Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Review and Giveaway: BIBLE ILLUMINATED: The Book: New Testament

rating: 5/5

What struck me first about this book is the quality of the art - National Geographic quality photographs that are poignant, fascinating and provocative. The pictures give an emotional punch to text that absolutely intends to make you feel something. Sometimes the pictures can add depth, like a picture of a child's hands holding one small fish - that somehow helped to feed the 5,000. Pictures of poverty and of those people who have tried to make positive changes in this world also help to illustrate the principles that Christ was trying to teach in this book. Putting Christ's teachings and stories from his life into a modern context like this can help people understand what many have already discovered: despite the fact that Christ lived 2,000 years ago, the New Testament can still change people's lives for the better.

The format is like a magazine, in several ways. Several pages are exclusively photographs, the text is in columns like a magazine with paragraph headings that summarize and give you a sense for that section's message. Certain powerful and familiar scriptures are highlighted, as if with a yellow highlighter. I like that it is lovely enough to sit on a coffee table but portable enough that you could roll it up and fit it in a backpack. I think the magazine style may reach out to people who otherwise may not pick up a different version of the Bible.

Of course, there are a number of translations of the New Testament out there, I don't even know how many. And while I personally wouldn't choose this version for my own scripture study, I see that it has value and I've enjoyed reading it. It introduces Christians and non-Christians to the doctrines of Jesus Christ in a way that might be more appealing than the more formal and precise language of the King James Version. This book is a good read for both those who are being introduced to the New Testament as well as those, like me, who already love the New Testament and are always pleased to see Christ's teachings made applicable to modern life.

The publishers have very graciously given me one copy to offer as a giveaway!! Sorry, I'm limited to addresses in the USA or Canada. In the early morning of Monday, November 10th I'll use random.org to choose a winner from the comments on this post. If you are so inclined, I'd appreciate you passing on the news about this giveaway - it really is an amazing book. Please include an email address where you can be contacted if you win!!

If you are here from the giveaway carnival, click here to get back home :)

63 comments:

Amy said...

I would love a chance to win this book. Thanks for posting it! :)

Brimful Curiosities said...

I heard about this book on NPR and think it sounds quite interesting. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

AWE-FREAKING-SOME giveaway :D :D :D

absolutely wonderful giveaway

sigh!! :'( i can't enter though!

Anonymous said...

I'd really like to read this book. I've heard a lot about it.
-Terra
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would LOVE to win this!!!!

Thanks for the giveaway.

Michelle
1morechapter.com

Sunny said...

I'd love to be entered for this. Thanks!
sj3girls AT hotmail DOT com

sweetsue said...

This sounds like a wonderful way to introduce people to the bible. I would love to win this for my son, who is going through some tough times and has lost his faith.
smchester at gmail dot com

Tammy said...

I would love to win this, please enter me!

missporkchop AT yahoo DOT com

Unknown said...

I'm a religious studies major writing a thesis on the different forms and formats the devoted call upon to express religious texts. This edition of the New Testament looks very intriguing, I'd love to own a copy.

boldnessbe(at)gmail(dot)com

photoquest said...

please enter me, if this comes up twice please deleate one I had to re-sign back up so it may come up twice.
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Unknown said...

I would love to have a copy of this version of the bible. Thanks for the giveaway.

Darlene said...

I would really like to win a copy of this Bible. What a great giveaway.
bj19662001@yahoo.ca

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win this new form of bible.

windycindy said...

"The Bible Illuminated" sounds lovely. The pictures would be great to view. Please enter me in your delightful drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Debbie said...

Wow. This looks incredible. Thanks for the chance.

Molly C. said...

This book looks so cool!

Julie P. said...

I'd love to see this book!

Unknown said...

I really REALLY want this bible. Thanks for the chance!!

RebekahC said...

I'm chasing this book across the internet, and desperately trying to get a copy. I'd love to enter!! I think this book sounds incredible.
Thanks!
RebekahC
littleminx@cox.net

fbartlett said...

Thanks for the chance to win!!

Deena Peterson said...

I so rarely can enter these things as I usually already have one...but please, please, please pick me:-)

Emmett McCarty Cullen said...

I would love to have this! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

Jenera said...

I am very intrigued by this concept and would love to be entered!

Cheryl Pitt said...

