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vegandanimal's review against another edition
3.0
I can't really see why this has garnered such critical acclaim - other than the "bravery" of the subject.
Yes, it's pretty well written, and quite beautiful in places, but it's very contrived, and forgettable.
Yes, it's pretty well written, and quite beautiful in places, but it's very contrived, and forgettable.
everymanpdf's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
raymond_murphy's review
4.0
Excellent. Very short though--the novel is based on a one-woman monologue that Toibin wrote. So the length likely worked well for the play but maybe wasn't enough for this novel. Nonetheless, very powerful. Knocking Mary off the pedestal that she normally rests was both defiling and empowering.
deestreet's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
annabelfenton's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Beautiful prose detailing a unique perspective on the well-known biblical story of Jesus. It was really powerful to consider Mary’s experience of those times, and the writing was very poignant.
jesustrespalacios's review against another edition
4.0
“—¿Qué tengo que ver contigo, mujer? —preguntó, y luego otra vez, más alto, para que todos lo oyeran—. ¿Qué tengo que ver contigo, mujer?
—Soy tu madre —dije.
Pero él ya estaba hablando con los otros, utilizando palabras altisonantes y adivinanzas, y vocablos extraños y orgullosos para referirse a sí mismo y a su labor en el mundo. Le oí decir —por primera vez, y me fijé en cómo los demás inclinaban la cabeza cuando lo dijo—, le oí decir que era el Hijo de Dios.”
—Soy tu madre —dije.
Pero él ya estaba hablando con los otros, utilizando palabras altisonantes y adivinanzas, y vocablos extraños y orgullosos para referirse a sí mismo y a su labor en el mundo. Le oí decir —por primera vez, y me fijé en cómo los demás inclinaban la cabeza cuando lo dijo—, le oí decir que era el Hijo de Dios.”
tedgraham's review
4.0
A slim, but beautiful volume. Each sentence, each word, seems carefully considered, and as a whole the book reads like a monologue. It is a marvelous take on Jesus' life and death from the point of view of Mary, who speaks as a real woman, and, more importantly, a real mother.
asherlock99's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0