Gian Erik M. Adao has rewritten the classic bible story Jonah and the Big Fish as a piece of “biblical fan-fiction,” adding a Filipino touch to his own tale, Si Jonas at ang Malaking Isda.
Originally told in the book of Jonah in the bible, the story follows the eponymous prophet who is tasked by God to preach repentance to the citizens of Nineveh and prophesize its destruction. Jonah, however, flees instead, boarding a ship to escape the responsibility placed upon him, eventually being swallowed by a big fish and left to repent until he is redeemed in his escape.
In Adao’s work, he focuses on rewriting the story through the lens of friendship and steering away from the narrative of fear in disobeying a higher being.
“It’s a gentle retelling that offers a perspective that feels both familiar and quietly new. But more than just a retelling, this is a remembering. Of wonder. Of courage. Of the ache to belong,” shared Gian in a post about his writing.
Another change in the story is how Nineveh, the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, is treated. Instead of being feared and avoided, it becomes a place a person pursues. The retelling promises a new idea of not running away from surface punishment, as it may be a door to new possibilities.
For more information about the book and its availability, you can check out the book’s Facebook page here.
What do you think about this retelling of a classic bible story? Tell us in the comments!