A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

^"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life....She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
                                  -Proverbs 31:10-12, 27-31 (KJV)

I bought this book months ago as a follow-up to A Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs, a Page Turners' selection. It had hidden itself on a shelf until it was discovered recently. It is a 5---I loved it! I could tell it would be amusing by the subtitle "How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband 'Master.'" Indeed it made me smile often and laugh out loud at times. What surprised me was the depth of knowledge and thoroughness of research the author demonstrated. It seemed to me she had some profound insights into scripture as it relates to our modern society.

Ms. Evans focuses on Proverbs 31 as her guide to living as a Biblical woman for a year. I have quoted a part of it above but there is so much more. For each month, starting with October she concentrates on one quality of the Jewish eshet chayil, the woman of valor: gentleness, domesticity, obedience, valor, beauty, modesty, purity, fertility, submission, justice, silence and grace. The results are sometimes hilarious and often enlightening, thought-provoking and even  inspiring. I especially loved the "Submission" chapter which was funny, but poignant, as she ends with an explanation of why she respects her husband. Another part I especially enjoyed was "Justice." On her "To Do This Month" list in July was: Read Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  I read it a couple of years ago and it moved me greatly. It seemed to make a huge impression on her, as well. At the end of each chapter and especially instructive were the descriptions of actual women of the Bible who seemed to embody the qualities the author was trying to emulate.

I was impressed with the author's consultation and growing cyber friendship with Ahava, a Jewish woman. I believe this social networking helped Ms. Evans stay grounded and true to her purpose. Her husband was a saint to support her efforts in this year-long project, it seems to me.

Jacobs' book, A Year of Living Biblically, was possibly funnier but I enjoyed this one so much more. Perhaps it was the concentration on women or the educational aspect or the obvious fact that Rachel Held Evans is a Christian, while one is never sure if that is true of Jacobs. I recommend this one highly to all women but especially those of the Christian faith. Now that I think about it, most men would enjoy it, as well. The author's husband, Dan, even chimes in from time to time.