Gorgeous!

This is a beautiful picture book containing the Biblical story of Ruth.  All the pictures are taken in Israel, are in full color, and provide the reader with lovely images of the Holy Land’s country side.  Traditional clothes from Ruth’s time period are worn in the pictures, and the people are shown portraying different events in Ruth’s story.

This volume contains the complete Book of Ruth in the New King James Version, as well as, the story of Ruth in narrative form. Having the combination of the Biblical version, the narrative form, and all the awesome pictures makes Ruth’s story have even greater depth.  Reading the Book of Ruth in the Bible has always been inspiring, however, with this book, the story really comes alive before the reader’s eyes.

As Naomi makes the decision to return to Israel after the devastating deaths of her husband and two sons, the pictures bring home what a difficult journey she had to make to get back to Bethlehem.  The reader can visualize Ruth as she says these famous words to Naomi:

“Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.

Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.”

(Ruth 1:16-17 New King James Version)

The pictures also emphasize how very poor Naomi and Ruth were when they came back to Israel, and what hard work it would have been to get the little bit of grain leftover in the fields. With the photographs, it is very easy to imagine the joy Naomi shared with Ruth and Boaz when they married, and later when their son, Obed, is born.

“I am Ruth,” is well written, and a visual treat to the eyes.   The beautiful story of Naomi and Ruth being redeemed by Boaz, their kinsman redeemer, unfolds in this volume.  In the end, all of their needs have been met, plus more.  Ruth becomes part of the lineage of Jesus, and the great-grandmother of King David.  Ruth’s story parallels that of Jesus who will become our own kinsman redeemer if we allow him.  By doing so, we will gain all the blessings of a Christ follower including eternal life.

This is a “coffee table book.”   It is a hardcover volume made with high quality paper, and is over-sized.  But this is definitely a book to pick up and read; please don’t leave it sitting unread as a coffee table decoration.  I have always loved the book of Ruth, and so really enjoyed the story in this format.  I can’t emphasize enough what a lovely book this is, and how well done it is.  “I am Ruth” gets five stars and my recommendation.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.

Photographer Information:  http://www.amazon.com/Photographer-Kenneth-Berg/e/B00D7LQUCQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1378307118&sr=1-1

Photographer’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/KennethBergCollection

Photographer’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ImKennethBerg

Photographer’s Website:  http://www.bergproductions.com/

Author Information:  http://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Carol-Duff/e/B00DEO8JKW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2

Author’s Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/brenda.duff1

Author’s Blog:  http://biblereporter.com/about/

Author’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BrenDuff

Book Information:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxdDvchNSyw

This book is published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group:  http://www.nlpg.com/