15.5 KJV New Testament and Psalms with Poems by Helen Steiner Rice

New Testament and Psalms with Poems by Helen Steiner Rice (KJV). God (and Helen Steiner Rice). 1994. (Revell publishing house). 508 pages. [Source: Bought] 5 STARS.

First sentence: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham

I thrifted this one. I do recommend it if you come across it. The size font is lovely. It is double column. It is black letter. It features illustrated poems by Helen Steiner Rice. If you enjoy poetry, then this one has an extra devotional bonus. If you don't enjoy poetry, these sections are easy to skip over. There are a few sections where poems are grouped together. The poems are inspired by particular verses and definite themes of Scripture.

The book is larger than many New Testament only New Testaments. This is the size of a regular book, or a journal. The size font is easy on the eyes. The color is nice and dark. Nothing faint. The ghosting is minimal. What little ghosting there is, is not a distraction. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

6. English Standard Version (Large Print)

ESV Large Print Bible. God. Crossway Publishers. 2001/2011. 1408 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

I used my revised "Power 60" Bible reading plan. Well, perhaps I didn't follow it exactly. I started May 26, 2023 and finished July 5, 2023. Clearly less than sixty days. But I'm like that. 

I read mostly from the Large Print edition. Give or take a few days subtraction/distraction. The truth is I couldn't settle down. I read two or three days in the ESV Creeds Bible. I read two or three days in the ESV Reformation Bible. But for the most part, like I said, I read from the Large Print edition. My copy--purchased used--is the 2011 edition of the ESV text. There has been another update. 

This particular edition of the Bible is double column, black letter, decent font size. 

I love the English Standard Version. It probably isn't my all-time favorite, favorite number one translation. But it's definitely in my top three. I've read it several times this year already. (Though to be fair, both, I believe were projects started in November or December of 2022. They just happened to finish in 2023.) 

I do recommend this translation. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

3. NRSV XL

NRSV XL: Holy Bible. God. 2007. 1824 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light.

Three things you should know from the start:

1) It is the Anglicised NRSV.

2) It is the Anglicised Catholic NRSV. (Yes, there is an Anglicised NRSV that is not the Catholic edition). There are extra books of the Bible in this one. (Though not the full apocrypha.)

3) It is square. 

Is it extra large text? It is a matter of perspective, I suppose. I vote no. Others might vote yes. The publishers think this is extra large font. The publisher description says the font size is 12. I'm suspicious. 

It is double column. Because the book is square, the double columns are wider, perhaps acting more like a single column. (For better or worse).

It is black letter. Words of Christ are in black. This is definitely a plus.

It is in paragraph format, not verse by verse. 

The WEAKEST element of this one. The PAGES are horrible. Absolutely horrible. You can look at a page and it will start to wrinkle, to crinkle, to fold up on itself. No touching required for the pages to start misbehaving. Let alone normal use like--shock--opening and closing the Bible to read it. This might be forgiven--I'm not yet that concerned about wrinkled pages to stop reading the Bible--if the ghosting wasn't also an issue. 

As for the translation, this is my second time to read the NRSV and my first time to read the Anglicized and/or Anglicized Catholic edition. Offhand, I didn't personally have any "aha" yes this is where they changed it from the traditional NRSV moments. I'm just not familiar with the NRSV to be able to spot differences. The NRSV is not among my 'top tier' favorite-favorite translations. I bought this one because of the "extra large" font. I thought it might give me a better chance at appreciating this translation than the tiny-size font editions I had. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Transformed by Truth

Transformed by Truth: How to Study the Bible as a Teen. Katherine Forster. 2019. Crossway Books. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: When I was eight, the Bible was boring.

What sets Transformed by Truth apart from other books about how to read and study the Bible is the fact that it's written specifically for a teen audience. The author's intent is to get (more) TEENS to actually read and actually study the Bible for themselves. This comes at a time when many professing adults do not actually-actually read or study the Bible. At least if stats are accurate. (Have you ever wondered who is being surveyed?)

