After all, it's a charged topic, dealing with religion. Everyone knows that in polite society you avoid discussing politics and religion. Where's there room in there to discuss a book that's based on the New Testament?
Ms. VanLiere opens with the perfect prologue. She lifts the pages from Luke, to set the stage in words that are familiar to Christians and unknown to Moslems.
The funny thing is, the words aren't entirely familiar to me.
She isn't reading from my book, the one that's been approved for Roman Catholics. The Vatican is very touchy on the subject, ever since the chaotic days of Henry (the Eighth of that name) and his decision to have the Holy Bible translated into English.
As far as the Holy See was concerned, it was a work of pure heresy. For Catholics, the Protestant Bible in English wasn't God's Holy Word anymore, and we have our own official version of events. Translations being imperfect as they are, the words don't always match exactly.
Sometimes the rhythm or phrasing is slightly different. With the New Testament ingrained in Catholic heads from birth, the variations ring out like a voice off-key. Something sounds a bit off.
Which brings us back to The Christmas Journey. The prologue is not officially sanctioned by the Church, so where does that put the book? Would I be committing a sin if I bought it for my mother? Would she have to run to Confession if she were to read it?
The Fundamentalist crowd might flock to bookstores to buy the book for holiday giving, but what's a Catholic to do? There's little more we can imagine than to pray for guidance. And ring up the Holy See to find out if The Christmas Journey has been officially approved as suitable for Catholics.
Perhaps the Latin version will pass muster?
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