Book Club: Book Review of Up from Dust

 

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Heather Kaufman's latest book, Up from Dust: Martha's Story, is a nice mix of Biblical fiction and the examination of real events from the Bible. In the first book of the Women of the Way series, readers are introduced to the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany. Events start in the book with the birth of Mary and continue through the lives of the three siblings. 

With the untimely death of their mother, Martha becomes responsible for rearing her siblings with the help of their grandmother and a few women from Bethany. While she and Lazarus are similar in demeanor in some regards, Mary is a rambunctious child who never seems to listen. She is often out wandering on her own instead of fulfilling required tasks. While their father is still with them, that doesn't mean that he necessarily helps raising his children. In fact, he seems to have never gotten over the death of his wife.

Throughout the story, we see the father move to raising sheep, and this is where the first love of Martha appears. A young shepherd is hired to take care of the family's flock. A future seems to be in the works, but hardship strikes and things change. Years pass, and the family has become prosperous. Eventually, their father dies, and Lazarus takes on the full responsibility of the family. 

It is during this time that Lazarus is in charge that the family hosts Jesus. This is where we see events follow the Bible accounts more closely. After all, we don't really know anything about the early lives of the three siblings. So Martha's first love, the relationship with their father, and the friendships in Bethany are all fictional accounts provided by the author. 

My Thoughts 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Up from Dust. The joining together of Biblical fiction and real accounts was beautifully done. Kaufman explains in her author's note how and why she made the decisions she made regarding the fictionalized parts, which I appreciate. 

The lives of the three siblings really came to life – especially that of Martha. After reading this book, I felt like I really knew her. Even though many of the details were fictional, one could, after researching the time period, easily see the events taking place. Whether or not they would have happened to Martha, it doesn't matter. They are typical of the time and thus historically accurate, in that manner. 

I would recommend Up from Dust to those who enjoy Biblical fiction. It was a good work that I was eager to read each day. My only complaint is in regard to the book cover. The book itself has an odd texture and is not one that I enjoyed holding. I wish book companies would not use textured paper for their book covers. 

Want to Read More Reviews 

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