for Eve, is born, full grown, in the opening pages. God has given her life, He has given her a husband, Adam, and He has given her the Garden. Together these two learn about themsel...more Tosca Lee in her new book, "Havah The Story Of Eve" published by B&H Publishing Group explores the opening story of Genesis in the Bible in a way that has never been done before to the best of my knowledge. It is told from the point of view of Eve.

This book begins with joy and with life. Havah, Adam's chosen name for Eve, is born, full grown, in the opening pages. God has given her life, He has given her a husband, Adam, and He has given her the Garden. Together these two learn about themselves and learn about the new world that Havah now lives in. For all the pleasure and joy of this new life there is also a danger for the serpent comes to visit and to talk and his words are deadly while seemingly innocent. And one day he convinces Havah to eat of the tree which was forbidden to eat from and she convinces Adam to eat and the curse comes upon them. God had told them that the day they eat of the fruit they would surely die, not a physical death, but a spiritual death. And they do. So when God comes to visit with them in the late afternoon they hide from Him. And this rebellion or Sin causes their removal from the Garden and into a different life than what they had known. And while they cannot return ever to the Garden there is a promise that her seed will crush the head of the serpent.

The opening of Genesis is a story that practically everyone knows whether they believe it or not. We know the story of Cain and his brother, Abel, and that one day Cain kills Abel crushing the dream of their mother that one of these two boys was the deliverer. We have never heard the story like this. Not only is this a first person narrative but it is a woman's point of view. Softer, emotional, everything is clearly defined and talked through.

"Havah The Story Of Eve" is a lyrical book, not poetry, not music but it captures you much the same way that we are captured when listening to a great musical concert. We are transported to the place where the composer wanted to take us and we do not leave there until the music is finished. That is the way Ms. Lee transports us to the world of Havah and we do not leave until the final page and to her credit we find that we do not want to. There is sadness in this book and rightly so but there is also hope. I recommend this book.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The Suspense Zone. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Oct 17, 2010 Julia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I downloaded Havah to read on the computer which is not my normal book reading/review habit. I always find it difficult to read through a book on my laptop instead of just picking up a book and carrying it whereever I go.

This book however was an exception! I have never read a book quite like this one. I could not "put it down" and found myself sitting in front of this bright screen late into the night and early into the mornings!

Havah is basically the story of Adam and Eve told from Eve's perspe...more I downloaded Havah to read on the computer which is not my normal book reading/review habit. I always find it difficult to read through a book on my laptop instead of just picking up a book and carrying it whereever I go.

This book however was an exception! I have never read a book quite like this one. I could not "put it down" and found myself sitting in front of this bright screen late into the night and early into the mornings!

Havah is basically the story of Adam and Eve told from Eve's perspective. When I started reading the book I realized that we know very little of the day to day lives of this couple and even less about their lives after exile. While this story is certainly fiction, it does stick to the facts as well.

Havah is born from nothing into a paradise that we cannot even imagine. Her companion is there with her from the start to help teach her the ways of the "world." As Havah and "the adam" go through their daily lives living in communion with the animals and plant kingdom, their creator is always present. They live their lives feeling his presence and knowing that their every desire will come to pass.

The couples world comes crashing down in a second. One bad idea, one greedy thought, one moment of desire for something forbidden and they are chased from the garden.

Havah spends her entire life preparing for their return to the garden. Always in her mind and dreams is their return to Eden. She raises her children, teaches them skills, watches the weather and continues to put one foot in front of the other all with the promised return in mind.

Havah learns to live off of a land that is no longer at her command. The two must toil for food, they must build shelters, they must protect themselves not only from the elements but the very animals they use to commune with.

Havah, the adam and all of their children grow and learn through hundreds of years of trying to get things right and it all comes down to the moment of truth and the promise of a return to Heaven on Earth.

