so far Lydia Davis on Psalm 23 my favorite, will be fun to see what I find on this reread ( )

I like the idea, and a few of the essays spoke to me (Edwidge Danticat, most notably) but I'm rankled the book features so few women writers; in a collection of 33 essays, just 7 are written by women. ( )

The Good Book, otherwise known as the Holy Bible, forms the basis for an eclectic mix of authors to expound on its meaning [or lack thereof] in their personal lives. From the Bible, the best-selling book of all time, each author, according to the stated premise of the narrative, reflects on their favorite passages, presumably those that hold a particular meaning for each of them.

And, occasionally, one of the discourses in “The Good Book” actually delivers on this promise.

Unfortunately, the majority of the essays included in this volume, although well-written, are shallow and self-serving, sometimes nothing more than thinly-veiled political harangue failing to address the Good Book other than to recount how the author has fallen away from such trite childishness as to actually believe in the Scriptures. As a group, many of these authors are contemptuous of the Bible as sacred Scripture; instead, they tend to posit that the Good Book is an appalling, infantile diatribe, a position likely to offend readers seeking insightful Biblical-related commentary from this group of writers.

In all fairness, Adam Gopnik’s introduction offers readers some forewarning of this when he states that the Bible’s “stories have long ago fallen away; we know that almost nothing that happens in it actually happened and that its miracles . . . crowd the world’s great granary of superstition.”

However, scattered throughout this dismissive mish-mash are some truly inspiring, uplifting pieces. Most notably, they include:

Lois Lowry, writing on the Old Testament story of Ruth and how its basic “wherever you go, I shall go; your people shall be my people” message resounded in her own family. . .

Cokie and Steven Roberts, who find in Zipporah an example of respecting the tenets of faith held by each person in interfaith families and how to honor that unique combined heritage . . .

Kerry Kennedy, sharing an uplifting story rooted in the ongoing earthquake recovery in Haiti with a heartwarming piece on redemption, faith, and resurrection . . .

Lydia Davis, writing on the Twenty-Third Psalm, comparing translations of Scripture, exploring the metaphor, and reaching for the deeper meaning and promise offered in this well-known and beloved psalm . . .

Edwidge Danticat, sharing the heartrending story of her mother’s last days and of the two of them reading together the verses of Scripture that offer meaning and comfort . . .

Kudos to each of these authors for their faith-affirming, thoughtful, eloquent stories. Their inspiring writings deserve a far better home than this lackluster collection that is likely to be nothing more than a sad disappointment for readers who treasure their faith. ( )