THE TABLETS OF ARARAT A Novel, by C. J. Illinik. Kregel Publications 2002. 352pp. (PS3609.L57 T33).

St. Philip's Library, in support of its focused Mission Statement, does not have many novels in its collection. However, here is a novel that seems to fit.

Noah ("Nuh" in the story), as he herds the animals into the ark, inventories them on a dozen gold-plated tablets. In the destruction by the flood the tablets are scattered, with only three being preserved. The author juggles a multitude of time periods, and accounts of Turkish/Armenian relations, and cultures of Asia Minor, up to the 1960's.

American archaeologist, Arianna Arista, dreams of exploring the cave cities of her grandmother's home in Cappadocia, Turkey. In the caves near Mt. Ararat, close to the Russian border, she discovers two of the gold-plated tablets in a well, but nearly loses her life in a collision with men determined to take the tablets out of the country. In addition to finding priceless artifacts, Arianna discovers a new interest in God and romance with team member Morgan McCauley.

This book is recommended in a review by Beverly Manning, Grace Episcopal Church, Newington, CT. in CHURCH AND SYNAGOGUE LIBRARIES (Jan/Feb 2004). This journal is in St. Philip's Library.