the year of living biblically ... and the year it took me to read it!

okay, okay, it didn't take me a year to read it. but i did start it in 2010 and it took me into 2011 to finish it up ... so it kind of counts - right?

anyhow, about the book - whew ... i don't really know where to begin. it was fascinating. i thoroughly enjoyed all of the background information that was given throughout. i also enjoyed hearing about the conversations and experiences the author had as he sought to live every law and commandment in the bible for a year's time. he had to do some cooky things, so it was pretty entertaining, to boot.


however, he got into some heavy topics and, because of the amount of research he did, he had a great deal of information to substantiate it all. so, i had to read carefully and more slowly than i do a novel, or such. it really took me about 5 weeks to read the book.

overall, i liked the book. i loved learning more about some religions. i loved learning more about so many bible stories and traditions. i enjoyed the crazy situations he encountered, often. i was challenged to look at my own obedience to the laws and commandments i have chosen to commit to and abide by in my life. and i was completely (spoiler coming now) let down when the author still clung to his agnostic ways at the end. the beginning of the book leads you to believe that he quite possibly was going to find a belief in God through this experiment. but in the end, he held himself back from taking any sort of leap that would have brought faith into his life. a little anti-climatic for me.

thankfully, i can get with my book club and decompress and deal with all those thoughts and feelings after reading the book. as we discussed the book that night, it opened up to a greater discussion about our own spirituality, our feelings of inadequacy and our struggles to follow God in this crazy world we live in. we gained a great deal from our conversation that night - we all left feeling strengthened and supported by one another, so glad i went. and i am glad i read this memoir of one man's attempt to live the bible, to the letter. i learned from his experience and will put that good stuff to use in my life.