Customer Reviews

The Afterword: A Novel

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is an innovative and provocative addition to modern literature. The format is entirely creative. I am sure that not many have tried to write an afterword for a book that doesn't exist. Oddly, this approach resembles a "behind the music" or "storytellers" format, and is one that gives us a feeling that we are being let in on the best secrets of an alledgedly succesful novel. The metafictive approach will be of special interest to writers. I also found the commentary on deleted or excluded scenes to be a great tongue-in-cheek twist. As far as the religious aspects are concerned, this book takes a long hard look at how our society would deal with a messiah. Bryan does well to anticipate both the thoughts of sceptics and believers, while really never casting his own hat into the ring on either side. I read this after reading "The Life of Pi" and "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff". I couldn't have asked for a more fitting conclusion to this great summer reading trifecta.

This book is an afterword to an imaginary book called The Deity Next Door. It's really a meditation on Christology and writing a book. If that sounds weird, it isn't. Bryan's writing is witty and clever, and very thoughtful. Who knew theology could be so much fun!?

A clever little book written in the guise of an afterword to a book that doesn't really exist. In this innovative format, the author discusses theological questions and the creative process as well as society in general.

The author knows a little bit of a lot of topics about Christianity. But his biblical and theological knowledge is very superficial. This is reflected by some of the obvious errors he made in the book. For example, he misplaces the scene in John 8:2-11 to be "at the Mount of Olives". He read John 8:1 but didn't read John 8:2 which clearly says it happens in the temple. The Mount of Olives is not far away, but it's a different place. Another example is that he says the Holy Spirit is only referenced 17 times in the New Testament but none in the Old. You don't have to be a bible scholar to know that this is simply not true.

The author also misrepresents other people's views. For example, when he talks about the 10 plagues in Exodus, he says that Ryrie Study Bible "can only acknowledge the natural causes for the plagues". I don't think Ryrie will agree with this claim. In fact, Ryrie's comment on Exodus 7:17 apparently rebukes those who try to find a naturalistic cause and then clearly states: "...this was a supernatural judgement".

There are times the author does not know or make distinction between his own opinion/knowledge and the fact/truth. For example, he says that it's always the Catholics who perform the miracles, but not Protestants. This is simply not true. He may say he didn't know of any miracles performed by any Protestant. But to claim that no miracles (e.g. cure the sick, cast the demons etc.) have ever been performed by Protestants is clearly beyond his limited knowledge and beyond his proof. This also shows how little he knows about Protestant churches in the past and today.

Really a silly little book with much psychobabble and religious pedantry