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The following review of The Brick
Testament: Stories from the Book of Genesis appeared in the 15 September issue
of Publisher’s Weekly. It’s the first editorial review of the book that I’m
aware of.
THE BRICK TESTAMENT:
Stories from the Book of Genesis
RETOLD AND ILLUSTRATED BY BRENDAN
POWELL SMITH, Quirk, $14.95 (176p) ISBN
1-931686-45-9
In Taco Bell one day, Smith claims, his
burrito suddenly burst into flames and the
voice of God boomed out that he needed to
illustrate the Bible entirely in LEGOs.
“But I’m an atheist,” Smith objected. “Then
you are especially unqualified to question
me!” God thundered. “Now get to work!”
This hilarious book, which interprets some of
the most famous stories from Genesis, is
Smith’s first; with 39 books in the Old Testament alone, however, one rejoices
that the franchise possibilities could extend for many
years. The full-color photography of Smith’s
chosen scenes invite the readers into each story. We see the Garden of Eden
replete with plastic green shrubbery and LEGO animals;
the building of the Ark and the wicked people drowning in the flood (just their
heads float over a blue LEGO foundation); Joseph’s
brothers trying to throw him down a well.
One has to admire Smith’s LEGO engineering - Noah’s Ark and the Tower of Babel
are genuine feats - as well as his twisted, keen
sense of humor. He’s also refreshingly honest
about some parts of Genesis that tend to be ignored by Christians, such as a
naked, drunken Noah cursing one of his sons. This creative, iconoclastic book is
colorful in every sense of the word, and will be appreciated by LEGO
enthusiasts everywhere as well as whimsical Sunday School teachers. (Nov.)
Forecast: Smith’s Website, www.thebricktestament.com, has received nearly two
million hits in the last two years, and has been featured in
Time, Spin, and The Door magazine.
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