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    Drawing in the Dust: A Novel
    Drawing in the Dust: A Novel
    Drawing in the Dust: A Novel
    Audiobook13 hours

    Drawing in the Dust: A Novel

    Written by Zoe Klein

    Narrated by Justine Eyre

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Brilliant archaeologist Page Brookstone is convinced bones speak, yet none of the ancient remnants she has unearthed during her twelve years of toiling at Israel's storied battlegrounds of Megiddo has delivered the life-altering message she so craves. Which is why the story of Ibrahim and Aisha Barakat, a young Arab couple who implore Page to excavate the grounds beneath their house in Anatot, instantly intrigues her.

    The Barakats claim the ghosts of two lovers haunt their home, overwhelming everyone who enters with love and desire. Ignoring the scorn of her peers, Page investigates the site, where she is seduced by an undeniable force. Once Ibrahim presents Page with hard evidence of a cistern beneath his living room, she has no choice but to uncover the secret of the spirits.

    It is not long before Page makes miraculous discoveries-the bones of the deeply troubled prophet Jeremiah locked in an eternal embrace with a mysterious woman named Anatiya. Buried with the entwined skeletons is a collection of Anatiya's scrolls, whose mystical words challenge centuries-old interpretations of the prophet's story and create a worldwide fervor that threatens to silence the truth about the lovers forever.

    Caught in a forbidden romance of her own, and under constant siege from religious zealots and ruthless critics, Page risks her life and professional reputation to deliver Anatiya's passionate message to the world. In doing so, she discovers that to preserve her future in the land of the living, she must shake off the dust of the dead and let go of her own painful past. As poignant and thought-provoking as the beloved bestsellers The Red Tent and People of the Book, ZoE Klein's historically rich debut novel is a lyrical and unexpected journey that will stay with listeners forever.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateAug 17, 2009
    ISBN9781400183449
    Drawing in the Dust: A Novel
    Author

    Zoe Klein

    ZOË KLEIN pursued the rabbinate out of a passion for ancient texts, mythology, liturgy and poetry. Zoë Klein has written for Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, and Tikkun. She has written chapters in a number of collections including The Women’s Torah Commentary and Holy Ground: A Gathering of Voices on Caring for Creation. Her poetry and prayers are used in houses of worship around the country and has appeared as a commentator on the History Channel in “Digging for the Truth.” She lives with her family, where she is the senior rabbi of a large congregation.

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    Reviews for Drawing in the Dust

