Enjoyed a fun conversation about Bible Babel with radio host Faith Ranoli yesterday. Listen live in a week or so. We talked for about an hour about all things Bible — where it came from, what’s the best translation, how people use the Bible to argue different sides of the same issue, why the Bible says […]
I’m really excited about my new project, which has me thinking about all things paranormal. Turns out, they’re all around us — almost, well, normal. The Bible is one source for images and ideas, but the appeal (some would say awareness) seems basic to our humanity. If we don’t believe, exactly, we are nevertheless captivated and strangely affected by the supernatural. There’s
Galilee, Ghosts, and Time to Read Read More »
I attended a great session at the 2010 VA Fest of the Book on the business of reviewing books. C-Span’s Book TV recorded it. I just recently watched it again, after receiving some very nice comments about the question I asked (Is it appropriate to thank a reviewer? – some said “yes,” others “absolutely not”). I was
Reviewer and Reviewee Read More »
If most people don’t get the biblical references, why do the creators of popular tv, movies, music and lit still use them so much? Pondering this question over iced tea with a novelist, Ph.D.-candidate friend, we decided: it’s tough to say. Here are a couple of ideas that we bounced around: 1) Audiences do recognize the biblical
Biblical Imagination and the Creative Process Read More »
There’s Twilight of course, and True Blood, and going back in time a little, there was Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all those Anne Rice novels. I shouldn’t have been surprised to stumble on two more that feature vampires front and center — Moonlight and The Gates. You’d have to live under a rock in
Bible and Vampires Read More »
Watching “Seinfeld” reruns recently, I saw the one in which Elaine and Kramer argue about rightful ownership of (originally Elaine’s) high-handled girly bicycle. To settle the matter, Newman channels the biblical Solomon. According to the biblical book of Kings, Solomon, son of David, inherited the throne in ancient Israel and promptly demonstrated one of the qualities for which he
Seinfeld’s Solomon Read More »
How much do you know about animals in the Bible? Take Beliefnet’s quiz to find out! I had a lot of fun working up this little test. And gosh, there are so many more biblical animals that we could talk about… Meanwhile, I rescued a big painted turtle yesterday from the humiliation of canine objectification as
Quiz Your Animal Knowledge Read More »
Biologists in FL are working to preserve native species threatened by the catastrophic Gulf oil spill, and they’ve dubbed it “Operation Noah’s Ark.” Echoing that story in the biblical book of Genesis, Jack and Anne Rudlow are collecting what critters they can house in their Gulf Specimen Marine Lab to preserve and then release when the
“Operation Noah’s Ark” Read More »
Great day in Chicago, starting at 0’awfully-early with a TV interview at ABC-7. Nice folks there, a fun chat about “Lost,” among other things, then hello black coffee! Took the metro ez-pz up to Lincoln Square where I stopped in at the Book Cellar. That is one very cool indie bookstore! Back to the hotel to
Bible Babel Goes to the Windy City Read More »
Living as a nomad, it was bound to happen: I left my computer behind. Bouncing between cities (two) and offices (four) as I’ve done the past semester, I rely on THE LIST — things to do before leaving the house (empty the kitchen compost, e.g.) and things to bring (er, that’d be the computer, e.g.). The list works great… if
Forgetting… and Remembering Read More »
