While the fate of the world rested on Noah’s shoulders, the survival of the human race rested on hers. The young heroine in Sinners and the Sea is destined for greatness. Known only as “wife” in the Bible and cursed with a birthmark that many think is the brand of a demon, this unnamed woman — fated to become the mother of all generations after the great flood — lives anew through Rebecca Kanner. The author gives this virtuous woman the perfect voice to make one of the Old Testament’s stories come alive like never before. Desperate to keep her safe, the woman’s father gives her to the righteous Noah, who weds her and takes her to the town of Sorum, a haven for outcasts. Alone in her new life, Noah’s wife gives him three sons. But living in this wicked and perverse town with an aloof husband who speaks more to God than to her takes its toll. Noah’s wife struggles to know her own identity and value. She tries to make friends with the violent and dissolute people of Sorum while raising a brood that, despite its pious upbringing, develops some sinful tendencies of its own. While Noah carries out the Lord’s commands, she tries to hide her mark and her shame as she weathers the scorn and taunts of the townspeople. But these trials are nothing compared to what awaits her after God tells her husband that a flood is coming — and that Noah and his family must build an ark so that they alone can repopulate the world. As the floodwaters draw near, she grows in courage and honor; when the water finally recedes, she emerges whole, displaying once and for all the indomitable strength of women. Drawing on the biblical narrative and Jewish mythology, Sinners and the Sea is a beautiful account of the antediluvian world told in cinematic detail.
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“Rebecca Kanner brings the antediluvian world ofgiants, prophets, and demons alive, setting her narrative in motion from thefirst chapter and never letting it rest. She is a writer of great dexterity,performing tricks at a full sprint.”
— Marshall Klimasewiski, author of The Cottagers and Tyrants
“Kanner’s is a fresh, irresistible story about the unnamed woman behind the famous ark-builder. Compelling and masterfully written.”
— Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Books of Mortals series“Kanner animates a harsh, almost dystopic world of fallen people struggling to survive. Noah’s unnamed wife is a powerful, memorable character.”
— Publishers Weekly“Kanner successfully undertakes a formidable task retelling a familiar religious story through the eyes of Noah’s wife. The narrative is well-articulated, evenly balanced and stimulating.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Rebecca Kanner’s vividly imagined telling recreates the world of the Bible and asks powerful questions about the story and about ourselves.”
— Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, author of Why Faith Matters“Kanner does a masterful job.”
— Rabbi Morris Allen, Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverley Hills, California" I personally thought this was a dark and depressing story. "
— Nancy, 5/13/2013Rebecca Kanner holds an MFA in fiction writing from Washington University in St. Louis. Her writing has won an Associated Writing Programs Award, a Loft Mentorship Award and a Minnesota State Arts Board Grant. Her stories have been published in numerous journals, including The Kenyon Review and The Cincinnati Review. She teaches writing at The Loft in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Amy Rubinate has narrated over 250 audiobooks and won multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards. Her books have been selected for AudioFile’s Best Romance of 2016 list; Booklist’s Top 10 Romance, Top 10 Historical Fiction, Editor’s Choice Media; and YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. She has a degree in oral interpretation of literature and won state and national awards for poetry reading. A voice actor and singer for over a decade, Amy has narrated many interactive children’s books and provided character voices for toys and video games. Amy’s work has been featured in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, AudioFile magazine, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal.