Peter: Fisher of Men

By Noni Beth Gibbs

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816321892
• ISBN13: 9780816321896
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Pacific Press Publishing Association
• Length: 383 Pages
• Weight: 1.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Clash of Men and Sprits = A Familiar Story Retold

Review : "Peter, Fisher of Men", by Noni Beth Gibbs This reader first opened the covers of "Peter", with the expectation of finding a straightforward telling of the life of the Apostle. But this expectation was soon cast aside. By the end of the first chapter, a crisis temporarily brought reading to a halt. "What kind of book is this?" That was the question. "Is this a telling of the Gospel, a fantasy novel along the lines of Tolkien or Rawlings, an echo of Bulgokov, or even some newly claimed revelation?" Well, after a few weeks hiatus, the reading continued, and gradually the picture became clearer. The author makes no claim of new revelation. The book is both a sequential telling of the Gospel, centered loosely around Peter, and also a telling of the author's vision of the unseen supernatural events surrounding the biblical story. This reader struggled with the mixing together of these two elements, but in the end, came to peace with it. Each chapter consists of two parts, mixed together. The events of Peter's physical life are told in solid normal text. The events in the world of spirits, both good and evil, are written in italics as a parallel to the visible events recorded in the Gospels. So, the book is two things at once. Once comfortable with the juxtaposition of these two stories, the book is a terrific read. The gospel is still the most amazing story ever told - and it is clear that the author took meticulous care to tell the story straight from the gospels as accurately as possible. Although the narrative contains speculative details of Peter's earthly life which are not found in the Bible, this reader found nothing controversial or objectionable in these details. One envies the author for the time she must have taken soaking her mind in the Bible to prepare for this retelling. The other story, the fantastic events of the unseen spiritual world, were crafted to carefully match the Gospels at all the points where they touch, and elsewhere are expand into the author's fantastic vision. One of my favorite scenes was of the fishermen out on the sea at night, surrounded not only by wind and waves, but also by fierce invisible struggles between the good and evil spirits constantly trying to influence them. Although the book is titled "Peter", no story in which Jesus appears can be said to have another central figure than Jesus himself. The book does not carry Peter throughout his life, but skips from Jesus' ascension over to the end of Peter's life, leaving the reader wanting more. One can only hope that there may be a second volume to come. Errata : One little man we know climbed up a sycamore tree but climbed down a fig tree (at Jesus' invitation.) A previously unknown miracle perhaps? Note: There are no footnotes, endnotes, or index; and few references to chapter and verse. Recommended for established Christians.