God Knows
Comments(0) by Joseph Heller
I thought perhaps this would not measure up so well to Catch-22, as it is so well known and loved, but this is an amazing book in its own right. The premise is that King David (from the Bible, but also timeless) is telling his story, from almost the beginning, to almost the end. We hear about all the things not fit for the Bible, the women he has slept with, the people he has crossed, the wise words he has said, and his feud with God (for taking the life of his baby.)
The wit and humour of the story are superb. David’s son Solomon (or ‘Shlomo’) is a comic figure made fun of for his lack of sense and wisdom (precisely the things he became known for through the Bible), and the portrayal of his manipulative wife Bethsheba is perfect in the balance between beguiling and bold.
Will definitely get a re-read.