Bravery, Faith, and Miracles: A Modern “Book of Esther”
What if a woman who has been an historic example to others--a woman of myth who has inspired ritual and adoration--is also an ordinary woman, with ordinary struggles, who lives among us today? This is just the question that forms the center of the acclaimed novel Writing the Book of Ester, a perfect novel for Purim.
(PRWEB) February 17, 2005 -- Author Louise Domaratius transports us to Iran
to explore the trials of a Jewish, female journalist in Writing the Book of
Ester, a finalist for the 2004 ForeWord Book Award for Religious Fiction. In
Writing the Book of Ester, readers get a captivating glimpse into the life of
the Jewish-Iranian “Ester”, a woman who, upon marriage to a Muslim, struggles to
stay true to her own faith and still provide an atmosphere of tolerance in her
household. With the eventual death of her husband in a bombing, with the
strictures of a tyrannical regime, and with the confrontation of issues related
to rearing her children alone, Ester is faced with a myriad of decisions for
which there are no obvious answers.
Not a day goes by that the media
does not bring to our attention the story of a woman oppressed and faced with
difficult choices as to how she should proceed in the face of moral or religious
conflict. Author Louise Domaratius weaves a timely tale that takes readers back
and forth from current-day Iran to the ancient kingdom of Asaheurus, offering
striking parallels between the Biblical Queen Esther and her modern fictional
counterpart, and illustrating that such conflicts have existed throughout
history: Both women are forced to take momentous actions, and to rely on faith,
intuition, and an ultimate belief in the power of love and justice. The
comparison serves both to humanize the Esther of myth and to highlight the
bravery and extraordinariness of her contemporary.
A reviewer from the
Association of Jewish Libraries says of the novel Writing the Book of Ester: “We
are compelled to think through and define our own beliefs on the issues of love,
lust, loyalty and loathing. Do we despise or feel compassion for people who hurt
others and make mistakes? Do we accept or reject the relationships that develop
…? Can we consent to trickery and deceit, in exchange for safety and freedom? If
put to the test, how far would we stretch our morals and ethics? This book
offers us a mature look at the real world.”
For the thoughtful reader
interested in an engaging tale of the modern face of tolerance, this highly
recommended and “… remarkably engaging read” (Lilith Magazine) is perfect
reading for Purim, the upcoming Feast of Esther. Queen Esther was a model of
courage and forbearance, and, in a world of bigotry, intolerance, and isolation,
her actions continue to have relevance. In the words of author Louise
Domaratius: “Long may her spirit reign!”
For Additional Information Or A
Reader's Copy of Writing the Book of Ester, please contact Holly C. Gruber at
Quality Words In Print, (714) 436-5700 or e-mail protected from spam
bots.
Writing the Book of Ester by Louise Domaratius (hardcover, 304
pages, $21.95) was published by Quality Words In Print, and is available through
major internet booksellers and selected bookstores.
Quality Words In
Print is an independent publisher of literary fiction and non-fiction based in
Costa Mesa, California.
Contact Information:
Holly Gruber
Quality
Words In Print
(714) 436-5700
e-mail protected from spam bots
www.qwipbooks.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb209384.htm