Thankful the book club I am part of chose to read my biblical fiction Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold. My deepest appreciation to Liz for hosting our Grimsby book club and encouraging discussion of the novel and its novel look at Jesus and women.
We had fun looking at several cover designs that I had considered before selecting the final front cover for the fiction. We talked about what each design indicated about the contents of the book, the genre, main character, and plot lines. To me, the final cover design shows a woman who is silenced, her mouth covered, and hidden, trapped inside the arched window and looking out. After years of submission, Mara is afraid, anxious, and full of doubts. I hope that reading the novel frees women who empathize with her.
Since the novel covers the period of the Gospels, it's an ideal book to stimulate discussion on Jesus: his life and teachings, his interactions with women, and the themes of biblical equality.
The main character, Mara, allowed us to think about what gives women low self-esteem, humility vs self-esteem, and how to overcome doubt and restore trust in others.
With the other main character, Joanna, we talked about why dominant cultures push out the beliefs, language, and traditions of minorities. When have you felt you had to hide a side of yourself?
We also covered new perspectives on the woman at the well, Mary and Martha, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, the woman caught in adultery, the Canaanite woman called a dog, and many other gospel women. We talked about traditional and surprising interpretations of these biblical women.
If you would like to discuss ideas with others, the Discussion Questions may be downloaded free from my website at:
Elaine Ricker Kelly uses her experiences as a woman in business to inspire and empower women at home, church and society. She was an investment and insurance advisor for thirty years, has three grown daughters, and is passionate about writing to encourage girls and women in leadership. Elaine R. Kelly lives near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with her husband and lap dog. She and her husband have hiked the 900 km Bruce Trail and enjoy hiking, nature, tennis, music, history and culture. Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold is on sale at Amazon. If you live local to me, contact me for a special price on a bulk purchase.
Books by Elaine Ricker Kelly:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold - biblical fiction offering hope and healing to anyone who feels forgotten, belittled, or out of place.
The Sword: A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role - provides 104 flashcards with an objective, memorable look at the rationale for diverse views on gender roles.