Israel, My Beloved by Kay Arthur Before reading this book, I had never heard of Kay Arthur. According to the library, this is Jewish Fiction, and I read it as such. However, going online, I find that Kay Arthur is in fact a Christian involved in missionary type activities. I find that this does affect my view of the book, and clarifies some views expressed in the book that made me wonder what sort of person might write such a book.
This book follows Jewish suffering from the destruction of the first temple onwards, by following the story of a person called Sarah. Sarah is really a metaphor, and her husband Abraham is meant to be God. She commits adultery, and refuses to return to her husband, and so he leaves Jerusalem and allows it to be captured. Sarah's story is then told through the following 2600 years or so, ending with her husband's return and the messiah.
As a metaphor, I found this story somewhat interesting, but as historical fiction it is seriously lacking. There are anachronisms everywhere(Islam before it existed). The characters are ridiculously similar to one another. Some characters are immortal and some are part of time periods, with no distictions between the two; how these immortal being live is quite unclear.
The intended audience for such a book is also unclear. There are many references to Jewish history that I do not think most people are aware of, and yet Jewish tradition is definitely not being represented. The oral law is dismissed and support for Karaitic views is expressed. But this book does not seem to be aimed at Moslems, who are misrepresented throughout, and the Catholic church is definitely being insulted, so who's left? The only possible purpose for this book that I can think of is to familiarize formerly religious Jews with Christian thought and to convert them.
Do not read.