*A digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes(less)

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May 06, 2010 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

the story of Eve
Tosca Lee
2010 (Release date August 1)
Fiction/Biblical/Historical

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Havah, Eve the mother of all humanity. This is her story, fictionally portrayed as never before, or as I have never read.
A beautiful story filled with poetic descriptions, a story that will capture your interest. Truly you will feel yourself screaming for Eve to stay away from the serpent on the island as he tempts her with the fruit. You will grieve and cry for Eve as they are banished from th...more

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May 04, 2010 Maureen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Perhaps it's because I never ventured into other novels that dared to give narrative to the first woman, but I loved this book in a way that speaks to my soul. Tosca delicately weaves the tale and intimately describes emotions that I sometimes think I know too well without ever actually labeling them. Her depiction of the perfect joy and sheer simplicity before the fall, as well as the horror of disconnection and hurt within silence afterward will be things that I will now always link intricatel...more

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May 06, 2012 Julia Bauer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I cannot say enough good things about this amazing book that I was fortunate to snag as a freebie. I would definitely encourage anyone at all interested to splurge and buy it though. It is so worth it!

Tosca Lee takes the familiar story of Adam and Eve told briefly in Genesis and has imagined it into a novel that feels very much like what may have happened in the lives of the first man and woman. She looks at such ideas as what it must have been like to be "born" as a young man or woman instead...more I cannot say enough good things about this amazing book that I was fortunate to snag as a freebie. I would definitely encourage anyone at all interested to splurge and buy it though. It is so worth it!

Tosca Lee takes the familiar story of Adam and Eve told briefly in Genesis and has imagined it into a novel that feels very much like what may have happened in the lives of the first man and woman. She looks at such ideas as what it must have been like to be "born" as a young man or woman instead of a baby. How would a person make his or her way in the world without having any example of an earthly parent to follow? What must it have been like to truly be the first?

The Eden she describes is so beautiful -- with lions and lambs, foxes and deer all frolicking together in a true paradise. Adam and Eve -- or Havah -- in their early days in the garden are a mixture of child and grown-up; their first love and the delight they taken in each other in that garden so innocent and pure. They enjoy such closeness with God and with each other. Life was truly perfect, and yet they could not fight their curiosity about the one tree God had told them they must not touch.

At its heart -- which Tosca so aptly describes as the most fragile and resilient of organs -- Havah is a story of faith and love, loss and redemption. After their exile from Eden, Adam and Havah face much strife as they learn to toil and carve out a life in the wilderness for themselves and their ever growing family. They face turmoil in their own relationship as the result of their guilt, anger and hurt over the decision they made to eat of the Fruit. They spend hundreds of years longing for redemption to come through their children and to once again see the garden they once called home. They must learn true faith and hope and in the end learn to trust God instead of trying to bring about redemption through their own means.

Tosca Lee has written a beautiful novel that is full of hope and poetry and faith. I would recommend it not only to readers of Christian fiction but to anyone who loves a well-written story as it one of the best books I have read so far this year. (less)

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Jul 27, 2011 Chris Mclain rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tosca Lee's Havah is one of the most mesmerizing page-turners I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It is a first person narrative account of the life of the first woman, Eve, or "Havah" in Hebrew. Like her first work of fiction, Demon: A Memoir, Lee gives great attention to detail and theology in her novelization of the biblical narrative. I found the first 50 pages absolutely mesmerizing as they record Eve's "birth" and life in the Garden of Eden. If anyone has put perfection into words, it...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Kristina rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really enjoy stories that are traditionally told by men being retold from a woman's perspective. I was excited to pick this book up, thinking it would be along the lines of The Red Tent; a Biblical story told from the women who 'lived' it (I say 'lived' because these stories are fictional).

Havah is the story of the birth of Eve, the fall from Eden and her subsequent life with Adam, and the children they have together. I think Tosca does a beautiful job of capturing what it might have been like...more I really enjoy stories that are traditionally told by men being retold from a woman's perspective. I was excited to pick this book up, thinking it would be along the lines of The Red Tent; a Biblical story told from the women who 'lived' it (I say 'lived' because these stories are fictional).

