Noah's Wife
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3.8 • 6 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
In the tradition of Daniel Wallace’s Big Fish and Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child, a gorgeously written and fable-like novel recasting Noah’s Ark as a story of relationships, courage, resilience, and hope.
“Variously romantic, symbolic, philosophical, feminist, and fanciful, this is an atmospheric tale that meanders to a sweetly rousing conclusion. . . . Forget the ark, forget the patriarch. It's the women who tend to triumph in this modern take on an Old Testament parable.” – Kirkus Reviews
In loving Noah, his wife never imagined she’d end up in this gray and wet little town where it’s been raining for as long as anyone can remember. Newly appointed as pastor, Noah is determined to bring the eccentric townspeople back to the church, but the members of his congregation only want to keep their homes afloat. As the water swallows up the houses, the renowned zoo, and the single highway out of town, Noah, his wife, and their new neighbors must confront not only the savage forces of nature but also the fragile ties that bind them to one another.
Poignant and whimsical, playful and wise, Noah’s Wife challenges our expectations of love, commitment, and redemption. By reimagining this classic story in a new and modern light, the novel asks: how do we know when to stay and when it’s time to go?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Debut author Starck inventively imagines Old Testament stories within a contemporary setting. Noah and his photographer wife swap his city parish for ministry in an unnamed coastal town where it won't stop raining. The former reverend of the town committed suicide, but the remaining townspeople are a resilient, quirky bunch, including Mrs. McGinn, the outspoken diner owner and de facto mayor, and Mauro, a shopkeeper. Sometimes the naming is a bit obvious: Adam is the zookeeper, and Jonas is the weatherman who foresees doom. Noah begins the thankless tasks of restoring the dilapidated church and encouraging his parishioners, but doubts he is making any difference. His dutiful wife never named serves the community on his behalf, tending to displaced zoo animals and concocting a flood evacuation plan. The novel's 40 chapters cleverly reflect the 40 days of the Genesis flood. Minor characters, such as a widower who performs magic tricks, take on more and more significance, until eventually their sermonizing supplants Noah's former role. Meanwhile, his wife largely remains a cipher. Still, the biblical motifs of pairs, exodus, exile, prophecy, and hope echo strongly. Starck's bright voice should hold particular appeal for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Sara Gruen.
