This is definitely King David as I have never seen him!

Such an interesting re-telling of the life of David from the voice of David as an old man. As he looks back on his life, he reflects on his relationships with G-d, his wives, his children, his numerous other relatives and in-laws, and his predecessors. The book is both moving and funny, and highly irreverent. In particular, his retelling of his relationships with Bathsheba and Solomon is very amusing. It is probably helpful to have some knowledge of the bible stories to fully enjoy this book.

The author has done a great job of bringing David to life in a new and unique way. We get to see the man behind the legend, with all his flaws and foibles. It is a refreshing take on a familiar story, and one that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. Whether you are a religious person or not, this book is well worth a read.

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it didn't quite click with me.

It was way too repetitive. While "Catch 22" is also repetitive, it is nowhere near as annoying and dumb as this book.

There were some good parts in it, but overall, it was a disappointment.

I had high hopes for this book, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

Maybe it was the writing style or the pacing, but something just didn't work for me.

I tried to push through and give it a chance, but in the end, I was left feeling let down.

It's a shame because I think there was potential for this book to be really great, but it just didn't quite get there.

Hey, the long and winding path that led me back to this book was quite something. It all began when I read "Cry the Beloved Country" and became curious about a character named Absalom. This curiosity then led me to 1st and 2nd Samuel, which in turn brought me back to this book that I had started many years ago but never finished due to my lack of knowledge of the Bible story.

Joe Heller, I know, is a great author from works like "Catch 22" and "Good as Gold." Sadly, I have forgotten the plot of those books and may have to re-read them soon. "God Knows" showcases his genius and his Jewish heritage. I find it strange that I had read two of his books without realizing he was Jewish. It doesn't really matter, but the way he retells the story of David, the first King of Israel from the Old Testament, in such personal detail makes me think he must have known the whole story, not just the Goliath part, from his studies in Yeshiva or something similar.

After just reading the story of David in the Old Testament, I was able to fully follow this book this time and found it utterly fascinating and completely hilarious. I love how he portrays the different characters and gives them unique personalities, especially Bathsheba and Solomon. He throws in a bunch of 20th-century references and what seem to be huge amounts of personal feelings on the nature of God and being Jewish. I think knowing the story really made a difference. It's a comedy all the way through.

This may not be the best starting point for reading Heller. I believe you have to start with "Catch 22." This book has a very specific focus, and I don't think my generation knew the story of David from the Bible as well as Heller's did. I think knowing the story is crucial. I ordered this book online because there was a wait at my library and bought a used hardcover as it was cheaper than the paperback. It had a slip of paper in it saying it was a review copy from 1984 and that Alfred-A-Knopf would "appreciate receiving two copies of your review." Since the publication date was 1984, I think I'll pass on the reviews, but I did find that quite interesting.

If you have never read Joseph Heller, definitely start with "Catch 22."

Funny!

The book offers a truly remarkable way to gain insights into the events surrounding King David. It presents a unique perspective that engages the reader and makes the learning experience both enjoyable and informative.

I was particularly charmed by all the innuendo regarding the future. References to Michelangelo and Christmas added an interesting layer of anticipation and connection to later historical and cultural phenomena. It was as if the author was hinting at the significance and influence that these events and figures would have in the broader context of history.

Equally fascinating were the references to the past, such as Moses working on his stuttering. These details not only added depth to the narrative but also provided a link to other important figures and events in the biblical story. They helped to create a more comprehensive and interconnected understanding of the overall historical and religious context.

Overall, the book's combination of humor, historical references, and engaging storytelling makes it a great read for anyone interested in learning about King David and the events that shaped his life and times.

I truly relished this book. I found myself laughing heartily throughout, and at the same time, I gleaned some new insights into the life of King David that I was previously unaware of. Of course, I am cognizant that this is a work of fiction, presenting King David's life from his own vantage point. However, if, like me, you were only acquainted with the David vs. Goliath narrative, then you might at least appreciate his personal account of this momentous event.

