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The Prince's Psalm
1 Samuel 18:1 & 3 : “And it came to pass… that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.” David not only slew Goliath, he won the heart of Prince Jonathan, heir to the throne of Israel. They were star-crossed warrior lovers whose passionate affair changed history and gave rise to the nation of Israel, a legacy that has endured for 3,000 years. Their epic love story stands at the center of a religious tradition that shaped the world. But Jonathan and David were also two men torn between duty and tradition, driven by their undeniably passionate and physical love for one another. Who were they beyond the historical facts given in the Bible? What were they like—as men? This modern-day novel tells the story of Israel’s first king and the man who captured his heart.
480 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2016
31 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
About the author
Eric Shaw Quinn
4 books46 followersERIC SHAW QUINN wrote what would become his debut novel during his spare time while working as an advertising director and theatre critic. But Say Uncle, a comic and celebratory tale of an eccentric gay man who receives custody of his infant nephew after his sister is killed in a tragic accident, took ten years to find a publisher. The idea of a gay man raising a child was deemed so controversial at the time that one editor went to far as to reject the manuscript with the words, “You and I just march to a different drummer, Mr. Quinn.” Upon its publication, the film rights were snatched up almost immediately, where after some of Hollywood’s brightest stars spent another few years agonizing over whether or not American moviegoers were ready for such a groundbreaking look at love and family. A studio merger prevented the film from getting made. So Eric decided it was time for a pen name. As “Quinn Brockton” he wrote two original novels (Never Tear Us Apart and Always Have, Always Will) based on characters from Showtime’s hit series Queer as Folk. Soon after he was chosen to write two novels based on the wild life of mega-celebrity, Pamela Anderson. He was hired to just be the “ghost writer” but then Ms. Anderson outed him to the world during an interview with Jay Leno, and the resulting media blitz took Eric around the world, landed him a spread in the National Enquirer and earned him the title of Amazon’s #1 Chick-Lit Author of 2004. Eric's recently published his first murder mystery, Write Murder, the first in a series inspired by his sojourn in the celebrity spotlight. When he’s not busy writing novels, he writes, produces and hosts for his You Tube channel, The Dinner Party Show with Christopher Rice & Eric Shaw Quinn. (www.thedinnerpartyshow.com) You can visit his blog at www.ericshawquinn.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 9, 2016
Imagine for a minute the famous statue of David - he stands with the unconscious grace of youth - fresh and unscarred, beautiful curls and distant eyes. While often David is portrayed victorious over Goliath (sometimes with Goliath's severed head in his grasp), Michelangelo portrays David in the moments before his battle with Goliath - untested, yet resolute.
This is the David we first meet in Eric Shaw Quinn's wonderful book "The Prince's Psalm." The beginning chapters show us David in the valley of Elah as he faces Goliath .... and from there the story backtracks to introduce the two men from ordinary lives who become Kings of Israel.
We meet Saul, who was called from an ordinary life as a mule trader in the hills of Benjamin. He left his beloved wife and son Jonathan to fulfill Samuel's prophecy to become Israel's first king and unite his people. Saul's brilliant military strategy and generous spirit made him a beloved king, but as the years of bloody brutality went by ...
Saul could see, with unflinching clarity, the unbearable price he had exacted from all around him—family, friend, and foe—in order to become the king he had been called to be. He could no longer sleep. Food reminded him of the slaughter. The comfort he sought in wine only heightened his growing mistrust of all around him. Delusions of plot and persecution fueled the nightmares that kept him sleepless.We meet David the natural athlete, the untrained yet skilled musician, the beloved youngest child of his family. David is not the naive shepherd boy of legend, but when he was probably around 15, he was called down from tending sheep by Samuel, the judge over all of Israel, and anointed by him as the next King of Israel. As David's father Jesse says:
But our David, he is a little rare for the world. Sometimes people destroy what they do not understand; what they haven’t seen before; what they are not expecting.We meet Jonathan who grew up on his father's battlefields and could hardly remember life when Saul was just a father. Jonathan loves the man, but hates the King.
Jonathan stood at his father’s side during the ceremony. He harbored doubts. He was following his father into an ill-advised campaign at the behest of a priest he did not trust, on behalf of a God of whom he was, at best, uncertain.The pace of the book may seem a bit slow, but Eric Shaw Quinn takes the time to weave the story together so once David and Jonathan meet (at around 50%) we truly understand its significance, and its consequences. Their love story is mostly off-page, but you feel the love they share as they pledge a covenant between each other upon the stars in the heavens: “So long as those stars are in the heavens, my love shall last for you."
Even after 480 pages, once I reached the ending, I wanted the story to continue. Eric Shaw Quinn does a masterful job in taking the story we all think we know and enriches it beautifully. I highly recommend this book!
I received a galley copy from DSP Publications, via Gay Book Reviews, in exchange for an honest review. Review also posted at GayBook Reviews. Check it out!
June 6, 2016
The Prince’s Psalm is an EPIC story about the life of David, King of Israel. From his childhood to his youth to his rise to greatness and then finally being crowned as the king of Judah, this story chronicles David’s amazing journey from a beloved son and brother to a Great Man. I loved the story very much. We all know about the story of David but this read gives a very beautiful and intimate account of David’s rise to fame.
David is shown as a child with great beauty and a great talent for anything he wishes to accomplish. He is the apple of his parent’s eyes as well as his seven brothers and two sisters. David is always forbidden from venturing into anything dangerous. Each and every member of his family treats him with kid gloves even when he grows up enough to outwit them all. The first part of the book describes David’s relationship and his struggles with his brothers, specially his oldest brother Eliab. David loved Eliab but he had not wanted to be under his authority. The familial love and the banter among the siblings makes up for a very sweet and loving childhood of David.
The most important part of David’s younger years is Micah. They were like brothers growing up and through the years their friendship morphs into LOVE. They had a lot of their firsts together and their relationship was sweet and innocent. Micah’s death was a necessary part of the story but it really hurts bad.
This story is mainly about the relationship between David and Prince Jonathan. From their very first meeting, there was a connection between them. After Micah, Jonathan was David’s great Love although it was not meant to be. Their exchange of vows under the sky with the stars as witness was bittersweet and beautiful. The story of David has been retold through thousands of years and though we know the outcome, the death will still bring you to tears.
David is more than a biblical character here. We get an intimate look inside his life. We learn about his dreams and his fears and most importantly about his love and sacrifices. He was a man who had suffered enormous losses to finally fulfill his DESTINY.
All in all, the author spins an amazing and heart warming tale about the great KING DAVID, the main focus being the romance between David and Prince Jonathan. If you are looking for superb writing and a detailed account of the not so known romance of David and Jonathan, then go ahead and give this book a try. You will not be disappointed.
This review has been cross posted at Gay Book Reviews*
David is shown as a child with great beauty and a great talent for anything he wishes to accomplish. He is the apple of his parent’s eyes as well as his seven brothers and two sisters. David is always forbidden from venturing into anything dangerous. Each and every member of his family treats him with kid gloves even when he grows up enough to outwit them all. The first part of the book describes David’s relationship and his struggles with his brothers, specially his oldest brother Eliab. David loved Eliab but he had not wanted to be under his authority. The familial love and the banter among the siblings makes up for a very sweet and loving childhood of David.
