Writer Jonathan Mark calls Bob Dylan: Prophet Mystic Poet “fascinating” in his review in Jewish Week.
“fascinating…” – Jewish Week
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009“Rogovoy skillfully sketches original examples of how biblical curiosity and interpretive depth animate the songs … a delightful read” – The Forward
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009Stephen Hazan Arnoff, the executive director of the 14th Street Y in New York City, home of LABA: The National Laboratory for New Jewish Culture, adds his voice to the growing chorus of critical acclaim for BOB DYLAN: Prophet, Mystic, Poet with his review in this week’s FORWARD.
In “Jeremiah, Nostradamus and Allen Ginsberg all Rolled Up Into One,” Arnoff puts Seth Rogovoy in the company of such renowned Dylan chroniclers as Greil Marcus, Christopher Ricks, and Steven Heine:
“In choosing a single critical lens — Judaism — for understanding Dylan and his work, Rogovoy follows a path common in the best writing on Dylan: Greil Marcus explains him as a mystic raconteur of the secret history of the United States, coded through traditional music; Christopher Ricks describes a master interpreter of classical Western literature and thought; Steven Heine presents Dylan’s creative progression toward the nondualistic worldview of Zen Buddhism.”
Arnoff goes on to say:
“Dylan’s wide-ranging knowledge and interest in the Bible is clear, and Rogovoy skillfully sketches original examples of how biblical curiosity and interpretative depth animate the songs.”
Arnoff writes that the book adds:
“to the litany of serious intellectual explorations of Dylan’s work” and hails it as a ”delightful read.”
Read the entire review here.
“Dylan fans, after reading this book, may not be able listen to him again with the same ears.” – Berkshire Eagle
Sunday, December 6th, 2009In today’s Berkshire Eagle, reviewer Michael J. Foster has this to say about BOB DYLAN: Prophet, Mystic, Poet:
Rogovoy does a remarkably thorough job of detailing Dylan’s personal and professional life to support his claims that the artist’s music is rooted in his Jewish heritage.
Rogovoy offers a rich description of Dylan’s youth in a Jewish family in Minnesota. This early chapter of the icon’s life — when he was known as Robert Zimmerman — tells of Jewish youth camps, study of Scripture and immigrant forebears who still spoke Yiddish and maintained traditional religious practices.
The author’s most convincing analyses of the lyrics involve imagery from the stories of Noah, David and Moses, and allusions to Dylan’s stance on Zionism and the history of Jewish persecution.
Dylan fans, after reading this book, may not be able listen to him again with the same ears.
Read the entire review here.
