The Book of Eve

A feminist retelling of the Book of Genesis, "The Book of Eve" challenges patriarchy and reconstructs our understanding of the world through the feminine gaze. It refutes the idea that woman is the companion, complement, or accessory to man, opening the door to criminal violence against women.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 22 June 2023
Publisher: Deep Vellum Publishing

What if everything we've been told about the Garden of Eden is wrong? Faced with what appears to be an apocryphal manuscript containing ten books and ninety-one parts, Eve decides to tell her version of the story of Genesis: she was not created from Adam's rib, nor was she expelled for taking the apple from the serpent; the story of Abel and Cain is not true, nor are those of the Flood and the Tower of Babel...

In brilliant prose, Carmen Boullosa offers a take on the Book of Genesis that dismantles patriarchy and rebuilds our understanding of the world—from the origin of gastronomy, to the domestication of animals, to the cultivation of land and pleasure—all through the feminine gaze. Based on this exploration, at times both joyful and painful, The Book of Eve takes a tour through the stories we've been told since childhood, which have helped to foster (and cement) the absurd idea that woman is the companion, complement, and even accessory to man, opening the door to criminal violence against women. Boullosa refutes this entrenched, dangerous perspective in her foundational and brazen feminist novel.

Eve, a woman who has always felt disconnected from the traditional narrative of Genesis, discovers a mysterious manuscript that challenges everything she has ever believed. The manuscript contains ten books and ninety-one parts, each offering a different perspective on the story of creation. As Eve delves deeper into the manuscript, she realizes that the story of Adam and Eve is not the only version of the story.

In the manuscript, Eve is depicted as a powerful and independent woman who was not created from Adam's rib. She is also shown as the one who took the apple from the serpent, not Adam. The story of Abel and Cain is also revealed to be a myth, as is the story of the Flood and the Tower of Babel.

Eve begins to question the patriarchal structures that have been in place for centuries and the roles that women have been forced to play. She realizes that the story of Genesis has been used to justify violence against women and to keep them subordinate to men.

Through her exploration of the manuscript, Eve learns about the importance of women's autonomy and the power of their voices. She realizes that women have been marginalized and oppressed for centuries, but that they have the ability to change their circumstances and to create a better world for themselves and for future generations.

The Book of Eve is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that challenges the traditional narrative of Genesis and offers a new perspective on the story of creation. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the role of women in society and the importance of dismantling patriarchy.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 139 x 216 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646052240