2.5 ( )

This review is based on a NetGalley ARC.

How shall I describe this book? It was one half good and one half 'meh'.

First, the writing was good. I was drawn into the story immediately. I felt for Mariam, the main character, and her struggles in her husband's family.

At first, I thought this was a book about female empowerment in the Middle East. It could have been a rather contemporary work. Bit by bit it became clear, this story is set in a very early century AD among a small Jewish community.

The further I read, the more religious the story became. It felt odd, it drew my focus away from the story of Mariam, and her life. ( )

This is a story about abuse and those who survive it.
The main character, Miriam lives in a village in the time of leprosy when it was hard to live and more so if you were a woman. We meet her when she's married and already abused by her husband but we slowly get to know her story, what happened to her father, brother and sister and where did she get her precious alabaster jar.
This is a very important story, telling us what was forbidden for woman and what still is, how different is to be a man. This is a story that was told so many times but it's still not enough because we must always read these stories, to remember, never to forget.
I loved the writing, I love the characters, I love the plot. I will probably read it again.

I got this book trough NetGalley and I give my honest review. Thanks so much for sharing.
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