The Bloke's Bible

By Dave Hopwood

Is it possible in the 21st century to type men and women? Is there a roughly generic definition that one can set out and set against the title ‘Bloke’? If so, Dave Hopwood seems fairly confident that he’s captured something of that and, in doing so, has come to a point where he’s able to then make sense of some interesting Bible stories in a way that will appeal to and connect with blokes; hence, ‘The Bloke’s Bible’.

Hopwood sets what can only be assumed to be something of a self-styled character in the context of the local pub, pint in one hand, ragged old, leather-backed Bible in the other. Pouring beer down his throat whilst pouring over the sometimes puzzling depths of the Bible, ‘Dave’ reflects on some current personal circumstance in parallel with that recorded of a Bible character. So we have a half-cut David, tanked up and tired out after an evening with Bathsheba, plotting and executing his get-out from the situation with deadly effectiveness whilst Dave finds himself relating to the tension David experiences in this most compromising of situations. Elsewhere, Jesus’ parable of the Shrewd Manager in Luke 16 is re-written, retaining the essential story but with added dialogue and characterisation, leading Dave to some reflections around money and wealth.

I’m afraid, that’s exactly where my problem with this book lies. The whole thing is loose reflections. Perhaps my expectations or approach were wrong and I was looking for more than was ever there. Hopwood doesn’t pretend to offer any ‘teaching’ in this book. I suppose it’s simply a starting point for a stream of thought. In fact, I could conceive of it being a starting point for a men’s discipleship group of some sort. But whilst there are some really useful, gritty offerings that I recognise, both personally and in what I’ve heard other ‘blokes’ say, I finished each short chapter rather frustrated. I’d rather have had more reflections on the Bible story and less of the rather poor quality fiction by way of trying to establish a context for this ‘Dave’, sat in the pub with his pint.

There are those who will undoubtedly enjoy this book. I can see it being useful for some, but, as I said, unsatisfying and even frustrating for others. It’s not difficult to get over Hopwood’s re-writing of Bible stories so as to draw out and highlight emphasis, though I’m sure there will be those who get cross at this. Ultimately, I have to ask, would I recommend the book. Well, yes, but with qualifiers and careful as to whom I was recommending it.