Scan barcode
coreymitch5's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
eunicegoesplaces's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating, witty, funny and profound! Loved this exploration of the human condition. Quite funny asides about religion. Marisa Condé is a true master!
onnapnewo's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
cwgrieves's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marjolina's review against another edition
2.0
“He had chosen the autobiography as a genre which allowed him to tell the truth about what really happened in the colony, since the novelist has a serious problem with truth. Who is the person talking about his experiences and his adventures? Is it the novelist himself or an imaginary character or both?”
From: The Gospel According to the New World by Maryse Condé (translated from the original French by Richard Philcox)
This was my 4th book from the International Booker Longlist and if you followed my stories you know that I was struggling with this one. I don’t really know what to tell you about it. To me the writing was too detached and “van de hak op de tak” (a Dutch saying that fits perfectly in my mind and can be translated roughly to “choppy”) and it failed to spark any emotion in me except after a while boredom.
The story is a parody of the life of Jesus Christ and it feels like it should be funny but to me it just wasn’t. I found his meanderings repetitive and sometimes downright annoying, especially his relationships with women.
At parts I was wondering if maybe it just all went over my head, as I am not enormously familiar with biblical stories, however I still know the basics and it just felt too forced.
So this turned out to be my least favorite read of the longlist so far (and I also haven’t seen it on anyones shortlist prediction post…), I am curious to hear from people that did love it. Sometimes a different view helps you appreciate a book more than you can on your own.
From: The Gospel According to the New World by Maryse Condé (translated from the original French by Richard Philcox)
This was my 4th book from the International Booker Longlist and if you followed my stories you know that I was struggling with this one. I don’t really know what to tell you about it. To me the writing was too detached and “van de hak op de tak” (a Dutch saying that fits perfectly in my mind and can be translated roughly to “choppy”) and it failed to spark any emotion in me except after a while boredom.
The story is a parody of the life of Jesus Christ and it feels like it should be funny but to me it just wasn’t. I found his meanderings repetitive and sometimes downright annoying, especially his relationships with women.
At parts I was wondering if maybe it just all went over my head, as I am not enormously familiar with biblical stories, however I still know the basics and it just felt too forced.
So this turned out to be my least favorite read of the longlist so far (and I also haven’t seen it on anyones shortlist prediction post…), I am curious to hear from people that did love it. Sometimes a different view helps you appreciate a book more than you can on your own.
thirzaisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mselemir's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wamannabanana's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
missyjohnson's review against another edition
2.0
book club 2.0 May 2024 International Booker prize. not sure that I really understand much of this book and maybe what the author is trying to convey. Maybe lost in translation.... The final sentence of the book maybe the point that she was trying to get across.... Speaking of the love that the Gribaldi's had for each other; "They have understood that thanks to the love between two individuals, thanks to their hearts beating in unison, an individual can put up with suffering, disillusionment, and humiliation of all sorts and that only this love can transfigure the world and make peace on earth."
Pascal is born and left in the shed of Eulalie and Jean Pierre by his young unwed mother, Maya/Fatima. somehow he is thought to be divine. there are several components from the New Testament that are thrown in and Pascal is searching for his father. He is visited as a young adult by Espiritu, an unusual man with a strange hump on his back. This is a man that Pascal eventually refers to as his uncle. Espiritu wants Pascal to meet his real father, but he never seem to be able to catch up with him. the book seemed to jump around too much without enough cohesion. the timing of things did not seem to flow either. There would be a discussion about having a party to celebrate Pascal in two weeks, which would be Easter, then there is a four week span of Pascal dealing with trying to see his friend Judas Eluthere. the story line about the party never when anywhere. Maybe I am not understanding some of the references to French leaders and such. There are also references to other countries and Rastafarians and Haile Sallesse. a lot of this is due to the book focusing on immigrants and discrimination. Maybe the discussion with help
Pascal is born and left in the shed of Eulalie and Jean Pierre by his young unwed mother, Maya/Fatima. somehow he is thought to be divine. there are several components from the New Testament that are thrown in and Pascal is searching for his father. He is visited as a young adult by Espiritu, an unusual man with a strange hump on his back. This is a man that Pascal eventually refers to as his uncle. Espiritu wants Pascal to meet his real father, but he never seem to be able to catch up with him. the book seemed to jump around too much without enough cohesion. the timing of things did not seem to flow either. There would be a discussion about having a party to celebrate Pascal in two weeks, which would be Easter, then there is a four week span of Pascal dealing with trying to see his friend Judas Eluthere. the story line about the party never when anywhere. Maybe I am not understanding some of the references to French leaders and such. There are also references to other countries and Rastafarians and Haile Sallesse. a lot of this is due to the book focusing on immigrants and discrimination. Maybe the discussion with help