The Son of Laughter

March 1, 1993
In this reimagined life of the biblical patriarch Jacob, Buechner ( Brendan ) sticks close to the Bible story. Reminiscing during his last days in Goshen, Jacob recounts the familiar events. An ambitious and cunning youth, he gets his ravenous elder twin Esau to sell his birthright for a meal, and then connives to receive the blessing that their father, Isaac (whose name, readers are told means ``laughter,'' hence the title), would confer on his brother. He dreams of a stairway to heaven and wrestles with God, called ``the Fear'' throughout. Later chapters focus, like the biblical account, on Jacob's son Joseph. Buechner's embellishments deal mainly in his subject's inner psychology, and while his style is highly readable, the prose lacks resonance and in the end the novel proves no more evocative or informative than a well-developed Sunday-school lesson. The conceit of Jacob justifying his own life to the reader wears thin, and because the story is so familiar there are few surprises. Buechner's autobiographical works are more effective, but this volume is not likely to disappoint his many faithful readers.

March 15, 1993
Rare is the novel that makes such claims upon its readers. Basing his story on the Old Testament narrative of Jacob, Buechner ventures--with rare daring--an imaginative depiction of the man who wrestled with God and prevailed. Though some readers will resist the attempt to fictionalize Scripture, many will find that Buechner's is the gift of bringing sacred texts to life--as in a dream, a reverie, or a vision. In his willingness to disregard orthodox preconceptions, the author runs risks. His characterizations of Isaac and Abraham, of Rebekah and Rachel, violate many traditional assumptions. Buechner never abandons the scriptural account but adds much on his own authority. But perhaps only a writer willing to run such risks can get his characters out of the flannel-board stories and, unforgettably, into the minds and hearts of his readers. ((Reviewed Mar. 15, 1993))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1993, American Library Association.)

April 15, 1993
Buechner is a minister as well as a noted author of historical fiction and devotional nonfiction. His knowledge of and interest in biblical history enriches this retelling of the story of Jacob, son of Isaac (the "laughter" of the title), and grandson of Abraham. The stories of Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac, the exchange of Esau's birthright for a bowl of porridge, the deception of Isaac when he is about to give his blessing, Jacob's courtships and marriages, his dream of angels climbing the ladder, his wrestling with God (here referred to as The Fear), the sale of Joseph into slavery in Egypt, and his gaining favor by interpreting dreams--all are beautifully presented. The novel is rich with sensory description. The characters and their relationships with one another are well developed, although more conservative readers may be surprised by Buechner's description of the way men assess each other's strength. Recommended for wide purchase, especially in public libraries.-- Ann Irvine, Montgomery Cty. P.L., Md.

Copyright 1993 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.