Bart,
I am the fourth five-star vote for this post (4/24/2021). ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Alright, my turn: what is my comment?
I can only say, in 2 Enoch, Enoch is raised from the Son of Man to an angel who was given the sum of judgment over all souls. The gospels introduced me to how apocalypticism advanced from Daniel’s one like a son of man (one like a human) to Son of Man (And the angel came to me [Enoch] and greeted me with His voice, and said unto me ‘This is the Son of Man who is born unto righteousness … the Head of Days forsakes him not.’ – 1 Enoch 71: 14). Jesus of the Gospels (a man who existed late 20s/early 30s C.E., but, for me, only a character of historical fiction composed by gospel writers) identifies himself with Enoch of The Book of Parables (chapter 71 of 1 Enoch). Jesus did not imply the Kingdom of God would be led by one like a son of man, he used the later rendering where son and man became Son and Man or “Son of Man”. The Son of Man was not God and, as is mentioned in the above post, the Son of God was not God.
I vaguely remember saying with Jesus, God became human: it was not an angel who became human or a human Enoch who became an angel who then became a human again.
NetGalley
How to Write a Good Book Review (selected advice)
Consider content warnings
Content warnings can help readers be aware of elements of a book that might trigger traumatic memories, cause anxiety, or are generally upsetting. Providing them in a review is a helpful way of giving readers a heads up about what they’re in for so they can make a healthy and informed choice about whether or not they want to engage with that book.
Find the hook
There are two hooks to think about when writing a book review. First, how to make a reader stop scrolling and read your entire review. Second, in cases of positive reviews, how to convince them to pick up the book. Don’t wait until the middle of your review to try to catch the reader’s attention. Try to hook them from the very first sentence. Think about what made you pick the book up, and use that to inspire your own way of writing about it.
Explain both praise and critiques
When it comes to book reviews, it’s important to explain both your praise and critiques of a book so that other readers get the whole picture. For example, don’t just say that the book has great characters—explain what makes them great. Don’t tell readers that the book was boring—explain which elements failed to capture your attention. This will help readers to understand your point of view and decide for themselves whether or not this is a book that they might enjoy. Thoughtful praise and critique often can also be a great starting point for a continued conversation about a book.
Think about the audience
Let readers know if this is a book you’d recommend, and to whom. Not every book is suited to every reader, so you’ll want to be specific about who is likely to enjoy it. For example, you’d recommend A Game of Thrones to fans of historical fantasy, not urban fantasy. But it may also be a great recommendation for those who love a good political thriller. Keep in mind that even if a book didn’t fit your personal reading tastes, there’s a chance it may appeal to other readers and your review could help them discover it.
= = =
How to Write a Critical Book Review (selected advice)
Explain your critiques
Once you’ve shared your opinion, it’s time to share what helped inform it. Writing “I didn’t like this” isn’t helpful to fellow readers if it isn’t supported. Whether it was the plot, characterization, or pacing, tell your readers specifically what didn’t work for you, and what could be improved. Spend time considering why, and be as specific as possible.
Don’t go negative
In a critical review, the goal should be to outline the elements that didn’t work for you and why. We’ve all read (and maybe written) a rant review, but our goal as NetGalley members is to craft reviews that are valuable to the publisher, author, and fellow book advocates. Be thoughtful and respectful about the work and the author. Aim for meaningful, not mean. Focus on the merits of the book, rather than the author as an individual.
Talk about the positives
A critical review helps to express your view of a book. It’s a way to help the right reader discover the book, but also a way to let readers who have similar tastes as yours know they can steer clear. Make sure you highlight any elements that you did enjoy, big and small.
Make a sandwich
When formatting your review, think about a sandwich—a little cushion on the top and bottom with the meat in the middle. Start with a short summary of the book, then share your thoughts and critiques, and finally end with anything you did enjoy and a consideration of the types of readers who may be a good fit for this book.
Imagine the alternatives
Publishers learn a lot about what readers want from their reviews. It’s helpful to hear what elements didn’t work for readers, but also to see how readers felt the book could’ve been improved. Were there simply too many POVs where one would’ve sufficed? Did the characters feel flat in an intricately built fantasy? Share your expectations for what the book could have been.
Don’t stress
Writing reviews takes time. Transforming your thoughts, emotions, and notes into a thoughtful review is no easy task. Don’t be afraid to take a break and come back to writing when you’re ready. Remind yourself why you love reading and reviewing, and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Steefen said
My publicist may want me to record my book.My publicist may want me to upload my book as a course on a learning platform. N. T. Wright has a course on Udemy.com. I will have to check other learning platforms as well.
