My Name Is Saul: A Novel of the Ancient World by Lin Wilder is the story of Paul the apostle when he was only Saul of Tarsus. A story of loss, transformation and intervention from the divine but most of all a story of a man who truly wanted to seek out the truth. Something that all of us across the ages can truly understand. This book lifts the veil and looks beyond the saint to take a real look at the man.

Growing up, Paul was a figure that I was taught a great deal about. Maybe it was because I was born and raised in St. Paul, MN or maybe he was just a favorite saint among the Sunday school teachers. So, when I had the chance to read this book, I found myself drawn to it. I knew it was historical fiction, but based on historical fact and that excited me. All the teachers that taught me about St. Paul never delved into teaching anything about Saul.

Author Lin Wilder is not afraid to jump right in and tell a riveting and exciting story. You can feel the love, passion, and research that went into this story on each page. There were times I felt the passages were a little bit too much like a Sunday Sermon, but what didn’t appeal to me in that respect will appeal greatly to others. The bottom line about My Name Is Saul is that it is engaging and interesting. I would put it on my must-read list.

My Name Is Saul: A Novel of the Ancient World by Lin Wilder is about the life of Paul the apostle. Everyone knows Paul as a historical biblical figure, but most of us aren’t aware of his life or who he was before he became Paul and one of the most celebrated biblical figures. Before he was Paul, he was Saul of Tarsus and he wasn’t really the man then he is remembered for now. As he is waiting for his death, Paul shares his life and his journey of how he changed from the rebellious Saul to Paul. He will show you the moments in his life when he fought a battle he thought was right, but with patience and guidance, he became a man he could be proud of. Join Paul the apostle on his journey to finding the path he was always meant to take.

I think Paul is one of those biblical figures who are very well known among both believers and non-believers. All of us have heard his name, even if we aren’t aware of his works and his life. Lin Wilder has done a fantastic job of gathering all the necessary information to not only write this book but make it believable as well. Opening the story on a sad note might be a little daunting for many authors, but I think Lin Wilder has used this to her advantage and given an incredibly rich and impressive story. My Name Is Saul is immersive; you will want to know why Saul lived his life the way he did and why he embraced a pious life. While his life is controversial for some people, the author doesn’t take any sides and simply shares a tale with readers. This can be a good history lesson for anyone who wishes it to be and a story of self-discovery for others. Really entertaining and educational at the same time.