The Centurion's Wife

After much time, I have finally had the chance to sit down an write a review. All these assignments are getting to me!! I actually finished the book almost two weeks ago and I was meaning to write it down straight away but I realised I had spent too much time in Jerusalem reading about Leah and Alban and not writing about Thucydides...

So here we go.

It's funny, the first thing that comes to my mind every time I write a blog is "what a book". But I must admit, I don't really think this about this book. It was good, it was really good. But it wasn't amazing. It didn't take my breath away. In all honesty, I kept reading because I read reviews and it said that it was worth it. It took me about a good five chapters to finally get into the rhythm of reading, you know, where you have to put it down to do some household chore and you work twice as hard and quicker so that you can get back to reading? Yeah that kind of rhythm.

So let's start off with the plot line and I'll get to my thoughts afterward.

This story follows the lives of two characters, who only really cross paths properly near the end of the book. Leah, the niece of Pilate and a maid to his wife, grew up a Roman. Her grandmother was of Hebrew heritage but due to her mother's choices, she was far removed from anything Hebrew and knew almost nothing of the culture. On the other hand is Alban, a Roman Centurion who was actually a Gaul. He never truly felt accepted as a Roman, finding his allegiance in what he did, rather than by right of birth. I think this may be why his journey to accepting Christ seemed to just fit. He was an outsider who became accepted because of his allegiance and what he chose, rather than one born into a 'Christian' heritage.

Both are ordered by their respective overseers (Pilate and his wife) to investigate the new Christian 'sect' in order to discover 3 things.

1. Did Jesus die?

2. Where was his body?

3. Were the Christians going to revolt against the Romans.

This quest required both to become entwined in the Jewish culture. To meet Christians and to learn about how they viewed Jesus as their Messiah and the danger that they even felt believing this, danger from Romans and Jews who rejected it alike.

Via the two storylines we meet bible characters and they come to life in a new way. Leah becomes close with Mary Magdalene, Martha, Mary and Lazarus whilst Alban becomes acquainted with the soldiers who guarded Jesus' burial tomb. The way these people talked really brought their stories to life. Lazarus' in particular. Martha becomes more than just a story and you begin to understand who she is, someone who strives to work and care for others, whilst Mary is more attentive to the spiritual and emotional needs. These people became like friends and this was one aspect that I thoroughly appreciated.

On top of this, hearing Alban and Leah's stories separately for most of the book was a big plus. I felt that, for the first time ever, I truly got to know BOTH characters. Often you only hear one side of the story, or you don't get time to get to know both of them as they are always inseparable. The fact that they only truly connected in the last few chapters gave us a WHOLE book to get to know them on a deep level.

Unfortunately, though, it did leave their actual meetings (that were scattered throughout the book) quite disjointed. I felt like the writing style led them to be quite... awkward in their meetings? They both seemed like very strong characters but you put them together and I couldn't quite reconcile it. It was only at the end where I felt like the authors softened their characteristics that they began to seem more like a workable couple.

One other complaint would be the writing style. On a purely practical note I felt like the writing style detracted from the story. A lot of questions were left unanswered. It cut between scenes SUPER quickly and so I felt like nothing was explained well. It just seemed quite disjointed.

But overall I have to say I really enjoyed the book. The journey these two characters embark on was bound to be difficult, but it captivated me. I kept reading because I wanted to discover what these two discovered. I wanted to learn about this time, I wanted to know about Jesus and what happened in the days after his crucifixion. I wanted to know what Pilate may have been thinking, or his wife. This book made me really think about this time in a new way. It made it almost seem more real, like I was one of the people in that courtyard hearing Peter speak, or someone who went to the temple Jesus preached at.

So what did I learn?

1. I learnt the appreciation people feel when they understand that God loves them, even though they grew up non-Christian and committed many sins. I learnt the feeling of forgiveness, of Jesus wanting to know you personally and counting you as his own.

2. Forgiveness of others. One of Alban's main questions he wrestles with is forgiving those that sold him into Rome's clutches - his older brother. This story reminded me a lot of Jacob and it helped me to get into the nitty gritty of it, rather than it just being a story. You hear him wrestling with giving up his control over his emotions and trusting God. But really trusting God.

3. I learnt that sometimes God doesn't speak directly to you, rather it can just be a feeling. Yes that feeling can be disconcerting and yes it can be intimidating. But when you know, you just know. It is something quite humbling to know that in the depths of your despair or the height of your joy that God loves you enough to come down and make Himself known to you. That you, little you who half the time rejects Him and forgets that you are essentially His, are worthy of His love and that He wants to know you.

I've always mentioned that growing up in a Christian home was a great thing and how I'm so thankful but that you almost need to rebel to feel God as you understand that whole coming home idea. But I feel like this book really helped me to appreciate my upbringing a lot more. God graciously blessed me with a family that loved me, who raised me to fear Him and who guided me throughout life - teaching me to pray and to trust in Him. Seeing it from the outside perspective showed me that I am truly blessed.

Definitely thought provoking and a REALLY good read.

One final word, I loved this prayer said at the end of the book at Leah and Alban's wedding. Isn't this just beautiful?

I'd love to know what you thought. Have you read this book? What did you think?