The Prince and the Prodigal, (Paperback)

“But I suppose sometimes hardship is what leads us to seek the things we've always known were true.” Jill Eileen Smith always brings the Bible to life and I thoroughly enjoyed this epic thirty somewhat year journey with Joseph. But this book is not just about Joseph; it's also about Judah - thus the title The Prince and the Prodigal. I had never paid much attention to Judah having left his family after selling Joseph and what transpired afterwards. Judah's account gave me a fresh perspective on how Judah must have matured through his hardships to become the man who faces Joseph in Egypt with integrity and humility. The book is a little different in that there are many voices narrating the story. Joseph and Judah have the strongest voices, but Jacob, Reuben, Dinah, Tamar and Asenath also tell parts of the story that make the plot much richer. The author has a way of transporting the reader into her book that one can smell and taste the flatbread and stew, touch and hear the goats and sheep grazing, and see the magnificence of the Pharaoh's holdings. It's such a familiar story yet made new by the author's incredible storytelling; it definitely gave me a deeper appreciation for Joseph's faith, Judah's renewed commitment to family, and Jacob's trials and heartaches. I received the book from Baker Publishing Group via Interviews and Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

This is the Old Testament Bible story of Joseph that is fleshed out with details of "what might have been." Much of what the author has written will make you pause and think, "this is how I would have felt" or "of course, that is how it would have been had that particular instance (or event) occurred." Although most of the story comes from Ms. Smith's imagination, it is supported by the Biblical account, and will make that time period in history much more alive to you. Instead of only the narrative of Joseph being the favorite son, the child of the favorite wife, and that all of his brothers hated him except for the youngest, we learn a lot more. This Biblical fiction tries to explain what made a lot of the family members "tick." The dad put Joseph in a very hard place by insisting he spy on his brothers. Poor relationships that already existed among Joseph and his brothers would have plunged with that assignment. Even if Joseph hated doing it, he had to report back to his dad. This-retelling of the event will make the story more personal, and even more unforgettable. It highlights what a momentous thing it was for Joseph to forgive his brothers in the end. Despite this being from the Bible, some of the story-line is only appropriate for mature readers. I highly recommend this five-star book to all history and Biblical story lovers. Revell Publishing has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, The Prince and the Prodigal, for the purpose of review.