Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther

The book 'Chosen' by Ginger Garrett is a multi-layered retelling of the story of Esther. Esther is the enigmatic queen whose book in the Hebrew Bible holds the distinction of being the only one that never mentions God. Despite the absence of divine reference, it is an incredibly important story about the preservation and faithfulness of the people of Israel. Garrett begins with a series of newspaper articles, which set a context for the 'discovery' of scrolls of personal diaries of Queen Esther, preserved in what is now Iran for nearly 2500 years. Interspersed in the primary text, the diaries of Esther, are side-bar comments, press releases, sermon extracts, and other pieces that relate both to the story of Esther, as well as relate the story of Esther to modern times. Garrett explores the depths of the psychology of Esther, just a child when the events that would shape her life began, in a world vastly different from our own in many ways, but which is accessible in that those things which motivate men and women remain remarkably the same. Esther's story begins with her being outside the royal palaces, hearing of the parties that are taking place both for King Xerxes and Queen Vashti; Esther, not yet a teenager, experiences the same kind of angst that any young person wishing to be 'old enough' to do things experiences, and has her own crush on a newly bar-mitzvah'ed boy, Cyrus. Things change rather quickly as Vashti's banishment is proclaimed, and the world turns upside down for Esther as she becomes one of the king's potential brides. Her situation with Cyrus gets thrown out of balance, and her cousin Mordecai gets increasingly involved in the palace and political intrigues of which Esther is only vaguely aware at first, but becomes more and more involved to ensure the safety of her family, her people, and herself. The story is exciting and harrowing, following the biblical account as an outline, but adding personal details and the thoughts of Esther from a first-person point of view in the midst of the struggle against Haman, and finally in the death of Xerxes. The post-script leaves the story unresolved in many ways, as is the true history - we do not know what ultimately happens to Esther or Mordecai; of course, history not too distant from their time would see the fall of the Persian Empire under Alexander the Great, but the story of the glory of the empire would live on in the tale now enshrined in the Hebrew scriptures. For those who like historical romance, or dramatised stories from history, or tales of the ancient world, this book is a very good read. Its diary format keeps the reader interested in ways that some narratives lack. I look forward to more of Garrett's writing.

This story is filled with the fascinating details of life in ancient Persia and Biblical times. Ginger Garrett reveals the thoughts and feelings of Queen Esther, one of the most beautiful and wise women of the Old Testament, from the time of her adolescence, all the way into her adulthood. The author tells the story from the first person perspective ... capturing the thoughts and feelings of a young Jewish girl who is raised by her Uncle Mordecai ... who with caution and descretion rises to one of the most honored, revered and envied positions within ancient Persia. The story is one of faith, of moral truths, of honor, of betrayal and of redemption and renewal. By the age of 30, King Xerxes had experienced much in life, plots of assassination, of war, political intrigues and of physical and carnal love - perhaps he was seeking something less ephemeral and more difficult to obtain, something lasting and of infinite value. We learn about power and corruption in high places, the role of women during the ancient times, the power of the rich ...and the degradation and poverty of the poor. Ginger Garrett is a most gifted writer who intersperses current events, by including news articles about antiquities and artifacts found recently in Iraq and Iran. The topics within the news articles grab the imagination of the reader and magnify the mystery of the past. They strengthen the emotional bond to the story as written by the author. The conversations between King Xerxes and Queen Esther are so realistic. They are challenging on an emotional, spiritual, and intellectual level - as two people who are from very different backgrounds learn to dissolve the barriers between each other ... learn to bare their thoughts and feelings ... as they develop trust, mutual respect ... and finally love. Esther recognizes the power which the King holds over so many people, including herself. She risks her life and the comforts of her position to save her people. Everything hangs on the decision of the King, his inherent "power", whether or not he will yield ... to her one request. The story is written so beautifully by the author that it touched this reader's heart and soul. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

A great and fast read. The story keeps you so intrigued it is hard to put down. Ester's faith was deeply inspiring and moving for me and I think this book is a must read for all women to see how powerful faith can be.

Based on scrolls purportedly smuggled out of Iran following the 2003 earthquake, the author weaves the ancient story of Queen Esther with excerpts and information from the New York Times, the BBC, the FBI and other contemporary sources. This story is told in the voice of Queen Esther and relayed in her own hand through a series of diary entries. Her journey from marketplace urchin to Queen of Persia is more satisfying than a fairy tale. Unlike Cinderella, who endured a similar make-over, Esther did not desire to visit the palace. At least not through the door that led to the harem! I have never been to Persia, but after reading Chosen, I can imagine what it looks like. I can hear ancient sounds ringing through my ears and smell the scents of the region's cuisine. From descriptions of the marketplace Esther grew up in, to the harem she became a part of, to the palace she came to rule, the author's research is exhaustive and evocative. This novel truly creates a world out of words. And in reading it, I felt as if I was watching over Esther's shoulder, a constant observer of her actions and emotions. I especially appreciated Ginger's approach to the question of the worth of women in an ancient society. She could have either dodged the question completely or re-written history to create the sort of anachronistic and modern `spunky' heroine which seems to inhabit the majority of recent `historicals'. Instead, the author chose to leave Queen Esther in the context of her time and in doing so, provided keen observations on what life was like as a woman. Both the positives (yes, there were some) and the negatives. Ginger sweeps the sands of time from this figure of ancient history, giving her voice once again -- and what a compelling voice it is!. Expect this shrouded figure of ancient history to lend her vision to her contemporary sisters. This is a book with staying power and Ginger Garrett is an author to watch!--I look forward to her forthcoming books.