Book Reviews
I've gotten to read a little the past month and have to share!
Non-Fiction: A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink
I have to admit that I wouldn't have picked this book up had it not been required of me, but I'm so glad it was. In my opinion it is directed (and would be most beneficial) to those in "working class America", but it is certainly intriguing and thought provoking for just about anyone. The ideas he presents are not earth shattering at all. In fact, I spent most of the book thinking, "Well, duh...of course!" It's simply a new way of processing information that we already know.
Fiction: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
I need someone else to read this book so I can discuss it with them - preferably my dad or anyone else with good Bible knowledge. It is based loosely off the story of Dinah in Genesis. The book takes the reader through the relationships of Laban, Rebecca, Jacob, Leah, Rachel and of course Dinah. The author makes a very clear disclaimer that this is fiction - a story. So I was not alarmed when I came upon subtle story changes. But then there were some changes that made no sense. There were some pieces of history that had absolutely no affect with the author's central story, yet they were different than the Biblical facts. Such as the birth order of Leah's sons. This story was about Dinah and focused on the women - the lesser brothers and sons were hardly mentioned. Yet, their order is changed and in one instance the mother is changed. Why? Are there other Jewish texts (the author is Jewish) that would support this? Just curious.
I love the Old Testament. At one point in the story I thought "wow, this must be WAY off base from the original story". Nope. That part was right on target. Again, someone please read this book and then call me.
2 comments:
Books? What are those?? In all honesty, the last book I read from cover to cover was "Who Moved My Cheese?" Nothing deep by any means :-)
I've mentioned, "The Red Tent" to Clayton. Maybe he can discuss this with you.
I read The Red Tent a few years ago. It was intriguing and very interesting. Although loosely based on the Bible, it was really great to learn more about what the culture may have been like, and made the characters more identifiable. I simply read it as a story and did not really compare it to the Biblical story, so I will need to reread the passages. Often when I have read a book like this, I will find that the Author will make senseless changes, I attribute it to the author's creativity, as if to say "what if it were actually like this?"
I have since forgotten the name of the book, but I read a similar style about Esther.
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