Michal: A Novel

When I say this book is 3 stars, it is much closer to three and a half. David is a controversial character in the Bible, given he was a man after God's own heart. However, like most men, he was flawed and made mistakes. Viewing parts of the man's life through the lens of his first wife, Michal is a fascinating choice, given that the wives of David are often overlooked until we meet Bathsheba. More often than not, the narrative is seeing these women as window dressing. However, in this story, Michal represents David's tie to the line of Saul, but also how Saul's raising could have on a young woman. She is a complicated individual that struggles with the raising she had with Saul and the flawed, entitled thinking that the first King of Israel would bestow onto his children. She shows how easy it is to lose sight of faith and belief when you might feel the world is yours. Still, for all of the good this book gives, in places, it feels rushed. We have a good twenty years with this character but we are running from one point to another. By the end, I knew who Michal was but I did not get the cherish the woman she was along the way. I would have loved more of her insights in her uncertain and lower moments. But in a way, I think that is also success because Jill Eileen Smith makes you want more of the titular character, and is that not success in and of itself? Regardless, if you would like to see some of the story of David and Israel from a perspective not often seen, I think this book is worth a read, but understand that it may not go into the depths you might want. I look forward to listening to the sequel.