Rating: 
Summary: Sweet Sarai
Review: This was an interesting account of the wife of "Father Abraham." I love that, at the end of the book, Card explains why he made certain decisions about the story and where he did his research. I don't always agree with his interpretation of the story, but (as has most Biblical fiction) the book has made me anxious to open my Bible and read its account of Sarah, digesting every word like precious wine (excepting that I don't actually like wine, but you get the picture). My favorite part of the book was his interpretations of Lot's wife and Hagar, the handmaid who bore Ishmael. If those women truly were how they are portrayed in this novel, then it would explain a lot about why their lives turned out how they did.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Sarai
Review: This was an interesting account of the wife of "Father Abraham." I love that, at the end of the book, Card explains why he made certain decisions about the story and where he did his research. I don't always agree with his interpretation of the story, but (as has most Biblical fiction) the book has made me anxious to open my Bible and read its account of Sarah, digesting every word like precious wine (excepting that I don't actually like wine, but you get the picture). My favorite part of the book was his interpretations of Lot's wife and Hagar, the handmaid who bore Ishmael. If those women truly were how they are portrayed in this novel, then it would explain a lot about why their lives turned out how they did.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Sarai
Review: This was an interesting account of the wife of "Father Abraham." I love that, at the end of the book, Card explains why he made certain decisions about the story and where he did his research. I don't always agree with his interpretation of the story, but (as has most Biblical fiction) the book has made me anxious to open my Bible and read its account of Sarah, digesting every word like precious wine (excepting that I don't actually like wine, but you get the picture). My favorite part of the book was his interpretations of Lot's wife and Hagar, the handmaid who bore Ishmael. If those women truly were how they are portrayed in this novel, then it would explain a lot about why their lives turned out how they did.
Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: This was both fun and historical reading. Using factual names of characters, places and cultural events, Card created an amusing work of fiction that echos great importance. Everyone should read this for both Card's creative ingenius and crafty storytelling...as well as for it's spiritual significance.
Rating:
Summary: a tradition of strong women, and strong marriages
Review: Unlike what one other reviewer has written here, I believe this book is very much in keeping with almost all other novels Card has written: characters of strength and integrity committed to some grand cause, sometimes misunderstanding each other, coming to equality in relationships by the end. Of course, a little politicking/social maneuvering is thrown in as well, as well as historicity of customs and action (oooh, how racy =were= those Egyptians, anyway? One wonders if today's fashions of tight Tshirts and bun-hugging jeans, though not as translucent as the Egyptian linens, would have been found objectionable by the modest desert nomads?)While Card adds details not found in the original Biblical source (and he also admits to adding some details that are not found in the Old Testament, but are in Mormon scripture), he also edits the story to sew up some plot holes - not unreasonable, considering, as with many of the Genesis stories, there is more than one source (checking my Bible, it mentions that both the Eloist and Yahwist sources both contribute (so named because of their words for God - either Eloi or Yahweh)). One sees the repitition of the device of the man claiming his wife to be his sister in the Bible - not only twice in the case of Abraham and Sarah, but also in Isaac's story. Many of these plot changes may irritate a Biblical fundamentalist, but they are not too glaring. I had to go back to the Bible to figure out what was changed -- the story pretty much agreed with the tale I remember hearing as a child. However, the best part of this book was Sarah herself. Like most women in Card's fiction, she gets to be a strong person in her own right - not pretending to be less intelligent or skilled than she is, not bowing under men's authority or words simply because they are men. People might complain about the less attractive female characters Qira and Hagar, but he also gives these women autonomous characters. They do not blend into the background, but are shown as captains of their own souls, even if they turn out to have made poor choices. Most importantly with Sarah, Card shows how a person of faith lives when they do not get to hear God's voice directly. Abraham gets to hear God speak, so he is sure in knowing that he shall be the ancestor of a great people, he is sure that he shall win military conflict, he is sure of eventual success. Sarah must hear the words of God through others, and in a world that offers many gods, she doubts and is hurt by the conflict between her doubt and her faith. I see this book as being popular among people of faith, whatever their religions, for it mirrors some of their own conflicts (If there is a benevolent God, why is there so much suffering? Am I being punished by God for something?) in their souls.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! give me more!
Review: What a fantastic way to learn about the wonderful women of the Bible. I hope Orson continues, beyond Genisis!
Rating:
Summary: Sarah - A Great Book
Review: When my book group decided to read the book Sarah, by Orson Scott Card, I didn't think I would like it. I knew that Orson Scott Card wrote science fiction novels, and I don't like science fiction that much so my expectations of actually liking the book weren't very high.
Was I surprised! I loved the book. It was about the story of Sarah and Abraham and the book was based on their story from the book of Genesis in the Bible. There wasn't a dull moment in the story and by the end I felt as if I knew Sarah and Abraham really well. It is not your typical book from a science fiction writer and I really enjoyed reading it. There were so many great moments in the book and I experienced a wide spectrum of feelings and emotions while reading the book. People might think that because it was based on a story from the Bible it would be boring, but it wasn't. It was a really good story with a great plot and I loved the storyline and dialogue between Sarah and Abraham. It was an awesome book! :)
Rating:
Summary: Can a male writer convincingly write a female character?
Review: While reading Sarah the above question kept occurring to me. Sometimes I thought Card created a female character that was convincing, appealing, and heroic. Other times I found Card's depiction of Sarah unbelievable. Many times while reading this novel, I thought to myself: "No woman I've ever known would act that way . . ." However, I really did enjoy this novel. It is an easy read. I would highly recommend this book as a young adult book. Adults will enjoy it but it is not as engaging as I expected it to be. Card does play with Biblical stories in order to make the novel more interesting. For example, Lot's wife is Sarah's sister, which creates several subplots including the destruction of Sodom. I also thought Abraham was a little two-dimensional. And the treatment of the other female characters in the novel was stereotypical. Every female was "evil" or bad except for Sarah, who oftentimes lacked a certain depth and complexity. Sarah is not a book I would reread again but I think it is worthwhile reading material.
Rating:
Summary: I'm very sleepy
Review: Why am I sleepy? Not because this book was boring, because I couldn't put it down. I had to stay up until 2am to finish it. This book humanizes the great patriarch and his wife, without defiling his great faith and works. I found the stories in this book very plausible and quite well crafted. The tender and playful relationship between Abraham and Sarah rings true to human experience. The human flaws and mistakes that some bible zealots would find blasphemous, serve to show the great faith that the two had, and the dependence that everyman has on a supporting faithful wife. I honestly can't wait to read Rebecca. Well Done Orson, Ender should be jealous.
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