Elias’ Proverbs

Today I talk about, and review, Lutheran author Daniel Molyneux‘s book, Elias’ Proverbs.

When I was a senior in high school, I considered attending a Great Books program. I traveled out to St. John’s College in Santa Fe to sample its campus and classes. After passing signs warning about bubonic plague (no, I’m not kidding), I was allowed to attend a class on Pascal’s PenseesEven though they forgot I was coming. <eye roll>

Anyway. SUPER interesting book and I’ve wanted to write my own version ever since. 🙂 

Well, the Pensees is sort of what Daniel Molyneux‘s book, Elias’ Proverbs, reminds of. It consists of snippets, sentences, and paragraphs. Poetry. Wisdom in odd little packages, set in the mouth of a fictional ancient figure rather than a French thinker.

At least that’s how I understand it. I’m not sure all the commenters took it as proverbs from a fictional character. So I’m not sure what to think about that either.

Here’s the Amazon blurb:

“If you learn all the mysteries of the Cosmos, but fail to know yourself, you remain and educated fool.” Elias the Teacher
 

A stranger appears in Antioch’s Great House of Prayer, speaking words filled with power and might. Elias, an unassuming teacher, awes his every-growing audiences with eloquent wisdom. Among his teachings are proverbs to guide God’s Children in their daily lives. Dealing with money and work, love and marriage, parenting and faith, Elias’ sayings reveal deep insights into the Way of God. If you enjoy the Bible’s “Book of Proverbs” or Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, then you will appreciate Elias’ Proverbs.

Elias’ Proverbs Review

This was a very interesting read. I find it fascinating that the author chose to put his words into the mouth of an ancient-but-fictional character. Are proverbs from contemporary authors, or characters, less appealing? Frankly, I almost wonder if that’s so. A very interesting narrative technique! I also appreciate how it opened up the genre to include varying forms and lengths of material.

Thought-provoking and quite charming. I daresay it would appeal to both the religiously-reluctant and the religiously-rigorous, if they are open to, well, proverbs.

It’s the sort of book that leaves you with lingering thoughts.

 

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