As I previously posted
here , thanks to a special opportunity from
Lisa Roe, an online publicist, I was given the unique opportunity to review a copy of The Bible Illuminated. First I was given a sneak peek online. However, the online version just doesn't do it justice. The book is set up in a magazine style. It's soft cover, about the size of an issue of Vogue or some other high end fashion magazine. The cover is strikingly beautiful, with the copper embossed writing giving it a high end feel. It makes a great coffee table book, but my only concern is the fact that the cover and pages could break down easily from use or just from sitting around.
Following the magazine format, the text is a running style with no verses (see pictures above), though there are different headers within the text to explain what that paragraph or section is about. There are also different sections highlighted in yellow that draw your attention to that part of the text, and they correspond to the pictures. The pictures are as visually stunning as the cover offering bold, bright colors in a more contemporary style. Many of the pictures correspond nicely with the text, while others still have me confused as to how they applied to the message of the text. The pictures are taken from all over the world, featuring people of all different races, genders and walks of life. For example, Acts of the Apostles starts out with images of a men's soccer team in Sierra Leone where all the members are residents of the Murray town amputees' camp, which is home to victims of atrocities committed during the civil war. I think that this will make it a more universal text drawing in people of all different types.
However, I do have some other concerns. The print is rather small, so I'm afraid older people or people with poor eyesite may have difficulties reading the text. I think that this may be due to them trying to put as much information as they could into this format. At the same, I guess there target audience is more of the young hip crowd that they are trying to get interested in the bible again.
The typical bible layout with numbers and chapters isn't there, so it may be harder to find your favorite verses or parts in the bible. I was also disturbed by some sections that they made sure to highlight, specifically in Ephesians they highlighted "And so wives must submit themselves completeley to their husbands just as the church submits itself to Christ." However, they did not choose to highlight the next section about husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church. It seemed a little sexist to me. I was also disturbed by a picture in Matthew that depicted a child holding a handgun pointed straight at the camera with "No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." We have so many issues in this country with children being killed with handguns by other children, and then to depict this in a religious piece of work upset me.
Overall, I think that this was a great concept. The pictures and layout will draw in a younger crowd, and maybe renew faith in older generations as well by presenting the information in a more friendly, visually stimulating way. The price is a little steep for a magazine style layout, especially since it is not hardcover which I think would help this piece, but I think that if you are looking for a new approach or trying to get someone younger more interested that this would be a good recommendation.
You can see my
preview post for information from the publisher.