    4/5

    68 ratings15 reviews

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    • 5/5
      It's easy to get lost in Klein's beautiful prose, and the world she creates for Anatiya. I am not a deeply religious person, but have always been intrigued by the mystical properties of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the types of places Page travels to as an archeologist. Klein brings all that to life easily and clearly, and draws you in, not letting you go for a second. Both Page and Anatiya are incredibly strong female characters and risk their lives for the things that they believe in, and that more than anything was what kept me reading. I would highly recommend Drawing in the Dust, and even The Scroll of Anatiya, though you don't have to read one to fall in love with the other.
    • 5/5
      Richly layered provocative story. Beautifully written and completely absorbing. I loved it!
    • 1/5
      I so did not like this book. The story was silly and the characters unbelievable. But the most insufferable was the writing: repetitive and filled with cliches. I really did not like the author's constant admiration for her own work, the "Scroll of Anatiya," which her characters praise throughout the text. The melodrama! (So many characters are "weeping.") The errors (I sincerely doubt a group of Orthodox Jews would attend the wedding of a Jewish girl and an Arab.) The bizarre ending. Really dreadful.
    • 4/5
      Well written, lovely story. I loved the vibrancy of the characters although I couldn't really identify with the lead character at the end because she flaked out a bit. Intriguing mystery with a dash of history and a heavy note of love thrown in.
    • 3/5
      Archaeologist Page Brookstone is working on a dig in Israel when she is approached by the Barkats, a young Arab couple who want her to initiate a dig under their home. They are convinced their home is haunted by a sexually charged couple and that their home sits on some secret burial ground. Skeptical, yet intrigued Page is drawn into the excavation and becomes involved in some controversial discoveries surrounding the prophet Jeremiah and his long, lost love Anatiya. Of course Page becomes involved in a controversial love story herself along the way.
      Another debut author who presents the reader with some unique historical facts, some insight into the plight of Israel, and a good story along the way.
    • 5/5
      Will be a good book club choice.
    • 4/5
      For a while now I've been reading books that have been recommended by someone, somewhere, somehow. The Drawing In The Dust is my first foray into unchartered territories in a very, very long time and fortunately it didn't disappoint. As a fan of anything paranormal I was attracted to the book by the blurb that promised ghostly presences and the setting - Zoe Klein takes us to Israel, to the world of rich history, archaeological digs and long-lost treasures, the only place on earth where people read their antique records in their own language. The idea of the main character unearthing something unique was more than I could pass up so the book came home with me. This novel is a chick lit-flavored coming-of-age adventure tied into Page's discovery of the tomb of the prophet Jeremiah buried in the arms of an unknown woman. There is love and lust, international and scientific conflict, and a particularly heart-warming notion that people can in fact all get along, despite our differences. Page has some personal drama and tragedy to sift through (pun intended) before she can come to terms with who she is and what she wants from her life, and her love interest has a similar journey to make so there is quite a bit of almost teen-like angst and self-doubt. There are a lot of references to the Scripture, faith, some interpretation of the verses and I was very pleased to see in the end that it wasn't overwhelming. In fact, if felt very natural, the religious elements fit very neatly into the story, and learning after I finished the book that the author is a practicing rabbi helped explain why they didn't feel forced or out of place. This is Ms. Klein's life and she transfered it in a way to her character, Page. The hook of the story is that Page abandons a well-established dig to come work under the house of a couple who say they have ghosts and know there is something there. This paranormal element worked very well in some instances and in others it left me confused because the nature of it seemed to change half-way through the story. I did enjoy however that it wasn't completely cheesy, as it could have been, although it was quite a bit more new-agey than I would have preferred. The insight into the daily life of the Jewish and Arabic communities in Jerusalem was what grounded this story for me. It's a glimpse into something we don't see on our news and I'm willing to bet most people know nothing about this aspect of life in Israel. I credit the authenticity and intimacy with which Ms. Klein presented these parts of the book to us readers to the fact that she spent time in Israel and most likely witnessed events similar to what she described. There were elements that seemed far-fetched but on the whole it worked for the purposes of this book. This is an entertaining read and if you're interested in literature with Hebrew motifs and setting as well as very atmospheric writing you will enjoy this book.
    • 3/5
      This book was moderately interesting, but I did not feel the characters were well enough developed for me to care about them. There were too many hardly believable happenings. I would have preferred more realistic dialogue rather than the poetry.
    • 5/5
