Customer Reviews

Saint John's Bible: Psalms

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Looking at some of the previous reviews, it seems that the other reviewers are missing the point. This wasn't done by a computer; it was done by hand. "Increase the font size?" It isn't possible. It's not like it is a TrueType font on a computer. As for the lack of ornamentation, everyone is missing the point: the calligraphy itself is the art. NOBODY does this by hand, they haven't since the printing press was invented. The monks at St. John's Abbey did not do this to make money, or impress people, it was done to glorify God. If you need lots of pretty pictures to distract you while reading the Psalms, you are missing the point of the Psalms as well as the point of this project. When I think of the monks pouring over every word, making sure each stroke is perfect, that's all the inspiration I need.

Donald Jackson and his colleagues let their calligraphic skills shine in this volume of The Saint John's Bible. Unfortunately, many readers purchased this book hoping for the same level of illustration found in the Gospels and Acts voulme. What the detractors of Psalms utterly fail to understand is Jackson's intent to let the text of the psalms speak free from the artist's interpretation. The Psalms are perhaps the most personal texts in all of the Bible; it would have been truly unfortunate if the artist had imposed his vision on the psalms, rather than respecting their integrity as texts of personal and liturgical prayer.

The beauty of this book is that it allows the words of the Psalms to sing. The calligrapher's art never gets in the way of the prayers. The other books that the monks of St John's Abbey have caused to be created are perfect and the illuminated texts are a feast for the eye. Sometimes though, we Americans just need to step back and savor the beauty of words. Donald Jackson has given us that opportunity. Savor it.

I read the earlier reviews that this edition lacked the beautiful pictures that other editions contained. While I agree there are less drawings. the beauty resides in the words. I do appreciate the wonderful drawings of the other editions but I enjoy the meaning found in the messages of the Psalms. One picture may be worth a thousand words but it would thousands of pictures to do these words justice.

This is a lovely way to look at the prayers that have expressed the faith of many over the millenia. A truly remarkable vision of the Psalms

Compared to the other two Donald Jackson Bible books I bought, the Psalm book is a disappointment. I looked forward to seeing Mr. Jackson's illustrations of the Psalms, but was let down when I saw he had done very little. As far as I am concerned, Mr. J. missed an opportunity to make the Psalms glow. Jean Rhoads, Bloomington, Indiana

We believe in the St. John's Bible, its calligraphers, artists, editor. We found the volume devoted to the Psalms just totally disappointing. The Psalms call for handsome, colorful vignettes of all of nature's bounty --
grasses, flowers, seed pods, birds, insects, caterpillars, worms, whales, creatures great and small, the skies, clouds, rainbows, sun, moon and stars. But the pages of the Psalms are virtually EMPTY, alas. Even the calligraphy is a bit lackluster and small --very hard to read. We did not send our copy back (though it deserves that) because someday we want a complete, intact, set of all the volumes. Were the publishers in a hurry to get this volume out before it could match the standards of previous volumes? It feels like a potboiler, published to make a buck, coasting on the well-deserved laurels of previous volumes. We felt that we'd been "had." Honestly, we hope there will someday be a revision that makes the Psalms as creative, beautiful and breathtaking as the earlier volumes instead of just a sadly missed opportunity.
We still want to thank the publishers for the rest of this remarkable Bible.

The Psalms of the Saint John's Bible is reverent and classy. It helps put me in a prayerful mood.

I already owned Saint John's Pentateuch and Gospels and Acts. Thinking of all the art possibilities for the Psalms, I was very disappointed with the Saint John's Bible:Psalms. I think the author missed a golden opportunity to make the Psalms shine. In a Christian thrift store I came across a small book called The Book of Psalms in the Authorized Version. There are lovely illustrations on practically every page. I believe it is being offered as a used book through Amazon at a very reasonable price. I won't buy another Saint John's Bible book without seeing it first. Jean Rhoads, Bloomington IN

I don't think that this volume is as good as the Gospels. There isn't as much art, and at a mere 80 pages, there was plenty of room for art. The layout of it didn't thrill me either.