Reviews

Forty Days by Stephanie Parent

kyleechris's review

5.0

You can find this review along with others on my book blog Babbling of a Bookaholic

Wow, you guys! I wasn't sure I'd like Forty Days, I had no clue what to expect, but I had high hopes and I was blown away. I'm really interested in retellings of anything really because I haven't read many. I've heard the story of Noah's Ark several times throughout my life so I was interested to see exactly how Stephanie would twist this story into something unique and her own. I was very impressed with the writing, the detail, and how the story progressed. Forty Days was definitely one of those novels I just didn't want to put down, although I had to a few times.

The story is told from Neima's point of view who is Noah's granddaughter. Neima was very interesting and easy to like. It was fun seeing how others around Noah possibly felt. I liked how Stephanie put detail into all of her characters, even if they didn't have a huge part in the novel. They all had their own personalities and flaws, it made the story more believable for me. The family aspect of this novel was really well thought out and written. Stephanie explored all of the possible emotions that a family member of someone who is viewed as insane by the town could possibly feel. I liked how even though not all of Noah's family believed him they respected him enough to help him with what he needed to do. Although some of them did it for selfish reasons. I loved the love interests aspect of this book, Neima had her eyes set on someone but her family has other plans. I loved the love triangle and I'm saying love a lot. I'm not exactly sure if that's what you would call it but I'm going to anyways. It was a fun aspect to have in the book, making it feel more like a fun retelling than a serious, super religious one. I especially appreciated Stephanie's detail in describing how it felt, smelled, and was like on the ark. I felt like I was there with Neima and her family, suffering with them. I really liked the way she incorporated the animals into the story, if you know the story of Noah's Ark they're a huge aspect to the story. She was descriptive and made me fall in love with baby elephants!

I really, really enjoyed Forty Days. The cliff hanger ending sort of really sucked. Especially when I found out there's no information on the second book posted on Goodreads. Either way I loved this retelling of Noah's Ark and suggest you all give it a chance. It was a fun, easy read for me and really enjoyable.

Huge thank you to the author herself for giving me an advanced readers copy to review.

inwonderland49's review

3.0

How about that for a first line, huh? This book has a very interesting subject. Who has retold the story of Noah’s Ark? I don’t think it has been redone. So, I was very intrigued with being able to have the chance to read and review this short novel.

It is a very east read, it can be read in a few short hours. All-in-all, I liked the story and the whole gist of it. However, there were times where it was monotonous and the plot at times felt like it was going a little slow. But, other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I think that the characters were pretty well done. I would have liked to see a little bit more characterization in all of the characters, but that can come in the second part, right?

I think that if you are into historical fiction, with some action and romance, you should pick up this book and at least give it a shot. But beware, there is a cliffhanger ending! I know, the problems that happen when you’re a book lover. Honestly, I will be checking out Forty Nights when it comes out!

diaryofthebookdragon's review

4.0

Everyone knows story from the Bible about Noah's Ark. Stephanie Parent in her new series Neima's Ark retells this famous legend from a fresh and new perspective of a sixteen-year-old Neima, Noah's granddaughter. Told from a viewpoint of average teenage girl, process of building the arc seems like everything except an act of faith. Nobody believes in Noah's God and everyone think he is mad. So poor Neima, except usual teenage problems of first crush, low self-confidence and overzealous matchmaking cousins, has to fight against the ridicule of entire village since she is dubbed the madman's granddaughter.

I liked Neima. She is not week, and although she is obedient, as it was custom in those days, she questions her elders and does not just listens blindly. And we both share love for animals. Neima's descriptions of animals that are part of arc's cargo were my favorite part. Not just baby elephants, although they were super cute, but also the tigers, flamingos and the rest. The only flaw that I could find in Neima thinking is irritating cliche of brunettes being dull as mud.

If you are looking for a christian fiction where 'God will give us strength' and 'We must have faith in our lord' are motivational sentences that pop-up on every page - look elsewhere. The only religious talk you will get is from Noah and it is usually regarded with skepticism and disbelief. Forty Days is a realistic retelling of Noah's Ark myth, or at least as realistic as it can get since the rain falls non-stop for forty days.

And don't be fooled by kissy cover. There is a budding romance, but it's not the center of the story, so people who are looking for a lot of steamy kisses and make-out sessions are going to be disappointed. But non-existing sexual content makes Forty Days a book that you can freely recommend to any teenage girl to read.

