Rosemarie, I Have a Question?

[Luís]

Laura, please say to Chrissie that I miss her so much. Thank you.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Laura, please send Chrissie my love. I hope she's doing well.

[Laura]

I am sending all your msgs tomorrow afternoon when I m going to call Chrissie. Certainly she will be very grateful for your kind attention. Thank you so much!!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Thank you for letting us know how Chrissie is doing, Laura.

[Laura]

Rosemarie wrote: "Thank you for letting us know how Chrissie is doing, Laura."

My pleasure Rosemarie...

:O)

[Chad]

This is really a question for everyone in the group but I wasn’t sure where to ask it.
I’m not religious but I’d like to read the Bible. I think it’s the most read book in the history of man and so I feel like I should read it. I’m baffled as to which edition/version to read as there are so many. I’d like to read it as I read any translated work - front to back in a translation that makes sense to an English speaking person living in 2024. Any suggestions?

[John]

That's an interesting one Chad - I suspect we all have our own personal favourites (my own favourite is the Jerusalem Bible, popular edition) but my advice would be to try a couple of different versions - you'll have no trouble finding them in libraries or charity shops).

My personal advice would also be not to read from front to back. I'd start in the middle with the poetry of the Psalms, and then read the New Testament. I'd start with the Gospel of John - as a Celt I'm drawn to its mysticism, and its soaring poetry; others will have different favourites. After that I'd read the Epistles of John.

On the internet you'll find a whole range of reading plans for reading the bible in a year, etc.

(And I'm not religious either, but I have a great fondness for Monastic spirituality - you might want to have a look sometime at some of the works of the American Trappist Monk, Thomas Merton).

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version
It's a wonderful resource, with interesting footnotes and lots of essays. And very readable!

[John]

Wow Rosemarie, that is a heavy duty version. I hope you don't carry that to Church on a Sunday!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

My daughter used it in a university course and left it here, along with many other books!
Including her celtic course books, Scots Gaelic, Irish and Old Irish!

[Chad]

Thank you John and Rosemarie! I think I’ll just order that edition, Rosemarie. It seems such an undertaking to simply read the Bible. John, I will follow your advice as far as reading order.
I suppose that it goes without typing that The Bible is a “classic”.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Yes!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Chad, I grew up with the The Holy Bible: King James Version it is the one I tote to Church.

I agree with John if you are going to read a Bible starting with Psalms. Then reading the New Testament.
The Old Testament is very History oriented.

I have a woman's point of view reading companion that goes into supplements of meaning.

This is a hard topic to give advice on. You have to find your own way that works best for you. Easy to read and understand takes more than just the Bible for sure.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Chad, I asked a fellow friend and he said to look into this version, this is what he sent:

The New Living Translation is a text that tries to make the same impact in the life of modern readers that the original text had for the original readers. In the New Living Translation, this is accomplished by translating entire thoughts (rather than just words) into natural, everyday English. The end result is a translation that is easy to read and understand and that accurately communicates the meaning of the original text.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Outside of my thoughts...I asked a friend what he thought. He enjoys reading Tim LaHaye's books.

Andre said he has read them and finds them easy to understand. He found them to be eye opening and interesting to read. Read them in order if you do.

[Chad]

Thank you, Lesle!

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Chad wrote: "Thank you, Lesle!"

Your more than welcome. I hope something from all of us helped.

[Karin]

Chad wrote: "This is really a question for everyone in the group but I wasn’t sure where to ask it.
I’m not religious but I’d like to read the Bible. I think it’s the most read book in the history of man and so..."

I would suggest avoiding paraphrased ones such as the Message.

There isn't one version that's perfect, and if you had time I'd suggest a side by side reading of a more literal translation and then one that tries to translate the thoughts. Or you could read the The Amplified Bible: Old and New Testaments, Expanded Edition which does both (the thought expansions are obvious.)

There are many challenges since there are places where the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain (the JPS TaNaKh notates many of these, and the NIV a few, not always in the same places), and also there is no way to do a word for word from one language to the next in any two languages that I know of.

I own a bevy of different versions, but this isn't common. I also have some with explanatory information, and one good older one is The Companion Bible but it's the KJV text.

[Book Nerd, Purple Book Horse]

I read the bible a long time ago. I really don't know anything about the various translations and don't even know which one I read.
I was most interested in different versions. I read a catholic bible because it has a lot more books than a protestant bible. An orthodox bible has less but a couple that a catholic bible doesn't. I think I looked those up and read them online. Yeah, I'm kind of a completeist. :)

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Well I guess so Book Nerd! Different religions are very interesting to me.

I only have read the King James Version which like I said have a companion for. I am not sure about other books written from current author's, like the one from my friends point of view. But I think with this topic it should be several opions for one to look into.
Religon is a hard topic to be a fair view topic.

[Luís]

I read this one edition:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Mike]

If you're reading the Bible from a literary perspective, my steer would be to the King James Version. It's English is contemporary to Shakespeare and, just like Shakespeare, is the source of many phrases still in modern use.

