The Confessions of Adam

by David J. Marsh

Adam and Eve. We think we know what happened. Now Adam breaks his silence. Oren’s arrogance and position have afforded him many acquaintances and no friends. He inherited the renowned scribal school in Susa from his father—an emotionally distant scholar. Adam has sought Oren out. He believes Oren has the skill to help untangle the story from his memory. A skeptical Oren promises his pen, but not his silence. At his home by the sea Adam speaks once and for all of what happened, unpacking the great burden of guilt and regret he carries. Oren comes to see all he and Adam share – lost love, estranged sons, memories that must be confronted. And a Maker who knows no distance. As Adam grows ill Oren rushes to capture the final details of the story, a story only he will now hold—the story of the origin of all mankind.


Whoever thought biblical fiction lacked creativity has not read The Confessions of Adam.~DiAnn Mills

The Confessions of Adam is thought-provoking exploration of the possibilities—oh, the possibilities!--of what is left unsaid in the life of Adam.~Cynthia Ruchti

286 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2019

Reviews

[DiAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Marsh's debut novel is a page-turner. I really enjoyed it!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking & somber with creative & touching moments. A unique vision of Adam & Eve’s story.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own--I was not required to write a positive review.

The story of Adam and Eve I've read over the years is the version translated from Hebrew into Biblical English, which makes use of archaic language and sentence constructions. This made the story boring. Reading it frustrated me.

In "The Confessions of Adam," Marsh found the perfect way to tell the origin story. In meticulously crafted sentences--each one clear while conveying a sense of the time--Marsh gives us Oren, a scribe who Adam hires to record his beginnings. Marsh's version of this iconic story is so captivating and clear that I could see the scar on Adam's side, smell the stew he made for Eve, and hear the bustle in the town of Susa.

Confessions is a book for everyone--it gives believers a new way to appreciate the story that defines their faith, and gives non-believers an entryway into the tale about the first humans. Here is a version of the story Adam and Eve that is not only relatable, but evocative and lush in its descriptions of this time in history. Confessions is a beautiful retelling of the origin story. It's the best kind of book--the one I didn't know I had been waiting to read.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading David Marsh's The Confessions of Adam, I can't believe someone didn't already think of this idea: to write the story of Adam from Adam's perspective! What a creative, beautiful, yet tragic story.

At the beginning of the book we meet Oren, a scribe, who has been given the task of writing down the story of the creation and the fall from Adam, whom he has just met. As Adam shares more and more, Oren discovers common themes about his own life's journeys with Adam, including parenthood, regrets, and lost love.

The story goes back and forth between Adam's and Oren's perspectives, keeping you interested. This book is full of great detail and description. I had one picture in my head of these events, and this book changed it all for me, from Adam naming all of the animals, to the tree with forbidden fruit, to the ultimate fall and expulsion from the garden. A great deal of the focus of the book was on the consequences of that fall. I had never considered how the choices of Adam and Eve not only affected humans, but nature as well.

There were some great scenes in this book. I don't want to spoil anything, but Adam's longing for a partner, the way God deals with Adam and Eve after the fall, and the first sacrifice were just amazing. Marsh's use of words, perspective, and tone were spot on. That being said, a few of the scenes between Adam and Eve felt forced, using too much detail. Also, the ending was not what I wanted at all.

Overall, a great book. Would be a great read for someone wanting a fresh perspective on a story that is older than history. Well done!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a a positive review.

[Aaron Zook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb read! Imaginative fiction grounded in Biblical research! For anyone interested in the real first family, Adam and Eve, David Marsh provides a glimpse of what could have been—from perfection between God and man to a destroyed relationship resulting in unforeseen consequences. David guides us through the gut-wrenching consequences of a choice gone wrong resulting in a land of difficulties, pain, and suffering. With Oren of Susa, a well-known scribe, jotting down notes, David Marsh rolls out the details of each decision by Adam and Eve. From one scene to the next, David unravels consequences of the all-encompassing decisions made in the Garden of Eden. Enjoyable! Suspenseful! Get your copy now!


Aaron

Aaron M. Zook, Jr.
COL, U.S. Army (Retired)
Multi-Award-Winning Author
CEO, Lightwalker Ministries/ZookBooks
C 254-319-5103
Email: zookaaron@yahoo.com
Web: zookbooks.org
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Twitter: @ZookAaron
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1 John 1:7 "...but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a unique novel that gives a fictional account of Adam’s life. Adam, the first human, is now 930 years old and soon to pass into the next life and seeks to share his story with the world. He finds, Oren, a well renowned scribe, who will serve to receive Adam’s story and document it. At the same time, in Adam’s compassion he will ask Oren to share some of his life and we soon see the similarities between the two men. Adam, the every-man, has passed on certain attributes to all of us I guess, and we see this illustrated in the relationship between the storyteller and his scribe.

