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The Son of Laughter
by
Frederick Buechner (Goodreads Author)
"One of our most original storytellers" ( "USA Today" ) offers a fresh, literate, and dramatic tale based on the Jacob narratives--enduring biblical depictions of fathers, sons, and families.
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
August 19th 1994
by HarperOne
(first published 1993)
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I first became acquainted with this book after reading an excerpt of it in another book, and decided then and there to read it. The Son of Laughter is a retelling of the story of Jacob (and by extension, Issac, Joseph, and even maybe Abraham) - his life, his family, and his encounters with God.
Frederick Buechner is, first of all, a fantastic writer. His prose is elegant. His retelling is delightfully detailed and imaginative, while still faithful enough to the Biblical text enough to to satisfy...more
Frederick Buechner is, first of all, a fantastic writer. His prose is elegant. His retelling is delightfully detailed and imaginative, while still faithful enough to the Biblical text enough to to satisfy...more
I think that Buechner is an amazing author.
While I was disappointed with THE STORM (and I realize that I'm in the minority on that), this book was quite exceptional.
First, I didn't realize, before reading it, that it would be an historical fiction account of Jabob (of Jacob and Esau notariety). I have to admit that I might not have been as eager to read it, had I been aware of that. There's something about historical biblical fiction that has not held a great deal of appeal to me. That might ch...more
While I was disappointed with THE STORM (and I realize that I'm in the minority on that), this book was quite exceptional.
First, I didn't realize, before reading it, that it would be an historical fiction account of Jabob (of Jacob and Esau notariety). I have to admit that I might not have been as eager to read it, had I been aware of that. There's something about historical biblical fiction that has not held a great deal of appeal to me. That might ch...more
I often stay away from novels that elaborate on Biblical stories because I don't want to an untrue image/characterization to stick with me as I read the Bible. BUT, I am glad I read The Son of Laughter -- the story of Jacob and the covenant family that he sprang from and gave birth to. Buechner gave blood and sweat and flesh to the Biblical patriarchs. He showed God to be the fierce, mysterious, and faithful being that He is, calling Him "the Fear". I saw the pain and tenderness of a man's heart...more
I really enjoyed the story in this book, but the style was not great for me.
This a major part of Genesis told from Jacob's point of view. This has long been one of my favorite parts of the Bible- I love the story of Jacob working fourteen years for Rachel, of him & his brother, and of course the story of Joseph, Jacob's 11th son is probably my all time fave. So. I was super excited when a friend let me borrow this.
And I did like it. But the writing just wasn't my style. I can't pinpoint exa...more
This a major part of Genesis told from Jacob's point of view. This has long been one of my favorite parts of the Bible- I love the story of Jacob working fourteen years for Rachel, of him & his brother, and of course the story of Joseph, Jacob's 11th son is probably my all time fave. So. I was super excited when a friend let me borrow this.
And I did like it. But the writing just wasn't my style. I can't pinpoint exa...more
I read this book on recommendation from a friend. She loves this book and wanted to share it with me. Now, it was a far cry from the young adult literature that I have gotten used to reading, and I wondered what I was going to get out of it. Buechner beautifully crafted this earthy drama covering the life of the Biblical forefather Jacob. Although his writing style is terrific and I enjoyed his literary genius, the walk-away message for me came at the end of the novel: "[God] makes us no promise...more
When another person puts into words what I want to say better than I ever could on my own, I have no qualms quoting them. And so here is Joel's review:
"Whenever he applies his re-imagination to the story of a saint or of characters in the Bible, Buechner always manages in his own way to (1) capture how radically foreign these characters are to my own perspective, experience and sensibilities, and (2) to work out in a ramshackle way what it could look like to embody what it means to be God's bles...more
"Whenever he applies his re-imagination to the story of a saint or of characters in the Bible, Buechner always manages in his own way to (1) capture how radically foreign these characters are to my own perspective, experience and sensibilities, and (2) to work out in a ramshackle way what it could look like to embody what it means to be God's bles...more
An imaginative retelling of the biblical story of Jacob & his family. It was certainly more satisfying than the other book by Buechner that I have read, and more satisfying, too, than Norman Mailer's retelling of the Jesus narrative. Mailer seemed bound by the biblical narrative, except at certain odd points he rejected (NOT the miracles, however); Buechner, on the other hand, seemed inspired by Jacob's story. He went well beyond it in creating details & interpreting events, though when...more
You can't beat the story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and their families for drama and interest. I had read The Red Tent by Anita Diamant years ago which told much the same story as this, fleshing out the Bible's account by telling it from the women's point of view, and going beyond it to tell more about Jacob's daughter, Dinah. The Son of Laughter was less detailed (except for certain aspects) and more poetic than The Red Tent. I think that The Red Tent made more of an impression on me beca...more
Got this for Christmas. It's one of Buechner's sad, earthy fictions, this time about the Biblical character of Jacob.