I've read the Bible twice, once with the KJV and the other with the New International Version (NIV). From a pure translation perspective, the NIV is the most syntactically accurate and reads well, and as Lesle notes, the NLT is considered the most semantically accurate. When I next read the whole Bible, it'll be the NLT.

I have an Amplified Bible, which is the one I take to Church. I like that it gives the range of words that could be used and that can communicate the original meaning of the text a little more clearly but it might bog you down when reading purely for the narrative.

I also recommend finding a plan. You don't necessarily need to stick to one of the ones that completes in a year, but they help to mix up the duller passages (such as the laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, and the various genealogies) with more exciting passages (e.g. Psalms, Prophets, parables).

[Karin]

Book Nerd wrote: "I read the bible a long time ago. I really don't know anything about the various translations and don't even know which one I read.
I was most interested in different versions. I read a catholic bi..."

There is much debate over what should be in it. FWIW, they are taken from the Septuagint which has all of the ones any group does, and I think it's been translated into English. The LXX, as it's often abbreviated, is a Greek translation of the OT plus has NT in it.

[Karin]

Mike wrote: "If you're reading the Bible from a literary perspective, my steer would be to the King James Version. It's English is contemporary to Shakespeare and, just like Shakespeare, is the source of many p..."

Yes, the NIV is good, particularly for the Old Testament. I used the KJV for many years as my main bible especially in seminary (not Catholic), but use it less and less often. I loved it because it italicizes added words, and while most are required because of the nature of translation, some are not and are purely theological. That's not important to everyone :)

[Chad]

So many great comments and suggestions here guys! I’m reading through all of them and I really do appreciate all the assistance! There are so many translations or versions (I really don’t know the correct word to use so I’m using both). There are also so many different ways to actually read the book and I’m so glad to have you all help guide me through it. Thanks again and as I read through the comments I really get the sense that it is something very much worth my time to read.

[John]

Despite not being religious, I recommend a number of "core" religious texts, especially the Bible, the Koran, the Buddhist Scriptures, and the I Ching.

[Karin]

Chad wrote: "So many great comments and suggestions here guys! I’m reading through all of them and I really do appreciate all the assistance! There are so many translations or versions (I really don’t know the ..."

An easy way to check out many of the versions is on Bible Gateway--there are over 150 versions, but you can stick to the ones we suggested to make it simpler if you like :) https://www.biblegateway.com/ I prefer to read it on paper, but this site comes in handy sometimes.

[Chad]

Is there a way to show only English, or any other language for that matter, translations for a specific book on Goodreads?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I do this when searching a book using the app. When the book comes up I slide the screen to the left, and click on Other Editions.
A whole list appears with many different editions, especially of classics.
Using the desktop version, click on add book/author and type in the title. When the book appears, click on other editions and scroll down until you find the version you need.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Chad Rosemarie is right just one more thought.
Other editions: there is "more details" under each edition. Under that tells the language for that edition.

[Karin]

You can find a link to other editions on the website as well.

[Mbuye]

I am looking for books about attitudes to marriage and divorce specifically social acceptance of the the latter specifically in late Victorian/ Edwardian times. They might be set in any country, but that is the time period.

Two books on the theme are 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall,' by Anne Bronte, and 'The Second Mrs Tanqueray' by Arthur Wing Pinero. A later novel is 'The French Lieutenant's Woman,' by John Fowles.

Any suggestions, please? Thank you.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I enjoyed The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman by H.G. Wells. It's about the wife becoming her own person and is entertaining.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

Another is Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane.

[Mbuye]

Rosemarie wrote: "Another is Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane."

Rosemarie wrote: "I enjoyed The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman by H.G. Wells. It's about the wife becoming her own person and is entertaining."

Okay, good. I think I have read the HG Wells many years ago, but I should be glad to re-read it.

Effie Briest is new, so thanks for tip!

[Michelle]

Mbuye wrote: "I am looking for books about attitudes to marriage and divorce specifically social acceptance of the the latter specifically in late Victorian/ Edwardian times. They might be set in any country, bu..."

Perhaps The Awakening by Kate Chopin. It is very concerned about what women are expected to live up to in marriage at the time and while attitudes towards divorce are not discussed in depth as such, the plot itself lets you know what attitudes towards divorce were/if it was accepted. Pub 1899

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I second The Awakening, as well as some of the author's other stories, including The Story of an Hour and Desiree's Baby.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I agree to The Awakening is a great choice for your request!!

[Mbuye]

Lesle wrote: "I agree to The Awakening is a great choice for your request!!"

Rosemarie wrote: "I second The Awakening, as well as some of the author's other stories, including The Story of an Hour and Desiree's Baby."

Rosemarie wrote: "I second The Awakening, as well as some of the author's other stories, including The Story of an Hour and Desiree's Baby."

Michelle wrote: "Mbuye wrote: "I am looking for books about attitudes to marriage and divorce specifically social acceptance of the the latter specifically in late Victorian/ Edwardian times. They might be set in a..."

