Rich in family drama, passion, and human affinity, critically acclaimed author Frederick Buechner's contemporary retelling of this captivating and timeless biblical saga revitalizes the ancient story of Jacob, delighted our senses and modern sensibilities and gracing us with his exceptional eloquence and wit.
The Son of Laughter
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Amazon
"The Bible's account of Jacob is a pungent seed found in a tomb," wrote the poet James Merrill about this novel. "Frederick Buechner has planted it and the result is this beautiful swaying tree of a book." The fact that Merrill was an old friend of Buechner's does not disqualify this eloquent testimony. Indeed, Jacob is powerfully translated here through Buechner's honest and humorous--and cantankerous--voice. We see a living, human character, as always in Buechner's work, whether fiction or nonfiction. From this archetypal tale of feuding brothers he draws a story of family and fear, and a tale of a living God with whom Jacob wrestles in more ways than one. The tale of this life is a rich one: the two wives, Leah and Rachel, the journeys and the dreams--all of it takes on a coloring that is both strange and yet familiar: here is a Jacob both larger than life and yet very much human, very much one of us. --Doug Thorpe
From Publishers Weekly
In this reimagined life of the biblical patriarch Jacob, Buechner ( Brendan ) sticks close to the Bible story. Reminiscing during his last days in Goshen, Jacob recounts the familiar events. An ambitious and cunning youth, he gets his ravenous elder twin Esau to sell his birthright for a meal, and then connives to receive the blessing that their father, Isaac (whose name, readers are told means "laughter," hence the title), would confer on his brother. He dreams of a stairway to heaven and wrestles with God, called "the Fear" throughout. Later chapters focus, like the biblical account, on Jacob's son Joseph. Buechner's embellishments deal mainly in his subject's inner psychology, and while his style is highly readable, the prose lacks resonance and in the end the novel proves no more evocative or informative than a well-developed Sunday-school lesson. The conceit of Jacob justifying his own life to the reader wears thin, and because the story is so familiar there are few surprises. Buechner's autobiographical works are more effective, but this volume is not likely to disappoint his many faithful readers.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
THEY ALL HAD NAMES, but I have forgotten them. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
THEY ALL HAD NAMES, but I have forgotten them. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Craig Childs
Format:Paperback
Novelizations of Biblical tales rarely work well. Some religious authors over glorify the characters, making them saints, reducing their credibility and immediacy. Non-religious authors usually try to reinterpret the Bible to fit a "modernized" word-view or social gospel, which changes the meaning of the story. Fortunately, Buechner avoids both of these pitfalls with this re-imagining of the lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. He ruthlessly depicts ancient cultures, full of graphic sex and violence, where God chooses a few unworthy messengers to carry out his work amid the backdrop of pagan gods and brutal animal sacrifice.
While the forefathers of the Jewish and Christian faiths are more wholesome and generally better behaved than their contemporaries, they often misinterpret the meaning of God's words, leading to bad decisions and dysfunction. Jacob ends up married to two squabbling sisters, siring children by his servants, and watching his older sons sell his favorite son into slavery. In fact, when you think about it, Jacob makes very few good decisions and leads a troubled life no one would envy. Yet, out of the turmoil, he becomes a "hero of the faith" and changes the course of history forever.
Buechner has a gift for direct, strong, image-laden prose that moves his story forward without too much analysis or "preaching". His voice is at times sorrowful, humorous, or downright cranky. His account embellishes on the Biblical versions without contradicting them. He relishes in showing us his characters' flaws and mistakes, all the while highlighting the work of "the Fear" in their lives. I urge you to read this book; you'll never look at Genesis the same way again.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is superb! I've read the Genesis passages about Jacob countless times, but with blind/bland eyes. _Son of Laughter_ has swept the dust off my mind's eye; it has made the Old Testament tale REAL.
Beuchner's writing style is sharp, raw, honest, Hemmingway-ish, WITTY. He doesn't take anything away from the Word. Rather, he adds to the account the way oil adds sheen to dull metal. Beuchner has done outstanding research into the traditions and peoples of Jacob's time. I couldn't help but chuckle and nod in delight at the cultural and familial goings-on.
Even if you know the entire story by heart, this little novel will pleasantly startle you nonetheless!
By Adam
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Buechner is a genious in his ability to write a story based on a familiar account of the life of the Patriarchs (primarily Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and his sons, but also touching on Abraham).
This book is gritty in its details and you might find yourself quite offended by some of the content (several rather explicit sexual encounters are told). However, it does an amazing job of stripping the halo off of a Biblical hero of the Faith. Beuchner reveals an incredibly human person fulfilling a mission by God in the most remarkably ordinary way! The squables between Jacob and Esau, between Rachel and Leah, Uncle Laban and Jacob, etc... are brought into vivid focus in this Biblical based work of fiction.
I truly hope this book becomes a classic, although I wonder how many Bible believing church goers can live with such a realistic portrayal of a man? It makes me believe even more that God can use someone like me to make a difference in the world.
This book is gritty in its details and you might find yourself quite offended by some of the content (several rather explicit sexual encounters are told). However, it does an amazing job of stripping the halo off of a Biblical hero of the Faith. Beuchner reveals an incredibly human person fulfilling a mission by God in the most remarkably ordinary way! The squables between Jacob and Esau, between Rachel and Leah, Uncle Laban and Jacob, etc... are brought into vivid focus in this Biblical based work of fiction.
I truly hope this book becomes a classic, although I wonder how many Bible believing church goers can live with such a realistic portrayal of a man? It makes me believe even more that God can use someone like me to make a difference in the world.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 16 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite biblical fiction
Jacob, to be truthful, had never really spoken to me before this novel. This hauntingly beautiful retelling seeks to explain why he acted the way he did without whitewashing... Read more
Published on Dec 9 2001 by Kellyannl
4.0 out of 5 stars
as disturbing as the Biblical version
Growing up a good Protestant boy, I was never much concerned with the Old Testament. For one thing, how important could any of it be if Christ hadn't even bothered to show up... Read more
Published on Oct 11 2000 by Orrin C. Judd
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Gritty" Biblical Fiction
Buechner captures both the human and the divine once again as he traces the life of Jacob, the son of Laughter (Isaac). Read more
Published on Jan 31 2000 by Scott Whitford (Seminary Student)
5.0 out of 5 stars
I've read them all and this is my favorite
Buechner is my favorite author. I've read all of his books and this is my favorite. It's great. Don't miss this treasure!
Published on Jan 16 2000 by david watson
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Biography of Jacob Brought Powerfully to Life!
This biography of Jacob walks a fine line between Biblical correctness and speculation. Buechner never adds data in conflict with the Bible, but certainly the character traits,... Read more
Published on Dec 7 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
A powerful, imaginative retelling of Jacob's story
This novel, my first Buechner book, has sent me in wild pursuit of his other writings. I have never read such imaginative, lush prose outside of the works of Umberto Eco. Read more
Published on Dec 31 1997 by C. J. Richardson
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Fiction
- Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Romance
- Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Christian > Fiction
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Christian > Romance
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Domestic Life
- Books > Religion & Spirituality
- Books > Romance
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
