A Modest Construct

Posts tagged `religion`

¶ The Book of Psalms

The Book of Psalms: A Translation With Commentary trans. Robert Alter: Publisher: W.W. Norton; Year: 2007/2009; Pages: 560

Any time one deals with a book which has been translated, you’re opening up a whole new can of worms above and beyond the quality of the book itself. I noted this with some hesitancy when I reviewed Orhan Pamuk’s Snow—or, more accurately, a translation of Orhan Pamuk’s Snow.

Biblical translation is even tougher: the politics it involves go beyond mere word choice and touch things which people hold as sacrosanct. Maybe you think I’m exaggerating, but consider as an example the movement of Christians who believe that the only correct version of the Bible is the King James Version. Mess with canon at your own peril.

§4666 · November 19, 2009 · 3 comments · Tags: Book Reviews, books, history, linguistics, nonfiction, poetry, religion, reviews, translation

¶ Idiot America

Idiot America by Charles Pierce: Publisher: Doubleday; Year: 2009; Pages: 304

Charles Pierce is a frequent guest on NPR‘s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” though I didn’t know this until after I read this book (go figure).

Despite the inflammatory title, Idiot America isn’t a criticism of the country, but rather a condemnation of the way in which idiocy or nescience has become something to be proud of; it’s a sort of extension of Thomas Frank’s question of authenticity. And it troubles Charles Pierce to no end.

§3954 · August 17, 2009 · (No comments) · Tags: Book Reviews, books, nonfiction, politics, religion, reviews, sociology, stupidity

¶ And the Ass Saw the Angel

And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave: Publisher: 2.13.61; Year: 1989/2003; Pages: 320

Nick Cave is much better known as a musician than as a writer; few even realize that he wrote the screenplay for the fabulous movie The Proposition, especially since so much attention is payed to his equally-wonderful work on its soundtrack.

But long, long ago (OK, only 1989), Cave penned his debut novel, And the Ass Saw the Angel, whose content will not surprise you if you are familiar with Cave’s lyrics.

§3931 · July 22, 2009 · (No comments) · Tags: Book Reviews, books, fiction, religion, reviews

¶ The Book of Job

The Book of Job trans. Stephen Mitchell: Publisher: Vintage; Year: 1992; Pages: 176

The Book of Job continues a recent trend of books I’ve read that I received as gifts—specifically from my brother, who has similar taste.

§3795 · April 26, 2009 · 3 comments · Tags: Book Reviews, books, linguistics, literature, religion, reviews, translation

¶ Wednesday’s Word LVII

cherub: n. A winged creature represented over 90 times in the Bible as attending on God, later seen as the second highest order of angels, ranked above thrones and below seraphim.

Cherub as an English word first came about during the 14th century, borrowed directly from the Latin cherub, itself from the Greek cheroub, with its roots ultimately with the Hebrew כרוב (kerubh). According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, this Hebrew word might be related to the Akkadian karubu (“gracious, one who blesses”), which was used to describe the “bull-colossus.”

§3346 · December 3, 2008 · (No comments) · Tags: linguistics, religion, Wednesday's Word