The Book of God
6 journalers for this copy...
'[Wangerin's] aim was to produce a clean, continuous story free of repetitions and genealogies, and to add in bits of cultural and historical background based on his won travels and scholarship. Sometimes he switches the narrational perspective so as to view biblical events through the eyes of minor characters. In all this he succeeds ..'
Financial Times
Financial Times
I've been trying to read this just about since I got it and can't seem to get into it. It's been cleverly done but I don't like the author's style and I think that's part of the problem.
It is now offered as a ring.
It is now offered as a ring.
BookRing
morsecode - USA - USA/Can
buffra - USA - Intl
mellowdaisy - UK - Eur
coolboxuk - UK - UK
laura0141 - UK - ENDS
morsecode - USA - USA/Can
buffra - USA - Intl
mellowdaisy - UK - Eur
coolboxuk - UK - UK
laura0141 - UK - ENDS
PMed first reader for address.
On way to morsecode
I am pleased to report that this book made safe and sound across the pond. It arrived today and incidentally today is the day that I found my first wheresgeorge.com bill. I think I will stick the bill in the book as a bookmark when I send it along to the next reader.
This book is a behemoth so we’ll have to see how quickly I can get through it.
This book is a behemoth so we’ll have to see how quickly I can get through it.
Reading this book from cover to cover, like reading the Bible from cover to cover, is an arduous task.
I read the first 212 pages straight and ended up quite burnt-out. After taking a few days off, I started to pick and choose chapters to read. That is really how I would suggest that others read this book. It is much more enjoyable that way.
I'll be sending it off to buffra on Monday.
I read the first 212 pages straight and ended up quite burnt-out. After taking a few days off, I started to pick and choose chapters to read. That is really how I would suggest that others read this book. It is much more enjoyable that way.
I'll be sending it off to buffra on Monday.
It's E-NOR-mous!! I will get to it, but there are several rings before it. (Lucky for them, they aren't after it!)
Just wanted to let you know it arrived. Thanks!
Just wanted to let you know it arrived. Thanks!
This arrived about a week ago, but because of the size of it it wouldn't fit through the letterbox so I had to go and pick it up from the post office, which I only got round to a couple of days ago! I have just one bookring before this one so I will try and get through it and pass it on as soon as possible, but I can't promise miracles, lol!
I've had this for a little while now and other ring books just keep arriving so I don't think I'm going to get round to this one. I've PMed coolboxuk and will pass this on as soon as I get an address.
UPDATE 28/07/06: I now have coolboxuk's address and will get this in the post on Monday now.
UPDATE 28/07/06: I now have coolboxuk's address and will get this in the post on Monday now.
Arrived two days ago - thought I'd already left a journal but just found out that I'd forgotten... My apologies, and thanks for reminding me, mellowdaisy!!!
Okay, I've read it all!!! It's massive. But I enjoyed it the more the further I got. I do agree it seems hard to get into and I was quite tempted at some point to give up. The first "stories" seem rather disconnected and put just one after another, but eventually things get more fluent, and the New Testament part was really quite gripping. All in all, it was a good exercise to bring the whole of the Bible into perspective - a feat I'd never managed with the "real thing" (I once attempted to read the Bible cover to cover and got as far as the prophets, then foundered).
I also agree that the author's style of writing is sometimes a bit grating. He's probably trying to keep the tone of the Old Testament writings in it a bit, because as he goes on to the story of Jesus it gets so much better. But I thought it was still quite cleverly done: the way he incorporated certain parts like psalms, song of songs or proverbs into the stories of David and Solomon, and the story of the Genesis into the teachings of Esra. Also the relative shortness (as compared to the Bible) seems to emphasize rather than diminish certain aspects like the cycles of obedience to God and foreign worship Israel went through again and again... And I liked the aspect how the narrative changes once in a while from one person to another, relieving the "narrator" and making the story much more personal, and also the emphasis of unimportant little characters at times, which in the Bible are mentioned only at the fringes, or not at all, but give the story more life, as they make the reader truly picture some of the abhorrences described. It is a daunting book but I would truly say it's worth reading!
Will be going back home to Laura0141 now.
I also agree that the author's style of writing is sometimes a bit grating. He's probably trying to keep the tone of the Old Testament writings in it a bit, because as he goes on to the story of Jesus it gets so much better. But I thought it was still quite cleverly done: the way he incorporated certain parts like psalms, song of songs or proverbs into the stories of David and Solomon, and the story of the Genesis into the teachings of Esra. Also the relative shortness (as compared to the Bible) seems to emphasize rather than diminish certain aspects like the cycles of obedience to God and foreign worship Israel went through again and again... And I liked the aspect how the narrative changes once in a while from one person to another, relieving the "narrator" and making the story much more personal, and also the emphasis of unimportant little characters at times, which in the Bible are mentioned only at the fringes, or not at all, but give the story more life, as they make the reader truly picture some of the abhorrences described. It is a daunting book but I would truly say it's worth reading!
Will be going back home to Laura0141 now.
Received with thanks.
Realistically, I'm not going to read this so I'm offering it for sale on Amazon.co.uk.
Amazon. BookMooch. GreenMet.
Availables Box N2
Availables Box N2
Released via BookMooch
Wow, so many readers! I feel privileged to have such a well-travelled book. :) Thank you so much!
Given to my mum just before Christmas. :) I will try to badger her into journaling it.