Reading Genesis Audiobook By Marilynne Robinson cover art

Reading Genesis

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Reading Genesis

By: Marilynne Robinson
Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
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One of our greatest novelists and thinkers presents a radiant, thrilling interpretation of the book of Genesis.

“[Suzanne] Toren's narration highlights Genesis as a work of literature that is especially beautiful when read aloud.”—AudioFile

For generations, the book of Genesis has been treated by scholars as a collection of documents by various hands, expressing different factional interests, with borrowings from other ancient literatures that mark the text as derivative. In other words, academic interpretation of Genesis has centered on the question of its basic coherency, just as fundamentalist interpretation has centered on the question of the appropriateness of reading it as literally true.

Both of these approaches preclude an appreciation of its greatness as literature, its rich articulation and exploration of themes that resonate through the whole of Scripture. Marilynne Robinson’s Reading Genesis, which includes the full text of the King James Version of the book, is a powerful consideration of the profound meanings and promise of God’s enduring covenant with humanity. This magisterial book radiates gratitude for the constancy and benevolence of God’s abiding faith in Creation.

A Macmillan Audio production.

©2024 Marilynne Robinson (P)2024 Macmillan Audio Bible Study Bibles & Bible Study Christianity Commentaries Judaism Literary History & Criticism Religious Studies Sacred Writing

Critic reviews

"In this illuminating work of biblical analysis, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Robinson, whose Gilead series contains a variety of Christian themes, takes readers on a dedicated layperson’s journey through the Book of Genesis. The author meanders delightfully through the text, ruminating on one tale after another while searching for themes and mining for universal truths . . . [A] luminous exegesis."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Robinson skillfully melds her literary interpretation with her theological one . . . Like the biblical book it explicates, Robinson’s offering is demanding, intense, and best read slowly."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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this is better even than Jordan Peterson's exploration of the Old Testament, and that is saying something. Robinson has a remarkable long sighted view of the biblical story and presents it in her own inimitable poetic prose. I wish she would do more writing about the Bible

This is absolute brilliance.

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It’s bracing to hear a brilliant 21st century novelist read Genesis both as literature and as sacred text. My only complaint is that half the book is her and half is the entire Book of Genesis as reference.

Reading Yahweh as both a literary construct and a description of the true nature of reality

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Ecclesiastes 12:12, 13 everything having been hear; is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man.

Interpretation of another covenant

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I was very much looking forward to this book--I preordered it and was excited about listening to it. However, it was a disappointment. The tone is rather preachy, as opposed to being inspiring or enlightening. There appears to be no organization--topics come and go for no apparent reason. Looking at reviews of the printed/Kindle versions, I see that there are no chapters, which means that one is hearing free form "now I'm thinking about." That was a mistake. I made it through 4 hours and can't face another 8.

I couldn't finish it

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