The most important part of David’s younger years is Micah. They were like brothers growing up and through the years their friendship morphs into LOVE. They had a lot of their firsts together and their relationship was sweet and innocent. Micah’s death was a necessary part of the story but it really hurts bad.
This story is mainly about the relationship between David and Prince Jonathan. From their very first meeting, there was a connection between them. After Micah, Jonathan was David’s great Love although it was not meant to be. Their exchange of vows under the sky with the stars as witness was bittersweet and beautiful. The story of David has been retold through thousands of years and though we know the outcome, the death will still bring you to tears.
David is more than a biblical character here. We get an intimate look inside his life. We learn about his dreams and his fears and most importantly about his love and sacrifices. He was a man who had suffered enormous losses to finally fulfill his DESTINY.
All in all, the author spins an amazing and heart warming tale about the great KING DAVID, the main focus being the romance between David and Prince Jonathan. If you are looking for superb writing and a detailed account of the not so known romance of David and Jonathan, then go ahead and give this book a try. You will not be disappointed.
This review has been cross posted at Gay Book Reviews*
August 20, 2022
4 1.2 stars. This was a very intriguing take on a Biblical story or fable. I loved the characters. The pacing was a little off to earn 5 stars.
June 9, 2016
‘The Prince’s Psalm’ is not just an excellent novel with fascinating characters, a historical setting that feels real enough to be contemporary, enough intrigue and betrayal to fill three novels, and a complicated plot with intricate twists and turns involving whole nations. It is also an epic love story between two well-known historical figures - David and Jonathan - who I think have been called “friends” only because those who wrote their history and those who translated the old documents downplayed and ignored the truth. You need only look at some of the verses in the Old Testament to figure out that even those “translations” were unable to hide the truth – undeniable if you have an open mind and know what you’re looking for. Eric Shaw Quinn has looked deeper than what is left 3,000 years later and has created a truly unique piece of writing.
How has he done this? The Old Testament, shared to a significant degree between the Christian and Jewish faiths, is full of facts, stories, and historical information – much of which has become an integral part of Western culture. Adam and Eve, Noah and his ark, and Moses leading the exodus from Egypt are just a few examples. One of the most well-known is the story of how David slew Goliath with nothing more than a sling and some river stones. But there was more to David than that one fight, or his also-famous encounter with the lion. Where most of those stories in the Old Testament focus on the facts, almost like nonfiction does, Eric Shaw Quinn has treated this story as fiction, focusing on the characters and relationships in their political and social context. He has read between the lines, so to speak, to find the characters’ background, motivation, and emotions not made explicit in the “official” version.
The result is an amazing story that feels as real as any contemporary novel I have read. The ongoing insertions of verses from the Old Testament served to remind me of the facts, as far as we know them, every step of the way. The result may not be “the absolute truth” – if there is such a thing – but a version of events that is logical and feels so right to me it might as well be truth. Without being explicit, it shows the depth of the love and devotion David and Jonathan shared, the tragic end of their partnership when Jonathan died, and the kind of man David was before and after this life-changing love.
If you want to know what David and Jonathan might have been like as men, if you enjoy historical novels with details that make you feel a part of the past, and if you’re looking for a read that is impressive in its scope, compelling, and an extraordinary achievement, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It is long, at around 480 pages, but it was worth every minute I spent reading it. Truly stunning.
NOTE: This book was provided by DSP Publications for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
How has he done this? The Old Testament, shared to a significant degree between the Christian and Jewish faiths, is full of facts, stories, and historical information – much of which has become an integral part of Western culture. Adam and Eve, Noah and his ark, and Moses leading the exodus from Egypt are just a few examples. One of the most well-known is the story of how David slew Goliath with nothing more than a sling and some river stones. But there was more to David than that one fight, or his also-famous encounter with the lion. Where most of those stories in the Old Testament focus on the facts, almost like nonfiction does, Eric Shaw Quinn has treated this story as fiction, focusing on the characters and relationships in their political and social context. He has read between the lines, so to speak, to find the characters’ background, motivation, and emotions not made explicit in the “official” version.
The result is an amazing story that feels as real as any contemporary novel I have read. The ongoing insertions of verses from the Old Testament served to remind me of the facts, as far as we know them, every step of the way. The result may not be “the absolute truth” – if there is such a thing – but a version of events that is logical and feels so right to me it might as well be truth. Without being explicit, it shows the depth of the love and devotion David and Jonathan shared, the tragic end of their partnership when Jonathan died, and the kind of man David was before and after this life-changing love.
If you want to know what David and Jonathan might have been like as men, if you enjoy historical novels with details that make you feel a part of the past, and if you’re looking for a read that is impressive in its scope, compelling, and an extraordinary achievement, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It is long, at around 480 pages, but it was worth every minute I spent reading it. Truly stunning.
NOTE: This book was provided by DSP Publications for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
September 27, 2016
Honestly, this is more of a 2-star read for me, but I gave it 3 for the fact that it simply wasn't for me. The writing was good and all that jazz, but the story line was so out of my alley it was practically in another country. That's on me, not the author.
Maybe one day I'll reread it and have different feelings, I don't know. But for now, it's a case of "it's not you, it's me."
Maybe one day I'll reread it and have different feelings, I don't know. But for now, it's a case of "it's not you, it's me."
June 22, 2016
The Prince’s Psalm is the story of the love between David and Johnathan from the Bible. It is told in finely detailed story format using bible verses as its brackets and inspiration. There is no question that the love between the two men goes far beyond that of compatriots or brothers. Quinn takes the time to establish David’s true nature. He is no mere shepherd and the youngest of his family. David, here, is a shrewd businessman, a fine steward of his family farm, and an accomplished singer and harp player who desperately wishes to make a difference in the world. But the Bronze Age has rules which must be followed.
While David is fine with being all the things his family and world want him to be, he wants more. First he finds it in the bright, youthful heart of Micah. The two share adventures, friendship, and finally love. When Micah is torn from David to be a man in the king’s army, David is wounded. He is destroyed when he learns Micah has died in battle. David turns inward and withdraws.
More than ever David wants his rural life to change. But, his special nature makes his brothers want to protect him, their protection comes across as treating David like one of the women. It does not go unnoticed that David desires a different kind of love, and his family is at a loss how to help David find his way.
Finally, the Prince of Israel calls for David and his musical talent to help save the king. His first encounters at the palace leave him feeling, once again, less than manly in the eyes of those whom he respects and loves. Playing by day and night to sooth the ailing king, David eventually cures the fear King Saul has that God has abandoned him. From that point on, Johnathan can no longer resist David and his charms. The two become inseparable and they pass a winter together becoming ever closer, ever more joined together, bodies and souls become as one.
We do not see grand sex scenes here; the love the two share is much more deeply felt, so the author gives us glimpses of their joining. That is more than enough because the rich text and expert storytelling do not leave us short changed. In fact, I feel to give us some graphic sex scene would cheapen the story. But the passion, the determination to remain together that David and Johnathan feel is palpable.
