God Knows is a work that caricatures Bible characters.

It presents them in a rather unique and often humorous way.

The part about Solomon, in particular, is quite entertaining.

Solomon, known for his wisdom in the Bible, is depicted in a comical light in God Knows.

The author uses vivid language and creative imagination to bring out the humorous aspects of Solomon's character and actions.

Perhaps it shows Solomon making decisions that seem a bit absurd or dealing with situations in a way that is unexpected.

Overall, God Knows offers a fresh and comical take on the Bible characters, and the Solomon bit stands out as one of the funniest parts.

It makes readers look at these familiar figures from a different perspective and enjoy a good laugh in the process.

Whether you are a religious person or not, the humorous caricatures in God Knows can provide an interesting and enjoyable read.

I firmly believe that I might very well have been the very first adult male in the entire world to experience love in its purest, most passionate, sexual, romantic, and sentimental forms. It feels as if I have single-handedly invented this remarkable emotion.

Love, in all its manifestations, has consumed me completely. The intensity with which I feel it is truly indescribable. It's not just a passing fancy or a fleeting attraction; it's a deep-seated connection that has taken hold of my heart and soul.

I find myself constantly thinking about the object of my affection, longing to be in their presence, and experiencing a range of emotions from joy to excitement to nervousness. This love has transformed me in ways I never thought possible, making me a better and more complete person.

I am truly grateful to have discovered this amazing feeling, and I look forward to seeing where this journey of love takes me.

I am truly relieved to have finally finished this book. To be honest, I didn't take much pleasure in it. There were indeed a few humorous snippets scattered here and there, but for the most part, it felt as if I was being force-fed the monotonous prose of Heller.

The book tells the story of King David, the slayer of Goliath, the King of Israel, the father of Solomon, and the husband of Bathsheba, among other things. Heller tries to modernize the story by injecting some fictional elements into David's narrative. However, it just didn't quite work for me.

This was one of those books that had me nodding off after reading about 30 to 40 pages. That's precisely why it took me a whole month to complete. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a bad book, but having read it one and a half times now, I'm fairly certain I won't have the urge to read it again.

In my experience, if you're打算 read Heller, you might as well just focus on his first novel, Catch-22. I'm going to persevere and read the rest of his works because I'm stubborn, but each one has fallen short in comparison to his debut.

Had it been shorter, it would've got a 5.

Any longer though, it would've been a 3.

In short - this is the biblical story of King David, as told by Heller's version of David on his deathbed.

And it's wild. He hates, he lies, he adulterates, he thinks he knows best...

All told with fascinating details and very clever anachronistic gems. For example, when he says, "I wanted to send him a telegram, but we didn't have those...", talking about his statue by Michaelangelo.

The good: It's very clever and jumpy, filled with intricacies and monarchy plots. God plays a key and very well-written role. The prophets too.

Nothing is sacred - which is refreshing. It's both mocking religion and mocking the mockers.

And it's very, very personal. As a man, I find this very interesting.

The bad: It's not C-22. If you were expecting that, you'll be disappointed. There is probably only one book like Catch 22 and that's Catch 22. It's also a bit long and it takes a while to remember and understand all the character's names and relations.

This doesn't apply to me, but you need some working knowledge of the biblical story (David-Saul, David-Bat Sheva, David-Goliath stories) otherwise you won't get the full impact.

Last minor note - I read this in Hebrew, and though I didn't compare, I think it's best read in this language because all the characters and places have their REAL names.

Catch-22 is a truly remarkable and highly influential work. It presents a complex and often absurd world that is both captivating and thought-provoking.

The concept of the "Catch-22" itself has become an iconic term, representing a no-win situation or a paradoxical dilemma.

The story's unique narrative style, filled with dark humor and satirical elements, makes it a challenging but rewarding read.

It delves deep into the human condition, exploring themes such as war, bureaucracy, and the meaning of life.

Trying to follow in the footsteps of Catch-22 is no easy feat.

It has set a high standard for literature, inspiring countless authors to strive for similar levels of innovation and depth.

However, few works have managed to achieve the same level of impact and enduring popularity.

Catch-22 remains a classic that continues to resonate with readers across generations.

Its ability to blend entertainment with profound social commentary is a testament to its genius.

Truly, Catch-22 is a tough act to follow.

A satirical novel presented in Joseph Heller's characteristic style, this time from the perspective of King David, as famously known in the story of David and the Goliath. I, not being religious myself, upon conducting some online research after finishing the novel, came to the realization that it encompasses a plethora of Biblical events. These include his acts of infidelity and the intense infighting that occurred among his children.

Similar to Heller's other works, this novel essentially delves into a great deal of entertaining yet somewhat aimless rambling. It touches upon various aspects such as aging, his sex life (or the lack thereof), and a sense of world weariness.

I did enjoy the novel to a certain extent. However, I couldn't help but feel that it covered much of the same territory as his other novels, especially Good as Gold and Something Happened. The latter, in particular, seemed to me like a significantly stronger novel.

I believe I have just one final Heller novel left to read before I can claim to have read all of his works. I am hopeful that it will be an outstanding one!

Originally published on my blog here in May 2004.

Even for the most dedicated Heller fan, and the impact of Catch-22 created a vast number of them, his second and third novels are often quite challenging to read. But then, eventually (over twenty years into his career, as he was never a particularly prolific novelist), came God Knows - immediately engaging, hilariously funny, and wickedly subversive.

