beautiful

Beautiful illustrations of the New Testament by Giotto!

So much more than a retelling of the gospels or a picture book. This is one I will be looking to add to our home library. Just beautiful!

Lovely paintings by Giotto. L'Engle's prose is pretty much slightly reworded Bible verses. It is worth the paintings alone, and might turn on your young one to art, the Bible or both.

Using the Giotto's frescoes from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, L'Engle retells the story of Jesus's life and ministry. The paintings are exquisite and her tone reverent, yet conversational while she ponders the mystery of Jesus's divinity and humanity -- The Glorious Impossible. A beautiful book that can be used as a devotional for individuals or groups.

FB told me that someone I respect was using this book for Advent, so I tracked it down. Unfamiliar with Giotto, but loving L'Engle, I read the familiar story and basked in L'Engle's calm but amazed relaying of Jesus' life, replete with the astonishing frescoes that Giotto painted. A religious experience in the best sense. I enjoyed L'Engle's very modern voice paired with the washed-out and yet detailed paintings of the Italian.

"[T]he life of Jesus began as it would end, with the impossible" (The Annunciation page).

A beautiful presentation. Sometimes the text is spot on, but at other times L'Engle goes astray and veers off into speculation, supposition, and perhaps worse. This book has great potential for educational purposes, but ought to be shared alongside a parent rather than handed over to a child.

The Glorious Impossible is a beautiful example of collaboration between a modern author and a long-dead artist. Madeleine L'Engle walks the reader through the story of the Incarnation, from the beginning of Christ's life to the end, and then on to his ascension and Pentecost, and Giotto's (14th c) artwork helps to tell the story. And repeated emphasis on the Glorious Impossible, God becoming man in the person of Jesus Christ, breathe life into this very familiar story in ways I couldn't begin to describe.

Three thoughts that I found compelling,

"Satan's temptations of Christ were temptations to forego his humanity. He held to the Glorious Impossible."

"To be a Christian is to believe in the impossible."

"He [Christ] was an incredibly strong man, and he had the humility that comes with great strength."

I found great joy while reading this book in pondering the mystery of the Incarnation at a time other than Advent, and I would recommend The Glorious Impossible for adults and children alike.

This is the story of the life of Christ, told in simple segments, in words, by Madeleine L'Engle, and in pictures from the frescoes of Giotto. Not my style of art work, but it is a lovely, and simple, story of our Lord!

I had mixed feelings about this book. I'm not the target audience at all, but I found its humanity very appealing. At the same time, there were parts of the storytelling that gave me pause.

This is such a beautiful book. I’ve been using it as an art devotional to guide us through the church year. It flows beautifully through Advent/Christmas/Epiphany/Lent/Easter. And we will read the last couple pages when we get to Ascension and Pentecost.