BOOK REVIEW: Salome’s Wish by W.J.Worham

Salome’s Wish by W.J.Worham

This novel was written by the daughter of a friend, and I admit that this was the only reason I read it as I'm not generally interested in books based on bible stories. However, I enjoyed it and think it is worthy of recommendation, particularly to Christian readers. I have no religious faith, myself, though I am interested in the historical accounts of the narratives that underpin religions and the book fulfils that interest for non-Christians and atheists, as well as for Christian believers.

It is an interesting and engaging novel aimed at a YA audience, but readable by adults. The starting point of the story is Salome's famous request, at her mother Herodias's insistence, that she be rewarded for dancing at her stepfather Herod's birthday party by being given the head of John The Baptist on a platter. Worham then reimagines subsequent events, telling the story through the voices of Salome herself and Zeb, the brother of Jesus's disciples James and John. The reader witnesses the final days leading up to Jesus's crucifixion, and beyond, through their eyes, while also finding out more about life in that era for both the very poor and the wealthy and powerful.

The novel is easy-to-read, clear and well-researched. Wendy has a degree in Theology from Cambridge and a Masters from Kings College, London, so she knows what she’s writing about and her style is confident and assured. I found the use of modern colloquialisms combined with an occasionally rather stilted dialogue a little difficult at times, but I have read much worse examples, and the characterisation was generally adept and complex. Wendy is good at presenting her research in a natural way - she doesn't fall into the trap of tacking such knowledge and information onto the narrative in a contrived manner.

The narrative itself is fairly page-turning, and would appeal to young people who are interested in bible stories. There is something very compelling about seeing famous events through the eyes of minor characters, and this novel presents the well-known story in a way that makes it memorable and authentic. She brought the characters and events alive for me in a way you don't get from the brief accounts and references in the bible itself, but without the overwhelming complexity of detail and viewpoint that you get from longer 'literary' novels which feature bible stories from different perspectives, such as I, Claudius by Robert Graves, or the sometimes brutal or satirical tone of novels that consider Jesus's life and legacy such as The Gospel According To The Son by Norman Mailer or Julian The Apostate by Gore Vidal. 

This is not a groundbreaking novel. It does not present the reader with a new direction for their thinking or jolt people out of – or into –  conventional beliefs. But it doesn’t set out to do that sort of thing. It is an accessible account of a fascinating period of history, imbued by the author’s own religious beliefs. This novel does not set out to be a critique or an apologist for Christianity. It aims to tell an interesting story which is ultimately uplifting despite its darker elements. It is never preachy and would appeal to those less familiar with the Bible narrative. It would be particularly useful for students of RE at GCSE level, as it highlights issues of philosophy and politics relating to religious belief and historical accounts in a very accessible way. It is respectful of the Christian story, while presenting generally realistic characters with convincingly human responses to world-changing events.

There are some errors of the sort that always seem to be present in ebooks, but fewer than I’ve seen in many others I’ve read. Wendy’s style is accomplished and intelligent, and the novel is imaginative and fairly gripping, well-paced and well-structured, though I personally found it a little flat at times and struggled in the second half, finding myself skip-reading some parts. This was more to do with my own lack of time, however, than with genuine problems in the text. I think that, for the appropriate reader (a serious teenager with Christian beliefs, I would guess), this would be an excellent novel, and I would highly recommend it if you enjoy historical narratives with religious themes.

**** Recommended