Rating: Summary: Masterful Review: It has been said that on the American frontier, one book could be found in the home of every family: the King James Bible. More than any other book, the King James Bible formed America's collective mind and cultural landscape. One cannot imagine, for example, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address without it. And now, this Bible has inspired Barry Moser's stunning illustrations. So--enjoy the illustrations, and read the text. (My only qualm: I wish that Moser had followed Gustave Dore in including the Apocrypha.)
Rating: Summary: Visually Stunning Review: Make sure you click on the 'look inside this book link', so you can see the quality of the images; they will stick with you for a lifetime.I have a 7 week old son, and I am certain that in the future, when he thinks of the bible, the images in this book are the images that will come to mind. They are very powerful. This is one of the best copies of one of the most important books. It should be in your home.
Rating: Summary: More than just the Bible Review: Now this has to be one of the weirder things in life: writing a book review of the Bible! I have to admit that I'd like to own the Deluxe edition, but $30,000.00 is a bit beyond my means at the moment, and the Primary edition at $10,000.00 is a bit much too. These are very limited collectors editions. Here we have the everyman's edition at a reasonable price. Whether one is religious or not, this book is a treasure. It is fully case bound and ripe with the delicious woodcuts of Barry Moser. The woodcuts are stunning and his work compares to best of Rockwell Kent and Leonard Baskin -- and that is saying a lot! Now I have to confess: I have not read it through... well parts here and there, but with this great book in hand, I just might. I am not a religious person, but do I view the bible as one of the great pieces of literature and part of the Western Canon. I have always found the standard floppy bible format difficult to read with it tiny type, and wrinkly paper. Also I've never been able to ignore those numbers. The Pennyroyal does not used numbered verses. It is also laid out in two column justified newspaper style. The format and type is designed for reading. It's beautifully typeset in Matthew Carter's Galliard and Mantinia fonts. The downside and the upside is that it is in the King James version with New Testament included. The downside is it is full of howbeit's and art not thou's, not a language that falls off ones tongue. The upside is that it is King James, and if one wishes to read it as literature, all of the great references that have been made in the Canon are from the King James. Believer or nonbeliever, heretic or saint, this book belongs on everyone's shelf -- better yet, in your lap.
Rating: Summary: Should be in any booklovers collection Review: Obviously it's foolish to 'review' the bible. But, this edition deserves review, and the high praise it has recieved. Moser's illustrations are deeply moving, and wonderfully reproduced. Not many books this inexpensive are this handsomely made. Any intelligent reader needs to have at least one bible (but I would also recommend the Everett Fox translation of the Hebrew bible) on their bookshelf. This fine and beautiful volume will do quite nicely.
Rating: Summary: Rather dry, exceptionally violent though Review: Overall, while the old testament told a fanciful story of a jealous and vengeful deity, the gore and violence was a big turn off. I can't imagine why any healthy person would have faith in such a THING, but that's just my opinion. The new testament did contain some good lines but overall was far too mushy for my taste. I rated it with 2 stars, not for originality, but for a decent read with respect to a few books in the old testament.
Rating: Summary: Thou shalt not read this purged book Review: Should you read this book you will burn in hell for all eternity! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Rating: Summary: Illustrated in a thought provoking and appropriate manner Review: Some people might think it inappropriate to illustrate a bible, but I for one find this volume to be a refreshing change. Barry Moser is a master book maker. He oversaw every aspect of its production from the [money]small press versions to this "every day" [money] version. He chose the fonts, did the layout and typesetting. He designed and engraved all the illustrations, picked out the papers and the binding. Books are not made like this any more, it is a treasure to have in your hands, I only wish that there was a paperback version that would be a little more portable. The wide two column layout without verse numbers is delightfully readable. The illustrations are engraved in his trademark black line style. They are dignified and totally appropriate. I personally favor the New Internation Version of the bible over the New King James for content, but still enjoy reading NKJ for its beautiful language. Having met Mr. Moser at a book making conference I wasn't surprised to find out that he was a former preacher. It was an incredible endeavor to undertake such a huge project and I am completely in awe at the depth of the book. The illustrations add a completely new dimension to the bible. It is wonderful to see faces for all the prophets. His illustrations of Christ are masterful.
Rating: Summary: Common Understandings Affect the Artist Review: The artwork is most fine and fits the popular understanding of the scriptures regarding Jephthah's daughter. However, picturing Jephthah's Daughter as a sacrificial offering is most likely the result of the popular misunderstanding of the actual Hebrew words. The word commonly translated as a "burnt offering" means "go up." The word commonly translated as "lament" means "talk." (After Jephthah's daughter was concecrated to God, her friends went to talk with her. Had she been a "burnt offering" her friends would not have been talking to her four days of each year.) Nevertheless, I am impressed with the perfection of Barry Moser's art and his dedication to such a project as illustrating the scriptures. Even with all the artistic talent he has, this is no easy task, because of the difficulties involved with speaking and understanding both Hebrew and Greek. We can applaud and appreciate such an effort and be most glad to have his work in the scriptures as a well-loved and often-used part of our homes.
Rating: Summary: Pictures, Meditating on the Words Review: The artwork is world-historical class, that is not comfortable and not safe from making us see a bigger, fallen world. Those of us surrendering to God know He is trying to raise children to be like Himself. The pictures challenge us to put ourselves into the life of another brother and sister, while meditating on the words written, and the truth contained about ourselves, each other, and God. Some will buy this book for the 'art' pictures, and critisize the text, because it too is not comfortable. Living our lives as Gods, in-with God today, is to demand the right to do good to all we incounter, irregardless of our own estate. The King James has many errors in translation, most all of them are of the type what-came-first, (the wind or the banner?). The beauty of the language is the power it has to communicate with profound clearness, when it most matters. If translation accuracy is important to you then the NIV is more accurate with a simple newspaper-type literature quality. The NIV Study Bible is great for reference details. The Life Application Study Bible is good for those willing to deal more intimately with themselves spiritually. The NASU translation is the best of the formal english translations, not a great first Bible to use. The New Living Translation is a wonderful paraphrase translation for a great first Bible. The NRSV has the best liturature quality next to the King James but proves the scholars have an obvious lack of knowledge in faith of the Living God. Its a good, safe translation for those who want quality liturature, without a God that made a woman still a virgin go into labor pains, to give birth to Yeshua (Jesus). Why not put the art in with another translation... because the Oxford's old english language modernization (1789?) we call King James, is the only world-historical english translation.
Rating: Summary: The Bible does not need pictures Review: The Bible is God's Word. Barry Moser is very disrespectful by trying to illustrate the Bible. If God had wanted pictures in the Bible, He would have divinely inspired illustrators as well as the authors. We should walk by faith, not by sight.
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