When the pair fight at their first parting, we know it is not the end for them. It really is a manifestation of their fear that expressing their love would somehow not be returned by the other due to conventions of the time and past hurts and rejections. Events keep the pair apart again until the fateful day where David, through his own manipulations, faces Goliath. Johnathan, who was not present when David reaches the king’s army, can do little more than watch in horror as his beloved David goes to certain death.
We all know the outcome of the fight, but it is no less thrilling to the reader to see it played out when the storytelling is this good. From the triumph of that day, Johnathan can no longer withhold speaking the words of love David so longs to hear. That the two have been a pair, and possibly lovers, is an open secret, but here they leave no doubt. Mr. Quinn artfully gives us that union, that promise, and the open hearts such a thing requires.
How they survive the machinations of a mercurial king, the limitations of their time, and the passion each has to be the best, drives the remainder of the book. No man is perfect. Not even David, the beloved of God and prince alike. Johnathan must balance his desire for David with the proprieties of being a Prince and heir to the throne of Israel.
This is a rather special work. I recommend it for the story, for the style, and for the ability of both of those things together to take the reader to another place and time and fully immerse you in it. While this is pure fantasy, it is a very plausible telling of the story of David and Johnathan. One that is probably closer to the truth than most people have ever acknowledged before. Available in multiple formats, get the one that suits you best, but buy this book. You will not be sorry.
Reviewed by Mike for The Novel Approach Reviews
While David is fine with being all the things his family and world want him to be, he wants more. First he finds it in the bright, youthful heart of Micah. The two share adventures, friendship, and finally love. When Micah is torn from David to be a man in the king’s army, David is wounded. He is destroyed when he learns Micah has died in battle. David turns inward and withdraws.
More than ever David wants his rural life to change. But, his special nature makes his brothers want to protect him, their protection comes across as treating David like one of the women. It does not go unnoticed that David desires a different kind of love, and his family is at a loss how to help David find his way.
Finally, the Prince of Israel calls for David and his musical talent to help save the king. His first encounters at the palace leave him feeling, once again, less than manly in the eyes of those whom he respects and loves. Playing by day and night to sooth the ailing king, David eventually cures the fear King Saul has that God has abandoned him. From that point on, Johnathan can no longer resist David and his charms. The two become inseparable and they pass a winter together becoming ever closer, ever more joined together, bodies and souls become as one.
We do not see grand sex scenes here; the love the two share is much more deeply felt, so the author gives us glimpses of their joining. That is more than enough because the rich text and expert storytelling do not leave us short changed. In fact, I feel to give us some graphic sex scene would cheapen the story. But the passion, the determination to remain together that David and Johnathan feel is palpable.
When the pair fight at their first parting, we know it is not the end for them. It really is a manifestation of their fear that expressing their love would somehow not be returned by the other due to conventions of the time and past hurts and rejections. Events keep the pair apart again until the fateful day where David, through his own manipulations, faces Goliath. Johnathan, who was not present when David reaches the king’s army, can do little more than watch in horror as his beloved David goes to certain death.
We all know the outcome of the fight, but it is no less thrilling to the reader to see it played out when the storytelling is this good. From the triumph of that day, Johnathan can no longer withhold speaking the words of love David so longs to hear. That the two have been a pair, and possibly lovers, is an open secret, but here they leave no doubt. Mr. Quinn artfully gives us that union, that promise, and the open hearts such a thing requires.
How they survive the machinations of a mercurial king, the limitations of their time, and the passion each has to be the best, drives the remainder of the book. No man is perfect. Not even David, the beloved of God and prince alike. Johnathan must balance his desire for David with the proprieties of being a Prince and heir to the throne of Israel.
This is a rather special work. I recommend it for the story, for the style, and for the ability of both of those things together to take the reader to another place and time and fully immerse you in it. While this is pure fantasy, it is a very plausible telling of the story of David and Johnathan. One that is probably closer to the truth than most people have ever acknowledged before. Available in multiple formats, get the one that suits you best, but buy this book. You will not be sorry.
Reviewed by Mike for The Novel Approach Reviews
June 6, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
The Prince’s Psalm is biblical, and that means this story comes with lots of sex, violence, and intrigue. Aside from all of that, it’s the love story that comes through here. The bible doesn’t exactly say whether David and Jonathan were lovers. It continually uses the word friendship. What Eric Shaw Quinn has done (brilliantly, I might add) is turn the vague and made it absolute truth. It’s sweeping and epic, and it is just beautiful. The detail is such that I could visualize exactly what was going on, right down to the colors of the tunics the men wore. I’m going to warn you that the book is l-o-n-g. It’s not so much a book as it is an opus. You should prepare yourself going in. I can usually read one to two books a day, and it took me five days to read this one. I wasn’t disappointed, however. To make sure every part of the story is included, this is how it needed to be. There are also a lot of characters. That means a lot of names to remember. The MCs are obvious, of course, as are their families (Well…David had a lot of brothers, but the oldest three are the names I had to really know.), but there were servants, advisors, wives, soldiers, enemies, and priests. Occasionally, I was a bit frustrated and had to go back and read a few sentences over again. Still, as with the length, it wasn’t a bad thing.
The descriptions of David and Jonathan’s relationship were beautiful. It was so nice to read about them playing board and dice games, hunting, fishing, and even a little bit of falconry. It wasn’t as if they were constantly having sex. I mean, well…there is sex, but it’s not graphic.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
The Prince’s Psalm is biblical, and that means this story comes with lots of sex, violence, and intrigue. Aside from all of that, it’s the love story that comes through here. The bible doesn’t exactly say whether David and Jonathan were lovers. It continually uses the word friendship. What Eric Shaw Quinn has done (brilliantly, I might add) is turn the vague and made it absolute truth. It’s sweeping and epic, and it is just beautiful. The detail is such that I could visualize exactly what was going on, right down to the colors of the tunics the men wore. I’m going to warn you that the book is l-o-n-g. It’s not so much a book as it is an opus. You should prepare yourself going in. I can usually read one to two books a day, and it took me five days to read this one. I wasn’t disappointed, however. To make sure every part of the story is included, this is how it needed to be. There are also a lot of characters. That means a lot of names to remember. The MCs are obvious, of course, as are their families (Well…David had a lot of brothers, but the oldest three are the names I had to really know.), but there were servants, advisors, wives, soldiers, enemies, and priests. Occasionally, I was a bit frustrated and had to go back and read a few sentences over again. Still, as with the length, it wasn’t a bad thing.
The descriptions of David and Jonathan’s relationship were beautiful. It was so nice to read about them playing board and dice games, hunting, fishing, and even a little bit of falconry. It wasn’t as if they were constantly having sex. I mean, well…there is sex, but it’s not graphic.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
November 8, 2016
I have been looking for this book for years and am so glad that David and Jonathan's story has finally been acknowledged and published. This book reminded me a lot of Miller's The Song Of Achilles and for people who adored TSOA this one is not to be missed.
