Author, Simon.
Published, October 18, 2008.

I have been hearing about Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis since it was published. Some reactions are positive (some very positive) and others suggest it borders on heresy. Quite a spread of opinion. There are some people I really respect who have some big issues with Bell and what he says and believes. I had formed an opinion of the man and the book before I’d actually read it. This lacks integrity, so I thought I should read it. And I have.

This isn’t really a review; it isn’t meant to be read like one. I am way behind the times in reading it, so there’s no point in writing a review. I have to say, though, I was disappointed. It was not the controversial read I was expecting. Equally, it was not the groundbreaking blockbuster I was expecting either. It was, in the end, a bit of a let down.

I wasn’t a big fan of the style Bell wrote in.

It…was…a bit…silly?

Yeah. It really was.

Truly.

If you’ve read it what I just wrote, and how I wrote it, will make sense. Short paragraphs are fine, but writing like that doesn’t exactly add drama in my opinion. This was merely a quirk, though. Bell, in the book, doesn’t actually get around to saying much at all. He doesn’t reach a climax, and if he tried, then his point wasn’t particularly good. I quite liked the book, overall. It was easy to read, and had some nice moments and some interesting points. However, his general thrust was not particularly compelling. He didn’t, as the subtitle suggests, repaint the Christian faith. However, his use of rabbinical anecdotes and sources made for some interesting insights. His thoughts about God and creation are compelling.

His focus is also a tad skewed; human-focused, when it should be God-focused. I can also see why some are concerned about Bell’s writing and ideas. Velvet Elvis doesn’t contain any dreadful heresy. It does, however, hint at it. That is, perhaps, the concern with it. Those same trends concern me also. If I was to put a star rating for the book, I’d give 2.5/5. Not great, not bad. I’m still happy to have read it.