Marc Graham

Half-sisters Bilkis and Makeda are daughters of the Mukarrib or chieftain of Saba. When a flood overruns the land, Bilkis does her best to protect Makeda, but Blikis is swept away in the waters for her efforts. Bilkis is believed to have perished in the flood, but is found by merchants making their way to Yisrael. On their journey, Bilkis' caravan is attacked and she is claimed by the King of Yisrael. Bilkis soon learns the ways of a Queen and orchestrates people and events to her whims. Bilkis grows and secures her son to the throne, ruling still through him. She decides a temple should be built and is surprised when stonemason Yeltzer is chosen for the job. In Saba, Makeda has earned her place as Mukarrib after her father passed and her mother sacrificed after building a dam to secure water for Saba's future. Years pass and the earthen dam is soon to fail. When Makeda learns of a builder of stone, she follows a a trader to Yisrael to discover her sister once again.

The story of the Queen of Sheba is veiled in mystery. The time period of around 550 BCE is not very well documented, however Marc Graham manages to bring the stories of Bilkis, Makeda and Yeltzer alive. In addition to these characters that the narrative alternates between, the landscape, dwellings, rituals and beliefs are richly described. I was amazed at how well I could connect with the lives of these people that lived so long ago. Their motivations and emotions resonated through the years. Bilkis and Makeda's relationship as well as their choices made while Queen were incredibly interesting. Bilkis and Makeda are two sides of the same coin, both strong leaders who are destined to rule; yet, one is guided by force and manipulation and the other with care and sympathy for her people. Yeltzer's character as the builder of the Temple of Urusalim was fascinating to follow, his life seemed destined to be continuous trial and heartbreak and he always seemed to make to best of his situation. The journeys of all three characters ends with the promise of more, and I would love to read more. The story of these characters and the writing carries through and resonates throughout many years creating a harmony of time and place, bringing to life a story of people who have only been known to us through a few verses of religious texts.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (mehr)

I thought this was a good book. Mr. Graham did a nice job of eveloping me into the world. I was instantly transported back in time. This book is got three voices...Bilkis, Makeda, and Yetzer. Each one does stand out.

Makeda has a bitter attitude. It had nothing to do with the fact that she was swept away during the flood. It is because she was jealous of Bilkis. Yet, Bilkis was nothing if not nice towards her sister. This is a case of sibling rivalry. Than you throw in the mix Yetzer.

This story is infused with life and a rich storyline. Yet, while I did like the characters and their voices, I struggled to form that deep connection with them. Thus there was like a barrier keeping me from fully embracing them. So it was kind of like I was a specter watching the story unfold. However, I would still suggest this book to someone looking for a new read.… (mehr)

This novel starts of with a bang – literally. Jim Robbins, the hero of the tale gets blown up while helping to lay new railroad in Australia. As he lays dying he looks back on his life – the good, the bad and yes, the ugly. He goes all the way back to his childhood on the family farm where his father worked for the rich neighbor until he was severely injured, through the Civil War, westward expansion and more.

Jim was a young man who due to his upbringing should have finished his life much as it started – poor and uneducated but he was given an opportunity to better himself and he took advantage of whatever he could. He loved to read and he learned a valuable trade that would carry him forward the rest of his life.

This book touches on so many themes from slavery – including the treatment of slaves and runaway slaves – class differences, Masonry, immigrant policies, Indian policies and more. It’s a lot of controversy to cover in one man’s life and yet it does somehow all work. Jim is a fascinating character and a complex one. He does seem to suffer from more than his fair share of tragedy and I, being a hopeful soul was a touch distressed by this. But life is not always about the happy ending. This was a thought provoking, page turner of a book.… (mehr)