The Prince's Psalm is a story about the love between David and Jonathan (Prince Jonathan, King Sauls son). It is told through beautiful lyrical prose using bible verse to start each new chapter and be the inspiration behind the book. There is no question that David and Jonathan love each other more than anyone else and that in the eyes of God they have sworn the oath of marriage. Quinn takes his time to show his reader David's character and upbringing and his eventual love for Jonathan. There is no rushing in this book everything is beautifully written with space for us to feel the emotional impact of each step in David's journey to becoming King.
David and Jonathan are inseparable and I love how David changes with Jonathan's presence even when they are forced to be apart. There struggle to be together is heartbreaking and palpable. Quinn truly lets his reader see not only David's struggle but Jonathan's as well as he tried to balance his love and Loyalty to David and his responsibility to Israel as the future heir to the throne. This book is truly something special and I hope it opens the doors to more literature like this, which explores the romantic relationship between Jonathan and David which is closer to the truth than many people have acknowledged before.
I will definitely be reading more of Quinn's work as I was truly taken with this book 5 Stars!!!
The Prince's Psalm is a story about the love between David and Jonathan (Prince Jonathan, King Sauls son). It is told through beautiful lyrical prose using bible verse to start each new chapter and be the inspiration behind the book. There is no question that David and Jonathan love each other more than anyone else and that in the eyes of God they have sworn the oath of marriage. Quinn takes his time to show his reader David's character and upbringing and his eventual love for Jonathan. There is no rushing in this book everything is beautifully written with space for us to feel the emotional impact of each step in David's journey to becoming King.
David and Jonathan are inseparable and I love how David changes with Jonathan's presence even when they are forced to be apart. There struggle to be together is heartbreaking and palpable. Quinn truly lets his reader see not only David's struggle but Jonathan's as well as he tried to balance his love and Loyalty to David and his responsibility to Israel as the future heir to the throne. This book is truly something special and I hope it opens the doors to more literature like this, which explores the romantic relationship between Jonathan and David which is closer to the truth than many people have acknowledged before.
I will definitely be reading more of Quinn's work as I was truly taken with this book 5 Stars!!!
June 27, 2016
The Prince’s Psalm is exceptional and beautifully told, bringing to life a story I’ve heard since infancy in a much more clear and real way. This is a love story, between David and Prince Jonathan and also between David, God and the people of Israel. Each of the characters, people that have been a part of my psyche for as far back as I can remember, but somehow remained untouchable and unknowable, are suddenly known to me and understood. It is a poignant reminder that, through God, love conquers all. And for many, many reasons, I wish that everyone would pick up this book and read it.
On a side note, I shall never again look at the Star of David without my heart swelling with love and pride.
On a side note, I shall never again look at the Star of David without my heart swelling with love and pride.
June 22, 2016
A true love story!
This is a story of love. The love of God, the love of parents for their children, the love of husbands and wives, and the love of David and Jonathon. This book is even better than I had expected it to be. I honestly read it in one day because I had to know what happened next. Eric Shaw Quinn has written a story that I believe will be a classic in years to come.
This is a story of love. The love of God, the love of parents for their children, the love of husbands and wives, and the love of David and Jonathon. This book is even better than I had expected it to be. I honestly read it in one day because I had to know what happened next. Eric Shaw Quinn has written a story that I believe will be a classic in years to come.
June 26, 2016
I am completely impressed with The Prince's Psalm. Eric Shaw Quinn takes a sweet story of what I've always believed to be romantic love and tells it in a manner than is not only respectful, but beautiful. For me, I didn't rush through it but instead, allowed myself to be transported to Israel, savoring each word. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a star-crossed lovers love story and those who believe God made all kinds of love, including the love between two men.
July 1, 2016
I didn't want this book to end. This would make a great movie or an HBO-like series.
Very well done, Eric!
Very well done, Eric!
January 22, 2017
In The Prince’s Psalm, Eric Shaw Quinn reimagines the biblical story of King David, casting David, son of Jesse, and Jonathon, son of King Saul, as lovers. The story arcs across the historical sequence of nation-building for the people of Israel, and each scene is grounded in a relevant biblical quote, usually from the books of Samuel or Psalms. From a literary perspective, Quinn succeeds in painting a believable portrait of male-male love in ancient Hebrew culture, although religious authorities in the Abrahamic faiths may take very different views.
Much of the story follows the outline found in the Bible, and the cultural details of managing a wealthy family’s farm and vineyard add a feel for the era (6th Century BCE). However, one phrase niggles a little. “Vision quest” appears toward the end of the novel after the author has methodically crafted what it was like living at that time. Quinn portrays a credible method of fasting and wandering in the desert to obtain visions that change the heart of the king. Unfortunately, the term “vision quest” disrupts the narrative by injecting a 20th Century flavor. The scene works but would be even more believable without a phrase that jars the reader. There probably is a reasonable substitute word, perhaps in the Hebrew language, or the author could flesh out a new word, thus avoiding a shift out of a carefully portrayed ancient setting.
On the other end of language impressions, one phrase made me laugh. There is a scene in which David’s brother Ozem surprises him while he is shepherding sheep alone on the hillside and singing doleful laments. The alarmed shepherd leaps on the intruder, and when he sees it is Ozem, David angrily swears: “You scared me so bad my foreskin grew back.” It’s a fun, character-building line—one of many that brings David to life.
I like the book, but it suffers from a believer’s need to keep a “hero” heroic. The main character has “flaws,” of a sort, but all in all, David is too good. The author has thoughtfully created a believable and touching relationship between David and Jonathon, but David displays no true vices and is always forgiving of the murderous King Saul who relentlessly tries to eliminate him as a competitor for the throne. Still, it’s heartening to read how David continuously renews bonds with his brothers after falling out, and the author can be forgiven loving virtue to excess.
I can recommend the book as a good read and a successful envisioning of a biblical hero as a gay biblical hero.
Much of the story follows the outline found in the Bible, and the cultural details of managing a wealthy family’s farm and vineyard add a feel for the era (6th Century BCE). However, one phrase niggles a little. “Vision quest” appears toward the end of the novel after the author has methodically crafted what it was like living at that time. Quinn portrays a credible method of fasting and wandering in the desert to obtain visions that change the heart of the king. Unfortunately, the term “vision quest” disrupts the narrative by injecting a 20th Century flavor. The scene works but would be even more believable without a phrase that jars the reader. There probably is a reasonable substitute word, perhaps in the Hebrew language, or the author could flesh out a new word, thus avoiding a shift out of a carefully portrayed ancient setting.
On the other end of language impressions, one phrase made me laugh. There is a scene in which David’s brother Ozem surprises him while he is shepherding sheep alone on the hillside and singing doleful laments. The alarmed shepherd leaps on the intruder, and when he sees it is Ozem, David angrily swears: “You scared me so bad my foreskin grew back.” It’s a fun, character-building line—one of many that brings David to life.
