LitPick Review
The story of Noah and the ark is retold with care and precision in Anne Provoost's novel. Re Jana, a girl from the faraway marshes, travels with her family for many weeks through the hot desert without encountering any society. Then, one day, they come across a thriving village in the midst of building a humongous ship for no apparent reason. (Remember, they are in the middle of the desert.) Re Jana learns that a great flood is coming to wipe out all evil on the Earth, save those who board the ark. As the flooding begins, panic overtakes the villagers, and Re Jana and her family must find a way to board the ark against all odds.
Opinion:
In the Shadow of the Ark is a realistic retelling of the story of Noah and the ark, and is comparable to Anita Diamant's masterpiece The Red Tent, another biblical novel, in that both seek to provide a new perspective on tales known to most all. The characters used throughout In the Shadow of the Ark are by no means entirely new, as some are described in the story of the Genesis. However, when seen in a new light - from the perspective of Re Jana - they take on a new dimension for the reader, coming alive in a way not usually seen in the stories of the Bible. Although Provoost does not claim to have written a nonfiction, her novel may serve as an enriching read not only for those interested in the Bible, but also for those trying to get a fresh new point of view on the past.
