Review: A Peek at Bathsheba
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 07 8, 2014
I can't believe every other reviewer so far has given this book five stars.  I only made it 7% of the way through the book before stopping, and making it that 7% was hard.  Here's why:  I felt the author completely failed to capture both the language and the personalities of the characters.  It did not at all match what I would expect ancient Israelites to speak like, and the characters personalities didn't match the description the Bible provide of them.For instance, words and phrases like:"Yeah, right.""What d'you have against it?""Booty."I'm pretty sure those words\phrases didn't exist for centuries to come.  So as the reader the story lost its feel of authenticity.I also hated how the author portrayed David.  Here are some quotes from David:"Admitting my weaknesses is not in my nature.  I am, after all, the king.""I used to thrive on it. Fame... Grandeur... Glory.""My taste is more refined than Saul's, and much more expensive."None of these quotes make sense.  David grew up as a poor sheperd boy, and spent most of his time with his flock, caring for them and protecting them. Later he spent years living in caves, hiding from Saul. Meanwhile, the Bible describes Saul as selfish and materialistic. So I doubt David would have had more refined, expensive taste than Saul.  David likely would have been happy with something simple.  I also don't like that the author implies David wasn't sorry for his sins and didn't like to admit his weaknesses.  Clearly, David did feel remorse over his sins.  We know this because in Israel, the penalty for adultery was death.  And yet, god did not have David and Bathsheba killed.  That clearly indicates that David was repentant.  The bible makes it plain that, while not perfect, David was a humble, modest man, and had God's favor until the day he died.I also didn't like the author's description of Bathsheba.  She's made out to be a cold woman, who still holds a grudge against David for having an affair with her and killing her husband Uriah.  She claims that David only begged God for forgiveness, and never asked for her forgiveness. She is mad because she was made a laughing stock.  Except that it takes two to tango, so she was equally guilty.  Also, the bible says that Bathsheba's son Solomon was made the next king of Israel.  If Bathsheba had the sort of attitude the author describes, god never would have made her son king, but the fact that Solomon was king implies that Bathsheba accepted her share of the sin and was repentant.  She was not the cold, disrespectful woman the author portrays.Lastly, the author's description of Abigail makes no sense what's so ever.  The bible describes Abigail as a meek, mild, humble woman.  That was why David married her, because she went out of her way to correct her first husband's mistake.  But in this novel, the author makes Abigail out to be a woman who is only interested in getting a new dress, one who promises David that if he gives her a new dress, she will be sure to thank him properly.  Wow, what a selfish, manipulative woman!  It just doesn't fit the description the Bible provides of her.So, that's why I only made it 7% of the way through this book. If you want to read a book that makes no sense, a book that contradicts the bible, a book that turns faithful people that God favored into selfish, evil people that God clearly would NOT favor, then this is the book for you.