I like the book, but it suffers from a believer’s need to keep a “hero” heroic. The main character has “flaws,” of a sort, but all in all, David is too good. The author has thoughtfully created a believable and touching relationship between David and Jonathon, but David displays no true vices and is always forgiving of the murderous King Saul who relentlessly tries to eliminate him as a competitor for the throne. Still, it’s heartening to read how David continuously renews bonds with his brothers after falling out, and the author can be forgiven loving virtue to excess.
I can recommend the book as a good read and a successful envisioning of a biblical hero as a gay biblical hero.
July 19, 2023
I highly recommend this book, and it leaves me speechless how it isn't more popular! It has everything we need in this life: Ancient History, MLM, romance, and a pool of tears that you will leave behind after reading this book!
Yeah, I cried. Oh, how I cried while reading the last pages.
The Prince’s Psalm is a queer and romantic retelling of the story of David and Jonathan from the Bible. I have always viewed their relationship as romantic, so once I found this book, I immediately bought it. Without a doubt, this has become one of my all-time favorites!
The book begins with David's childhood, providing perspectives on his early life and relationships, especially with Micah and his family and my favorite character (that I simp for) the eldest brother Eliab. The family dynamics were relatable and wholesome, and every time David and Eliab interacted with each other, I couldn't help but smile. Their relationship is so sweet yet bitter.
Micah held a weird place in my heart. I enjoyed “not liking” him. I could immediately see his immaturity in his relationship with David. Of course, I understand they were young and immature. And this was important to emphasize the message, which I believe it’s about being equal in a relationship. Micah loved David, but he saw him somewhat beneath him due to David not fitting the stereotypical masculine man, aka being the submissive one. And I just love the scene when David is daydreaming about Micah, on his knees and kissing David's hand, proclaiming his eternal love for him and always be faithful. I couldn’t help myself to chuckle with David's dramatics.
And the moment when Jonathan is introduced, the first thing he calls David is "My Prince." I squealed so much reading that! If we are going to compare Jonathan and Micah, Micah’s pet name for David was "My Slave." So, the themes of treating each other as equals are something that this book usually brings into the conversation... A LOT! JONATHAN IS PERFECT FOR DAVID!!
Their oath, the exchanged rings, the beautiful yet sad promises, it moved me. Every moment felt perfect and unexpected; it really captivated my heart! The author's artful storytelling seamlessly intertwined emotions, tensions, and suspense.
Through this captivating retelling, I did find the ending ends abruptly. I guess it was meant to give the reader the same shock that David experienced. But I wished the book did give us a few more pages just so we could wrap up what happened to the other characters. When I finished the book, I reread some of my favorite moments, With such simple words and a short sentence, it left me crying like a baby.
Yeah, I cried. Oh, how I cried while reading the last pages.
The Prince’s Psalm is a queer and romantic retelling of the story of David and Jonathan from the Bible. I have always viewed their relationship as romantic, so once I found this book, I immediately bought it. Without a doubt, this has become one of my all-time favorites!
The book begins with David's childhood, providing perspectives on his early life and relationships, especially with Micah and his family and my favorite character (that I simp for) the eldest brother Eliab. The family dynamics were relatable and wholesome, and every time David and Eliab interacted with each other, I couldn't help but smile. Their relationship is so sweet yet bitter.
Micah held a weird place in my heart. I enjoyed “not liking” him. I could immediately see his immaturity in his relationship with David. Of course, I understand they were young and immature. And this was important to emphasize the message, which I believe it’s about being equal in a relationship. Micah loved David, but he saw him somewhat beneath him due to David not fitting the stereotypical masculine man, aka being the submissive one. And I just love the scene when David is daydreaming about Micah, on his knees and kissing David's hand, proclaiming his eternal love for him and always be faithful. I couldn’t help myself to chuckle with David's dramatics.
And the moment when Jonathan is introduced, the first thing he calls David is "My Prince." I squealed so much reading that! If we are going to compare Jonathan and Micah, Micah’s pet name for David was "My Slave." So, the themes of treating each other as equals are something that this book usually brings into the conversation... A LOT! JONATHAN IS PERFECT FOR DAVID!!
Their oath, the exchanged rings, the beautiful yet sad promises, it moved me. Every moment felt perfect and unexpected; it really captivated my heart! The author's artful storytelling seamlessly intertwined emotions, tensions, and suspense.
Through this captivating retelling, I did find the ending ends abruptly. I guess it was meant to give the reader the same shock that David experienced. But I wished the book did give us a few more pages just so we could wrap up what happened to the other characters. When I finished the book, I reread some of my favorite moments, With such simple words and a short sentence, it left me crying like a baby.
June 5, 2023
I wanted to like this book better than I did. The author has obviously done a huge amount of research to fill in detail about the rise of Israel in the 11th and 10th centuries BCE, using verses from the book of I Samuel as points of departure. Frankly the story of presumed lovers Jonathan and David gets somewhat lost amidst the history, though their passion for one another, their frustration at their inability to really be together, and their determination to follow what they understand to be the will of their God come through. It’s worth a read for those willing to take it on.
June 17, 2016
My original review was posted on Joyfully Jay on 06/06/2016
http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/06/review...
1 Samuel 18:1 & 3: “And it came to pass… that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul."
This is a book about King David's relationship with Prince Jonathan, son of Saul, the King of Israel. They met as young men, and their friendship is documented in the Bible. However, was it really just a friendship, or was there something more to their relationship other than what is written?
The Prince's Psalm is a detailed (I refuse to say fictionalized) story of David and Jonathan as if they were definitely more than friends who are as close or closer than brothers.
There is too much going on for me to give a full summary because I'd be writing forever. I don't want to rehash everything. Let me quickly say David was a beautiful young man, small of stature, who had dreams of going off to battle alongside his brothers. He was made to stay home because of his size, and because everyone loved him so much, they couldn't bear for him to be harmed. He learned to play the harp, and his singing voice was beautiful. He ran the family's farm like a well oiled machine. One day, he was summoned by Jonathan, the son of King Saul, to the court. Saul was...well...going crazy because the prophet Samuel seems to have deserted him. Saul wouldn't eat. He wouldn't sleep. He was angry at everyone and violent with everyone as well. Even his wife and children weren't exempt. Jonathan thought David's harp playing and singing would soothe Saul. He was right. While at court, Jonathan and David became fast friends. In fact, they spent all of their time together when David wasn't playing for the King. Eventually Saul recovers, but David remains because Jonathan asks him to, and David wanted to continue to spend time with him. As time passed, their friendship turned into a deeper love. They became sexual with each other, and the made a covenant together. They swore, after King Saul passed, they'd rule Israel together.
After this, there is a long and difficult road for both David and Jonathan. Sometimes, they were happy, a lot of times they were miserable and missed each other as their lives together split apart. Saul becomes convinced David is a traitor after his throne because David becomes a hero to Israel after he slew Goliath. David must leave for his own safety, and Jonathan remains at court, constantly trying to convince Saul to let David come back.
