Michal: A Novel

Wonderful debut novel about a woman veiled in mystery!

"David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6:14-16."

Certain scriptures-and Biblical characters-have tugged at my mind for years. Why would Michal despise David, her handsome husband, whom she risked her life to save? Was David harsh on his wife, the daughter of a maddened king? And whatever happened to this surely beautiful, surely tortured soul?

In the first book of her "Wives of King David" series, Jill Eileen Smith adds rich details to a heartrending saga of the fall of the House of Saul and the building of the lineage of Christ as seen through the eyes of those usually hidden behind thick palace walls-the women. Smith dares to step into the multi-chambered rooms of the wives' quarters to pull the veil off jealousy and struggles for power. Fiction becomes a powerful tool to fill in the gaps between the recounting of David's life in 1 and 2 Samuel and the scant historical data available for research of this ancient Biblical era.

Thank you, Jill, for a wonderful book! Revell, kudos for a fabulous cover! Can't wait for Bathsheba!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

a reader who enjoys historical novels

I enjoyed the story about David and his wife Michal very much. The characters and story line kept me interested throughout the novel. I had a difficult time putting the book down. When I finished the novel, I wanted to read more of what happened to their (David and Michal's) relationship after Michal lost her family and finally found God in her life. I would definitely read more books by this author. Also, I would recommend it for book club discussions.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Love and Bitterness

Michal starts as frothy-sounding romance, but this is history and the ending cannot be happily-ever-after. Although we identify strongly with Princess Michal's desire for David's love, we also see her bitterness and the price she pays to cling to it. Smith uses David's psalms and dialog straight from Scripture to bring the Bible to life. The language turns a little more formal at those points, but works for me. A lot of King David's life is left out to be filled in from the perspective of others in this Wives of King David Series, but the ending, centered as it is around the family of King Saul, is satisfying in its own realistic way. I look forward to other books in the series.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Exceptional!!!

This is not just a story about Michal, King David's first wife -- it is a journey back in time to be experienced. You will feel the arid breeze of the desert and smell the freshly baked bread from the stone ovens. You will hear the children's laughter as they play in the streets and know the passion of hearts torn between God's will and mans' desires. Truly this is a tale that is destined for the wide screen....Enjoy!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Michal

I first chose this book because I like Christian fiction. I will admit I was rather ambivalent about the way this story was told. Some of it was true (Michal loved David) and some of it total fiction. I went back and read the Bible story of Michal. She is not mentioned overmuch in the Bible so reading a bit of fiction about her was interesting. I didn’t have to pay for the book, but it wouldn’t have been a total loss if I had to pay something for it…it got me to look for the real love story of Michal and David. It was a sad little story in the end. I will be looking for the remainder of these books

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommend

I enjoyed this book so much I wanted to read more. The author really took the time to research the history of the culture at this time in history. I believe what drew me to this book was a desire to know more about the time, culture, traditions and more about King David himself. While he takes a back seat to our main character (Michal) his story comes through loud and clear; as well as, issues facing not just his wife but all of the people.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Just O.K.

Told from a different view, it is O.K. Not as good as "The Kingmaker", another story of Michel which is much better written and easier to read. This book drags quite often and I skipped several pages here and there until the pace picked up again.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

highly recommended

As a Christian, I believe this book to be a great read for the biblical enthusiast or one who likes fiction. Very enjoyable.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Read this and be blessed

As I read Michal's story and came to know her I saw the ugliness of wanting our own way so badly we take matters into our own hands to make them come to pass. Still, life wasn't fair to this Princess from Bible times. And it wasn't just Michal who went her own way with out true authority. And as I saw her struggle with the truth about herself and turn to the one true god earnestly, I saw myself and the many errors I made along the way. This story made me cry.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Interesting perspective

This book did not captivate me as most other books about people of the Bible. I think because it dragged a bit. It is intrresting because it gives a different perspective to Michal. I never thought about if she REALLY loved David. I am curious to read the other books in this series.

Enjoyed this book but not at the top of my list

Enjoyed this book but not at the top of my list

Epic

The life of the bible came alive for me. I found a new love for God and the old testament. I learned from Michal's story lessons for my own life. I can't wait to read Abigal and 1and 2 Samuel.

Loving It

Had not given much time to Michal in David's life and this book is brining her part in the history to light. Excellent read..

Wonderful!

Having read Bathsheba and now Michal, I find this series of novels very interesting. Now to read Abigail...

This book brought the characters in the bible to life for me. I

This book brought the characters in the bible to life for me. It was so interestingly written that it made me pick up my bible to learn the whole story.

Anonymous

This book is good. Very intriguing and interesting. It gives anotger side to thr famous Bible story. It amazes me how an author can make a whole fiction story about a short Biblical story, yet keep it in line with the facts and tell her own story. If you dont like to read your Bible, start with a book like this. It makes you want to read the real story! This is a good read, i have resd it twice.

Very Good

Just finished this book. Truly enjoyed reading. Enjoyed the ending makes you think about our own lives. And followed right along with the Bible. Writer did a great job.

Highly Recommended-you must check it out.

This is a very good book and very informative.

Interesting Perspective

I enjoyed this book and the chance to look at King David in his early years as he waited to become King. It made me realize how many years he waited to see God's anointing come to pass, how many difficult situations he had to go through before he was able to return to Judah and Israel, and how he managed to stay steadfast to the Lord through it all. It reminded me that God does things in his own time, not on our timeline. Seeing the story from the viewpoint of Saul's daughter was also an interesting perspective and a reminder to stay humble before the Lord. A book well worth reading!

Excellent

Excellent book.