The contents of this one could easily be applicable to teens and adults alike. True some of the narrative is recounting the author's experiences as a teen (and she comes across as a young or younger author) and focuses on a few things that would only apply to teens (living with parents, going to school most of the year, studying for tests, deciding electives and hobbies, choosing colleges, deciding career and life goals). But the mechanics of HOW to read the Bible are the same no matter if you're fifteen or fifty-five.

The first five chapters focus on the WHY of Bible reading and Bible study. These chapters are inspiring and encouraging. Often filled with quotes from some of my favorite theologians (aka John Piper, J.I. Packer, John Calvin, etc.)

The last five chapters focus on the HOW of Bible study. The study method recommended throughout this one is the INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY method. And this method can be intimidating--very intimidating--for many adults.

I love the idea of loving this one. I do. I love, love, love reading the Bible. I do. I always have. Or almost always, always. I became a Christian at age 8. I found the Bible far from boring. Of course, I wasn't trying to read it cover-to-cover. I wasn't aiming to read and understand every verse of every chapter of every book. There were sections of the Bible that I read often, very often. There were sections of the Bible I didn't even pretend to attempt before going to college. (I was about seventeen or eighteen before I read the WHOLE Bible.) I did often find myself feeling alone and out of sorts with others because I did read my Bible and actually enjoy it. (Not that I had a great grasp of all points of theology; I didn't. I cringe when I think back on some of my theology.)

I love the QUESTIONS section which ends each chapter. I think these are well done and take the book to the next level.

Does Forster expect too much of her readers?! Or do we expect too little from ourselves and others?!




© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: Westering Women

Westering Women. Sandra Dallas. 2020 [January 7] 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Hidden beneath her black umbrella, Maggie stood in the shelter of the church and stared at the woman reading the broadsheet.

Premise/plot: Maggie is one of dozens of women signing up to travel west via wagon train to Goosetown, California, a mining town in 1852. The women will face challenges great and small along the way.

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, loved this one. I did. I requested a review copy because the title was close to one of my all-time favorite movies, Westward the Women. Those who know me well, know that I do not do westerns. I don't. I don't like them--never have, never will. But Westward the Women has long been an exception to the ALLERGIC TO WESTERNS rule. Dallas' novel imitates the movie in the best possible ways. I do not mean it in anyway as an insult to compare the two.

I loved that the focus was on FRIENDSHIP and not particularly on romance. The characterization was incredibly well done. This book is authentic in a raw, gritty way. The lives these women led--both before joining up, during the trek west, and afterwards in California--were ROUGH. Maggie, one of our main heroines, has had a rough life. She's had to make some incredibly difficult decisions. As have some of the others. This isn't a book appropriate for younger readers (tweens and younger teens.) There are a couple of #metoo instances that while completely realistic and authentic make it an intense read.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Book Review: The Measure of Katie Calloway

The Measure of Katie Calloway. Serena B. Miller. 2011. Revell. 320 pages. [Source: Library]

I loved, loved, loved Serena B. Miller's A Promise to Love. I've been meaning to go back and read her first book, The Measure of Katie Calloway, for almost a year now! I'm not sure I loved it quite as much. But it was close! Serena Miller is a GREAT writer! I just loved this historical romance.

The Measure of Katie Calloway is set in a lumber camp in Michigan a few years after the Civil War (1867-1868). Katie Calloway and her younger brother, Ned, are escaping from Katie's abusive husband. He returned home from the War even more bitter and abusive. The day she makes her escape is the day she realizes that her husband has set a trap to kill her. She knows that if she stays, she dies. The two make it to Michigan and she happens to find work as a cook at a lumber camp. She arrives when the boss, Robert Foster, is hiring. He is desperate for a cook--a good cook would be even better! She passes his test--baking an apple pie--and prepares for her new life. But life won't be easy and uncomplicated!

I loved this one. I loved the characters. I love Katie and Robert and Ned. I love some of the men from the camp as well. Even the mostly cranky ones. This book is rich in historical detail. It does not spend much time with courting or wooing. After all, Robert knows only what he's been told. She is a widow. Her married status is very much on her mind. Katie knows that she is not free to start a relationship with anyone.

Everything felt natural, nothing felt forced which is exactly what I'm looking for when it comes to Christian fiction.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible