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laporziuncula's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for really liking this book, but I was pretty disappointed in it. I vacillated between giving it a two at times, a four at others. I was going to give it a 3 but honestly now that I'm reviewing it I can't even give it that.
I would not really call it a novel about St. Benedict. It's really about the political intrigues in Rome during the Gothic reign of Italy. St. Benedict shows up very rarely and briefly and the times when he does it often seems a bit forced, like de Wohl realized he hadn't mentioned him for a long time and had to throw something in. It's often just a vague reference that "the holy man on the mountain was the one person that knew such and such a thing was going to happen."
It was somewhat interesting for awhile but I lost more and more interest as the book dragged on. It didn't help that the characters that feature most prominently are so incredibly unlikable. I found it hard to follow the plot but that may have been because my eyes were glazing over from boredom of chapter after chapter describing someone having other people killed.
It's really too bad, I've loved de Wohl's novels most of the time but I honestly really wish I could get back the hours I spent reading this. Meh. It does have some lovely prose, I'll give it that.
I would not really call it a novel about St. Benedict. It's really about the political intrigues in Rome during the Gothic reign of Italy. St. Benedict shows up very rarely and briefly and the times when he does it often seems a bit forced, like de Wohl realized he hadn't mentioned him for a long time and had to throw something in. It's often just a vague reference that "the holy man on the mountain was the one person that knew such and such a thing was going to happen."
It was somewhat interesting for awhile but I lost more and more interest as the book dragged on. It didn't help that the characters that feature most prominently are so incredibly unlikable. I found it hard to follow the plot but that may have been because my eyes were glazing over from boredom of chapter after chapter describing someone having other people killed.
It's really too bad, I've loved de Wohl's novels most of the time but I honestly really wish I could get back the hours I spent reading this. Meh. It does have some lovely prose, I'll give it that.
freder1ck's review against another edition
4.0
Great account of the lives of Boethius and Benedict. Looking at Wikipedia afterward, I saw that Boethius and Benedict were born about the same time, and that Boethius is a Christian martyr. De Wohl has a knack for making history vivid with contemporary implications.
castiellucis's review against another edition
3.0
So... I don't hate the book, but I am a bit disappointed. It seems like the author was confused about which story to tell. Does the story have St. Benedict in it? Yes. But it doesn't feel like we got to know a lot about him. The story was more centered around the political situation and Gothic invasion of Rome, making Benedict's story completely secondary, as well as making him a supporting character.
Or, here's an idea, maybe Louis de Wohl intended to show the 'main' character's modesty by not letting him overshadow the problems people faced during those difficult times. If that was the case, I must say it's a brilliant characterization of the book which then, by itself, served as a personification of the aforementioned saint and his work as an individual.
Other things that threw me off a bit as an archaeologist, are some descriptions of medical issues of the people, which seemed way too modern for the sixth-century plot setting.
Anyway, it was a good book if you put some thought into what it may represent, but it lacks much of the titular character's story.
Or, here's an idea, maybe Louis de Wohl intended to show the 'main' character's modesty by not letting him overshadow the problems people faced during those difficult times. If that was the case, I must say it's a brilliant characterization of the book which then, by itself, served as a personification of the aforementioned saint and his work as an individual.
Other things that threw me off a bit as an archaeologist, are some descriptions of medical issues of the people, which seemed way too modern for the sixth-century plot setting.
Anyway, it was a good book if you put some thought into what it may represent, but it lacks much of the titular character's story.
lizzynotbennet's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
emilymoll96's review against another edition
5.0
“He passed a weary hand over his forehead. ‘I am leaving Rome,’ he said.
‘What? You are not giving up your studies?’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘But...why?’
‘There must be a shorter way and a more direct one.’
‘Where to?’
‘To God.’”
Captivating from page one, Louis de Wohl knows how to bring the Saints to life. This was a wonderful read about St. Benedict and what the state of the world was when he started his monasteries. As many have suggested, we are in a similar state today and are in need of a new St. Benedict.
‘What? You are not giving up your studies?’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘But...why?’
‘There must be a shorter way and a more direct one.’
‘Where to?’
‘To God.’”
Captivating from page one, Louis de Wohl knows how to bring the Saints to life. This was a wonderful read about St. Benedict and what the state of the world was when he started his monasteries. As many have suggested, we are in a similar state today and are in need of a new St. Benedict.
abeckman25's review against another edition
4.0
*3.5 stars*
The book focused more on the politics and rulers at the time rather than the life of Saint Benedict. The last 50 or so pages helped tie things together well, but I struggled with all of the names and geographic locations mentioned throughout the book.
The book focused more on the politics and rulers at the time rather than the life of Saint Benedict. The last 50 or so pages helped tie things together well, but I struggled with all of the names and geographic locations mentioned throughout the book.
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