      DRAWING IN THE DUST by Zoë Klein is a magical and fully romantic read. I went into the book figuring that I would find a great story and found something so full of wonder and color that my brain is still swirling with the beauty of it. Much as a fairy tale leaves frosting and pixie dust floating about the head, DRAWING IN THE DUST leaves warmth and happiness surrounding you like a soft blanket fresh out of the dryer. I am absolutely ecstatic to share this review with you today and hope that it encourages you to pick this book up and get lost within the wonder of its pages.DRAWING IN THE DUST follows the blond, beautiful, intelligent and lost Page as she journeys to discover who she is and what mysteries the world holds. Originally a divinity student in college, she found herself drawn to archaeology and has spent over a decade digging up the remains of past civilizations. She's always cataloging, recording, analyzing; she's searching for something but has no idea what that something is. When Ibrahim and Aisha Barakat show up at her dig, claiming to have ghosts visiting their home, Page is quick to dismiss them as the rest of her colleagues have. Her brain and heart war with each other and soon, despite the pleas of her coworkers, she finds herself on the Barakat's doorstep. What follows is a story woven with mystery, intrigue, suspense, and above all, love.The discovery of a scroll and coffin in an ancient cistern set the world on fire. The scroll contains the words of a young woman, Anatiya, as she details her life and her love for the prophet Jeremiah. The coffin contains the old bones of Anatiya, locked in a loving embrace in the long-dead arms of Jeremiah. Her story and the obvious love between the pair throw age-old stories up into a whirlwind of chaos. When panic and destruction are becoming a part of everyday life, can the tender love of two long-dead mortals cure the world, or crush it?I am not exaggerating at all when I say that DRAWING IN THE DUST is breathtakingly beautiful. This is one of the most unique and wonderful love stories that I have read. At the forefront is Page and her desire to find love despite the fact that she constantly pushes it away. As Page's discovery of the ancient scroll continues, we also learn of Anatiya and her undying love for Jeremiah. Klein gives a velvety soft, fluid texture to Anatiya and its practically impossible not to fall in love with the young woman, feeling every joy and heartbreak that she experiences. Anatiya's voice is the voice of love. I don't know how Klein does it, but she creates such a tender and romantic atmosphere that I feel even the most bitter and angry people would find themselves melting over her words.Normally, a strong female character is what wins a book over for me. In this case I was extra lucky to experience two strong female characters. Both Page and Anatiya play strong leads and bring strong stories to the book even though one character is dead. One would expect that Page, the woman that we actually follow would steal the spotlight from Anatiya. Or perhaps Anatiya would steal it from Page seeing as how it is her scroll that Page discovers and her life that unfolds before us. Instead, Klein brings both characters to the front, showing amazing skill at creating two lead characters that can both stand in the spotlight together without one overshadowing the other.It is for reasons such as this that DRAWING IN THE DUST is a remarkable book. Klein's ability to bring us down into multiple stories while at the same time keeping utter cohesion is just amazing and adds such a level of depth to the book that enjoyment lasts long after the last page is read. People say it all the time, but in this instance, it could not be more true. Klein's characters really do jump off the page and cavort around you. DRAWING IN THE DUST follows more like a beautiful play, a wonderful moving work of art, than simple black lines on grey paper. It's been a day since I finished DRAWING IN THE DUST and I can still picture scenes from the book vividly in my head. That is the kind of artistry Klein puts forth.Aside from the wonderful creation of great characters and a fantastic job at creating a compelling plot, Klein seems to be terrific at creating romantic tension. Romance is the key to DRAWING IN THE DUST, at least in my opinion, and romance is the thing that constantly pulls us along. It was very difficult for me not to experience an intense feeling of love while reading this book and I imagine many share my opinion. The story of Anatiya, the woman who dared to love a prophet, brings its own impossible bit of romantic tension. Add in Page, and her constant battle with her own self as she fights to find love and you've created an epic love story - one that is bound to capture hearts for years to come.
    • 4/5
      Page Brookstone finds herself bored with her dream life. Will unearthing the 3,070th mummy really make a difference to the world or to Page's search for personal meaning? Nope, so when a crazy couple approaches her dig with a wild story of erotic ghosts in their home, Page decides to climb out of her rut and down into a secret underground cistern. And there, she discovers love. The 2500 year old love of the prophet Jeremiah and his mute scribe Anatiya. And the contemporary love that blossoms between our Catholic Christian protagonist and an Orthodox Jew.
    • 3/5
