Review: A very solid start to the series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 26, 2013
Review:Forty Days as the title/cover suggests is a play on the Biblical tale of Noah's Ark except with a decidedly Young Adult twist! I admit, I was a bit hesitant concerning this book. I didn't want to be preached at and I certainly didn't want my characters ie Women to be like those in the biblical version. Thankfully, this was not the case! To my pleasant surprise Stephanie Parent made this story completely her own and I for one couldn't be happier about that.One of the things I really enjoyed about Forty Days was the world building. The story starts with the Ark nearing completion. Through the character Neima we learn about the Arks origins, her family, the town and the daily lives of its people. The pacing of the story was quick but I never felt inundated with information. It was direct, to the point and best of all beautifully written.Which of course brings me to my second favorite thing about this book, the writing! This is my first Stephanie Parent book and I am impressed. Her writing has a very lyrical quality about it and it flowed smoothly over the pages. The imagery was so detailed I felt that if I leaned in close enough to my Kindle and sniffed I'd actually be able to smell the parched earth, the newly cut wood or the rain as it fell from the sky in an endless torrent.Lastly, I love how Stephanie Parent conveyed that while Noah's family supported him and his building of the Ark, they didn't actually believe he was sane or even that a God existed. It was refreshing to see that even Noah's family being "chosen" still had doubts. It also made a scene later on gut wrenching to see and brought back many feelings of anger about this tale that I've harbored since my youth.Now while I did really love the book with its fantastic writing and world building, I did take some small issues with the characters mainly Neima. I understand that Forty Days is set in a time where women aren't exactly treated as equals however... If someone has tried to molest you not just once but twice against your will surely you would speak up and tell a family member. Especially considering how important it was during those times to remain pure before marriage. I could forgive her refusal the first time it happened but the second time she should of spoken up. What the heck would she do if he succeeded and heaven forbid became pregnant? Virgin birth's already been done, can't use that excuse. This just really bugged me and made Neima seem weak.I also would of liked to have seen more perspective from those outside the ship as the floodwater started to rise. We do get a small glimpse teaser of the carnage but nowhere near enough for my liking.Overall, I really enjoyed Forty Days. The fabulous writing, striking visuals and the super adorable elephants Enise and Bilal definitely will have me coming back for more. I highly recommend picking Forty Days up and giving it a go. In the end, I will be rating Forty Days by Stephanie Parent ★★★★.