This was my initial foray into the works of Joseph Heller (yes, I know - it's quite a shock!), and it was this very book that led me to explore "Catch-22". Heller's prowess in delving into somewhat familiar ground, presenting it from a novel perspective, and using his wit and humor to unveil more about the character than any other means is simply astonishing. As I was smiling, I actually felt as if I was sharing in King David's laughter.

It is one of my most cherished books, and one that I always carry with me, no matter where I journey (it has accompanied me to 4 states and 2 countries). I highly recommend it for those who are curious and have the ability to perceive humor in the most absurd of circumstances. Nevertheless, this is not a book for the more delicate readers, as the humor might seem to come at the expense of a few characters' dignity.

I just couldn't finish it, and I'm really sorry, Joe.

To be honest, it felt like I was reading a satirical version of the Old Testament. The content was so complex and strange that I simply couldn't wrap my brain around it.

After a while, I didn't even have the desire to continue. However, since I'm determined to read all of his books, maybe I'll come back to this one someday.

Who knows, perhaps with a different mindset or more context, I'll be able to understand and appreciate it better.

For now, though, I'll have to move on to the next book and hope for a more enjoyable reading experience.

God Knows is a remarkable and powerful modern adaptation of the story of David. It omits the traditional aspect of God and instead focuses on the ramblings of a king on the verge of death. This is the same David who famously slayed Goliath and ruled Judah and Palestine as king, a biblical character who is frequently mentioned.

I initially thought that Joseph Heller had chosen religion as a subject for satire, as he does by delving into the Bible. However, to my surprise, for a significant portion of the book, it is about men and their vanity. It explores the concept of heroes and their desire to be "a simple" person who can experience and express love as a father, a husband, and a loyal servant, encompassing a wide range of human emotions such as guilt, helplessness, and more. And once again, Heller hits the mark!

Heller's books can be likened to caramel-coated onions (for want of a better simile). The caramel represents the first few chapters that make you laugh uproariously and briefly present the entire story from beginning to end. Then comes the onion, with layer upon layer, providing deeper insights into human nature.

The narrative of King David is narcissistic, and he is unashamedly judgmental. He speaks from the present, unconcerned about the tense. This creative license leads to numerous laugh-out-loud moments as King David discusses Hollywood, the PLO, Hitler's blitzkrieg, Michelangelo's statue, Shakespeare's allegedly plagiarized writing, and even laments the lack of wire or underwear in his time. Ingeniously, his David has a standoff with God, resulting in God no longer speaking to him (thus eliminating the element of mysticism).

This book has a profound impact on the reader, altering the image of a happy king. I absolutely loved this book and consider it one of the best reads of this year.

God Knows is an outstanding book and a genuine literary masterpiece. Joseph Heller masterfully retells the story of King David, the renowned biblical figure who triumphed over Goliath and unified Israel and Judah. Despite the familiarity of the tale, Heller's remarkable English proficiency, profound biblical understanding, and uproarious sense of humor breathe new life into it. With an excellent command of the language and an enviable creativity, Heller employs David's own words on his deathbed to recall a life filled with both joy and sorrow. He enriches the ancient biblical accounts with elements of love, sex, belief, deliberate anachronisms, and hilarious scenes, presenting us with the story of a man who held power yet lived and died in a desperate quest for love. Moreover, although it is a retelling, Heller infuses it with such suspense that I am astounded by the sheer ingenuity and talent needed to accomplish this. It is a great novel that addresses timeless human challenges without succumbing to self-absorbed hipster dramatics or attempting to tackle all the faux-PC issues currently in vogue, while still delivering an account that is both joyous and melancholy.
Highly recommended.

DNF @ circa 30%

I have reached a point where I believe I have extracted all that this book has to offer. Similar to Yourcenar's Memoirs of Hadrian, although I cringe at the thought of comparing these two titles, it is about the biblical King David reflecting on his life in his old age.

The initial chapters seemed refreshing and unexpected. However, it quickly became evident that it was a one-note wonder. The repetition was so excessive that it cried out for an editor with a meat cleaver. Moreover, the humor soon grew tiresome and, at times, was downright appalling. I have never read a book with so many jokes of the "my wife is a nag" type. To label it as misogynistic would be too lenient.