With a little bit over 120 pages, Forty Days is quick read with cliffhanger ending that will make you check out to see when will Forty Nights, the next part in Neima's Ark series, be released. I really don't know why did they split this into duology I guess it's some illogical decision that only money-making oriented publishers can understand. I personally would have prefered to read this as one book.

So if you are looking for a realistic, historical retelling of a Noah's ark myth with likeable heroine then hurry up and grab Forty Days, since until the end of the blog tour ebook will be available for a promo price of 0.99$. ;)

My rating: 3.5 stars

I recommend this book to fans of: retellings of historical legends from young adult perspective; coming of age stories; animals; ...

Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the blog tour host in exchange for a honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.

zinokato's review

4.0

"It must be done. Tonight."
You're kidding!!
I love historical fiction so I always have high expectations for the story, especially since this is a re-telling of Noah's Ark and the idea sounded so amazing
This book definitely lived up to my expectation, the story was told so well and I love the way it was written.
I love Neima, she has so much going on but no one to talk to about anything. But I didn't think anyone else on the ark had someone to really rely on, except for Arisi and Japeth. Neima and Jorin, I loved those two together from the beginning, and knowing a little bit about Noah's Ark I knew only Noah's family got on the ark so I spent a lot of time wondering what would happen to Jorin.

Spoiler

but as soon as she wondered why she didn't dream of Jorin, I knew he was alive!

But now I have to wait for the second part to find out what else happens. I'm also worried about Arisi, after the flood all I kept on thinking about was the pregnant woman stuck on an ark and what's going to happen to her baby??
I also loved reading the author's note at the beginning of the story, it was just a little chance to get inside her head and understand why she chose to portray certain characters and events the way she did and why somethings were omitted.
Amazing story though and I can't wait to read part 2. Please come soon

Thanks to Stephanie Parent for providing me with a copy of this book :)

traciannecan's review

4.0

Can I just say I LOVED this book. I saw the author ask for honest reviews on Twitter and I was intrigued by the novel's premise. To be honest, I was not sure I would enjoy the book. At one point, after having difficulty getting the book on my tablet (all my fault, nothing to do with the book or author), I entertained thoughts of giving up and not reading it. Boy am I glad I didn't do that. I actually ended up reading this entire novel in one sitting late one night even though I was bone tired and needed to get up the next morning.

Neima is the granddaughter of Noah, a firm believer in God in a world where there is no single god. Her and the rest of the family are shamed by Noah's crazy ideas of building an ark and filling it with animals in time for a great storm.

Stephanie Parent does a great job of pointing of things you may have never thought about before reading this book and weaving it interestingly into the story. Like how Noah is most likely going to only bring animals that he knows of from his part of the world. She also clearly did a lot of research into where the Noah's ark story likely happened and around what time period. That helped to make the story even more real to me.

The side characters are all unique and entertaining and I was sad when some of them, of course, died in the flood. There was one or two characters I hoped some how made it on the ark, though I knew how improbable that was.



This book if full of remarkable details and unforgettable characters. My only complaint is that I have to wait till later this summer for the next book in the duology. The book is short and, until I see the length of the next book, I am going to believe that they could have been combined. This is the only reason I am not giving the book a 5/5.