Congratulations.
A good book review answers these questions-
What is the author trying to do?
How well does she do it?
Is it worth doing?
There is a fundamental difference in reviewing approach between helping someone decide if they want to read a book or writing about a book assuming that the reader has already read it. The worst kind of review merely provides a synopsis of the book. The second worst kind provides the reviewer with the chance to grind his own axe about the subject.
I have a question.
My current bio is:
Steve Campbell is the author of of the book Historical Accuracy. He was born in New Orleans, LA (1962), moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana (1980-1981), to New York, New York (1982-2008), then to Collin County, North Texas, USA (2009-2021). He was an undergraduate student of F. E. Peters, author of The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, at New York University. The writing of Historical Accuracy spanned 17 years, 2004 -2021.
Should I add:
He has been an active member of the Bart Ehrman Blog from 2013 to 2021.
Is there a better way to word this?
He has been an active member of the Bart Ehrman Blog from 2013 to 2021 (Professor Ehrman authored the bestselling book: Jesus, Interrupted.)
Robert said
Usually a prospective reader will want to know what advanced degrees the author holds that indicate appropriate training and competence to deal with the subject matter. I also would not bother to mention that you subscribe to Bart’s blog. That isn’t really a credential.
Hi Robert,
Yes, people do take note of academic credentials.
I am looking at the biography of which academic credentials are a part. In a sense, I would like to acknowledge ehrmanblog.org.
As the writer of Historical Accuracy, I would like people to know ehrmanblog.org was important to me and could be important to them.
As for Jesus, Interrupted, that book is important to me because it brought the importance of New Testament Criticism to my mind. It was and is okay to be courageous and learn from valid New Testament critiques. People should read Jesus, Interrupted.
Chronologically, Children of Abraham by F. E. Peters was important to me before Jesus, Interrupted and the ehrmanblog. I think people should read Children of Abraham by F. E. Peters.
Now, my sentence is this:
He has been an active member of Professor Bart Ehrman’s blog (ehrmanblog.org) from 2013 to 2021 (Ehrman authored the bestselling book: Jesus, Interrupted).
Robert said
Steefen said
Yes, people do take note of academic credentials.
I am looking at the biography of which academic credentials are a part. In a sense, I would like to acknowledge ehrmanblog.org.
But subscribing to a blog does not constitute academic credentials. You do realize that, right?
I’m not going to repeat myself.
Since I use “gospels at post-War literature,” to my second edition improvements list, I’m adding this book:
Book Description except
In the last three decades, significant attention has been given to the way in which New Testament texts engage and respond to the imperial world in which they were written. The purpose of the present volume is to introduce students and non-specialists to the growing subfield of New Testament studies known as empire studies.
keywords=New+Testament+Criticism&qid=1625061961&sr=8-16
Book Description excerpt – Jesus is Lord, Caesar is Not
What is meant by Jesus’ call to “render unto Caesar” his due, when Luke subversively heralds the arrival of a Savior and Lord who is not Caesar, but Christ? Is there tension between Peter’s command to “honor the emperor” and John’s apocalyptic denouncement of Rome as “Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots”? Under the direction of editors Scot McKnight and Joseph B. Modica, respected biblical scholars have come together to investigate an increasingly popular approach in New Testament scholarship of interpreting the text through the lens of empire. The contributors praise recent insights into the New Testament’s exposé of Roman statecraft, ideology and emperor worship. But they conclude that rhetoric of anti-imperialism is often given too much sway. More than simply hearing the biblical authors in their context, it tends to govern what they must be saying about their context.
Steve Campbell, author of Historical Accuracy
My work could be part of empire criticism: I compare the political savvy of Jesus to the political savvy of Herod the Great and the political savvy of Caesar Augustus.
Robert said
Congratulations, Steefen. How much did they charge to review your book?
Yes, congratulations. Thank you.
17 years of work.
= = =
I can say authors and established publishers do get charged to have their books reviewed. The professional service provides information related to the quality of the book and marketing the book.
I am going to use this review at least for marketing purposes and also for the second edition of my book, or possibly, if my book gets picked up by an agent and an established publisher, I will have this review as an item for discussion with my editor.
= = =
I will also say, Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews care about their reputation for quality despite you bringing up that authors pay for their reviews. The NYT and the WSJ pay writers to write reviews. You cannot get around paying reviewers: it is professional work, Robert.
BDEhrman
FreedomBen
evgendob
Robert