In her fifth and final Lineage of Grace novella, renowned Christian writer
Rivers tackles the most celebrated woman in Christian history Mary, the
mother of Jesus - with mixed results. Using the biblical account of Jesus'
life as a framework, Rivers adds such imaginative scenes as Mary watching the
young Jesus healing his little sister, Anne, or Mary pondering Jesus' ability
to see that there is always enough bread and oil in the larder to keep the
family afloat. There are warm mother-son exchanges ("You're so thin!") and
personal details ("Jesus had Mary's chin... but no one ever said Jesus had
her eyes...."). The stakes are higher here for Rivers than in previous
novellas. While Christians may not mind Rivers taking inventive liberties with
characters such as the prostitute Rahab (Unashamed), the same grace might not
be extended to her fictionalization the revered Mary and Jesus. At the same
time, Rivers having taken the plunge in choosing Mary could have risked a
little bit more. Disappointingly absent from this novella are any
undercurrents of sexual tension between Mary and Joseph, which Rivers
conjectured so well with other characters in the series (particularly Ruth and
Boaz in Unshaken). The result is a more lackluster offering. Rivers's
writing, however, is excellent. If Christian readers can accept the
imaginative episodes without rejecting the lessons embedded in the story,
Rivers may succeed in giving them courage through Mary's example of strong
faith. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.