Rating: 4/5

jeanz's review

4.0

MY REVIEW
The cover depicts the book well, with the Ark in the background, with the storm going on around it. Then there's the dove that Neima nurses as it has a broken wing. The couple in the forground of the cover could be Kenaan forcing his unwanted attentions on Neima, or I'd prefer to think that it's Neima, and Munzir's son Jorin in a loving embrace. The fonts and placing of the book title, series title and author are all well placed and fit well with the cover, leaving the actual cover to do the "selling" of the book.
The blurb continues to "sell" the book so does it's job well. I sort of broke my own rule in that I say I don't read religious material. This book is literally based on the bible story of Noah's Ark. This story humanises the biblical story more by giving us characters and locations that are perhaps more readable. The story is told through the eyes of a young girl. You learn about the stubborness of the character of Noah, how he rules his family firmly, and to do as he says without question. We also have our main character who narrates the story as Neima, she is Noah's grand-daughter. So as we all know the story goes that Noah is "told" to build an Ark. So Noah sets about his task and manipulates and forces his sons & their families to help. He doesn't ask he demands they listen to him and do as he says. Naturally there are skeptics within the family as well as outside of it The family know better than to question Noah, but the villagers ridicule Noah and his family. One of the leaders of those in the village that oppose Noah is Munzir. No one believes that the rain will come as Noah says it will. Then when it does they blame Noah for building the Ark, saying he has cursed them. Munzir comes up with the idea of setting fire to and burning the Ark, though when he tries he cannot keep a fire torch lit long enough. Noah summons his family to the Ark. Then there's the torrential rain and the "living" on board the Ark, caring for and feeding all the animals that Noah ordered to be collected. This story also has the inter family politics, where one brother will agree with anything Noah says just to try and gain favour with Noah. Then there's the fact that Kenaan thinks he will marry Neima so thinks it acceptable to force unwanted kisses and grope her when he wishes. Then there's the friendships between Neima and Dreya her best friend, hoe does Dreya take the news that Kenaan will one day marry Neima when she herself covets him so much. There is also Jorin, son of Munzir who wants to be friends with Neima and perhaps more one day but his father would never stand for it, he hates to see Jorin even acknowledge Neima or any of Noah's family.
So most of you will know the story of the Ark but this book also tells of the lives of the family aboard the Ark, how they cope with the dark, the movement of the Ark, caring for the animals and each other, as well as coping with what is happening outside their safe haven.
There's also a stowaway on the Ark. Will Noah allow the stowaway to stay, as they are not of his family so were not chosen by the God who speaks to Noah? The ending leaves on a real cliffhanger.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, I really did. Although I knew the story of Noah's Ark, this has an even more human side, and deals with perhaps sides of the story you would not first think of, like the living conditions on the Ark. Would I recommend the book? Yes, it makes you think even more than the biblical story. Would I read Bk2? Yes I definitely want to read book 2. Would I read more by Stephanie Parent? Yes, I liked her concept with this book being from Neima's point of view, and I also liked Stephanie's writing style, which was an easy, medium pace.

volubleloki's review

3.0

What would you do if your family had the person who the whole village pegged as crazy? That is Neima’s grandfather, Noah. Noah has been telling people of the end of days for years now and is now putting all his resources into building this ark.

Neima is affected by everybody thinking that her grandfather is crazy. There are some people in the village who won’t even associate with her because of it. It isn’t fair how it doesn’t affect other people in her family like her cousin, Kenaan.

Then Noah calls a family meeting. Neima’s mother thinks it is to announce that Kenaan and she will marry. Neima does not know if she is ready to marry and is worried about the meeting. Noah tells them that the time is come for the great flood and they need to prepare. As if things weren’t bad enough, now Noah wants them to bring in animals to take on the ark with them. That surely isn’t going to win Neima any friends. Good thing she has friends in Jorin and Derya, who don’t bother with what people say about Neima’s family.

Then the rains come. Her family is all in the ark. This includes Kenaan, who she still hasn’t spoken to after the preparations. What will happen between Neima and Kenaan? Will Neima see her friends again?

Everyone has heard of the tale of Noah and the Ark. This story gives a little different spin on it. It is told from the POV of the sixteen year old granddaughter of Noah. When I first started reading this book, I couldn’t stop thinking about Bill Cosby’s “Noahs” and how comedic they were. I liked that this book thought up of some of the same issues.

I liked how you could tell that Neima was young by the problems that she faced, but they were still relevant to the time period. It is sometimes hard to understand the customs of another time period, especially one that is drastically different than your own. In Forty Days, it was well explained what the social norms were (i.e.: men sleeping in one room and women sleeping in another). I also liked how Parent explained why she wrote things in the way she did. I think that this was important given the sacredness of the story of Noah.

Neima as a protagonist is wavering. She has an ongoing battle with herself on what she wants to say versus what she really says. She doesn't always think inline with what the customs or social norms are. She is just finding her voice in this first book and it will be interesting to see how that develops in Forty Nights.

I only rated this as “like” or 3 stars because it can be a little heavy reading at times. Given the story, it would be difficult to be otherwise. I’m not saying that you cannot just read the story and really like it without all the “heaviness” (history, social norms, etc). I just couldn’t bypass those. All in all, it was a good read and I’m excited to read Forty Nights when it comes out in June.

**I received this book as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review**