I tried to "claim" this book to review but the available copies were gone in a flash. Thanks for another chance to get my hands on it.

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this book. It sounds amazing!

Claudia Meydrech said...

Thank you for writing, I would love a copy, I will share about it with a link to your blog on eBook and Book Reviews & News with a link to your site. Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

I'd love a chance to win this book; thanks for the opportunity to look at the Bible in a new way.

SmilingSally said...

I would like to enter my name in this giveaway. Thank you.

smilingsal55 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Anonymous said...

This looks just amazing!
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

Unknown said...

My goodness I want to read this book/bible so badly I have never seen a bible like this before I would love to read it then give it to my friend who would LOVE it!

Anonymous said...

This looks like a wonderful New Testament!
pkildow at gmail dot com

Joanne ♦ The Book Zombie said...

I would love the chance to win Bible Illuminated! It looks like such a beautiful book.

shiloki at gmail dot com

Thanks for the fantastic giveaway :)

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful giveaway!! I would love to get this one!
luckistarr4 AT gmail DOT com

Allison said...

Enter Me please!!!

allisonsattic at gmail dot com

Andi said...

Yay! I would love to win this one. And Monday is my birthday, so maybe I'll have extra luck.

andi (dot) miller (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Thank you in advance for entering me in the drawing!
agentsully @ lifelearningtoday.com

Thomas "Duffbert" Duff said...

ooh! ooh! Pick me! :)

duffbert at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I would love to win this version of the Bible and keep up the good contests =)

FatalisFortuna said...

I'd love to have a copy of this to look through... thanks!

screamingicecube at bellsouth dot net

Heather said...

Great review. I've never entered myself in a giveaway drawing, so why not? This book looks like a gem. Thanks! :)

cantamos AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

This would make a wonderful gift, wouldn't it? Please enter my name for the giveaway..

beccasbookstack@gmail.com

Erika said...

This looks like a nice book for Christians & non-Christians alike.

Megan said...

I'd love a chance to win this. Thanks! =)

toadacious1 at yahoo dot com

Thinking About Compassion said...

This looks like an excellent book. Thanks for a great giveaway!

Anonymous said...

I'd love a chance to win this Bible. Thanks for offering up a copy!

-- Memory
xicanti AT gmail.com

Toiling Ant said...

Yay, I'd love a chance to win this book!

Jodi said...

I have heard about this, and would just love the chance to own it. Thanks so much for having such a wonderful giveaway.

purehrt555(at)yahoo(doT)com

Natasha said...

I've only seen incredible reviews on this, and would LOVE to have a copy to call my own!! Please count me in!!
natasha_sacopaso[at]hotmail[dot]com

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

Would love this...count me in please...

mrs.mommyyatgmail.com

Wanda said...

Looks like an item that I must have.

Thanks for the offer.

Sherrylinn said...

Sounds like a must read, thank you for the opportunity to win.

Anna said...

No need to enter me, as I already have a copy and reviewed it recently. Just wanted to say I enjoyed your review.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Otter Limits said...

I would LOVE to win this!!!!

Thanks for the giveaway.

Steve
http://www.otterlimits.net

Unknown said...

This sounds like a great New Testament. I would love to win it. garrettsambo@aol.com

Jinxy and Me said...

This looks FANTASTIC! Thanks for the giveaway!

Deb Anderson said...

I'm entering! Thanks for the giveaway!

Carol said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carol said...

i'd love one!

c.bommhardt@gmail.com

Anonymous said...


Pick Me! Pick Me! I would love to win a book.

It's very kind of you to offer such a great giveaway, it rare that I see giveaways for people like us (avid readers).


Count me in too please.


Thanks
Tammy OHagan
tammyohagan ~~~ AT ~~~ westco ~~~ DOT ~~~ net

Jenn said...

Please, please, please enter me :) Thanks!

bethany (dreadlock girl) said...

Corinne, I just reviewed this...my take is different than yours. But I do see where you are coming from as well.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Oh my goodness--not sure if this will get lost in all of the contest entrants. What a great review and take on this book, Corinne. I'm not sure how I feel about it but the idea of it is fascinating to me. I'd love to see a copy just to flip through it but don't know if I'll be buying it any time soon.

Dans said...

Your Idea Is Very nıce and ıts A dıfferent Subject THANK YOU

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