Friday, April 25, 2014

A thought-provoking spin on the Biblical King David

Joan P. Lane is a Jamaican born author of mystery and suspense. Her book, The Tangled Web, is a story of international web of intrigue, nuder, and romance. I am thrilled to find her review of my novel, Rise to Power:


A thought-provoking spin on the Biblical King DavidApril 25, 2014
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This review is from: Rise to Power (The David Chronicles) (Kindle Edition)
Uvi Poznansky gets another five stars from me, this time for her marvelous portrayal of the Biblical King David. Her David, although fictional, is not the perfect figure sculpted by Michelangelo. Nor is he strictly the David of the Bible. With his human failings, the David she has created is a bit of a departure from the legend.

This book is written as David’s memoir. In it, he tells us that all it took to make him the legend he became was twisting the historical facts to his advantage. David confesses that, in his youth, he was ambitious. He lusted after the crown of Judah, but soon realized a certain amount of clever public relations was required to get it, and hold on to it. He was also concerned with how he would go down in history. So in this fictional memoir, we see not just the musician, poet and youth who killed Goliath, but wily David, the master manipulator. Though David’s actions are motivated not only by ambition, but by the need to survive. For no good reason, the mad King Saul is out to kill him, forcing David to make some tough decisions.

Uvi Poznansky uses modern language (with slang) to tell this story. David says things like hurry up already. At first, such modern terms being dropped into a mid-9th Century BC setting were, to me, a bit lacking in authenticity. The descriptions of some of the women’s clothes also didn’t seem true to the time. But somehow these unexpected elements work together to set the stage for a compelling character who keeps the reader spellbound.

Ruthless soldier and commander, brilliant strategist, gifted musician and inspiring orator, David is also a stud. Every woman wants David who wants them in turn, yet he can hardly keep up with the domestic demands of his wives. No doubt about it, he’s a man who loves wine, women and song, a rogue I couldn’t help falling in love with.

As far as David’s alleged philandering goes, Uvi Poznansky may not have strayed that far from what the Biblical records tell us. David did indeed have eight wives and ten concubines. He had 20 legitimate children and is said to have had even more children with his concubines. That would suggest he was the busy man Ms. Poznansky makes him out to be. Whatever impression the scriptures may have given you of David, you’ll find this book entertaining, thought-provoking, and, in some parts, very amusing. I’m very much looking forward to the sequel.

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