Perhaps its greatest downfall is taking the rich and complex cast of characters from the Bible and transforming them into dull and cliched two-dimensional caricatures. Yes, even David. This book fails to do justice to the depth and significance of these characters, leaving the reader feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

This may be more in the 3.5 range.

The shortest possible encapsulation of ‘God Knows’ is this: If you ever fancied reading the Old Testament as told by Woody Allen, then this book is for you. Heller crafts the story of King David, the slayer of Goliath, survivor of coups, and the man who stole Bathsheba. But he doesn't depict him as the vigorous king of old. Instead, David is essentially an old, disgruntled, Brooklyn-born and -raised Jewish father. To say there are anachronisms in the book is an understatement. The entire novel is an anachronism. The conceit is that as David lies on his deathbed, he reflects on his extremely eventful life. Tragically, he discovers not success, but sadness and solitude.

At times, it's a great farce, yet at other times, it's quite sensitive. It can evoke loud, neighbor-startling laughs, but a few pages later, it can leave the reader dejected. I read that this book wasn't well received upon publication, especially among Jewish reviewers in various intellectual journals of the day. I find some of their critiques entirely reasonable. Parts of the novel are so frivolous that they detract from the enormity of the question Heller is trying to pose: how does one "reconnect" with a God with whom he has lost touch? The title is both an exclamation after a question the narrator fears to consider deeply for fear of the answer he might find, and an implicit acceptance of the providence of God the Father. Throughout, however, David turns to the former. He blames God for his hardships, for losing the only wife who gave him comfort, for taking his baby boy born out of sin, and for the further penalty of the death of the only son he believes is worthy of his title. In the end, the reader is never given a comforting moment of closure. The king, as his life and reign slip away, can't find comfort in the longevity of his kingdom. Instead, he is relieved to know that Bathsheba's life after his death won't be so bad. There is a good heart at the center of Heller's David, but his heart is not equal to the biblical David. Even if ‘God Knows’ provides a reasonable connective tissue to this moment in Old Testament history, if the satirical David presented here is any indication of the author, one can't help but offer a small prayer for him, even two decades after his death.

If you have any religious inclination, have delved into the Bible, or have been immersed in Christian culture, then this book is bound to give you a great deal of enjoyment (unless, of course, you are a stodgy person lacking a sense of humor). I have never before witnessed the Bible infused with such an abundance of humor, yet Joseph Heller shows us the way. At times, a touch of deadpan satire uncovers a dimension of a story that would never be revealed even through a thousand years of earnest and solemn preaching. Heller was Jewish, and that fact adds an interesting layer. However, I can envision an atheist also deriving a great deal of pleasure from this comical and brilliant book. But, Christians, David is the Jews' figure, not ours, so they can do with him whatever they please, just as Heller has done here with Jacob, Abraham, and Moses.

It is a pity that Joseph Heller is only widely known and cared for because of his outstanding classic Catch-22. The other works of his that I have read have been equally good, interesting, and downright hilarious. This book is well worth the read, even if you approach it with a stodgy, cynical, and humorless mindset.

Laugh-out-loud at times, this irreverent take on the life of David is thought-provoking, distinctive, and, unfortunately, fairly tedious.

Heller employs the same storytelling technique he used in Catch-22. He introduces stories and references them several times before actually laying them out in full.

I thought this approach was quite effective in Catch-22. It was a good example of how technique can enforce theme.

Here, however, the repetition as you get closer and closer to the whole story is tiresome. It feels like you are being dragged along, waiting for the inevitable reveal.

I think a good editor could easily cut 100 pages out of this book. It would make the reading experience much more enjoyable and less of a chore.

This book has heart, and I'm glad I read it. It offers a unique perspective on the life of David. But I don't think I would recommend it. It's just too long and drawn out for most readers.

Maybe if you're a die-hard Heller fan or really interested in the subject matter, it might be worth a read. But for the average reader, I would say skip it.