December '07 discussion thread: The Year of Living Biblically

[Caryl]

Here is our discussion thread for The Year of Living Biblically, our December group read. As always, be cautious of reading the posts below if you haven't finished, as they may contain spoilers.

[Kathleen]

I just picked this book up today at work! I can't wait to start it!

[Caryl]

Enjoy, Kathleen! It is a very neat book/idea.

I wasn't sure how I felt about A.J. Jacobs at the beginning of the book, but I ended up really liking him. He is very funny, honest and committed to his projects, but I could see his intense love for his family, too. I laughed a lot at the scenes with his wife, Julie. I really enjoyed her! One thing I loved:

I don't handle the copperhead myself. I had promised Julie I wouldn't. If I really needed to fulfill that literal part of the Bible, she pointed out I could always handle a garter snake, since the Scriptures never specify venomous snakes.

And of course I loved the part where she sat on every chair in the house.

This book made me pick up the Bible again and try to read Ecclesiastes. I didn't read that whole chapter, but I got a taste of what he is talking about. (He says, "It's the closest I've come to proselytizing -- telling friends they have to read Ecclesiastes.") I do like his descriptions of what that chapter of the Bible means to him more than the chapter itself. If I ever try to read the Bible again, I will need a good teacher to take me through it!