Rating: 
Summary: Just about my favorite book
Review: I am a very spiritual person and really wanted to find a book that told the story of a woman that finds her faith and plays a huge part in the Bible. Thats what I found with this book. I guess she is someone to look up to cause for starters she was a woman who wasn't perfect. She made mistakes like everyone else but she found forgiveness. This book can make you think and can inpsire hope to those who might not always be hopeful. There are many lessons to learn from this book. But with putting the whole religion thing aside, this book tells such a beautiful and pure love story that you can be so deeply moved by. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: WDKM
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it not only fun to read but I enjoyed learning more about the people in the bible. At least how they "might" have been like. He made the characters come alive. I give it a strong recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Exactly The Bible Story
Review: Orson Scott Card, who usually writes science fiction, turns his hand here to the story of Sarah, from Genesis. He begins with a spunky ten-year old "Sarai" and her bratty sister "Qira" who will later turn out, interestingly, to be Mrs. Lot. Card takes a number of liberties with the biblical story, but he has done prodigious research, and is able to make those almost prehistoric times, customs and peoples believable. I enjoyed the book and recommend it, but it has some limitations. The characters are one-dimensional and they never seem to grow or change. I was disappointed in the portrayal of Abraham's relationship to God--it was unique and unheard of for his time, not just another religious guy. Still and all, the book was most enjoyable and easy to read!
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good book
Review: Pretty darn good. I hadn't read much Bible fiction before this, but it's not half bad. This actually got me into reading my scriptures. It really makes the story of Sarah and Abraham come alive for you. It also makes the Pearl of Great Price easier to figure out, for any LDS people out there. My only complaint was that it made Sarah look like a total, spotless saint, and put all the blame for everything that went wrong on Hagar and Ishmael. She was a great lady and all, but OSC goes a little overboard with making her look good.
Rating: 
Summary: (3.5) A Biblical woman for the ages
Review: This historical novel offers an unusual look at the life of a woman from the Old Testament, Sarah, wife of Abraham. Well-researched, the story follows Sarah through her long life, her marriage to Abraham, and how that marriage enriched her life. The difficulties of a shepherd's wife are gratefully accepted and they live in abundance, even in the midst of want. Joined to Abraham, Sarah becomes an integral part of the foundation of the Tribes of Israel.
Rating:
Summary: Typical Card - Excellent
Review: Card doesn't usually have to try very hard to win my praise. Aside from "Lost Boys" which was awful, I think I have enjoyed every book Orson Scott Card has written. I was a bit hesitant to read some of these more recent books, "Stone Tables" for instance, because I'm not particularly religious minded, however these books are extremely enjoyable as simpe fiction. Card has always been good at blending history and fiction ("Pastwatch" was a triumph) and he does just as well with the biblical stories. I am very much looking forward to the other books in the series, and - truthfully - for any further books from an author who excells with historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Memorable
Review: Orson Scott Card is a great writer. I do not use the term lightly but it is justified in his case because I have yet to read a book by him that I did not love. Sarah is no exception.Card brings this Biblical character to life and makes her choices and decisions understandable. We will never know what the real Sarah was like but if she was half as compelling as her fictional counterpart then she was worthy of her place in the Bible. Card's Sarah truly seems capable of being what she was in the Bible - the mother of a nation. Neither Sarah of Abraham are perfect - they have faults. Abraham doubts Sarah when she should have had his trust, Sarah doubts the power of God when her whole life was proof of his power but ultimately they are compelling characters drawn artfully. Card has a gift of accurate and real portrayals of women. They are not cardboard cut outs existing to prop up the male but fleshed out characters in their own right. Like many of Card's tales I hated it to end. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I realised that it was time to leave Sarah. Even if you usually read Card for his sci-fi and fantasy give this one a try. Everything that makes him a compelling author in those genres are in evidence here.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I absolutely loved this book. It really made this Biblical character become real to me. The novel was very well written and inspiring. I'm buying some copies to give as Mother's Day gifts.
Rating:
Summary: Brings History Alive
Review: This is a fascinating story. Starting with Sarah at the age of 10, it tells the story of Sarah and Abraham. Sarah springs to life from the very first page. Abraham, while more of a sketch and seen only through Sarah's eyes, is a vivid outline. To successfully describe a deeply religious man, one who spends hours every day in prayer, is an almost impossible task, but Card succeeds. In the same way, it seemed impossible to make the pharoah who holds Sarah captive for a year into a real person but the pharoah of Egypt and his court and his motives make complete sense. Card successfully avoids cliches. The Hagar-Sarah relationship is also well-done and becomes, through the character of Hagar, a searing commentary of the effects of slavery, abuse and powerlessness on the human soul. Sarah is kind to her slave Hagar and Hagar simply cannot accept the unfamiliar kindness. Card makes only one departure from the Bible. He makes Sarah's sister also be Lot's wife. This works very well up to a point. The sister, Qira, is a good foil for Sarah. Her selfishness points up Sarah's generosity and loving nature. Unfortunately, Qira's character is so bad that she stops being a real person. However, that's a minor flaw in an otherwise good book. At the end of the novel, the author makes comments on the writing of the book and how he solved the Biblical-historical dilemnas. I highly recommend reading that section as well as the story.
Rating:
Summary: A great book!
Review: I was familiar with the Abraham/Sarah story from long ago, but the depth that Mr. Card gives to these characters in this novel truly brings them to life in the mind's eye. Abraham is shown by his faith in God and how it never wavers. Sarah, with all the insecurity of being new to Abraham's faith, often wonders if she made the right decisions or if she is being punished for disobeying her father's wishes. Sarah's relationships with her sister and Hagar show how outward appearances often mask what is really going on. Hagar seemed to be Sarah's friend, but that masked the true feelings of hatred because of the master/slave relationship. I would recommend this book to anyone, and can't wait until I can get my hands on "Rebekah."
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