Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!
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- ISBN13: 9781594483677
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
A hilarious re-imagining of the heroes of the Old Testament for a modern world-and the neurotic, demanding reader.
In the beginning…there was humor.
Sure, it’s the foundation for much of Western morality and the cornerstone of world literature. But let’s face it: the Bible always needed punching up. Plus, it raised quite a few questions that a modern world refuses to ignore any longer: wouldn’t it be boring to live inside a whale? How did Joseph explain Mary’s pregnancy to the guys at work? Who exactly was the megalomaniacal foreman who oversaw the construction of the Tower of Babel? And honestly, what was Cain’s problem?
In Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bible!, Jonathan Goldstein re-imagines and recasts the Bible’s greatest heroes with depth, wit, and snappy dialogue. This is the Bible populated by angry loners, hypochondriacs, and reluctant prophets who fear for their sanity. Basically, a Bible that readers can finally, genuinely relate to.
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!
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I too had heard a few of these, read by the author on NPR. So I was aware that they would not be offensive, at least I think they are not. The Preface sets the tone. If, like me, you enjoy that most Jews have a sense of humor about being Jewish, well, then you will find yourself enjoying the family as they dine out, not Kosher but Kosher-style. Is there a difference you ask? Need you! My companion is Jewish, so I have experienced much of this. His family pays visits! Need I say more. The Preface says it all. And then come the truly wonderful retellings of the all-too-familiar biblical stories. I do have a sense that even some members of the clergy–those with a sense of humor–might be reading these stories from pulpits. Maybe not those who adhere to Jerry Falwell’s sense of theology. This is just plain fun to read.
Rating: 5 / 5
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!
My 23 year old son turned me on to “Wiretap,” the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) radio humor program of the author, Jonathan Goldstein (if that is your real name, Jonny).
On Goldstein’s radio program, fantasy is blended with reality in such a fashion as to make you question everything you hear.
In the book, “Ladies & Gentlemen: The Bible,” Goldstein offers his midrashim, or stories about stories in the Jewish Bible, from the viewpoint of the modern-day hipster.
They are refreshing in their novel take on familiar tales and sensitive in the way Goldstein showcases his personality on the radio.
Further, they are believable because of their adherence to the Torah text.
The only disappointment is that there is little or no material which has not been aired on the CBC. But this drawback is not sufficient to dock him a single star.
Well done, Jonathan, and write on!
Rating: 5 / 5
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!
Anyone who has heard Jonathan Goldstein’s radio show Wiretap knows what this book is. It is a a retelling of familiar bible stories with details added to add another dimension to the story. They are all very funny, and most of them are more reflections on the stories than they are spoofs. Readers a bit more theologically inclined will appreciate that he shows some familiarity with the texts – those who aren’t so inclined will still love it and learn something along the way. Goldstein is an enormously talented writer and story teller. He is deceptively good with words, he describes things vividly and concisely, and when you’re laughing at what he wrote, you’re rarely conscious that he’s told you a joke.
Speaking of his radio show, it was incidentally not mentioned anywhere on the back cover of the book. Did the publisher not like the program and decide not to include it? I think all of us Americans should do Mr. Goldstein a solid and call our local NPR affiliates and ask them to start playing the show in a good time slot.
Rating: 5 / 5
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!
//Ladies and Gentleman, The Bible!// is a great take on the familiar stories from the Bible, focusing mainly on the Old Testament, with one brief foray into the New with the witty “My Troubles: A Work in Progress, by Joseph of N–.” Jonathan Goldstein makes the point that the Bible may be “the greatest story ever told,” but it definitely could use some jazzing up. //…The Bible!// does that jazzing, taking a few unexpected viewpoints on the standards and Sunday School stories we all grew up with. Goldstein treads into questions like, “Who ever thought that Jonah might have embellished his whale tale a little?”
This satirical, yet gentle book is not for the crowd that views Biblical stories to be the literal truth, but it is an enjoyable treat for those that can enjoy a little exploration in the form of short stories that will make you laugh and think “What if…” at the same time. //Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!// is an easy and pleasant read, just long enough to leave you wanting more of Goldstein’s witty approach to the Bible.
Reviewed by
Michelle Stulberger
Rating: 4 / 5
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!
I had incredibly high hopes after reading this book’s hysterically funny preface. Unfortunately, the rest of the book did not come close to the preface in either its wit or its descriptive power. The concept of writing the backstory for specific tales from the Bible is a great one, and some of the stories in this book do live up to the challenge and are entertaining, but many of the stories barely scratch the surface of the originals and just seem silly rather than creative. On the positive side, the preface is so funny that it makes reading the book worthwhile.
Rating: 3 / 5
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!