It’s an unusual type of novel, it almost reads like a memoir told by an observer (Oren) and then it switches to hearing the observer’s impressions. Marsh has clearly done a lot of research but we also must remember it is fictional so there is certain licence that he has used in telling Adam’s story. A couple of things didn’t really gel with me but I must allow him his licence to tell the story.

There are some wonderful descriptions of the beginnings, the naming of the animals and the Eden-life. Adam’s reflections were interesting to observe especially his immense grief in taking Eve to see the ‘Tree’. He never really gets over it and it’s terribly sad that he lived some 800 or so years with such grief when His Maker had forgiven Him and was already redeeming the situation through his genealogy.

There were a couple of scenes I wish we had seen in more detail, especially the temptation scene. This is so pivotal to the story and mankind that it surprised me we how Marsh chose to convey it.

It’s a hard one for me to review because it lacked the key things that drives a great story: invigorating tension and conflict. Even though Adam and Eve’s relationship changed dramatically after the Fall and Marsh did a good job demonstrating Eve’s desire to control I was more sad at the turn of events than riveted by them. There were scenes that were fascinating to read but others that I found a little dull and it ended a little tamely.

However, it reads easily and it’s good to read a well-informed fictional account of our beginnings.

[Katie]

The Confessions of Adam is a unique book that retells the story of Adam and Eve and explores what may have happened on and after that fateful day in Eden. Many of us are so overly familiar with the stories of Creation and The Fall that reading these accounts evokes the same mental pictures and the same thoughts time and again. This novel, however, gives readers the chance to look at the Biblical narrative with new eyes: to see the newly created world and everything in it alongside Adam, to be limited by his knowledge and experience and learn as he may have. While I don’t naturally gravitate toward Biblical narratives, I found myself drawn into this retelling. I hadn’t previously considered what happened to the first couple after The Fall, but as this novel explored the fallout of that day, I found my mind whirring with the possibilities. This book had me returning to Genesis over and over again, thinking “is this artistic license or had I just always assumed that _________?” and I value a book that causes its readers to reconsider ideas and opinions. While I might have written portions of the novel differently (Cain and Abel’s story seemed a little rushed, and I felt jarred by how quickly the novel ended), I know I’ll never read Genesis the same way again. This was an imaginative and well-written debut novel, and I look forward to seeing more from this author.

[Tom Pado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to the local bookstore and came out with Mr Marsh's book. I found It a good easy read. A page turner. I never thought of reading religious fiction. Now I will look for more books of this kind. I wondered Is this a way of telling the reader what the author really thought what happened or just a great story subject? Adam an Eve is a well known story and this slant on Adam would be enjoyed by many. I recommend you buy it. You will not be disappointed. Thank you Mr. Marsh for writing it. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Tom Pado Author

[Tiffini J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so unique which is one of the reasons I loved it. I love historical literature in general, but Biblical history brought to life has to be a favorite of mine. This book stays true to what we know from Scripture but the author uses amazing creativity and imagery in imagining what the details of this well-known story could look like. It really made me think in a new way and brought the whole story of Adam to life. You will find yourself thinking about the story long after you finish reading it. I highly recommend this book!

[Vance Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put, I love the way David J. Marsh’s creativity stokes my own imagination about the creation, fall, and “first family” of all mankind. I heartily recommend this book and look forward to Marsh’s future work!

[Tom Hanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very thoughtful read. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a different perspective of the story of Adam and Eve.

[Becca Harbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome theological and masterfully written

[zoe olesker · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a beautiful, well-written, compelling, and reflective book. i loved the story, characters, and creativity. i cannot recommend enough.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My words seem inferior to try and review this book. When a book draws you in like this one does, I find it difficult to state the reason why. It's not overly descriptive, and it's not just action. It's a delightful mix of both that is just a wonderful, comfortable read. I am definitely going to my Bible to read the original story to try and find the springboard that the author found for his story. The icing on the cake is that the author is a fellow Hoosier. I look forward to his next novel.

[Melissa Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Marsh is a great storyteller. This first novel is one not to miss! The story of Adam is told with a fresh perspective and thought provoking ideas which will take you back to reading Genesis 3. I love that the story intertwines the storyteller and Adam's stories. It isn't just a biblical narative but a story about love and loss, regret and redemption.
A great read that you won't want to miss.

[Frederick Heimbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine living many centuries in a pre-modern society, living long enough that even your descendants view you as a mythical person. This is the imaginative leap author David Marsh makes. It is the dilemma of Adam, the father of all living, at the end of his life. The result is this compelling, original novel. Highly recommended.