Alright...on to my review. The Prince's Psalm is biblical, and that means this story comes with lots of sex, violence, and intrigue. Aside from all of that, it's the love story that comes through here. The bible doesn't exactly say whether David and Jonathan were lovers. It continually uses the word friendship. What Eric Shaw Quinn has done (brilliantly, I might add) is turned the vague and made it absolute truth. It's sweeping and epic, and it is just beautiful. The detail is such that I could visualize exactly what was going on, right down to the colors of the tunics the men wore. I'm going to warn you that the book is l-o-n-g. It's not so much a book as it is an opus. You should prepare yourself going in. I can usually read one to two books a day, and it took me five days to read this one. I wasn't disappointed, however. To make sure every part of the story is included, this is how it needed to be. There are also a lot of characters. That means a lot of names to remember. The MC's are obvious, of course, as are their families (Well...David had a lot of brothers, but the oldest three are the names I had to really know.), but there were servants, advisors, wives, soldiers, enemies, and priests. Occasionally, I was a bit frustrated and had to go back and read a few sentences over again. Still, as with the length, it wasn't a bad thing.
The descriptions of David and Jonathan's relationship were beautiful. It was so nice to read about them playing board and dice games, hunting, fishing, and even a little bit of falconry. It wasn't as if they were constantly having sex. I mean, well...there is sex, but it's not graphic. It was also sort of sexy, even without dirty talking, licking, sucking, etc..
Now, let's talk about the feelings. The entire spectrum is included here. I laughed. I cringed. I felt butterflies in my stomach, and lord did I cry! In fact, there were lots of wails and sobs. When it was all said and done, I was emotionally exhausted. I felt as if I'd been through the wringer. Once again, though, I have to stress this isn't a bad thing. It's only proof that Eric Shaw Quinn has written an emotional powerhouse of a novel. The care he put into The Prince's Psalm is obvious. In the dedications, he calls it a labor of love. I can feel that love in every chapter and paragraph.
This is an incredible book, and I highly recommend it. It's written in rather biblical language, but don't let that deter you. It makes the whole thing feel more genuine. I came away from this with a firm belief that David and Jonathan were passionately in love with each other, and with that I say love is love...king or peasant...gay or straight, and it's beautiful to behold. I feel very lucky to have been able to read this one.
http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/06/review...
1 Samuel 18:1 & 3: “And it came to pass… that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul."
This is a book about King David's relationship with Prince Jonathan, son of Saul, the King of Israel. They met as young men, and their friendship is documented in the Bible. However, was it really just a friendship, or was there something more to their relationship other than what is written?
The Prince's Psalm is a detailed (I refuse to say fictionalized) story of David and Jonathan as if they were definitely more than friends who are as close or closer than brothers.
There is too much going on for me to give a full summary because I'd be writing forever. I don't want to rehash everything. Let me quickly say David was a beautiful young man, small of stature, who had dreams of going off to battle alongside his brothers. He was made to stay home because of his size, and because everyone loved him so much, they couldn't bear for him to be harmed. He learned to play the harp, and his singing voice was beautiful. He ran the family's farm like a well oiled machine. One day, he was summoned by Jonathan, the son of King Saul, to the court. Saul was...well...going crazy because the prophet Samuel seems to have deserted him. Saul wouldn't eat. He wouldn't sleep. He was angry at everyone and violent with everyone as well. Even his wife and children weren't exempt. Jonathan thought David's harp playing and singing would soothe Saul. He was right. While at court, Jonathan and David became fast friends. In fact, they spent all of their time together when David wasn't playing for the King. Eventually Saul recovers, but David remains because Jonathan asks him to, and David wanted to continue to spend time with him. As time passed, their friendship turned into a deeper love. They became sexual with each other, and the made a covenant together. They swore, after King Saul passed, they'd rule Israel together.
After this, there is a long and difficult road for both David and Jonathan. Sometimes, they were happy, a lot of times they were miserable and missed each other as their lives together split apart. Saul becomes convinced David is a traitor after his throne because David becomes a hero to Israel after he slew Goliath. David must leave for his own safety, and Jonathan remains at court, constantly trying to convince Saul to let David come back.
Alright...on to my review. The Prince's Psalm is biblical, and that means this story comes with lots of sex, violence, and intrigue. Aside from all of that, it's the love story that comes through here. The bible doesn't exactly say whether David and Jonathan were lovers. It continually uses the word friendship. What Eric Shaw Quinn has done (brilliantly, I might add) is turned the vague and made it absolute truth. It's sweeping and epic, and it is just beautiful. The detail is such that I could visualize exactly what was going on, right down to the colors of the tunics the men wore. I'm going to warn you that the book is l-o-n-g. It's not so much a book as it is an opus. You should prepare yourself going in. I can usually read one to two books a day, and it took me five days to read this one. I wasn't disappointed, however. To make sure every part of the story is included, this is how it needed to be. There are also a lot of characters. That means a lot of names to remember. The MC's are obvious, of course, as are their families (Well...David had a lot of brothers, but the oldest three are the names I had to really know.), but there were servants, advisors, wives, soldiers, enemies, and priests. Occasionally, I was a bit frustrated and had to go back and read a few sentences over again. Still, as with the length, it wasn't a bad thing.
The descriptions of David and Jonathan's relationship were beautiful. It was so nice to read about them playing board and dice games, hunting, fishing, and even a little bit of falconry. It wasn't as if they were constantly having sex. I mean, well...there is sex, but it's not graphic. It was also sort of sexy, even without dirty talking, licking, sucking, etc..
Now, let's talk about the feelings. The entire spectrum is included here. I laughed. I cringed. I felt butterflies in my stomach, and lord did I cry! In fact, there were lots of wails and sobs. When it was all said and done, I was emotionally exhausted. I felt as if I'd been through the wringer. Once again, though, I have to stress this isn't a bad thing. It's only proof that Eric Shaw Quinn has written an emotional powerhouse of a novel. The care he put into The Prince's Psalm is obvious. In the dedications, he calls it a labor of love. I can feel that love in every chapter and paragraph.
This is an incredible book, and I highly recommend it. It's written in rather biblical language, but don't let that deter you. It makes the whole thing feel more genuine. I came away from this with a firm belief that David and Jonathan were passionately in love with each other, and with that I say love is love...king or peasant...gay or straight, and it's beautiful to behold. I feel very lucky to have been able to read this one.
February 24, 2020
I must admit that my memories of the story of David come less from the bible and more from the Xena: Warrior Princess episode “The Giant Killer.” That said, going forward I will think more of Quinn’s novel. This is an engaging work of historical fiction that is filled with battles, politics, and strategies, but the focus is a love story.
August 30, 2018
This book is a great historical fiction! The Bible battles made more readable. The relationship between Jonathan and David is very plausible and a beautiful love story. The book did get a bit long at times.
February 10, 2025
This book was AMAZING! Dense in all the right ways, compelling, and really romantic/tragic.
If I had any critique, it would be it felt repetitive at times. That's a nitpick though.
I LOVED this!
Overall - 5/5
If I had any critique, it would be it felt repetitive at times. That's a nitpick though.
I LOVED this!
Overall - 5/5
September 5, 2023
This book broke my heart
dnf
May 30, 2024Abandoned at 17%.
Others clearly disagree, but for me The Prince's Psalm was just a disjointed mess.