Thanks, Michelle, Rosemarie and Lesle,

The Awakening is a marvellous suggestion, and worth a re-read! I appreciate your help. I am also looking out on Listopia as well as the Ranker and Book Riot selections. Sometimes they have very good suggestions.

It isn't failed or failing marriages I'm looking out for, it'a societal change in attitude I'm after. I don't imagine Hawthorne would have a big hit on his hands if he were to produce The Scarlet Letter today!

[Michelle]

Mbuye wrote: "Lesle wrote: "I agree to The Awakening is a great choice for your request!!"

Rosemarie wrote: "I second The Awakening, as well as some of the author's other stories, incl..."

Aaaah, offhand I can't think of many examples of general society's change in those periods. More in the 20s when there was more general prosperity...or maybe in French literature for earlier?

[Mbuye]

Michelle wrote: "Mbuye wrote: "Lesle wrote: "I agree to The Awakening is a great choice for your request!!"

Rosemarie wrote: "I second The Awakening, as well as some of the author's other..."

Yes, Michelle, you're right there! Women had no legal rights until nearly after the First World War. Ergo, no changes in the status quo until then. Oddly enough, people like Wilkie Collins and George Eliot saw the need for change but were unable to do much about it.

Thanks for breaking your head over this! 😊

[Karin]

Mbuye wrote: "I am looking for books about attitudes to marriage and divorce specifically social acceptance of the the latter specifically in late Victorian/ Edwardian times. They might be set in any country, bu..."

If you are able to find a copy of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall based on the first edition read that one. Sadly, I don't know how to find that. Charlotte removed the most important and contentious part(s) of that book after Anne died. Anne was the first to bring up domestic abuse in the upper classes.

[Mbuye]

Karin wrote: "Mbuye wrote: "I am looking for books about attitudes to marriage and divorce specifically social acceptance of the the latter specifically in late Victorian/ Edwardian times. They might be set in a..."

Thank you, Karin. I think the edition I read -- some years ago -- was pretty explicit for the time it was written. That version in a Penguin issue of the collected works of the Bronte sisters. Both the Gutenberg and the Internet Archive carry the same version.

It's good of you to think of this. I appreciate this. Thanks.

[Jim]

In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust is considered to be one 4,000-page book in seven volumes. Does anyone here count each separate volume as an individual book, to count in challenges?

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I would say that each volume counts as an individual book, Jim.
I've only read the first one and consider that one book.

[Michelle]

I'm looking for some suggestions to build my spooky TBR for mid September - October.

Criteria:
1. Something spooky, has Halloween vibes, can be a true horror/thriller/murder mystery (but also could just be like a children's/juvenile novel that has witches). Or something that just gives a generally creepy vibe!

2. A novella (preferably under 200 pages) or children's/juvenile novel that will read quickly.

3. More obscure than commonly referred to classic authors in this genre. I've been through most of Poe, Bradbury, Wells, Jackson, etc. I'm into things often described as Lovecraftian, but will avoid H.P. Lovecraft himself.

The only current classics I have on my list are:
The King in Yellow (version I have is 162 p)
The Midnight Folk

[Jim]

Good afternoon Michelle,

I would suggest that in determining a spooky TBR, to look at Gothic classics such as The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole and Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.

Jim

[Melanie]

Michelle wrote: "I'm looking for some suggestions to build my spooky TBR for mid September - October.

Criteria:
1. Something spooky, has Halloween vibes, can be a true horror/thriller/murder mystery (but also co..."

Michelle, The Midnight Folk looks marvelous and I hope you are able to read it. Thanks for mentioning it! For myself, I tend to read more Victorian Gothic novels in the fall.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

The Were-Wolf by Clemence Housman
Also listed under The Werewolf

Really creepy: The Boats of the 'Glen Carrig' by William Hope Hodgson
Free on applebooks

[Mbuye]

Michelle wrote: "I'm looking for some suggestions to build my spooky TBR for mid September - October.

Criteria:
1. Something spooky, has Halloween vibes, can be a true horror/thriller/murder mystery (but also co..."

Hi, Michelle,

The real specialists in horror were the lesser Victorians. Of course, Dickens loved ghost stories, and has written several, of which two are special: 'The Signalman,' and 'The Trial for Murder.' Both are short stories.

Almost anything by Sheridan le Fanu contains a bit of the supernatural with some very healthy earthly horrors. William Harrison Ainsworth was a historical novelist, but his 'Lancashire Witches' has never been out of print since first it was published. Matthew ('Monk') Lewis is a bit early, but for blood and gore, you can't beat him.

MR James was a master at the supernatural, and his students at Oxford used to wait eagerly for his annual Christmas ghost story. You might like ‘Trilby’ by the versatile George du Maurier, grandfather of Daphne. Its horrific aspect is really to do more with the manipulation of the mind - hypnotism - than with the Lovecraftian style of horror. He is also, like James, closer to a more contemporary period.

Finally, Arthur Machen is an early twentieth century writer who could really give you the creeps. 'The Great God Pan' is considered is greatest work, and it's a novella.

I have suggested works which are easily available and since many of them are in the public domain, they can also be found at Project Gutenberg.

I hope this helps.