I admit to being a bit hesitant to review Roger Elgood’s Telling Our Tales: 17 short Bible Stories for children and adults, because these stories are not told from the perspective of the main character. They are an interesting take on 17 fairly well-known stories told from the point of view of a minor character, or, in the case of the retelling of the fall of Adam and Eve, a descendant of the beguiling serpent. I had questioned the wisdom in re-telling these stories, wondering if perhaps they would lose their spiritual and scriptural significance.
However, the stories are well-written and entertaining and isn’t this the best way to teach stories the principles underlying the scriptural texts? Apart from the serpent’s many great grandchild’s view of the Fall, other stories include one told from the point of view of the talking donkey, Joseph of Egypt’s story as told by one of the lesser-known brothers, the fall of Jericho by the harlot who saved the spies, etc.
If your hope if to find the stories as they were told re-written in an easy-to-read style, you will be disappointed. However, these re-tellings from a different point of view have great merit offer an alternative view. Read them with an open mind; you will still find wisdom in the words within.
I award 4 stars.