Others clearly disagree, but for me The Prince's Psalm was just a disjointed mess.
April 12, 2025
My religious trauma: cured.
May 10, 2017
The Price's Psalm by Eric Shaw Quinn is wonderful new version of a old legend. This new version goes deeper into David's story, into his relationship with Jonathan.
I love the way the book is built, how it starts with the moment when David steps up against Goliath, and then the story goes back. Every main character is introduced from the start, how they first met David and how did they get to the moment, when David challenged Goliath. When all the stories are told, half a book is gone and rest of the book is about David and Jonathan, about their relationship with each other, their families and their country. As often is in old stories, the worst enemies are the closest people - personal servants, spouses, parents.
It's an interesting love story that is filled with history and feelings. Really good read.
I love the way the book is built, how it starts with the moment when David steps up against Goliath, and then the story goes back. Every main character is introduced from the start, how they first met David and how did they get to the moment, when David challenged Goliath. When all the stories are told, half a book is gone and rest of the book is about David and Jonathan, about their relationship with each other, their families and their country. As often is in old stories, the worst enemies are the closest people - personal servants, spouses, parents.
It's an interesting love story that is filled with history and feelings. Really good read.
October 5, 2023
Very much worth reading.
I really enjoyed this book - even though it does seem to get bogged down at some pointes with historical minutia (I'm sure that appeals to many, and the author very obviously did a ton of research, which I appreciate).
No doubt, because of the subject matter, there are people who will disagree with the premise of this book, but the author brought to life a story that I'd studied (and struggled with) long ago - and frankly if we'd read this book instead of the actual Book of Samuel, it would have stuck with me over the years.
So -I wasn't surprised at the end, and didn't get overly emotional reading it, but it was very well written and all the loose ends were neatly tied up. Would have liked to know what became of the horrible Mical, but she wasn't really worth being concerned over.
I really enjoyed this book - even though it does seem to get bogged down at some pointes with historical minutia (I'm sure that appeals to many, and the author very obviously did a ton of research, which I appreciate).
No doubt, because of the subject matter, there are people who will disagree with the premise of this book, but the author brought to life a story that I'd studied (and struggled with) long ago - and frankly if we'd read this book instead of the actual Book of Samuel, it would have stuck with me over the years.
So -I wasn't surprised at the end, and didn't get overly emotional reading it, but it was very well written and all the loose ends were neatly tied up. Would have liked to know what became of the horrible Mical, but she wasn't really worth being concerned over.
February 4, 2021
so insanely beautiful and tragic and i wish i could articulate how hard this absolute gem of a book made me smile and cry
June 2, 2019
Well, I guess I did not post my review of this book. Let me see if I can remember it.
1. I loved the book. The writing was stellar.
2. It fleshes out an old story and made well-known characters come alive.
That’s what I can remember I said.
1. I loved the book. The writing was stellar.
2. It fleshes out an old story and made well-known characters come alive.
That’s what I can remember I said.
June 29, 2016
A ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Review. This review can also be found here.
5+ Stars out of 5
David ben Jesse of Bethlehem finds himself looking after his father’s farm. Dismissed by his seven elder brothers with the womenfolk, he wishes to prove his worth in the battlefield, he wishes for great adventure.
But when Samuel, the priest of all of Israel comes to the house of Jesse to find David, David’s life will be altered forever and he finds himself in combat with the giant Goliath.
As he sets out for the palace in Gibeah he doesn’t know that great love awaits his arrival or that the love he is going to find will become the stuff of legends…
This book is beautiful.
This book was 688 pages long according to my reader (it is 561 pages long according to Amazon) and by the end of it I wished I could read a 100 more.
The story of David and Jonathan is an ancient one and this is just one interpretation of it, but what a wonderful one at that.
I loved the book in its entirety but mostly because of how inexplicably and irreversibly it had me fall in love with David and Jonathan.
As such this story begins and ends with David, we see David grow up from a boy to a King and the author weaves the story so beautifully that even though you expect to find nothing in common with this man who lived ages ago and inspired such greatness you find several points of similarity. David is one of the most distinctly etched out character I have ever had the good fortune of reading. Seeing him as a little boy cribbing for adventure and respect, to the youth who defeated Goliath, to the most distinguished general a battlefield has ever known was a revelation. The author weaves the story around David and his journey, and his words change subtly to show us how slowly but surely David grew into a man.
The love between David and Jonathan was epic. Initially when they came to be I was unsure if these two would live up to expectations but they surpassed them long ago. The thing about their love was its ferociousness and how it had knitted these two souls into one, undeniably and irreversibly.
This story is one filled with great characters because even the characters with the smallest of roles have been handled with great tenderness and love. What I loved the most was how the author was able to manipulate our feelings towards these characters subconsciously and this is especially seen in his treatment of King Saul. Saul is one person who you will greatly admire and love but as he slowly and inexplicably descends in to chaos you will find your feelings unalterably changed.
I feel this story does justice to its origins and stays true to the bones of that story. It is tragic and hopeful and enlightening yet heart-rending. Once you start reading this book you will be swept up by the imagery this book paints and with how gracefully and with what great care it treats its characters who are nothing short of epic.
It was great joy to read this book and the only fault of this book is that it ends.
Cover Art by Paul Richmond. The cover of this book is beautiful. It truly depicts what this book sets out to achieve and what it succeeds in doing.
5+ Stars out of 5
David ben Jesse of Bethlehem finds himself looking after his father’s farm. Dismissed by his seven elder brothers with the womenfolk, he wishes to prove his worth in the battlefield, he wishes for great adventure.
But when Samuel, the priest of all of Israel comes to the house of Jesse to find David, David’s life will be altered forever and he finds himself in combat with the giant Goliath.
As he sets out for the palace in Gibeah he doesn’t know that great love awaits his arrival or that the love he is going to find will become the stuff of legends…
This book is beautiful.
This book was 688 pages long according to my reader (it is 561 pages long according to Amazon) and by the end of it I wished I could read a 100 more.
The story of David and Jonathan is an ancient one and this is just one interpretation of it, but what a wonderful one at that.
I loved the book in its entirety but mostly because of how inexplicably and irreversibly it had me fall in love with David and Jonathan.
As such this story begins and ends with David, we see David grow up from a boy to a King and the author weaves the story so beautifully that even though you expect to find nothing in common with this man who lived ages ago and inspired such greatness you find several points of similarity. David is one of the most distinctly etched out character I have ever had the good fortune of reading. Seeing him as a little boy cribbing for adventure and respect, to the youth who defeated Goliath, to the most distinguished general a battlefield has ever known was a revelation. The author weaves the story around David and his journey, and his words change subtly to show us how slowly but surely David grew into a man.
The love between David and Jonathan was epic. Initially when they came to be I was unsure if these two would live up to expectations but they surpassed them long ago. The thing about their love was its ferociousness and how it had knitted these two souls into one, undeniably and irreversibly.
This story is one filled with great characters because even the characters with the smallest of roles have been handled with great tenderness and love. What I loved the most was how the author was able to manipulate our feelings towards these characters subconsciously and this is especially seen in his treatment of King Saul. Saul is one person who you will greatly admire and love but as he slowly and inexplicably descends in to chaos you will find your feelings unalterably changed.
