Oh yes. I went there.

[flewellyn]

Feeling a bit silly the other night, I left a review on Amazon of the King James Bible.

Reproduced here for your convenience:

Disappointing.

The language is rather lovely, and poetic, although portions of the book do appear to resort to excessive synopsis. The third and fourth chapters, in particular, are guilty of this, with the third being a drab list of rules and regulations presented without elaboration, in a sort of authorial filibuster, and the fourth being a litany of tedious revenge fantasies. Some of the later chapters are quite interesting, and there's an lovely romantic interlude, but the tendency towards authorial filibuster doesn't completely disappear.

Also, the main character is a bit inconsistent, sometimes appearing kind and loving, while other times wrathful and vengeful. This dichotomy could be an interesting plot device, but alas the book never goes into detail about why the disparity exists. We are simply left to wonder at it, or just figure "that's how it is". Frustrating.

The book does suffer a bit from uneven editing, as well. For instance, there's a fascinating tale about a golden bull statue, which is unaccountably buried in between two tedious and nearly identical descriptions of carpentry. What's the deal? I admit that editing such a large work can be trying, but surely such duplication should be easy to avoid!

Overall, though, it's not bad. I am rather disappointed that the publishers chose to bundle the inferior and hackneyed sequel with the groundbreaking and innovative original, however. Really, if the sequel can't stand on its own merits, why include it at all?


I'm rather pleased with it, myself.

Comments

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

I think this is possibly one of the most Jewish things I have ever read. :) *clappity*

[twice-immigrant.livejournal.com]

I am rather disappointed that the publishers chose to bundle the inferior and hackneyed sequel with the groundbreaking and innovative original, however.

You. Me. Taxes. Now.

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

Heehee. Thanks much, but I do my own!

[mercuryfading.livejournal.com]

This is both hilarious and adorable.

[brigidsblest.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I knew enough to set my cup of tea down before reading this. Didn't want to have to replace my keyboard.

[xuincherguixe.livejournal.com]

*laughs* 4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

[wlotus.livejournal.com]

LOL! That's quite good!

[sibylla.livejournal.com]

A most excellent review! Perhaps the publishing house should consider printing a revised edition, reedited and with a new introduction by the author or maybe with an appendix featuring previously unpublished chapters. That would be pretty keen. ;)

[baka-kit.livejournal.com]

That is awesome and made of much win.

[greyladybast.livejournal.com]

You just made my day, and given the shitty-ass depressive-episode kind of day I've had, that's a huge thing!

Thanks for the laugh. I sorely needed it.

Bast

[greyladybast.livejournal.com]

Also, I just friended you, if you don't mind. I've been meaning to for a long time. Dunno what took me so long, though. Sorry.

BTW, you know me via ginmar. Just so's you know.

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I recognized the name. Welcome!

[greyladybast.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[nimbrethil.livejournal.com]

I keep poking at the link to see if you've riled anyone up. I'm disappointed that no one's whinging over it. *sadface*

[mitrian.livejournal.com]

This is great! I laughed so hard the cat fell off my lap. :)

[ms-daisy-cutter.livejournal.com]

::golf clap::

I added a few tags. You should be able to guess at least one of them.

[kyra-neko-rei.livejournal.com]

"Authorial filibuster" is my new favorite phrase, although I highly doubt I'll ever manage to find an opening for it like the one in which you introduced it.

*heartily amused*

[kyra-neko-rei.livejournal.com]

And now I googled it looking for more info and have seem to have fallen into TVTropes' event horizon.

*disappears*

[flewellyn.livejournal.com]

I was going to warn you! It's not my invention, it's from TVTropes.

But you had to go there, didn't you?

I'll see you in a few days.

[kimberly-t.livejournal.com]

BRILLIANT!

[happiestsadist.livejournal.com]

This is yet another reason to adore you.

[keryddwen.livejournal.com]

Loooooooooooved it!