Secret Ingredients – 4

I’m starting a new series on here about the books that influenced me growing up.

These are the books that shaped my brain. Gave me my fears, values, and passions.

The Julie Secret Ingredients!

The Bible Stories chained to the laundromat bench

When I wasn’t pretending the vending machine was a spaceship, I was sitting on the sticky bench at the laundromat, swinging my legs, and flipping through the pages of the book chained to the bench.

Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac was the bomb.

There was something very Paul Reubens – Cronus Devouring Zeus-esque about it. An archetypal fascination.

It was a breathless illustration.

The sexuality of the sacrifice, lean and taut muscle. The ram hiding just out of sight of the players. It was the next step coming, but only you knew. Abraham – how could a parent do such a thing? I mean, I knew parents often did Bad Things, but this was extreme. This was madness, wasn’t it? His wild hair. His full commitment to the grief.

It reminds me now of Ivan The Terrible Killing His Son by Rebin.

Darkness. Madness. Scary things beyond a child’s control. Adults being Terrible.

I don’t suppose that was the intent of the chained Bible stories. Although, the chain was an ironic warning. People do things they shouldn’t. Even God.

Did you read the chained Bible Stories? Which was your favorite?