In The Beginning: Through A Snake's Eyes - Artie Sieven

We two make a meal out of the nut. It leaves me unsatisfied, however, so I thank him again, and set off to find something more to eat. 5% Loc 27
I was worried at first when this character(obviously the snake) met the furry creature, which from the description of it could have been a rat or a mouse... but this shows in a way the 'peace' that supposedly existed in the garden between creatures, however, the nut didn't satisfy the snake, so I worry what will happen next.

“Welcome, friends,” says a deep voice. We look up to see a giant beast, who easily towers over everyone present. His bare hide is grey and wrinkled. His ears are large and wide, and his nose stretches down to the ground. Even when standing straight up, I barely reach his knee.8% Loc 58
One thing I find I'm liking is that nothing is named, and you have to work out what each thing is. This obviously is an elephant, and it's not hard to work out, but... the idea is nice.

“I have seen a large tree in the middle of the forest – larger than any other present. Its limbs bear the weight of heavy fruit, which is beautiful to look at and sweet to smell. I tried to sample some of this fruit, but as I approached my selection, I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. I felt as if it was completely wrong, what I was doing, and felt sick to my stomach. I believe this tree may hold some clue as to the nature of this place and our purpose here, and therefore we should investigate this phenomenon further.”12% Loc 89
This is what is said by a large white bird. Obviously the Tree of Knowledge and the fruits the apples, but what I liked about this passage was that it foreshadows what we all know is coming, but puts a different spin on it - that it's not just Satan sticking his oar in with Eve to get her to eat, but that everyone and everything is curious about this and wants to know. Begs the question - was 'God' wrong to deny knowledge to all in the first place, though that's a whole philosophical and theosophical question in and of itself.

“Hello,” he says as we approach.
“Hello,” I respond. “I apologize if we’re intruding.”
“Not at all,” he says, and bends down to greet us. “Please, share my fire.”
"Fire?” my companion asks.
“Yes,” he answers, gesturing toward the flickering light. “This is called ‘fire.’” “Fire,” I repeat. “Very good name. It suits it. We shall have to tell the others.” 18% Loc 148
Meeting Adam. I included this note because I find that as I'm reading I'm looking of what I 'know' should be there - and this whole 'naming' of everything that fell to Adam and Eve. There was a musical once, it didn't do very well and closed very quickly, called "Children of Eden," I love the music from the show though, have it on CD somewhere, and there's a song in it where everything gets named. It came to mind as I was reading this part.

“This is strange,” says the large white-headed bird. He is perched again on the giant beast’s shoulder. “What makes them different than any of us? They should join the gathering.” 23% Loc 195
I wondered at this part, at what could be the beginnings of an antipathy between the animals and man... not sure how I feel about it.

Adam looks to Eve briefly, and then asks, “Tree? What tree?”
Eagle’s eyes narrow, fixated on Adam. “I believe you know exactly what tree. The large tree. That bears fruit.” “The Tree of Knowledge,” Adam murmurs. Eve lets out a sigh of frustration. 37% Loc 315
So here we start to see a hint of discord, or perhaps you could call it similarity between the animals and Eve at least, if not Adam... she's obviously bothered by not knowing much about the Tree either.

We have all left the tree feeling guilty, unsatisfied, and hungry.39% Loc 338
It was around here that I realised I'd started reading what is essentially a very simply written story, in a more symbolic way... a metaphorical way. I read this phrase and started to think about wanting to know something, and yes, when we want to know something and don't (or can't find out) we do feel frustrated, or 'unsatisfied' and 'hungry' for that knowledge... but do we feel 'guilty' that we don't know something? Bears thought.

Eve jumps up. “I’m tired of discussing this. Please leave.” Elephant cocks his head, questioningly. “What do you mean? We are only trying to discern what is going on here.”
“I understand that, but you are asking questions whose answers do not concern you. Thank you for visiting us. Good day.” Eve turns and walks into the cave. Adam, dumbfounded, follows behind. 40% Loc 358
Okay, I know the author has a 'canon' to follow, but I wonder if he wouldn't have been better served not following it quite so tightly and making Eve out to be so rude! Mind you at 48% he does a complete U-turn, making Eve out to be simply ultra-obedient, though she does seem to be acting obedient out of fear of punishment though.

I am not comfortable with this answer. I feel that Adam and Eve are not acting according to the greater good of all concerned. We have all been confined to this place.50% Loc 438
I find it interesting that the animals feel 'confined' by the Garden... can't help wondering why, when I thought everything was supposed to be rosy therein.

The bird snaps his beak in my direction, and I retreat behind one of Elephant’s giant ears. Eagle laughs again, loud and long. “I don’t know what Adam and Eve meant about ‘terrible secrets.’ I feel illuminated.” 58% Loc 514
You know before he says this that Eagle has already tasted the fruit, because of what he does (swooping down and picking up Mouse in his talons), but this is interesting - that it was Eagle first, not anyone else, it also starts the first of the conflicts among the animals as Snake and Elephant work together to save Mouse... but as River would say "Spoilers" and that's all I'll say about how they do it.

We’re afraid of what we don’t know. 83% Loc 740
And this persists... we fear the unknown, and when we fear we indulge in certain behaviours that cause conflicts. Smacked upside the head by this... most definitely, yes.

“A punishment worse than this existence? Of not knowing? Of waking up, eating food, trying not to become food, and then going to sleep?” 85% Loc 760
So there we have it. The 'evil' snake trying to persuade Eve to eat. Snake even backs down when she tells him she can't. It was a refreshing view. Fitting with, but contradicing the knowledge we're 'given' in the 'Good Book.'

“You’re Snake.”
“Yes, but what does that mean? I have no idea why I’m here. What I’m meant to do.”
“Neither do I,” Eve concedes, sadly. 87% Loc 779
There too, a reflection of everyone in a simple few paragraphs. Who am I? Why am I here?

The only other thing I want to say is that I liked the little twist at the end - but, if I tell you what it is, it won't be a surprise.

"Begs the question - was 'God' wrong to deny knowledge to all in the first place, though that's a whole philosophical and theosophical question in and of itself."

I think that if you're going to run with this, God puts the fruit out there in the garden. First one to it evolves into an intelligent form. Humans win, thanks to Eve. Yay us. Then you've got rats coming in and nibbling on the apple core, of course. ;) Second place spoils aren't too shabby. :) (Of course I find out it isn't the humans who eat first. Oh well.)

"I find it interesting that the animals feel 'confined' by the Garden... can't help wondering why, when I thought everything was supposed to be rosy therein."

If you're looking at it from my perspective, mentioned above, they're confined because they crave more, but they don't know what. They're antsy. A lot of times when you've reached the limit of what you can do in a place and you get bored, you start to feel confined and want to burst out somewhere and explore. (Maybe that explains
The Doctor's energy. *g*)

I may decide to use this as one of my snake books for the year. :)

You could be right about the whole thing of the Doctor's energy *g*

If you decide to use it, let me know. I'm sure it's enabled for Kindle loans. :)

Well I redid some of my snake reading, but I might need it around Christmas, in which case, I can probably use your kindle.