Reviewed by Monique Prince, Undergraduate Services Librarian
Frederich Buechner, a Presbyterian minister, is a prolific writer of both nonfiction and fiction works focusing on moral and religious themes. The Son of Laughter is Buechner's retold and embellished story of Israel's biblical patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob narrates the story, and focuses mainly on his family relations—first, his father, Isaac, his mother, Rebekah, and his brother, Esau. He is forced to flee after he and his mother plot to deceive his father into bestowing him with the birthright (blessing and inheritance), rather than Esau who is the older son. He goes to live and work with his uncle Laban and marries two of Laban's daughters: first Leah (after working seven years for the right to marry Rachel), then after another seven years of work, finally Rachel. After several years, Jacob has many children and much wealth. He decides to return home and attempt to be reunited with Esau and raise his children in the land of his forefathers. The remainder of the story is about Jacob's son Joseph, whom his brothers sold into slavery in Egypt and eventually becomes the Pharaoh's trusted advisor. Buechner artfully interweaves these characters and stories in a narrative that brings passages from the book of Genesis to life.
