About the Book
Book: Eden
Author: Brennan S. McPherson
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Release Date: April 1, 2020
“You want me to tell of how I broke the world.”
It’s the year 641 since the beginning of the world, and when Eve passes away, she leaves Adam the only man on earth who remembers everything from the beginning of the world.
When Enoch, God’s newly appointed prophet, decides to collect the stories of the faithful from previous generations, he finds Adam in desperate need to confess the dark secrets he’s held onto for too long.
Beside a slowly burning bonfire in the dead of night, Adam tells his story in searing detail. From the beginning of everything, to how he broke the world, shattered Eve’s heart, and watched his family crumble.
Will Enoch uncover what led so many of Adam’s children away from God? And will Adam find the redemption and forgiveness he longs for?
Click here for your copy.
Eden: Biblical Fiction of the World’s First Family by Brennan S. McPherson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, this is a very difficult book to review. It is completely clean and essentially follows the Biblical narrative fairly well. However, if all the author chose to only include the events of the first few chapters of the book of Genesis, this book would not even be worth reading. Instead, the author chose to study extensively and use his imagination to “fill in the blanks,” so to speak.
At first, I felt like being critical of the author’s attempts. After all, how dare he characterize God in the way he did or even suggest that this or that happened when that wasn’t what the Bible said. I was ready to mark this book down to a rating of three or four by taking a very legalistic view of things.
However, as I began to ponder on this book and the account that was being detailed before me, I realized that there was so much we didn’t know about the first family. All we have ever known is sin, and even the way we view God and this earth is obscured by the Fall of Man. To try to envision what the world was like before sin entered the world is a literal impossibility. Moreover, since Adam is the one telling this story to Enoch, he is going to put his own spin on things. Perhaps it’s not the exact telling of the events, but it is a recollection of a man who has lived through things we cannot even imagine. Who am I to say that this or that didn’t happen?
I appreciated that the author challenged me to go beyond what it normally asked. What was life like immediately after the Fall? How did Adam and Eve learn to live without God providing for their every need as He had in Eden? How could they even begin to understand pain and hunger and more? In truth, the story became very personal, and I found myself thinking back on it more than once.
The part that truly amazed me was the ending. I don’t want to add in any spoilers, but let me just say this. There is a school of thought that believes something about Adam, and I would say most Christians would hold to this traditional view (I won’t say what that is lest I give away the ending). Many years ago, I was shown a different way of viewing Adam, and I applaud the author for bringing both views together in quite an intriguing way. It is the first time I have ever read a fictionalized account that took the view of things that this author did, and I am grateful. No matter what you believe, if you are interested in being challenged about what you believe about the first family on this earth, I would say this is a book to read.
About the Author
BRENNAN S. MCPHERSON writes epic, imaginative biblical fiction with heart-pounding plots and lyrical prose, for readers who like to think biblically and feel deeply. He lives with his wife and young daughter in the Midwest, and spends as much of his spare time with them as possible.
Read an Exclusive Excerpt
In my beginning was not darkness, but Light.
As I opened my eyes for the first time, I saw dust motes swirling around five bright points. I reached for them and realized the dust was not blowing past me but instead settling across the complex shapes in my arms.
Distracted, I twisted my wrist, seeing muscle, tendon, bone, and a partial layer of skin. Clenching my fingers one by one, I saw the movement in my joints.
Fascinated, I watched as a swathe of dust poured over me like a sheet of silk and morphed into smooth, brown flesh. I ran my fingers across my new skin, and when the sound of shifting sand settled, noticed what sounded like gentle Music riding on the breath that flowed into me.
I inhaled.
Exhaled.
Inhaled again.
“Adam,” I said, for I had heard that name—my name—in the Music.
I realized that my Father was singing over me, and in his singing, he had given me life and form, and had named me Adam.
He smiled at me, with those dark brown eyes, and let soft melodies fall from his tongue as I lay on my back.
He lifted me from the mud and burned the remaining dust from my skin with the heat of his presence. But he did not hurt me as a natural flame might. Instead, he filled and cleansed me. And the joy of him filled me with an insatiable desire to experience everything around me, to understand the world he had sung into existence.
I’ve never since felt so whole as I did with him in Eden. Because inside me was nothing that did not belong. Only him, and the breath he gave, and the Music he sang, and the smells of Eden, and the touch of his Light, and the taste of his name on my lips as I spoke for the second time. “Father.” I smiled and laughed.
He stood magnificent, warm, compassionate. The image of the invisible condensed in a life foreknown before the foundations of the world were formed.
I felt his pride over me and laughed again, only now with tears.
My first moments were not like those of a newborn child come from a womb. Instead, they were of a child gone into the womb. Swaddled in the Light of God. Cocooned in his satisfaction.
I was Adam. Man fully formed. Reflection of perfection.
In joy, I fell to my hands and knees and bowed my forehead to the ground. Tears flowed to the soil I’d been formed from. How great! How wonderful this being was who had made me for himself, and who so unendingly satisfied me. Nothing I’ve experienced in my long years could ever make me forget it. That sense of purpose. Of everything being right.
Ah, yes. I see wonder on your face, Enoch, at how tears could be present in a world yet unbroken by sin.
Have you never wondered why the kiss of a lover can bring tears to our eyes? It is because some goods are so great that they must be given vent. For not all tears spring from sorrow. And not all aches are unwanted.
Yet still, my Father lifted me and wiped my cheeks. Then he led me across hills and valleys, puddles and rivers. He pointed at plants and skittering animals and insects, and it seemed as though I could hear the echo of his melodies in their movements.
Blog Stops
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 2
Rev. Rebecca Writes: Read, Write, Pray, April 3
Mary Hake, April 3
Texas Book-aholic, April 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 5
My Devotional Thoughts, April 5
Through the Fire Blogs, April 6
Genesis 5020, April 6
Inklings and notions, April 7
For Him and My Family, April 8
deb’s Book Review, April 8
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 9
Betti Mace, April 9
For the Love of Literature, April 10
EmpowerMoms, April 10
Pause for Tales, April 11
Ashley’s Bookshelf, April 11
A Reader’s Brain, April 12
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 13
Hallie Reads, April 13
Mamma Loves Books, April 14
Lights in a Dark World, April 14
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, April 15
Giveaway
To celebrate his tour, Brennan is giving away the grand prize package of a “McPherson Publishing bundle”, which includes the following books: a copy of Flood, Babel, the three Psalm Series novellas, and The Simple Gospel book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f8a9/eden-celebration-tour-giveaway
