What do readers think of Eve by Elissa Elliott? Write your own review.

Author Elissa Elliott successfully combines the Biblical stories of Adam and Eve, and their sons Cain and Abel, with life in historical Mesopotamia in her novel, "Eve - A Novel of the First Woman".

Fans of Anita Diamant's "Red Tent" will enjoy this book, which drew me further into their fascinating ancient world with each turn of the page. Narration in alternating chapters by Eve and her daughters Naava, Aya and Dara gives the reader an overall snapshot of life for females at this time in history.

Elliott's reimagining of life in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve's fall from grace, and Cain's killing of his brother Abel add a new dimension to the familiar stories.

Even the afterword to this wonderful novel is interesting, with the author sharing her intensive search for historical accuracy.

The heart of the novel, however, is the undying love that Adam and Eve have for each other. It is inspiring.

I liked this book as told from the perspective of the real first family females. Although it was historical fiction, the book brought to light typical family issues that are still with us today. The character development and the philosophical insights that the author offered added much to the story without belaboring Judeo-Christian perspectives. I was a little disappointed in the explanations at the end of the book, and though it was obvious that the author did quite extensive research. I would recommend this book to religious book study groups, teenagers, female book groups and womens' study groups.

Even though I already know the story of Adam and Eve from the Bible, I liked this book from the beginning. Although it is fiction, it is based on historical fact and tells the story from the perspective of the females of the family. It kept me entertained throughout and I would definitely recommend it to others.

This tale of Adam, Eve and their family drew me in immediately, perhaps because it tells the "rest of the story" - that which does not appear in Genesis. And, because it is related with such conviction, I found it necessary to stop on occasion, reminding myself that this is a work of fiction - very convincing, well-written historical fiction.

"Eve" gives birth to much thought and many questions. I enjoyed it immensely; it has inspired a research bug in me and I feel that the author's afterword is a sound jumping off place.

I would heartily recommend "Eve" as an excellent book club choice, for it certainly has the capability of stimulating a wealth of discussion.

I did not care for this book. i found the writing to be insipid...the characters' voices (Eva and her daughters, Naava, Dara and Aya) all seemed the same. I did not find that they were truthful to the time or the atmosphere. i found myself thinking, are they really saying these things and in this way? I didn't care for any of the characters, save Aya, and I couldn't bring myself to care about them. I am so disappointed in Eve, I had hoped it would be similar to The Red Tent but it was just so poorly written that I couldn't get past it to enjoy the plotlines. I really wanted to give it 2 stars and I wish there were a designation between poor and average. it just didn't work for me, on any level.

On one level, this book takes us back to the beginning of creation with all the wonder and glorious newness surrounding the inception of the world. On a larger scale, this books examines the lives and relationships of and within a family, albeit the first humans known to walk the earth. Rife with historic detail, the saga of each and every character is woven into the Genesis story with much the same conflicts, strife and forgiveness dealt with every day within 21st century families.

Like most people who were brought up Christian, I know the story of Adam and Eve, of Cain and Abel. The Bible itself is sketchy on the details so I often wondered what led Cain to kill Abel? Surely not simply the offering? There had to be something that led up to such hatred? What could it have been? What was life like for Adam and Eve, then anyway?

"Eve" answers that question based on meticulous research of life in Mesopotamia. Of course, it's fiction, so the author takes quite a bit of creative license. The story is told in 4 perspectives, that of Eve and her daughters: Naava, Aya and Dara. The story begins at the end and weaves back and forth in time.

What that leaves us with is a story that makes Eve come alive. All the characters are shown fully with sympathetic and non-sympathetic characteristics. They, too, wonder where all these other people came from if Adam and Eve were the first two people on earth.

Elliott's writing is beautifully descriptive. The story captured my attention early and I couldn't wait to finish yet I made myself read slowly to savor every bit and to not miss anything.

If you're a fan of The Red Tent, you'll love this story. If you've ever wondered about who Eve really was, you'll like this story. If you're interested in people who question their faith, you'll enjoy this story. Aya is very New Thought in her approach to spirituality.

I was sorry to see the book end and I was left wanting to know more about what happened to Cain, Naava, to Dara and Aya. Maybe Elliott will write another book!