Jonah
By Ellen Gunderson Traylor
Publisher: Living Books - Tyndale House Publishing
Published In: Wheaton, Illinois, USA
Date: 1989
Pgs: 257

REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
The first missionary, in a time of war, Jonah, the man swallowed by a whale, has his story told. A story of God’s work in a man’s soul. The bringing of truth through the crucible of rebellion and obedience. A tale of empire, war, nations, and kings.

Genre:
history, historical fiction, biblical fiction, fiction

Why this book:
I love a good Bible story. I’m not as familiar with Jonah’s story beyond the whale, more familiar with the stories of Moses, Job, and Noah.

This Story is About:
courage, working hard, doing the right thing, greed, friends, jealousy, love, caring, happiness, sadness, family

Favorite Character:
relatable, hateable

Least Favorite Character:
N/A

Character I Most Identified With:
How can you not identify with Jonah being swept along and having the word put upon him. He has a destiny pushed into him. He rebels. He runs. He relents. He prevails. He sees wisdom as the scales are dropped from his eyes.

The Feel:
Jonah’s story sweeps him along.

Favorite Scene:
When the Prophet Amos from Judah challenges the Cows, as he called the painted up, see and be seen people who were visiting the temples of Gilgal more to be seen and show that they were giving than for the giving.
As Jonah stands on the walls of just conquered Damascus watching Ashur-Dan king of Assyria flee from the desert gate of the city.
The whole sequence from the casting off the ship to being devoured by Leviathan to his time in the whale’s stomach to being cast upon a Libyan shore is awesomely done.

Settings:
Beth-El, Nineveh, Gilgal, Samaria, Damascus, Leviathan’s stomach, a Phoenician bark

Pacing:
The pace is good, a good page turn rate. Short chapters without being punchy.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:
N/A

Last Page Sound:
Good for you Jonah.

Author Assessment:
If this is any indicator, I need to look at more by this author.

Editorial Assessment:
Well done.

Did the Book Cover Reflect the Story:
The cover shows Jonah on the deck of the Phoenician bark just prior to the crew casting lots and throwing him overboard. That’s the best scene to have illustrated for the story.

Hmm Moments:
The nightmare visions of Ninevah’s king shouting out to him for aid prior to his taking on his second ministry.

Knee Jerk Reaction:
glad I read it

Disposition of Book:
Irving Public Library, Irving, TX

Why isn’t there a screenplay?
A Jonah movie would be great.

Casting call:
Every biblical character should be portrayed by Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner.

Would recommend to:
Bibliophiles, the circuitously religious ( )