Stone Tables by Orson Scott Card

Stone Tables by Orson Scott Card is the Biblical story of Moses--a historical, Biblical fiction.  I really enjoyed it.  I loved Card's Women of Genesis, so I was looking forward to reading this.  Stone Tables was originally a play that was written by Card and produced and performed while he was serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He never got to see it.  He expanded and changed the play to write the novel.  I understand there is a soundtrack for the play available.  I really like Card's writing and his interpretation of events.  The relationship between Moses, Aaron, and Miriam is very interesting, complex, and true to life.  Love the relationship of Moses and his wife.  I had always wondered why in Egypt the Pharaoh would accept his daughter just taking a baby out of the water for a son.  Card's take on it is interesting and thought provoking.  I will enjoy reading the account of Moses in the Bible much more now with the pictures and stories in my mind from this book.  Again, it is not scripture, but fiction and is meant to be read and enjoyed as such.

Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

This is a non-fiction story of a modern slave and an international art dealer and how their lives come together and how they become friends.  It was very eye opening.  Slavery should have ended with Lincoln ages ago, but it still exists in the deep Louisiana south for Denver until he decides he has had enough and hops a train to Dallas in the 1960's.  Ron Hall had a very simple upbringing, but his luck changed with the chance selling of a piece of art, and his fortunes turned.  The men come from different worlds, but a mission for homeless people and Ron's amazing wife Debbie bring them together.  With each chapter written by one or the other, Ron and Denver tell their story of life, hardship, faith, love, death, and moving on.  I really enjoyed this one.