      Page Brookstone is an American archeologist who has been working in Israel for the past decade. She loves her job excavating a dig in Megiddo but is in a slump in life. She is also in a rather uncomfortable situation with one of her co-workers and his feelings for her, and is stressed about it. So when a Palestenian couple, Ibrahim and Naima, approach her with a ghost story curiousity gets the better of her and she ends up investigating their claims on her day off. To her surprise, she finds a coffin containing two intertwined skeletons and a scroll written by a female scribe named Anatiya. She quickly becomes immersed in her discovery and risks her career when she leaves Megiddo and begins work on her intriguing find.I found some of the content in this book to be very interesting. I loved the parts dealing with the ghost story and archeology itself - the excavating, the mystery and thrill of the find. But at the same time I wasn't very thrilled with Page as a character. I found her to be annoying and immature for a 40ish year old professional. I also enjoyed learning of the prophet Jeremiah, but how much is fact and/or fiction is unknown to me. Ms. Klein does mention that she wrote the fictional Scroll of Anatiya to coincide with the life of Jeremiah as if Anatiya were a woman who lived along with and loved the prophet. I only mention this because the author quotes directly from the scroll at the start of each chapter.I can't say I'd recommend this as I didn't love it, but if you are interested in learning about the Prophet Jeremiah or an archeological mystery then you might want to check this one out.
    • 4/5
      There is music to this book. An undercurrent of notes that almost disappears at times – and then swells into a flood of emotion and image – a song of words.“Midnight is the most intimate of instants. The most hollow, superstitious, lost-in-the-woods, something’s-in-the-attic, moments of the day. Twelve is the knifepoint between the day’s deepest darkening and the commencement of its lightening, the kiss between the kingdom of the moon and the kingdom of the sun. It is a razor-breadth’s flash between love and hope.”Archeologist Page Brookstone has been searching her whole life for something that started to disappear for her one New Year’s Eve at midnight. She searches through dust and bones and texts, looking for…something indefinable. Some answer to a question she is unable to form.And with a major discovery that comes to her out of a mist – her life changes completely.She is caught up in a world both completely outside of her own – and one that touches her soul. She is in Israel, where the ancient past and modern day live side by side. Where there is incredible beauty and mystery, and also unimaginable horrors. Where a day may contain prayers, work, joy…and bombings.“He sits back down and continues talking. “Once I found a little foot. I picked it up delicately. It had a little scrape on the ankle. The scrape was not from the bombing, it was older, from at least a week before. It had scabbed over. This was a perfect little boy’s foot with a perfect little boy scrape on it from running, sliding, and playing tag. I can’t even comprehend the pain that his family went through. All I know is that I mourned for his little foot.”There is a religious narrative to this book that didn’t touch me as much as it should have – through no fault of its own. I have almost no knowledge of the bible. For those who do, I think there would be a great deal more depth to the words, the discovery. As Page uncovers scrolls and artifacts of the prophet Jeremiah and a woman named Anatiya, she brings a new voice to the world…and only later discovers that it mirrors her own.“This is the story of a woman, Miss Brookstone. This is not the mention of a woman in the context of a story of a man. This is her own voice, describing her own love. And she lived during one of the most tumultuous times in this region’s history. It’s a perspective entirely missing from our collections.” From the dust, from a woman’s voice that comes only from words on a scroll, Page realizes much about herself, much about the choices she’s made, and that she has buried herself in the past to avoid choosing a future.“I think of that devouring clock that I feel I’ve been running from since the night I knew my father was dying. I do feel patience and generosity leaking from my broken heart. Perhaps love will alight on me someday if I remain still like this. Perhaps not.”Always running from and never running to, the words and life of Anatiya finally break Page out of hiding from herself.“I think of the thousands of Canaanite tombs I’ve uncovered, and look at the now thousands of stars. They are related, I feel. Each star emanated one of those souls, who inspired a little more love, if only for a day, a couple of days, or years. Then comes grief, which is always the price for loving. But thank God for loving. And the stars keep shining their light to dispel the gloom, orient the troops, chart the wanderers, on and on and on. I marvel at the night.”The music of the past, of a mute woman’s voice, of a land of dust and tears and blood, of newfound strength weave into this book. Though at times a few of the notes faltered, the crescendo was beautiful. “The soul of a person is made from stories. Stories that keep telling themselves over countless ages, and when man is no longer listening, they become the lyrics to the music of galaxies.”
    • 5/5
      Drawing in the Dust is the story of a Page, a woman who spends her days uncovering the past. She is a very talented archaeologist but is somewhat bored with her current situation. She's in Mediggo and searching to figure out life's mysteries. A couple comes to her in need of help. They see love making ghosts in their home. Page is skeptical but intrigued. She makes a visit to their home and feelings overcome her that she thought were buried. She leaves in a hurry but is drawn back to this home and decides to help this couple. Will Page find the meaning of life in the area beneath this couples home or will she just find herself? Sometimes you need a book that speaks to you. Drawing in the Dust makes you think and feel. When you're looking for a book that will touch your soul, this is the one to pick up. It is a masterpiece! Now go read it:)Thank you Ayelet from Pocket Books for sending me this book to review.