The concept behind God Knows is straightforward. David, the King of Israel and the author of the psalms, recounts his life while on his deathbed, in the voice of a twentieth-century American Jewish patriarch. For this to work, it has to be executed extremely well, as writing a narration that convincingly seems to come from the mind of a man recognized as one of the greatest poets in history is no easy feat.

Apart from the difficulty of matching his literary merit, David is an excellent choice for this type of novel. He has a significant amount of space dedicated to him in the Bible, which records many fascinating events in his life but also leaves room for Heller to expand on his characterization and that of those around him (Heller's portrayal of Solomon is particularly amusing). The image of him painted, especially in 2 Samuel, is morally ambiguous, making him a more interesting subject for a novel than, say, the prophet Daniel. And there is his importance as an influence on history and an icon for Jewish culture - it is no coincidence that the star of David was made the symbol of the Zionist movement and now appears on the flag of the state of Israel. (As he asks at one point, "Does Moses have a star?")

Much of the humor in God Knows stems from the use of anachronism in a way that reminds me of Caryl Brahms and S.J. Simon. An example of the type of joke used is when David tells his generals to "send a wire," only to be reminded that telegrams haven't been invented yet (the joke being not only that they don't exist but also that everyone knows what they are). This kind of humor can quickly become tiresome, so it's fortunate that Heller doesn't overuse it; it would have been easy to fill every paragraph with such jokes, which would have killed the novel. He also makes most of its uses more subtle than the example I've given. A more pervasive form of anachronism is used in a more indirect way, as Heller gives characters stereotypical Jewish roles from twentieth-century America; this also introduces an element of satire.

David's life included a fair share of personal unhappiness, so God Knows is not a light-hearted novel, even if the humor in it is not as dark as that in Heller's earlier novels. Complaining about his children is part of the Jewish father stereotype, but David really had a lot of trouble with his - the death of Bathsheba's first child, killed by God as punishment for David's sin of sleeping with another man's wife and sending her husband to his death; the rape of his daughter Tamar by his son Amnon; the rebellion of his son Absalom. (And Heller adds the stupidity and humorlessness of his son Solomon - "Schlomo, that schmuck.") However, to Heller, David's relationship with God was the most significant in his life, and although he makes David downplay it, it is clear that the character regrets the loss of God's guiding voice more than anything else (this was another consequence of his adultery with Bathsheba).

From a literary perspective, God Knows is one of the least significant of Heller's novels. On the other hand, it is among his most accessible and enjoyable - and it will make you laugh out loud.

A prostrate King David, with his dwindling powers (both political and sexual), reviews his wars, sons, and lovers. He boasts, demystifies, and confuses. It is a brilliant narration (perhaps even a masterful one), but due to its constant intertextuality with the Old Testament (particularly with the book of Samuel), it makes for a slow reading. There is a limited number of Absalones, Abishais, Abners, and Abigailes (to name just those that start with Ab) that one can endure.

The story of King David is rich and complex, filled with drama and intrigue. His rise to power, his many battles, and his relationships with his family and lovers all make for a captivating read. However, the constant references to the Old Testament can make it a bit of a challenge for some readers. The names and events from the Bible can be overwhelming, especially for those who are not familiar with the scriptures.

Despite this, the narration is still engaging and well-written. The author does a great job of bringing the characters to life and making us feel their emotions. We can see David's pride and his vulnerability, his strength and his weakness. It is a story that has been told and retold throughout history, and this particular version adds a new and interesting perspective.

This was truly a form of torture to get through.

The content seemed extremely repetitive, which was a great shame.

I had really enjoyed "Catch-22" before, and I had high expectations for this.

However, the repetitive nature made it a real struggle to stay engaged.

It felt as if the same points were being made over and over again without any real development or progression.

I found myself constantly looking forward to the end, hoping that there would be some sort of redeeming factor.

Unfortunately, that factor never really materialized, and I was left feeling disappointed.

Despite this, I still have a great appreciation for "Catch-22" and will continue to recommend it to others.

But as for this particular piece, it will not be on my list of favorites.

I have always loved all his books before. They were like magical keys that opened up wonderful worlds for me.

However, this one didn't do it for me. I don't know what went wrong. Maybe it was the story, or the way it was written.

I couldn't even finish it. I tried, but it just didn't hold my interest. It was a real disappointment.

I've been on a bad streak lately when it comes to reading. But fortunately, I'm reading a great one now. It's like a breath of fresh air.

The story is captivating, the characters are vivid, and I can't put it down. I'm so glad to have found this gem.

I hope this good streak continues and I can discover more amazing books like this one.

I absolutely loved this book.

From the very first page, it captured my attention and held it firmly until the very end. The story was engaging, filled with interesting characters and unexpected plot twists.

The author's writing style was vivid and descriptive, allowing me to easily imagine the scenes and events as they unfolded. I could picture the settings in my mind's eye, from the bustling city streets to the quiet countryside.

Each character had their own unique personality and backstory, which made them feel real and relatable. I found myself rooting for the main character throughout the book, hoping that they would overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.

Overall, this book was a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining and engaging story. It's one of those books that you can't put down once you start reading.

I was assigned a portion of this to read for a class on the Bible.

This particular professor had a great enthusiasm for retellings of biblical stories.

I found the assignment interesting enough that I ended up reading the entire book.

It was truly enjoyable and had more than a touch of humor.

However, humor was not the primary objective of the book.

Rather, it aimed to present the biblical stories in a new and engaging way.

The author's unique perspective and writing style made the reading experience both educational and entertaining.

As I delved deeper into the book, I discovered new insights and interpretations of the familiar stories.

It made me appreciate the richness and complexity of the Bible in a whole new light.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the Bible or simply looking for an enjoyable read.