Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand

This was a really cool novel in which Gioconda Belli imagines the real story of Adam and Eve. I think she does a wonderful job of describing the Garden of Eden, the TREES, their experiences with the serpent, and all the other stuff in the Bible. However, she also describes what Adam and Eve (mostly Eve) think and feel about what is happening to them and around them.

Aside from the Bible story, this was a good read about people who are trying to figure out their world. I mean, think about it: they had no one to tell them anything. They had to figure out that when the sky went dark at night it wasn't going to stay that way forever; they had to figure out that when the temperature dropped and the plants died that they better have enough food to last awhile. Sure, God (called Elokim) gave them fire, but they had to figure out how to control it. And Belli does a nice job of describing all of that.

I think what I like best is that Belli gives Adam and Eve sons AND daughters. Because, you know, you need both to populate the whole world... yes, a little icky with brothers and sisters, but she figures out a way to make it work in the end.