The Garden

A very old story... Adam and Eve. A new look at what happened in that Garden! Delicious!!

From a completely non-religious standpoint, The Garden is a work of art in character prose. Adam, Eve, God and the Serpent are beautifully flawed characters, springing to life in Aidinoff's vision of the Garden of Eden. This book brings a whole new perspective to the story of Adam and Eve, one that is wholly more believable that what the Bible tells us. A personal favorite wasAidinoff's portrayal of God: not the perfect, beaming grandfatherly figure, but a rather selfish and egocentric genius who forces Adam and Eve to recite His praise during their lessons. This book is beautifully written and planned out, and even though you know how it ends, The Garden makes you question how Adam and Eve arrived at that end.

This was one of those books that I couldn't put down. I thought the author's vision was well-thought out, and beautifully depicted. The plot was interesting, and the characters of Eve and the Serpeant were well developed, while God and Adam were only secondary figures. While this book definately deals with adult material, I feel like The Garden is a book everyone should read because it provides such a new and thought provoking view on the whole creation story. Eve is curious and good, instead of manipulative and inferior. However, I can see how this book would offend some people. The God portrayed in The Garden is not a heroic figure; he is selfish, petty, vain, and easily angered. However, I don't think that book pusheds the idea that this is the correct view of God. I found that this book was more about the human aspects of the Creation myth- what knowledge, freedom, beauty and paradise really mean. This was a simply stunning novel.

In this provocative retelling of Genesis, modern values such as freedom, independence, and equality are juxtaposed with a definitively Old Testament God--petulant, controlling, jealous, and easily angered. God wants his creations to do as he says and is disturbed to find that they have minds of their own, minds more complex than he ever envisioned. He created human beings to amuse and worship him, not to go around questioning him. The story is told from the first-person perspective of Eve, who is a curious, artistic, and brave. She can't understand why God made her physically weaker than Adam and wants to run with the gazelles as he does. The serpent is recast as Eve's mentor, a wise being as ancient as God who recognizes the necessity for Adam and Eve to learn their own lessons and to think for themselves. He does not trick them into eating the apple but lets them know exactly what they will be gaining (freedom) and what they will be giving up (ease and safety). The book is written in simple but poetic prose that is easily gobbled up. I finished all 400 pages in a day. Despite the fact that I already knew the ending, I still wanted to keep reading. Eve is a well-realized and sympathetic character, particularly for young girls. Adam is not so well-developed, but this is really Eve's story. Furthermore, The Garden questions pertinent issues such as death, the soul, justice, free will, obedience, science vs. religion, and whether God is omnipotent. Some of the most interesting parts of the book concern Eve and the serpent's philosophical discussions. To many critics, this book is unsatisfactory merely because it calls into question the established religious dogma. To me, this kind of questioning is a good thing. I don't think Aidinoff is trying to start a new religion here, but merely to ask...what if?

God has been bringing up Adam. Meanwhile, He has had the Serpent taking care of and teaching young Eve in a distant part of the Garden. Now, the Serpent has brought Eve to meet her Creator and Adam for the first time. The fun-loving, irresponsible Adam, who is off racing the gazelles or some such thing, has apparently spaced out on God's telling him that Eve was coming this morning, and so they are sitting around chatting and waiting for Adam's return: " 'I'm glad you like it. It's linen, Eve, a piece of linen cloth.'" 'How did you make it?' I asked." 'Oh, I just waved a finger.' God turned back to the Serpent. 'What a boy,' he said, raising both hands in the air. 'Not very bright, mind you, but that's not important. He's the first, you know, my first try, so he's not perfect. But he's beautiful--you must see him run--and he's a nice boy, kindhearted, and good with his hands. I have had fun with him; you can't imagine." 'I can,' said the Serpent, glancing at me. But I was watching God. God who was able to create cloth simply by waving a finger in the air; what power he must have! I shivered." 'But it's very tiring,' God went on. 'He takes a long time with his lessons and seems to have trouble remembering names, and he doesn't always pay attention. And for some reason I can't fix him by waving a finger.' The Serpent coughed. God frowned. 'What's the matter with you? You're always coughing. You never did that before." 'Just a little dust in my throat,' said the Serpent. 'Go on.'" 'The boy can't sit still, either. He wiggles his toes and plays with his hair until it drives me crazy.'" 'Mmph,' said the Serpent thoughtfully." 'And his balls,' said God." 'What?' said the Serpent." 'His balls. He plays with his balls.'"The Serpent lifted the front of his body into the air. 'What does he do with them.'" 'He play with them all the time. All the time. Bounces them about!'"The Serpent raised its head farther and widened its eyes. 'That's quite a trick. How does he do it?'" 'From hand to hand, back and forth, to and fro, while I'm trying to explain things like the solar system.'" 'Well,' said the Serpent, blinking. 'He sounds like quite an accomplished and original young man.'" 'Yes, he's good with his hands,' God repeated. 'Look at this woodwork!' God waved at the porch with its carved columns. 'And he loves to make those balls I told you about. I must admit it's difficult work, with his big hands. But he makes lots of them, small ones, large ones. He weaves reeds together for the cover and stuffs them with bits of wool or seeds. They are wonderful balls, and they bounce very well. He's fascinated by them. I only wish he'd put as much time and interest into learning.'" 'Oh. Of course,' said the Serpent. It sank into its coils, coughing." 'There you go again, said God. 'You should take something for it; try honey. Anyway,' he continued, 'when I ask Adam questions, he acts as if he's never heard the subject before. "What?" he'll say. "A planet? Nine planets?