Overcoming a Brutal and Recognizable World

Jan. 3, 2018 on Amazon | 4.0 out of 5 stars

By Jonah Erickson 

Format: Kindle Edition | Verified Purchase

As a historical fiction novel, I was impressed with how real the environments felt, and how much the setting played into the story that was being told. Usually I find historical fiction novels to be thinly veiled in over-the-top dialogue and fantasy-like tributes to historical stereotypes, but That Woman is such a realistic novel in part because of how recognizable the human elements of the story are. Though times have changed, and though laws and present-day realities might today prevent some of the terrible things that happen in this story from happening, the people in this story are just as alive and well as they were back then. The sheer disregard for human life that Sarah and Jacob face throughout the story can be reflected in what we see on the daily news, though it might be hidden more from the public eye. This book contains some sensitive topics, including rape, enslavement, and human trafficking, but I found myself thinking that there are indeed horrible realities that young women in particular face every day around the world. While I am not fond of the presentation of such topics in writing, I would venture insofar as to say that it was presented well in its attempt to repulse and stir hatred in the reader against the villains of the story. I appreciated the read and would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and provocative read.