I feel this story does justice to its origins and stays true to the bones of that story. It is tragic and hopeful and enlightening yet heart-rending. Once you start reading this book you will be swept up by the imagery this book paints and with how gracefully and with what great care it treats its characters who are nothing short of epic.
It was great joy to read this book and the only fault of this book is that it ends.
Cover Art by Paul Richmond. The cover of this book is beautiful. It truly depicts what this book sets out to achieve and what it succeeds in doing.
September 16, 2016
Accolades and admiration for a very well-written book!
Once in a New Moon, our paths are afforded an experience that epitomizes grace, etched moments that speak in volumes all their own. Rare blessings of something fine are these glimpses into something or someone, and once our heart has been touched, we hold the revealings dear, always.
This can be said of distinct individuals, a precious piece of art, the aromas of certain food dishes which return us to a favorite moment in time, and, indeed, our favorite books.
The Prince of Psalms is unique. Guided by word-artisan Eric Shaw Quinn, this tome that spans time forever exalts (far over any morality judgment) and narrates what is simply a love story for all time. It tells the story of the Prince that remains true forever.
Revealing this old, familiar story, based on scriptural passages of David and Goliath, David and King Saul and David and Prince Jonathan, this book is akin to opening an old trunk in the attic. As you rummage through the treasured keepsakes, all familiarity returns as you remember them, only this time, you pay more attention, you understand more fully, and the Biblical world which was seemingly dull and passe’ is now more clearly revealed in this fictional telling, becoming vivid with its richness and magnetism. If only this writer would set his heart and hand to more writings that, upon his fuller description and detail, somehow make the old, well-loved stories better and somehow, new.
The Prince’s Psalm is beautiful. And it has earned a spot in my library, now a favorite, alongside precious books that I consider to be pearls. Thanks to you, Eric Shaw Quinn, for the intricate re-telling of this epic tale, for your understanding and act of love in writing this book, is a job very well done.
Once in a New Moon, our paths are afforded an experience that epitomizes grace, etched moments that speak in volumes all their own. Rare blessings of something fine are these glimpses into something or someone, and once our heart has been touched, we hold the revealings dear, always.
This can be said of distinct individuals, a precious piece of art, the aromas of certain food dishes which return us to a favorite moment in time, and, indeed, our favorite books.
The Prince of Psalms is unique. Guided by word-artisan Eric Shaw Quinn, this tome that spans time forever exalts (far over any morality judgment) and narrates what is simply a love story for all time. It tells the story of the Prince that remains true forever.
Revealing this old, familiar story, based on scriptural passages of David and Goliath, David and King Saul and David and Prince Jonathan, this book is akin to opening an old trunk in the attic. As you rummage through the treasured keepsakes, all familiarity returns as you remember them, only this time, you pay more attention, you understand more fully, and the Biblical world which was seemingly dull and passe’ is now more clearly revealed in this fictional telling, becoming vivid with its richness and magnetism. If only this writer would set his heart and hand to more writings that, upon his fuller description and detail, somehow make the old, well-loved stories better and somehow, new.
The Prince’s Psalm is beautiful. And it has earned a spot in my library, now a favorite, alongside precious books that I consider to be pearls. Thanks to you, Eric Shaw Quinn, for the intricate re-telling of this epic tale, for your understanding and act of love in writing this book, is a job very well done.
January 28, 2017
EPIC!
I am so glad and grateful that this book exists. It is an impressively engaging and powerful telling of the epic saga that is David and Johnathan's story from the bible. Yes, it is angsty but also powerfully moving, thrilling and engaging. It took a while for me to adjust to the writing style and found sections a little longer/verbose than I would have liked them to be ... but I still very much enjoyed this and rediscovering a story that I actually knew very little about. It is not a section of the bible that gets a great deal of exposure in most churches/schools. There are certainly many merits to David's story ... it is a tale of our times, exploring many themes including corruption, greed, ego, sexuality, fear/war, faith/superstition ... among other things. What it does not do well (probably a testament to the times it was written in) is deal with women fairly/justly. To our modern sensibilities, the way women are portrayed and badly used is unnerving /upsetting ... but it is what it is and probably historically accurate? Either way, that was hard to stomach but I did still love David/Johnathan and grieved for them deeply ... and yes, this is a sad book so be prepared for that. But well worth it ... definitely, recommended ... particularly if you loved The Song of Achilles, there are many similarities here.
I am so glad and grateful that this book exists. It is an impressively engaging and powerful telling of the epic saga that is David and Johnathan's story from the bible. Yes, it is angsty but also powerfully moving, thrilling and engaging. It took a while for me to adjust to the writing style and found sections a little longer/verbose than I would have liked them to be ... but I still very much enjoyed this and rediscovering a story that I actually knew very little about. It is not a section of the bible that gets a great deal of exposure in most churches/schools. There are certainly many merits to David's story ... it is a tale of our times, exploring many themes including corruption, greed, ego, sexuality, fear/war, faith/superstition ... among other things. What it does not do well (probably a testament to the times it was written in) is deal with women fairly/justly. To our modern sensibilities, the way women are portrayed and badly used is unnerving /upsetting ... but it is what it is and probably historically accurate? Either way, that was hard to stomach but I did still love David/Johnathan and grieved for them deeply ... and yes, this is a sad book so be prepared for that. But well worth it ... definitely, recommended ... particularly if you loved The Song of Achilles, there are many similarities here.
September 1, 2016
I have often baulked at biblically inspired novels (not eluding to similarly inspired writings of another author known and loved by this one) , but found true delight in reading this. King David had always been an iconic hero of mine though I did not know much of the story, since the original bible is such a good read (sic); I gleamed much insight from this novel from Eric Shaw Quinn.
The writing style was intense but beautifully clipped. Short chapters in a poetic prose like the psalms of the title. It was easy to read and lay down; to think and digest each chapter before reading on.
Any seeking a true biblical narrative will be disappointed with the dramatic liberties taken in creating a story. I, on the other hand, was not seeking such a cut-and-dried mythical telling of the man. The fleshing out of the characters as people is what made it for me.
Of course I was attracted to Mr Shaw Quinns interpretation of David and Jonathan's romantic relationship, and in this I was not disappointed. Accepting this as at least another interpretation of the man will only make some of the themes and thoughts raising from this telling a great interest to other, perhaps more learned reads.
The writing style was intense but beautifully clipped. Short chapters in a poetic prose like the psalms of the title. It was easy to read and lay down; to think and digest each chapter before reading on.
Any seeking a true biblical narrative will be disappointed with the dramatic liberties taken in creating a story. I, on the other hand, was not seeking such a cut-and-dried mythical telling of the man. The fleshing out of the characters as people is what made it for me.
Of course I was attracted to Mr Shaw Quinns interpretation of David and Jonathan's romantic relationship, and in this I was not disappointed. Accepting this as at least another interpretation of the man will only make some of the themes and thoughts raising from this telling a great interest to other, perhaps more learned reads.
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