Buechner writes so immediately about being human. There are few writers I enjoy reading more. His work is entirely free of frivolity and distraction, and offers a sublime view of people completely engaged in living their lives, a wonder no matter what they suffer. Like Tolstoy, he writes about individuals in all their glorious individual strangeness, like they're your family. From...more
Buechner writes so immediately about being human. There are few writers I enjoy reading more. His work is entirely free of frivolity and distraction, and offers a sublime view of people completely engaged in living their lives, a wonder no matter what they suffer. Like Tolstoy, he writes about individuals in all their glorious individual strangeness, like they're your family. From...more
I don't like all of Buechner's work, but I like his lively retellings of biblical stories. He has an imagination for ancient desert culture that both makes it accessible and preserves the mystery of its alien quality for contemporary readers. This one offers a complex portrayal of Jacob--cunning, needy, open, ambivalent, and confused--and, toward the end, of Joseph and his brothers. An adventurous, inviting treatment of stories that leave much room for speculation.
Buechner does a marvelous job of humanizing the patriarchs without losing the redemptive purpose. My one complaint would be that the 'earthiness' of the story, which is at first a bit startling and refreshing, by the end seems a bit like a parlor trick.
Still, this is a minor complaint for an otherwise powerful book.
Still, this is a minor complaint for an otherwise powerful book.
Aug 02, 2011
Tyler Hartford
added it
One of the best religious fiction books I have ever read. Based on the life of Jacob (Heels) and his relationships with Esau (Hairy) and other members of his family. So incredibly poetic and insightful, yet an easy read for someone just getting into Buechner. A must for pastors.
Buechner has a realistic, earthly understanding of our faith which helps offset the sanctified versions we too often read. His story of Jacob holds true to the Biblical version of course, but he adds the dirt and sand into the mix. Similar to what Kazantzakis did earlier, but with a far more theologically sound basis.
My "spiritual director" suggested that I read more novels. I'm a Buechner fan, having read Godric, etc. Jacob is coming alive as I experience the Genesis account in this "personal" narrative.
I have never seen this version in the bible. He put the character of Jacob in a whole different light....in a good way..It made the Bible come alive for me...Pure enjoyment!
Read it for Contrats. It was pretty good for a biblical era story (which is usually not my fave), also reading for school usually puts a damper on things.
beautiful rendition of Jacob's story and a great homage to the literary fecundity of the Old Testament
Earthy, poignant, insightful. The brief account of "Jacobs Laughter" is reason enough to read it
A fictionalized contemporary retelling of the timeless biblical saga of the life of Jacob.
Interesting book telling the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from Jacob's view.
Incredible story. Buechner is a master of creating earthy, real characters.
This is a well-imagined telling of the story of the Biblical patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) in the voice of Jacob. It offers powerful insights into events like the offering of Isaac at Moriah, Jacob's life in Haran, and Joseph's descent and ascent in Egypt that make you think more carefully about those events.
A luminous historical-mythic novel tracing the life of biblical Jacob, his father Isaac ("Laughter"), his
mother Rebekah, his brother Esau, and his twelve children from Reuben to Benjamin. Buechner writes
with beautiful metaphors.
mother Rebekah, his brother Esau, and his twelve children from Reuben to Benjamin. Buechner writes
with beautiful metaphors.
Be wary of God's blessings ...
A very forthright, crude re-telling of the adventures of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and their families. It can open your eyes to the messiness that is life with God. The people in the Bible are not saints, and their lives were not rainbow-colored picture books, but smelly, messy, sinful bumblings. Although I have liked other fictional incarnations of Bible stories better (like The Robe by Lloyd Douglas!), this book was thought-provoking especially since we are reading Genesis in Sunday School.
This book is a great, thought-provoking read. The first half is some of the best fiction I've read in some time. The end flounders a bit, but this is highly recommended.
Whenever he applies his re-imagination to the story of a saint or of characters in the Bible, Buechner always manages in his own way to (1) capture how radically foreign these characters are to my own perspective, experience and sensibilities, and (2) to work out in a ramshackle way what it could look like to embody what it means to be God's blessing to the world.
This re-crafting of Jacob's story from the book of Genesis is a shining example.
This re-crafting of Jacob's story from the book of Genesis is a shining example.
Excellent read. Not "sanitized" as most Biblical stories are often related. If you have an aversion to biological / sexual references in Bible stories, this may not be for you. Keep in mind that this is a fictional work based on the story of Jacob.
Strange.
Insightful.
Heartbreaking.
And makes me want to read more of Buechner's work.
Insightful.
Heartbreaking.
And makes me want to read more of Buechner's work.
Although Buechner provides interesting perspective on the humaness of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I don't enjoy his existentialist style of writing. His style is much toned down in "Son of Laughter" compared to his "Godric", which I started and had to return after a few pages.
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Frederick Buechner is a highly influential writer and theologian who has won awards for his poetry, short stories, novels and theological writings. His work pioneered the genre of spiritual memoir, laying the groundwork for writers such as Anne Lamott, Rob Bell and Lauren Winner.
His first book, A Long Day's Dying, was published to acclaim just two years after he graduated from Princeton. He entere...more
More about Frederick Buechner...
His first book, A Long Day's Dying, was published to acclaim just two years after he graduated from Princeton. He entere...more
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“The Shield was another of the Fear's names. According to Laughter, it means he shields the seed of Abraham the way a man starting a fire shields the flame. When Sarah was about to die childless, the Fear gave her a son. When Abraham was about to slaughter the son, the Fear gave him the ram. He is always shielding us like a guttering wick, Laughter said, because the fire he is trying to start with us is a fire that the whole world will live to warm its hands at. It is a fire in the dark that will light the whole world home.”
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Dec 13, 2012 01:04am