LDS Books: Against the Giant

Ancient Israel faces a terrible threat - the Philistines!

David is a young Israelite who trusts the Lord. But being the youngest can be hard. While David tends sheep, his older brothers are out battling the Philistines. They come back boasting of their strength and telling tales of their enemy. The Philistines are stronger, larger, and have better weapons. In contrast, the Israelites are fewer, smaller, and have weapons of only stone and stick. No one wants to fight the fearsome Philistines. To survive, Israel needs to rely on God and to listen to the prophet. But the Israelites won't listen, which leads them to a big problem - a Philistine named Goliath.

Against the Giant delves deep into the classic biblical story and brings to light a brand-new perspective as it tells the story through young David's own eyes. Feel the thrills and the terror, along with the growth and courage, as if you were there standing against the giant yourself.

Reviews-

There is no greater story in scripture than that of the first kings in Israel and the human, religious and political drama surrounding the events leading to Saul becoming the first king, then being upstaged by David. The fledgling nation had to turn back the tide of invading Philistines, or be swallowed up in cavity. The stories of brothers, sisters, wives, servants and generals unfold with Samuel the prophet wandering in and out issuing curses and blessings along with frightening prophetic warnings. This episode in Old Testament history is fodder for a historical soap opera of unequalled magnitude, and I can't conceive why William Shakespeare didn't craft a stage performance covering this fascinating period in history. Christy Hardman, in her book, Against the Giant, masterfully weaves the events from the time of Saul and David, which are sometimes confusing in the choppy Bible version, into an easy-to-read historical novel, in a rich and unique historical setting, flowing easily from start to finish, a compelling story that can be read and enjoyed by readers of all ages.

-Lee Nelson, Author of The Storm Testament Series

"Against the Giant" is the dramatized story of David and Goliath by new author Christy Hardman. Taking her cues from the Bible account but also blending in a great deal of research into the land and customs of the time, Christy created a story that comes alive in the reader's mind.

We're all familiar with the story of David and Goliath, so I won't go too deeply into that aspect of the story. The book itself doesn't, either, but rather focuses on the back story of David's family-his widowed father, his self-absorbed brothers, the way David was always overlooked as being too small, too young, not smart enough. We see the status of the country at that time, the lack of a king, the way the people pressured the prophet Samuel into anointing a king unto them, even though he told them it would be their downfall. He anointed Saul, knowing the Lord did not desire a king for His people, and hated seeing what became of it. We learn of the army's movements, the tension between the warring factions, and what their battles meant to the people of the land.

Between all this, Christy wove the scent of the kitchens, the smell of the animals, and the textures of the fabric. She painted the scene so well and with such evocative language, I felt as though I was there. This truly was a well-done piece of historical fiction.

I did wish, however, that we had just a bit more time exploring the battle between David and Goliath. It takes place right at the end of the book and, while well written, was over so quickly, I felt the lack. I would have liked to see a little more attention paid to that battle, more focus on the reactions, and so forth. I don't know if the author plans to do a sequel showing David's rise to the throne, but I certainly hope so and I will most definitely review it should it come to pass.