Beginnings: Reflections on the Bible's Intriguing Firsts - eBook

MEIR SHALEV (b. 1948) is one of Israel's most celebrated writers. Author of six novels, most recently A Pigeon and a Boy, and five works of non-fiction, his writing has been translated into over 20 languages. A columnist for the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot, Shalev lives in Jerusalem and in the north of Israel with his wife and children. He has received the Brenner Prize, Israel's highest literary honor, the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction, and numerous international honors.

In this innovative and skillfully woven analysis of biblical firsts, Shalev (A Pigeon and a Boy), an Israeli columnist, probes the significance and underlying stories associated with eleven of the Bible’s “firsts.” He investigates the meaning of the first laugh, explains how the first Jewish monarchy arose, and explores the tragic story of the first loving woman, all from a firmly secular perspective. Shalev’s vast biblical knowledge is evident, and he does not hesitate to offer his own take on a given subject, a perspective that often differs from traditional rabbinic understanding - a point he proudly makes throughout his work. His scrutiny of all aspects relating to a particular theme, his colorful descriptions of hallowed biblical figures, and his smooth pen enhance this biblical narrative, but some may find his frequent derision of traditional analysis distasteful and his sometimes casual writing distracting. Readers, either familiar or unacquainted with the biblical text, will enjoy this accessible and authentic excursion into the ancient world of Jewish life. (Mar.) Copyright 2011 Reed Business Information.

Praise for Beginnings

"These essays bring a novelist's insight to the analysis of biblical characters." —Jewish Review of Books

"Shalev puts his fine storytelling skills to work." —Booklist

"Shalev is an author of great sophistication whose enthusiasm is contagious. He has an eye for detail, a thirst for making implied connections explicit and a wonderful habit of fully imagining the potent drama narrated." —The Forward


Praise for A Pigeon and a Boy
"Shalev creates a world that has the richness of invention and the obsessiveness of dreams." —The New York Times Book Review

"Brilliant... Universal in its scope and examination of human longing for a sense of roosting." —The Jerusalem Post

"An exquisite creation, a work of quiet language that needs no shouting to attain its impact." —Chicago Jewish Star

 
Praise for The Blue Mountain
"Passionate, ribald and tender . . . Shalev's colorful, feisty characters and vibrant prose animate this indelible depiction of the birth of a nation." —Publishers Weekly
 
"Evocative, even lyrical, with the underlying magic realism adding to the mythic stature of the villagers and their accomplishments." —Kirkus Reviews