Havah is the story of the birth of Eve, the fall from Eden and her subsequent life with Adam, and the children they have together. I think Tosca does a beautiful job of capturing what it might have been like for Eve to wake suddenly, like a baby deer- ready to walk, eat, and experience the world. Despite being a Christian story it was not heavy handed; the interactions between Eve, Adam and God are few which has it's benefits and detriments to the story, in my (non-Christian) opinion. How would Adam and Eve be expected to choose for themselves with such little information? If they weren't to eat from the tree, why were they born with a desire to do so? How is it free will if they had no way to know what they were choosing? So many questions that are not really meant to be answered by this book. ;) Tosca does throw in one little variance that sets so much of this story on it's side and stirs up the feminist in me. I won't spoil it for you. :)

The spoiler I'll include is that Havah/Eve/Isha is one passive aggressive, complaining, withholding woman. Wow. I was really bummed to see that the Mother of Humanity could hold a 600 year grudge, could withhold love from her husband for serious lengths of time, and treated sex like either a chore or something she used to make peace with Adam. It varied widely from my perceptions of Eve, which admittedly before reading this, weren't very well developed.

All in all I wanted to like this book more than I did. Many times I wanted to slap her and tell her to *let it go already* and hello, you've created agriculture, domesticated livestock, discovered fermentation, pottery, how to build with clay and bricks - what more do you need from this life? But she yearns for the one thing she can not have - a return to Eden - and it honestly puts a spoil on most of her life.

I'd recommend it - I'd like to see the story of Eve told again and again by different voices.(less)

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Mar 02, 2010 Trish rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A beautifully imagined and written vision of the Garden of Eden and of the first man and woman and their relationship with G'd, from the perspective of Eve. I was drawn in by Havah's (Eve's) voice and the retelling of the story from her point of view.

Their expulsion from Eden and their lifelong yearning to once again hear the voice of G'd was heartbreaking (as can only be imagined as one who has never even heard it), to their grief over the loss of one beloved son at the hands of another and hi...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tosca Lee writes with an emotional depth that can transport you to the heart of her characters. I had never really in my life considered what it must have really been like for Adam and Eve to walk this mortal soil and toil as we do now after having been shunned from the garden. What all was brought into this world by their actions and what must those years and days after being separated from God’s ever presence have felt like? Tosca weaves her story of Havah as though we are experiencing the fir...more

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May 16, 2012 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, historical-fiction, on-my-nook

I wasn't sure I would like Havah; novelizations of the Bible are usually a recipe for teh suck. But Tosca Lee did a marvelous job of humanizing Adam and Eve. She takes the story from Eve's creation through the Fall and their long journey, through Cain and Abel and their many brothers and sisters, all the way until Adam and Eve's deaths.

I found the depiction of Adam and Eve's relationship very believable; Eve has difficulty forgiving Adam for blaming her ("The woman gave me the fruit and I ate"),...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From a Christian point of view this book went too far off the course of the real thing, and there were plenty of things that bothered me. Not to mention Adam and Eve spend their entire lives (long, long, long lives) yearning for the Garden of Eden and resenting one another for getting kicked out of it. Also, they yearn for "the One" (God) who is apparently absent for most of their lives (though they do have dreams/visions on occasion from God). That's not my view of God at all, so it bothered me...more

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Jan 18, 2013 JL Torres rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads, christian-fiction

I didn’t like the first book I read from this author, Demon: A Memoir, so I started Havah: The Story of Eve with a little apprehension. But after reading it, I did like it!

Havah is a somewhat loose literal (that sounds like a contradiction) retelling of the Genesis story of the first man and woman with a twist, it was told from the point of view of Eve. It was heartbreaking to read about the irrevocable loss of Paradise from just a single disobedient act, the gradual fall of man and nature and t...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Mark Carver rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Havah: The Story of Eve is a beautifully-written and thought-provoking tale. Lee's prose style is vibrant and poetic, though it can be a bit heavy-handed at times. Elucidating the story of Eve is an intriguing and ambitious concept, and for the most part, Lee pulls it off.

Adam and Eve's life before the fall is bliss and beauty, and their life after the Fall is wearisome and difficult. Their personalities change as well: Eve becomes fussy and irritable (and cranky in her old age), and Adam become...more Havah: The Story of Eve is a beautifully-written and thought-provoking tale. Lee's prose style is vibrant and poetic, though it can be a bit heavy-handed at times. Elucidating the story of Eve is an intriguing and ambitious concept, and for the most part, Lee pulls it off.

