Sarah: Women of Genesis Series

Many readers may wonder exactly why a man would be interested in this series.  They may even wonder specifically why I would be reading this book.  The honest answer is that despite the overtly feminine themes and the clearly female demographic that Sarah was written for I am a consummate fan of Orson Scott Card and having read some of his novels with strong female characters I felt like this would be another opportunity to see how a man writes for/like women.  Yup.  I said that men and women do in fact write differently.  It's not a matter of content.  It's not even a matter of the characters and themes, although those do in fact make a difference.  When it comes right down to it when asked I think that most women and men could tell whether an author was male or female simply by reading a book.  Women have used pseudonyms to enter the literature market as men.  Some have done so very successfully.  Rarely have men done something similar.  Why?  I would contend that Orson Scott Card could have successfully done so with this series.  I have read Rachel and Leah before reading this and when I read it again (this time in the proper order) I will review it as well.  That book was so enthralling and classic Card that I was anxious to get time and my hands on the rest of the series.  After reading Sarah I can say proudly that I understand women better as a result.
This book is really an opportunity to see how women's intuition is experienced and more specifically it also helped me understand a little better how to sense the whisperings of the Spirit in my life.  Sarai (her pre-Covenant name) is strong, smart and spiritual.  Abram may have been a holy man from the beginning but the reality is that (at least in the context of this fictional book) the saying that behind every great man there is a greater woman is indeed true.  I found myself admiring Sarai (and by extension all women) for her weaknesses and strengths, her self doubt and confidence.  Orson Scott Card makes the culture of the middle east come to life and pours on modern interactions, which really aren't modern at all, to make this a really entertaining book.  I'm now about half way through Rebekah and while very different from Sarah is, so far, a very good companion to Sarah.  Look for my next review early next week or sooner depending on my ability to finish the book.  Read this book and let me know what you think.