    • 5/5
      I hope Zoe Klein's Drawing in the Dust is a runaway bestseller! This novel is a dazzling, spellbinding story that kept me transfixed until I finished the last satiating page. Like all great stories, I wished it had never ended. I had fallen in love with the characters and grieved that I could not longer share their lives. The marketing blurb on the back cover touts that this novel "will lure" readers of bestsellers like The Red Tent. Typically I take such comments with a grain of salt. But believe me when I say: I enthusiastically loved The Red Tent and this book had just as strong an impact on me. Both show a profound love for the ancient cultures and people described. Both have strong female characters at their core. Both left me aching for more. Both heightened my spirituality and humanity. But there is a downside, too. I imagine both will be welcomed and condemned equally by a similar audience of readers of mixed religious backgrounds. The Red Tent was a controversial book, and this one will be, too.Drawing in the Dust is an intoxicating mix of modern and ancient cultural and religious themes. It is a story of scholarship, discovery, intrigue, friendship, culture, family, passion, selfless love, and international religious fanaticism. The main character is American archaeologist Page Brookstone. While working in Israel, she discovers the remains of the prophet Jeremiah. The prophet lies in a tomb entwined in the arms of a mysterious woman. Among the scrolls discovered at the site is one written by this woman. It is a new tract of monumental historical and religious significance. It reveals a captivating, passionate, female voice from the era of prophets. In archaic, mystic, erotic, and ecstatic verse, the scroll communicates her life and love for Jeremiah. The discovery creates an international furor. Little by little, the ancient love story is revealed, but there is also a modern love story at the heart of this novel. The less said about it, the better. You are guaranteed to savor the subtle twists and turns of this delicate, modern, international, interfaith romance, and I wouldn't want to ruin anything by revealing details here that should be discovered within the context of the story.It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. Indeed, Klein shows the polish of a first-rate storyteller. Her prose is lyrical, fresh, and unconventional. It sparkles with literary craftsmanship. The novel is well-paced, but the author also takes time to create significant depth in her characters. There is an earthy engaging juxtaposition between the multi-cultural cast of characters involved in the present-day archaeological operations, and the two ancient personalities—the prophet Jeremiah and his life-long loving female devotee. In the interlacing of the two stories—one ancient, one modern—a symbiosis is created that intensifies the vitality and reality of both worlds. I am stunned by this debut. I will recommend it to my friends and buy it for my loved ones. I predict this novel will immediately be optioned by Hollywood and made into a major movie. Why? Because it is a unique, compelling, and thrilling story that would serve as a magnificent vehicle to showcase renowned female and male acting talent. Also, it sheds light and understanding on many significant contemporary world political, cultural, and religious issues. This book earns my unqualified and enthusiastic five-star rating. I eagerly await further books by this talented new author.
    • 3/5
      The back-cover blurb is what drew my attention to this book since this is my first read by author Zoe Klein. The story has strong mystical components as well as many references to the story of the Biblical prophet Jeremiah. Readers who are unfamiliar with Jeremiah's story may find it hard going, but I didn't have any problems.Page is an American archaeologist who has been working in Israel for more than a decade on the excavations at Megiddo. She likes her work, but is realizing a sense of dissatisfaction with her current situation. Her long-time friend/mentor and boss recently made a pretty strong pass at her; her refusal and his inability to accept it have resulted in a very strained working relationship. So Page is ripe for change and when a Palestinian couple approach her on the dig, she listens to their story more closely than she realizes. Her boss scoffs at their claims of a haunted chamber underneath their home at Anatot, but Page cannot seem to forget. When she drops by their home on her day off, she quickly becomes drawn into the thrill of discovery and risks her career and professional reputation when she leaves Megiddo and begins work in Anatot.Those familiar with the story of Jeremiah will either love or hate this story. Klein fleshes out the prophet far beyond what is known and connects her life with that of a young woman who 'loved' the prophet. The author quotes from a fictional 'Scroll of Anatiya', the story of the young woman from long ago who passionately loved the prophet. Each chapter is headed by a quote and the author admits to having actually written the entire scroll while in school as a parallel to the life of Jeremiah. Biblical purists will no doubt be up in arms and screaming at the extent of poetic license Mrs. Klein uses in her tale.I found the 'mystery' and archaeological discovery portions of the book quite riveting. But I had to wade through the author's metaphysical meanderings as she psychoanalyzes her lead character during the entire novel. It could just be that I'm shallow--if I want to read a character study, then that's what I look for; if I want to read an archaeological mystery, then that's what I want. I just wish the author had limited herself to one or the other and I would have enjoyed "Drawing in the Dust" much more.