About the book: Hannah, faithful third daughter of Ishmael has been raised happily in the home of an honorable man. A woman wholly committed to her Saviour. A woman who understands Nephi’s love of the scriptures and commitment to the gospel and secretly longs for such a husband, but finds herself given in marriage to his older brother, Lemuel.
Through the women’s eyes, Daughter of Ishmael follows the family of Ishmael as they commit themselves to Lehi and find their faith tested in the wilderness. Recounts their struggles there with deaths, births and apostasy. Tells of their time in Bountiful and the building of a ship. And their suffering below decks on the Great Irriantum when Laman and Hannah’s husband, Lemuel battle the Lord Himself in their drive to defeat Nephi and take control of the family.
Even their arrival in the Promised Land isn’t without its challenges as they settle. Pride, envy and greed are planted along with the crops and Hannah finds herself more and more in the breach, wanting with all her heart to follow the righteous principles that are so much a part of her, but thwarted constantly by the actions of her husband and brother by marriage.
When the final split becomes necessary, Hannah is torn between the faithful branch of the family she yearns to follow and the husband and son she is wholly committed to.
Will she stay and endure the weight of a hundred, hundred generations of sin? Or do the unthinkable and leave her family to follow her prophet?
My review: I really enjoyed reading this book! It was kind of fun that as I was reading it, I was reading again the opening chapters of the Book of Mormon, so it really helped those to jump off of the pages for me this time.
I liked the way you see this story through Hannah's perspective and only Hannah's. The scriptures and this story from them is only told through the eyes of the men who participated in it. This story shows that not only would many women have been involved, but it shows the way they would have been treated and the things that they would have done at the time. Things that I've wondered about many times.
I loved that you see Hannah grow up in this book from a young girl, to a bride, to a mother in the Promised Land. I loved the way she was faithful and didn't complain, even when who she was to marry changed at the very last minute. It was obvious that she was disappointed but willing to do what was asked of her, no matter what.
I loved that it was obvious that some of her sisters would be believers, but there were some of her sisters that were never going to believe, just like with Lehi's family. And the couples complimented each other, for the most part.
I loved the ending, and how Hannah had to make a hard choice for herself and ultimately for her family.
I couldn't stop reading this one! I loved everything about it!
I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
About the author: Trained in journalism and raised by a family of storytellers, Diane Stringam Tolley has spent her life writing. From her first published work, “The Scary House,” penned in Mrs. Hainsworth’s grade six class, to her tenth novel, “Daughter of Ishmael,” Tolley has dipped into every genre from sci-fi/fantasy to spiritual. Her Christmas book, “Carving Angels,” has been featured on the “best of” holiday lists for Edmonton Public Libraries since its first release in 2011. And her follow-up novel, “Kris Kringle’s Magic” (2012) is currently a standard for discussions on prejudice and bullying throughout the Black-Gold region. Drawing on her upbringing on one of the last of the great old ranches of Southern Alberta, Tolley’s stories are filled with unforgettable characters, warm, family connections, and the strength of faith and love.Labels: Cedar Fort, Diane Stringham Tolley, LDS Historical Fiction
About the book: Hannah, faithful third daughter of Ishmael has been raised happily in the home of an honorable man. A woman wholly committed to her Saviour. A woman who understands Nephi’s love of the scriptures and commitment to the gospel and secretly longs for such a husband, but finds herself given in marriage to his older brother, Lemuel.
About the author: Trained in journalism and raised by a family of storytellers, Diane Stringam Tolley has spent her life writing. From her first published work, “The Scary House,” penned in Mrs. Hainsworth’s grade six class, to her tenth novel, “Daughter of Ishmael,” Tolley has dipped into every genre from sci-fi/fantasy to spiritual. Her Christmas book, “Carving Angels,” has been featured on the “best of” holiday lists for Edmonton Public Libraries since its first release in 2011. And her follow-up novel, “Kris Kringle’s Magic” (2012) is currently a standard for discussions on prejudice and bullying throughout the Black-Gold region. Drawing on her upbringing on one of the last of the great old ranches of Southern Alberta, Tolley’s stories are filled with unforgettable characters, warm, family connections, and the strength of faith and love.