Thursday, July 6, 2017

Summer Book Club! The Well, Part 3...

We've made quite a lot of progress with our little book club, haven't we? We're now on chapters 9-12, and nearly halfway through the book! Things are really heating up for Mara and Shem in Sychar, aren't they? Let's get into the action of the week!

So, this week's selection started off with a bang. Shem is hanging out with his grandmother when one of the village gossips comes around. Alexandros comes up in the context of him selling jewelry at the market, and gee, where has he been? Shem, not realizing the gravity of the information he possesses, innocently mentions that he's seen this man's donkey over at Mara and Nava's house. He figures this must be a relative of Mara's. That, of course, is not the case, and the gossipy woman jumps on this tidbit immediately. His grandmother tries to shut things down, but the damage has been done.

Shem feels sick to his stomach as he sees the information making it's way through town, and what this will mean for Mara and her family. Zevuluh, the man Nava broke betrothal with all those years ago, takes it up as a personal vendetta to get Nava kicked out of town. Zevuluh's wife is downright rude to Nava in front of the entire village while everyone is out observing Passover. Nava does not take this lying down, and I can't totally blame her, but she does not consider the position she is putting her children in. Their situation is now much more dire than ever, because the townspeople will begin withholding the food offerings they had previously donated to the family.

And speaking of poor Mara...major squink factor comes into play in that her uncle has received an offer of marriage for her hand. This man is old enough to be her grandfather, and has already had two young wives who have had "accidents" after failing to produce an heir for him. I have no problem with big age differences in relationships, but not when one of them is still a teenager. Good heavens! The uncle wants her to accept the offer, because this would mean the family would not be cast out and starved. The prospective husband, unsurprisingly, given what we know about him, does not want to take Nava and Asher in, but he will provide food for them. Nava would have to begin caring for Asher, and do we really think this plan has a chance of success?

Poor Mara would be selling her soul, and perhaps even her life, to provide for her family. Meanwhile, Shem has growing feelings for Mara that he doesn't quite know what to do with. He just feels awful for his inadvertent role in her current predicament. And he doesn't even know yet about the marriage proposal.

When we come to the end of chapter 12, Nava is at the well. She knows that she has been nothing but a hindrance to her children, and thinks it would be better if she took her own life. She is contemplating throwing herself down the well when Jesus approaches. Her conversation with him changes something in her, and she finds new life in his words. She leaves the well with a reinspired lease on life, and rushes off to tell Mara about what happened. This is where we leave off.

What did you all think?! Quite a lot happened this week. I am so drawn into Mara's story at this point, I am absorbing all of the details like a sponge. I outwardly cringed when Shem let the cat out of the bag, but obviously, it was an innocent accident. I feel so bad for both of them. I'm happy to see Shem growing into his role in his grandfather's business, and I like where that part of the story is going for him. I just worry for Mara. Who knows what Alexandros and this violent marriage proposal guy have in store for her. The end of chapter 12 with Nava is intriguing, and we still have so much of the book to go. That happened a lot earlier than I was anticipating. I wonder where the story will go from here?

6 comments:

  1. I found it intriguing that the quiet, hard-working Enosh took an interest in Asher enough to carry him. Is this also a potential love-interest? Reddened cheeks and all. I have a funny feeling that Shem will be have to back to his father at some point. It will be interesting to see what impact Jesus has on the lives of Nava and her children. The prospective husband is scary. I'm surprised Mara's Uncle is even considering him since I'm sure all the men of the village know that he murders his wives.

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    1. Hi Delta! You know, I totally missed that with Enosh! Great point! Could be a love triangle in there. Yes, I'm certain our characters are going to have some tough stuff to deal with coming up. Shem with his father, and with the situation back home that led him to Sychar to begin with. Mara with the marriage proposal. *shudder*

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  2. I kept wanting to tell Shem don't tell about the donkey but of course he didn't know. The part about Zevulun meeting someone to get information on Shaul and Nava was something I wasn't expecting. I didn't realize he was still so upset about Nava rejecting him. I wonder how this information is going to come into play later. I couldn't stop with chapter 12. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next.

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    1. Melanie, I am SO glad you are enjoying the book as much as I am! Yeah, Zevulun is bad news. He is obviously still smarting from the rejection all those years ago, and plans to make it personal in terms of payback. And the power men seemed to think they had over women in those days certainly doesn't help matters. :-\

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  3. Finding it really enjoyable how this book continually keeps me on my toes. Like you, I wasn't expecting Jesus to appear until later in the story. And I definitely didn't see Mara's murderous marriage offer coming! Up until now, THE WELL has been rather bleak (Nava's depression, Asher's disability, Mara's difficult life, the stifling judgment of Sychar's citizens, etc.), but I think these dire circumstances will best illustrate the many ways Jesus's message and presence can save lives. Nava seems to be transformed after their conversation -- hopefully everyone else will have a similar upturn in their fortunes.

    On a sidenote, all the talk about Harry Potter in the last few "Tea Times" has convinced me to go back and re-read the series. There is something about that world that is just so welcoming and charming. Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Hi Kevin! I *love* your positive spin about Jesus's entrance into this part of the story! Indeed, I'm hoping that that life giving water will pervade the rest of the book. Nava has been transformed, and I hope this transfers to others in the village, as well as to us, the readers!

      Hee hee on Harry Potter. I just love it! Being in that world is so enjoyable to me.

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