Adam and Eve's life before the fall is bliss and beauty, and their life after the Fall is wearisome and difficult. Their personalities change as well: Eve becomes fussy and irritable (and cranky in her old age), and Adam becomes melancholy and distant. Eve laments the loss of her beautiful garden, the communion she shared with the animals, and her relationship with Adam that went beyond the deepest intimacy. Yet there was one glaring chasm that weakened the story: the loss of fellowship with God is an afterthought, rather than the primary curse.

Before the Fall, Eve reveled in the garden like a flower child drunk with nature and pleasure with "the adam." After the Fall, she complains about the mundane drudgery that consumes her life and energy. Her communion with God is mentioned occasionally, but it plays second fiddle to the sensual pleasures and trials that were present in her life. It's unfair to compare this book to a masterpiece like Milton's Paradise Lost, but Milton's epic poem about the same subject is far more vivid in its rapture in God's presence and unspeakable despair once that line is severed. I didn't get the same feeling in this book, which seemed more concerned with making Eve relatable to a modern audience, as if to reassure readers that Eve was just like them: a stressed-out housewife and mother who wants harmony in her house and warmth from her husband.

The book did drag a bit in the middle, getting bogged down in its descriptions of the world's first domestic scene. I would have hoped for a bit more drama, such as violent illness, natural disasters, catastrophic accidents, and the like. But I know I'm not in the target audience, and Christian mothers would certainly find it paralleling their own experiences.

Havah is not presented as the dethroned empress of the world, but this is what Lee was wanting to achieve: a human portrait of a legendary figure. I wouldn't recommend Havah: The Story of Eve to everyone, but it is far better than a lot of Christian fiction out there.(less)

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May 17, 2010 Aik Chien 인첸 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Havah: The Story of Eve is a wonderful re-telling of the dawn of mankind from Eve's viewpoint. Tosca nicely imagines the life of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and writes the story with an excellent literary prose which is bound to captivate readers. As a result of their decision to eat the "Forbidden fruit", Adam and Eve lost their innocence, became separated from God and were exiled from the garden where they were forced to adopt agriculture under less than desirable circumstances for a li...more

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Dec 20, 2010 aobibliophile™ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

And God created man to His own image: to the image of God He created him male and female He created them. - Genesis 1:27 (1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

"Wake" said the One Who Is and so begins the incredible saga of Havah - the woman we call Eve.
anyone familiar with the biblical account of creation and the downfall of man will find something so remarkable and fresh in Havah's story - from her awakening and union with Adam, the encounters with the serpent, the fateful eating of the forbidden fruit, the...more And God created man to His own image: to the image of God He created him male and female He created them. - Genesis 1:27 (1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

"Wake" said the One Who Is and so begins the incredible saga of Havah - the woman we call Eve.
anyone familiar with the biblical account of creation and the downfall of man will find something so remarkable and fresh in Havah's story - from her awakening and union with Adam, the encounters with the serpent, the fateful eating of the forbidden fruit, the banishment from the Garden , the early days of exile to the birth of her children and descendants.
in her own words, i relived the dawn of mankind and was transported to a time and place where everything was as it should be - perfect, pure, beautiful and at peace. through her eyes, i witnessed the dire consequences brought about by one choice which altered the course of history forever.
i read this book in one sitting and i was reluctant to take leave of Havah and her world. aside from my Bible, never has another book touched me more deeply or brought me to tears. i was mesmerized by its vivid imagery. i savored with gusto the prose and poetry that flowed in every page. i honestly cried over Havah's triumphs and heartbreaks. i was truly moved beyond my expectations.
this book is meticulously researched , craftily written, richly detailed and superbly told! Tosca Lee's fertile imagination has gifted us with an extraordinary novel that speaks to all men and women of every generation and belief. if there is a work of fiction that needs to be read and cherished for a lifetime, it is Havah - The Story of Eve - a creature bestowed with the honor and privilege of being the first woman and the mother of us all.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i received an Advance Reader's Edition of Havah - The Story of Eve from the B&H Publishing Group through NetGalley.com i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was I obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.(less)

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