Scan barcode
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley
On one hand giving this book three stars is a bit unfair. There is much to love about this book. Johnson takes some of the stories from the 1001 Arabian Nights, presents translations, then gives a modern update, and concludes with an essay about the story. The stories and afterwords are chosen with an eye to faith, inter-faith to be more exact.
The strongest part of the book is the afterwords. Johnson is at his best when he is showcasing how the stories can be used to illustrate certain aspects of all faiths (Christianity, Wicca, Judaism, Islam and so on). The afterwords also include much about historical references and different views of criticism about the tales. To borrow a cliché, Johnson has done his homework.
The reason why the three stars and the possible unfairness of it, is the modern stories. The modern stories are written as if someone is telling them to you, and while the narrators are varied – a housewife from Kentucky, a man from Iraq and so on - the voice all feels the same. The stories aren’t bad – though the woman from Kentucky is a bit forgiving, I think. There is just a something a bit off for me about the stories – perhaps too much telling, as strange as that sounds. I can understand why Johnson included them – they illustrate the “lesson” of the original tales, making it modern and showing how it is still applicable. So maybe it’s just me. Still, I am really glad that I read this, and I will be buying it.
On one hand giving this book three stars is a bit unfair. There is much to love about this book. Johnson takes some of the stories from the 1001 Arabian Nights, presents translations, then gives a modern update, and concludes with an essay about the story. The stories and afterwords are chosen with an eye to faith, inter-faith to be more exact.
The strongest part of the book is the afterwords. Johnson is at his best when he is showcasing how the stories can be used to illustrate certain aspects of all faiths (Christianity, Wicca, Judaism, Islam and so on). The afterwords also include much about historical references and different views of criticism about the tales. To borrow a cliché, Johnson has done his homework.
The reason why the three stars and the possible unfairness of it, is the modern stories. The modern stories are written as if someone is telling them to you, and while the narrators are varied – a housewife from Kentucky, a man from Iraq and so on - the voice all feels the same. The stories aren’t bad – though the woman from Kentucky is a bit forgiving, I think. There is just a something a bit off for me about the stories – perhaps too much telling, as strange as that sounds. I can understand why Johnson included them – they illustrate the “lesson” of the original tales, making it modern and showing how it is still applicable. So maybe it’s just me. Still, I am really glad that I read this, and I will be buying it.
More...