“A commanding and illuminating read told by a phenomenal new voice with an obvious old soul…Zoe is an astonishing storyteller as she spellbinds you from the first page and keeps you there until the novel is finished…She will paint pictures in your mind of her scenes that will leave you breathless in their graphic depictions… She gives us amazingly diverse characters that will leave you in awe, some you will grow to love and some you will learn to despise…This is a definite must read.”
—Reading Frenzy. (Full review, click here.)
“Drawing in the Dust is a masterful debut by an author from whom we can wholeheartedly hope to read more.”
—San Diego Jewish World
“Sometimes you need a book that speaks to you. Drawing in the Dust makes you think and feel. When you’re looking for a book that will touch your soul, this is the one to pick up. It is a masterpiece! Now go read it:)”
—Readaholic.com
“I went into the book figuring that I would find a great story and found something so full of wonder and color that my brain is still swirling with the beauty of it. Much as a fairy tale leaves frosting and pixie dust floating about the head, DRAWING IN THE DUST leaves warmth and happiness surrounding you like a soft blanket fresh out of the dryer. I am absolutely ecstatic to share this review with you today and hope that it encourages you to pick this book up and get lost within the wonder of its pages…The writing was beautiful; my interest was captured within the first paragraph; the passion was there, seeping into the reader’s soul; the story was original and highly compelling; the characters were well developed, carrying with them an intense depth of emotion; the pace was perfect with the text flowing fluidly throughout, ebbing and rising to continue pulling us on our journey.”
—Journey of Books CLICK HERE for complete review.
“Occasionally a story comes along which is constantly thought-provoking, as it inspires you to deeply think about your own life and what you believe while the entertainment level remains high. Zoe Klein is a master of images and descriptions, as her vivid portrayal of settings and reactions of the characters pack each moment of DRAWING IN THE DUST with convincing realism…From the instant any of the characters are met in the present, their personalities seem exceedingly genuine and any actions they take seem humanly genuine. Even those individuals who are only known through their written words come across as particularly believable, and make the reader want to truly consider their story is more than fiction. Countless conflicts arise, some religious, others political and many of them only emotional, yet each one is described with enough background to let you know why those affected think as they do in this situation…DRAWING IN THE DUST is a profoundly moving story of emotional growth, as unforeseen discoveries are made and startling answers are exposed.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Drawing in the Dust challenges the ideas of relationships between academia and religion, of emotion and analysis, and of personal versus global achievement…Despite the contemporary grittiness of the setting, the elaborate tapestry of character interactions that demonstrates the intermingling of cultures in Israel, and the intricate details of the process and thrill of discovery within archeology, Klein’s novel has a softness and a sweetness to its depictions of lovers’ words and human emotion. An excellent book, Drawing in the Dust demonstrates many levels of achievement that will engage readers who enjoy various styles of writing.”
—Vicky Gilpin for FreshFiction.com
“Insight into the world of biblical excavation in Israel raises Rabbi Klein’s debut novel from a Jewish Da Vinci Code to an emotionally rich story of personal and historical discovery…Rabbi Klein’s most vivid passages depict the meditative tedium of digging, the exultation of discovery and the intricate processes of authentication and preservation, while love stories past and present—and a balanced, compassionate view of both Israeli and Arab traditions—add to the book’s pleasures.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Talented author Zoe Klein has crafted a must read in Drawing in the Dust…You’ll feel the sun on your body as you work in the dust of the past and present and try to understand the problems of people living in fear in the past and fear in our own times. The people and settings are so real you’ll believe you’ve visited Israel and met new friends.”
—Anne K. Edwards, ReaderToReader.com
“Lyrical, transformative, and unexpected Drawing in the Dust will keep you enthralled in the moment, yet racing to know more.”
—Gina Nahai, best-selling author of Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith
“Archaeology is the most dangerous of sciences, fundamentalism the most insidious of religious beliefs, and fiction the most seductive form of writing. Mix all three together and you have Drawing in the Dust, a marvelous novel that brings historical archaeology alive, and challenges the roots of all western religion. Archaeologists dig up dirt about people’s past—and often their findings change lives, religions, and the entire world. What? You don’t believe archaeology, fiction, and fundamentalism are dangerous? Open the first page of Drawing in the Dust. Zoe Klein will rock your foundations! This is what fiction should be about.”
—Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, New York Times Best Selling Authors of The Betrayal
“A magically inventive archaeological expedition into love’s psyche. Rabbi Klein’s voice is enormously literate, politically sophisticated, spiritually captivating, and above all, unique.”
—Lawrence Kushner, author of Kabbalah: A Love Story and Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary
“Drawing in the Dust is original in every sense of the word: creative, innovative, novel. It is an archaeological adventure that resurrects buried romance. With feeling intellect, the author reveals the secret of the heart.”
—Rabbi Harold Schulweis, author of Conscience: The Duty to Obey and the Duty to Disobey and For Those Who Can’t Believe: Overcoming the Obstacles to Faith
“I was instantly swept up into the culture, traditions, and mystery…It’s so full of magic and passion, two elements that I so enjoy in a good read.”
—Jacki Leach, Borders Books, Gresham, Oregon
“This is fiction, and fiction magically plotted and brought to life by the mastery of Klein with years of storytelling experience. It is never heavy handed. Instead we are lost in a labyrinth of underground tunnels and hidden artifacts and characters that tell us one of those incredibly readable stories that we don’t want to ever put down.” Read full review (pdf)
—Erica Jamieson for Sax Facts
“This book is worthy of a nomination…and win. Loved it.”
—Emma Ashley, Emma Ashley Books
“By turns philosophical, suspenseful, and passionate, this brilliant debut novel—in the bestselling tradition of Anita Diamant’s ‘The Red Tent’—transports readers into a mystical world and takes them on a journey they won’t soon forget.”
—IndieBound
“Drawing in the Dust is brilliant! It was hard not to stay up all night to finish it. How can someone just create such a story? It is amazing.”
—Marcia Walsh
