Reading Genesis

Reading Genesis is not a book with a single argument to make. It invites us to take time in reading the stories again, in the company of one of the foremost novelists today in the English language. Many readers of Robinson's fiction have spoken of the sense of "authority" in her writing... it is a work of exceptional wisdom and imagination - Daily Telegraph

In luminous prose Robinson challenges a modern reader to understand just how unusual a book Genesis is, pregnant with meaning that stretches to our own day... In the face of contemporary atrocities, geopolitical strife and the threat of human-made environmental catastrophe, a work championing the goodness of creation and the infinite value of human life can offer a salutary read, calling us to our responsibilities... In spite of everything, Robinson finds a way to produce a powerful meditation on hope at a time when that virtue is generally in short supply. In this rich and provoking study, Robinson has masterfully traced [a] sense of wonder back to its ancient, remarkable source - Observer

Drawing on her experience as a novelist, Robinson explores the use of repetition and parallel stories and traces the core themes, from the (then) wholly new statement that "God is the good creator of a good creation" to the desire for and love of children and the contrariness of humankind. Robinson marvels over "the remarkable realism" in depictions of the emotional turmoil catalyzed by family conflicts and shocking acts of deceit, betrayal, and revenge... Throughout this deeply involving and enlightening exegesis, Robinson links Genesis to the profound dilemmas of our time - Booklist

A dedicated layperson's journey through the Book of Genesis. The author meanders delightfully through the text, ruminating on one tale after another while searching for themes and mining for universal truths. Robinson approaches Genesis with a reverence and level of faith uncommon to modern mainstream writers, yet she's also equipped with the appropriate tools for cogent criticism... luminous - Kirkus, starred review

Like so much of Robinson's writing, Reading Genesis is alive with questions of kindness, community and how to express what we so often struggle to put into words - New York Times Magazine