Literary criticism has developed as one of the most important and evocative methods for interpreting biblical narratives. John Petersen delves deeply into three stories of women in the Hebrew Bible (Hannah, Deborah and Tamar) and explores issues of reading character, plot and point of view. By addressing these concepts in depth and with subtlety, he is able to show how human experience is depicted using a variety of structuring, focusing and interpretive devices. Beyond analyzing these narratives, he teaches readers how to get more out of every biblical story they read. A Review of "Reading Women's Stories"
By Joseph Modica

John Petersens Reading Womens Stories: Female Characters in the Hebrew Bible (Fortress Press, 2004) assists the reader—utilizing the approach of “the school of poetics”—to reread familiar passages about women to more coherently grasp the authors intended meaning. Peterson methodology is similar to P. Tribles watershed work Texts of Terror (1984). As Peterson notes “this study seeks to appreciate these stories artistry and to recover the lives of several amazing biblical women” (p. 29).

Petersen examines the following stories of Hebrew women: Hannah (1 Samuel), Deborah (using the “Song of Deborah” in Judges 5) and Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38). He explains his methodology by using the three building blocks of narrative: character, point of view and plot. Peterson then applies dimensions of these building blocks to each of the stories. Often the awareness of these blocks is missing in the reading of narratives. Recognizing these building blocks will not only assist in reading womens stories, but all biblical stories as well.

Petersens book is not a quick read: it requires patience and a willingness to enter an often-foreign world of literary criticism (a helpful glossary is included). And although the book is technical, it is nevertheless accessible to the reader. Peterson skillfully demonstrates his task by unearthing several hidden gems from each of the womens stories.

I would recommend this book for a study group. It is a book that should be discussed among those striving to recapture what it means to “read” the Bible—which is indeed a clarion call for all Christians alike.