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The Preservationist

Published
Jul 2004
Main Genre
General Fiction General Fiction
Rating
Pages
256

About This Book

"Hilarious and illuminating . . . Maine's storytelling is as human as it is divine, a sensitive overhaul of one of literature's greatest adventures." —Los Angeles Times Book Review

In this brilliant debut novel, Noah's family (or Noe as he's called here)—his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law—tell what it's like to live with a man touched by God, while struggling against events that cannot be controlled or explained. When Noe orders his sons to build an ark, he can't tell them where the wood will come from. When he sends his daughters-in-law out to gather animals, he can offer no directions, money, or protection. And once the rain starts, they all realize that the true test of their faith is just beginning. Because the family is trapped on the ark with thousands of animals—with no experience feeding or caring for them, and no idea of when the waters will recede. What emerges is a family caught in the midst of an extraordinary Biblical event, with all the tension, humanity—even humor—that implies.

"Inventive reimagining of the biblical flood tale for a 21st-century audience." —People

"Part domestic drama, part supernatural thriller, Maine's unsettling retelling of Noah and the ark feels as realistic and suspenseful—really!—as any modern tale." —Time Out New York

"We can reencounter the hoary Old Testament icon afresh as a sensible, fallible human being and really appreciate his greatness and sacrifice." —Time

"A story of faith and survival (think Life of Pi thousands of years earlier with a much larger cast of characters), this debut is a winner." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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Formats & Editions

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Paperback

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Trade Paperback
Jul 2005 Griffin ISBN13 9780312328481 ISBN10 0312328486
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Hardcover

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Hardcover
First Edition Jul 2004 St. Martin's ISBN13 9780312328474 ISBN10 0312328478
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eBook

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eBook
Apr 2007 St. Martin's ISBN13 9781429906906 ISBN10 1429906901
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eBook
Apr 2010 St. Martin's ISBN10 B003J48BOQ
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Audio

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Audio Cassette
Jul 2004 Highbridge Audio ISBN13 9781565118706 ISBN10 1565118707
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Audio CD
Jul 2004 Highbridge Audio ISBN13 9781565118713 ISBN10 1565118715
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Audible
May 2005 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books ISBN10 B0009U6XSO
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Playaway
Jan 2008 Highbridge Audio ISBN13 9781602529915 ISBN10 1602529914
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Playaway
Jan 2008 Playaway ISBN13 9781605140001 ISBN10 1605140007
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Large Print

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Hardcover
Oct 2004 Thorndike Press ISBN13 9780786269563 ISBN10 0786269561
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