Author: Ginger Garrett
Publisher: David C Cook (April 2010)
ISBN: 978-1-4347-6801-8
Genre: Christian, fiction, Biblical fiction
Ginger Garrett’s retelling of this classic story gives new perspective to one of Scripture’s most beloved figures
Based on the historical account of Queen Esther of Persia, Chosen, by Ginger Garrett, is a contemporary account of this beloved and ancient story. Uniquely written in first-person diary format, renderings of Esther’s thoughts and experiences are interspersed with current-time news excerpts, which show how Esther’s tale is woven into our own lives.
Chosen tells the story of Queen Esther, the young woman with the future of her nation in her hands. Wrenched from a simple life for her beauty, Esther finds herself at the mercy of King Xerxes. Leaving behind her only relative, her cousin Mordecai, and her first true love, Cyrus, she is thrown headlong into the unrestrained extravagance of palace living. Quick of mind and strong in spirit, she refuses to suffer the fate of her harem sisters and boldly challenges Xerxes to give of his heart before taking his pleasure, thus sealing her place beside him as queen. While conspiracy spins its diabolical web, Esther’s mind and spirit waver, and she is forced to confront the past in order to save her future—and that of an entire nation.
Chosen, by Ginger Garrett from David C. Cook on Vimeo.
My Thoughts:
"Chosen" is a beautifully well told story of the life of Esther in a journal form. The story didn't feel like a story, but felt like reading an actual journal. It was so real and so alive. Esther tells her life from the heart, and transports you back with her to that time. I could feel the heartache and fear she lived with, and the faith that she held was nothing less than inspiring.
This is a wonderful piece of Biblical Historical Fiction that I found I couldn't put down. Ginger Garrett's writing style is amazing. She portrayed Esther so well, with such real feelings. Wow! I am really looking to the rest of the "Lost Loves of the Bible" series she is working on. They will definitely be treasures in any historical fiction library!
A: I chose these diaries for the Lost Loves series because of the potential for love that Esther lost.
The moment Esther was chosen for the harem, whatever hopes she had for her future, her heart, and her family were lost. She became one wife among thousands. She lost freedom and many days, she lost her dignity in the treatment she received.
However, Esther is foreshadowing the story of Christ, who tells us that to surrender our own desires and plans will lead to blessings unimaginable, and overflow goodness into the lives of others. Esther’s loss, and her submission to a cruel turn of events, resulted in the saving of a nation. Millions of Jews were saved throughout history by her sacrifices.
Q: What are the other books in the Lost Loves series?
A: I’ll be adding two novels: the stories of Jezebel and Delilah. Both women have been sorely overlooked by history, painted as cardboard villains without any understanding of who they were and why they acted as they did. Their stories are more poignant, and disturbing, than what we’ve ever imagined.
Q: Will you ever complete the Serpent Moon series?
A: Since I get this question every day on email from readers, I thought I’d answer it here, too!
Dark Hour began what was to be a trilogy of evil women from the Bible. However, due to circumstances well beyond my control, I had to stop work on the series, while certain events sorted themselves out.
While I won’t be returning to the trilogy, I will be returning to my desire to tell the stories of two epic women from biblical history: Jezebel and Delilah. Their stories, their passions, and the loves they lost compel me to finish the work.
It’s fitting, really, that these women be allowed to tell their tales without the stigma of being in a series about evil women of the Bible. Until we get past that label, and see their hearts, we can’t begin to understand the lessons they would whisper to us across the generations that separate us.
About the author: Ginger Garrett is the author of the Chronicles of the Scribes series (In the Shadow of Lions, In the Arms of Immortals, In the Eyes of Eternity), Dark Hour, and Beauty Secrets of the Bible. Focusing on ancient women’s history, Ginger creates novels and nonfiction resources that explore the lives of historical women. A frequent media guest and television host, Ginger has been interviewed by Fox News, Billy Graham’s The Hour of Decision, The Harvest Show, 104.7 The Fish Atlanta, and many other outlets. A graduate of Southern Methodist University with a degree in theater, she is passionate about creating art from history.
Interview and synopsis were provided by B&B Media Group. Book was provided by BB Media Group for me to honestly review.
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