Book Description
Born into a time and place where a woman speaks her mind at her peril, and reared as a motherless child by a doting father, Rebekah grew up to be a stunning, headstrong beauty. She was chosen by God for a special destiny.
Rebekah leaves her father's house to marry Isaac, the studious young son of the Patriarch Abraham, only to find herself caught up in a series of painful rivalries, first between her husband and his brother Ishmael, and later between her sons Jacob and Esau. Her struggles to find her place in the family of Abraham are a true test of her faith, but through it all she finds her own relationship with God and does her best to serve His cause in the lives of those she loves.
In Rebekah, Orson Scott Card has created an astonishing personality, complex and intriguing, and her story will engage your heart as it captures your imagination.
About the Author
Born in Richland, Washington in 1951, Orson Scott Card grew up in California, Arizona, and Utah. He lived in Brazil for two years as an unpaid missionary for the Mormon Church and received degrees from Brigham Young University (1975) and the University of Utah (1981). The author of numerous books, Card was the first writer to receive both the Hugo and Nebula awards for best novel two years in a row, first for Ender's Game and then for the sequel Speaker for the Dead. He lives with his wife and children in North Carolina.
Rebekah FROM THE PUBLISHER
Born into a time and place where a woman speaks her mind at her peril, and reared as a motherless child by a doting father, Rebekah grew up to be a stunning, headstrong beauty. She was chosen by God for a special destiny.
Rebekah leaves her father's house to marry Isaac, the studious young son of the Patriarch Abraham, only to find herself caught up in a series of painful rivalries, first between her husband and his brother Ishmael, and later between her sons Jacob and Esau. Her struggles to find her place in the family of Abraham are a true test of her faith, but through it all she finds her own relationship with God and does her best to serve His cause in the lives of those she loves.
In Rebekah, Orson Scott Card has created an astonishing personality, complex and intriguing, and her story will engage your heart as it captures your imagination.
FROM THE CRITICS
KLIATT - Claire Rosser
Card, usually known for his SF and fantasy, continues his series about the women of Genesis here. (Sarah was reviewed in KLIATT, November 2001.) The stories of these women are shared by three major world religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Sarah, as Abraham's wife, was crucial in the decision to cast out Abraham's son by the handmaiden Hagarﾽthis son, Ismael, is the ancestor of Mohammed and the Arab people. Ismael is a major character in Rebekah, as well, seen as a beloved son of Abraham, returning to family celebrations after the death of Sarah. Rebekah marries the son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac. When she joins the family, Rebekah soon realizes there is a subtle rift between Isaac and his fatherﾽand Card develops the idea that Isaac must have been affected by his father's willingness to kill him in order to obey the will of God (the sacrifice of Isaac). Rebekah and Isaac feel that Abraham likes Ismael better, since Ismael, the father of many, is a successful patriarch himself. Isaac and Rebekah wait long years before bringing twin sons into the world: Jacob and Esau, Esau being the elder. Card prepares for the eventual decision of Rebekah to help trick the elderly Isaac into conveying the birthright to the second son, Jacob, by portraying Esau as a person not very interested in the holy writings, in the birthright itself; she feels that Jacob is the son who has the strongest faith in Abraham's God. This relationship between the twins is a mirror of the relationship between the sons of Abraham, Ismael and Isaac. Rebekah is portrayed as a highly intelligent woman who can read and write, who commands the respect of her household, who has strong opinions and speaks her mind, evento the family patriarch, Abraham. This series is definitely for those interested in women in the Bible, and in such novels as The Red Tent. (Women of Genesis). KLIATT Codes: SAﾽRecommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2002, Tor, Forge, 404p.,
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