Formatting
What is a Reader's Bible? This article may help answer in more detail. Basically, it's the bare text of the Bible, with all the study notes, cross-references, special features, and even verse nd chapter numbers removed. This makes it an uninterrupted, unimpeded, and simplistic, reading experience. It's made for those that what to focus on the text, story, and atmosphere of the Bible itself, without all the man-made helps and formatting that can get in the way at times. The only formatting features are the subtle crosses and lines at major subject matter shifts, and verse ranges, page number, and book title in the top margins of the page.
However, unlike other reading Bibles, this one has added it's own twist. First, this is only the New Testament books, as other "Immerse" volumes contain the Old Testament. Also, rather than maintain the traditional ordering of the NT books, this reading Bible has shifted the book order around in a unique way. Notably, it gathers material based mostly on author, but also on the main focus or feel of the book. Jewish books like Matthew, James and Jude are placed in sequence, as are the Gospel of Mark and Peter's epistles, in keeping with Mark's heavy reliance on Peter's testimony for his Gospel. This creates new thematic and authorial contexts for the books, highlighting their continuity and similar focuses.
Translation
The biblical text is the New Living Translation. Honestly, NLT isn't my favorite translation. I lean towards formal equivalence, rather than the very functional equivalence of the NLT. Personally, I'd debate about putting the NLT on the edge of translation and paraphrase. It feels like a little of both. However, all that aside, the incredible readability of the NLT is perfect for this kind of specialty Bible. It fits in perfectly with the "paperback novel" feel.
Binding/Typesetting
Sadly, the printing and binding of this book just feels cheap. Really cheap. I understand that the publishers want to maximize profits, but $17 for just the New Testament simply doesn't feel like I'm holding my money's worth. The book itself is more narrow and tall than most paperbacks, which feels unusual. However, I feel that's for the best. The narrow pages limit the words per line, which make the book far more comfortable and readable than it would be otherwise.
The typography is functional, but not noteworthy. (Perhaps I'm spoiled by Crossway and 2K Denmark's great work in other Bibles.) Poetry is offset by lines, and subparagraphs in narratives are also indented slightly. The font is comfortable and readable, though a little on the small side. It is not striking in quality, or especially beautiful or noteworthy.
Conclusion
Overall, as I said before, $17 for the somewhat cheap feeling paperback just doesn't feel right. Especially when you can pick up a high quality, hardcover, single volume Reader's Bible of the entirety of Scripture, for about double that price in your choice of KJV, NKJV, CSB, ESV, or NIV. To complete the 6-volume Immerse set would cost around $100, which could also net you the incredibly high-class 6-volume set of ESV hardbacks with the case, while for the price of two Immerse sets, you could get the legendary Bibliotheca set. Honestly, unless the price drops considerably, or one really, really likes the NLT for some reason, I don't see the point in picking up these books. They are decent for what they are, but when compared with the competition, they simply fall short. The unique arrangement of books is really cool, but just not worth the investment in my mind.
But if you want, you may buy it Christian Book.
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