Magdalene

By: Angela Hunt

Narrated by: Darla Middlebrook

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Mary Magdalene...

The controversial woman with a past only one Man could forgive. A true love story that changed the face of history.

"I was Miryam of Magdala, seller of fine fabrics and wife of Yaakov the fisherman. With my husband and son, I held a place of honor among my countrymen until a company of rogue soldiers took everything from me. I might not be Roman, but I knew injustice when I saw it. And I had been most grievously wronged."

In an era when women are sequestered and silenced, Miryam of Magdala lives a contended life until her son's careless gesture evokes a hostile action that shatters her serenity. With no hope of justice, Miryam commits an unthinkable act...and descends into depths of darkness that threaten her life and her sanity.

Even after Yeshua the Messiah dramatically restores her life, Miryam can neither forget nor forgive unresolved injustices. Prodded by a hunger for vengeance she will not deny, this woman of uncommon courage risks her life and her heart by drawing destiny into her own hands.

©2006 Angela E. Hunt (P)2014 Angela E. Hunt

Ok story, but hard to listen to

Would you consider the audio edition of Magdalene to be better than the print version?

No, I haven't read the book, but it was hard to listen to this book. A written book would be easier to understand.

What other book might you compare Magdalene to and why?

None comes to mind.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

To make more distinction in the person who is speaking. Give each character some sort of identification.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending

Any additional comments?

The reader was hard to understand. She had a slight accent or something. Some words were hard to know. She lacked enthusiasm for the book, or so it felt.

I tried twice but I couldn’t do it

I wanted to really really want to like this book I really wanted to get into it, but I could not listen to that narrator. She has got the roughest ugliest slowest voice ever. Who picks these voices? If I was Angela Hunt I would be very disappointed. I’m sorry to be so strong in my choice of words but I’m very frustrated and I really wanted to listen to it but I can’t even get past the first chapter I continued but I lost track because of the voice I tried to speed it up and then it was too fast. It sounded like like in Billy goats gruff story the gruff voice of those the troll who lived under the bridge that’s what it reminds me of I am so sad and discouraged and heartbroken that I couldn’t enjoy this story please redo it with a different voice I really want to hear it

Wonderful storyline, horrible narrator!

The power of the storyline about culpability and the danger of forgiveness was undeniable. However, the voice of the narrator was so irritating that it took months for me to get through this book.

Magdalene

Magdalene is a well-crafted story about the life of this Biblical woman--a woman whom Jesus freed from demons. Some events are purely the author's ideas, but many are based upon the Bible account and seem plausible. The narrator did a good job of portraying various characters.
In this novel Mary suffers great loss and later seeks vengeance against the Roman soldiers. Her life is interwoven with that of Atticus Aurelius, a Roman centurion. The story opens with Mary on trial for a crime against Atticus and his son. There are many surprises and twists and turns, especially at the end. I recommend this book which I received through TBCN in exchange for an honest review.

narrator is not good.

the narrator is hard to listen to, she is speaking so slowly. its not easy to listen to.

Highly recommended

We have found the enemy and we are it. We are own worst enemy. Jesus came to save us from ourselves. All of these thoughts go through my mind as I consider this amazing book by Angela Hunt that I just listened to. Excellently written. The characters are well-developed and the storyline was well thought through. I liked the different personalities in the book. It's very much like what we find in real life. The end was not obvious either and I liked the suspense.

Magdalene in living color, but not as expected.

Would you consider the audio edition of Magdalene to be better than the print version?

I have heard the audio only.

What did you like best about this story?

Lots of historical detail included and facts listed at the end of the story.

Have you listened to any of Darla Middlebrook’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't. But, her voice grew on me. I especially thought her voice for an older woman's was good.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Unless you planned a getaway for that purpose, it was too long. It was very enjoyable to listen to Magdalene's story unfold.

Any additional comments?

Unexpected turns hold you until the very end. It slowed a bit in places, but made up for that in plot and suspense.

Speed it up or you’ll never get through the first chapter!

Excellent story, bad choice for a narrator. Speed it up and it’s bearable. I used 1.2 and it was fine.

Wonderful historical fiction

Angela Hunt has given us a believable story of an oft misunderstood woman in Christ's life. Hunt grips her readers right away with Miryam telling her story to the Roman magistrates before she is sent to her death. Magdalene or Miryam of Magdala is a prosperous seller of cloth with a much loved family which is slaughtered by the Romans. Throughout the book Miryam seeks revenge on the individual she holds responsible. This vengeful spirit holds her in bondage and leads her into demon possession and continued sorrow. She meets Yeshua and her life is changed. Miryam is a compelling individual during the Messiah's short years of ministry as she travels with the disciples, is present at the crucifixion and plays a significant role at the resurrection.
The novel also unfolds through the point of view of Atticus, the Roman soldier to which Miryam attributes the deaths of her family members. He rescues a child early in the book and "adopts" him as his own. The back and forth story telling keeps the reader's interest as more and more twists and turns of the plot are revealed.
Hunt does a nice job of giving historical background and allowing the reader to have a true sense of life in Biblical times. At the end of the audiobook there is an interview with the author which gives the listener even more information regarding her thought process in writing the book and her view on the words of Christ.
All in all a well-written story of sorrow, vengeance, and forgiveness, courage and humanity in the face of difficulty. You won't want to miss this one by Ms Hunt.

In a better light

Thorough enjoyed . Mariam was depicted in a light reflects scripture instead of man's fantasy. Mariam comes alive and shows us the reality of living out our faith.

Enjoyable

An excellent historical novel, loved the plot too. Be sure to listen to the epilogue or better still read the Gospels themselves to work out where the carefully crafted fiction is inserted into real history.