So I like reading a lot, and have always wanted to read the Bible.
I'm not really religious, but I hesitate to say that because many people who say that they aren't religious have great disdain for religion and look for ways to contradict or insult it. That's not me. I'm reading the Bible because I want to, not to critique it. I just wanted to get that out of the way.

So, my lady got me a Bible for my birthday in mid June of last year. I've been reading it pretty regularly since then and am about half way through now (I just finished Job tonight and have arrived at Psalms). I knew it'd be difficult and kind of daunting, so I've kept it as my secondary reading. I basically read it between books and when I want something to read on my own (my wife and I have started reading books together, so instead of reading ahead, I read the Bible).

I actually switched Bibles after I spied a box full of books next to the dumpster after the neighborhood garage sale, and rescued a great student Bible. I like this student Bible much better than the first one. It has a bunch of different reading plans, lots of various commentary in little bubbles, full color maps in the back, plenty of footnotes for conversions and alternate translations, and a good index and lists of popular passages. I am more easily able to identify famous passages, for instance, when I was reading the other Bible, I read right through the part about Joseph and the Multicolored Coat without even realizing it.

There are a lot of things about the Bible that I wasn't expecting, mainly the difference in size between the Old and New Testaments, and that Jesus doesn't even come into the picture until the Old Testament. I'm really interested to read about all the angels and demons and stuff. There have been a few angels so far, and Satan showed up for the first time in Job. It's been a tough, but rewarding read so far.

Anyone ever read the whole thing before? I'm also not following any of the reading plans and am just reading it straight through. My favorite parts so far have been Judges, Job, and Samuel.