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amb3rlina's review
3.0
It's taken me a long time to move through this book because I mostly read it on Sundays. It's a nice way to create a different feel to my days on Sunday without giving up my love of novels. The story is a very interesting one and I love the fresh perspective it's given me to imagine what it must have been for the Jews who witnessed Christ's ministry first hand. Engaging story and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. Which is good since this one offers little resolution as a stand alone book.
bethgiven's review
4.0
When I’d finished the Work and the Glory, I decided to go to the Kingdom and the Crown series next. The premise sounded great: in a similar vein to Lund’s more famous series, a fictional family is followed during a pivotal moment in history: this time, during the time of Christ. Researched like a history book but as readable as a novel, it promised to provide real learning in a fun way.
And then, for some reason that I still can’t put my finger on, I couldn’t even get past the prologue. It went back to the Provo Library unread.
Four years later, I was ready to try again — and this time around, I’m loving it.
That said, I still didn’t love the beginning this time around. Too many action sequences, too many characters with long Roman and Hebrew names to suddenly keep track of, too many italicized words in foreign languages to stumble over. Way, way too much violence, it seemed — not gruesome violence, just mean people threatening each other and sometimes a few (non-graphic) scenes. Wasn’t this supposed to be a book about Christ? I asked myself as I read. He wasn’t even mentioned until about a hundred pages in, maybe more. There was just one singular passing reference to John the Baptist.
I confessed my thoughts to my friend Ashley (who’d recommended the series and loaned me the first book), and she apologized but promised it got better, that those first hundred pages or so were laying the groundwork so that everything else could be placed in context.
She was right: it did get better, and what seemed to be longwindedness proved to be necessary background.
Soon I realized that so many things that had been so abstract in my reading of the New Testament now actually had meaning: the geography (”Capernaum” wasn’t just some random point on a map anymore), the customs (there is an entire chapter, for instance, detailing events surrounding a betrothal), the people (finally I understand the difference between a Pharisee and a Saducee!). And, while the reactions of the fictional characters are obviously speculation on how some might have perceived him, Lund did an excellent job of bringing up ideas I never had considered: for example, I’ve been taught that the Christ the Messiah is the literal Son of God since I was a child, but someone looking on this Man with fresh eyes might find this incredible. Thus it gave me a new appreciation for who Christ is and what he taught.
And even the fictional storyline, which I struggled to keep up with at times, proved to be page-turning at the end: last night, Nathan had gone to bed hours before, and yet I was up, turning pages until the end. It was a good thing Ashley had loaned me one book at a time or I don’t think I would’ve been able to resist opening up the second volume once I’d closed the first!
An educational and uplifting read — I’m looking forward to the others!
And then, for some reason that I still can’t put my finger on, I couldn’t even get past the prologue. It went back to the Provo Library unread.
Four years later, I was ready to try again — and this time around, I’m loving it.
That said, I still didn’t love the beginning this time around. Too many action sequences, too many characters with long Roman and Hebrew names to suddenly keep track of, too many italicized words in foreign languages to stumble over. Way, way too much violence, it seemed — not gruesome violence, just mean people threatening each other and sometimes a few (non-graphic) scenes. Wasn’t this supposed to be a book about Christ? I asked myself as I read. He wasn’t even mentioned until about a hundred pages in, maybe more. There was just one singular passing reference to John the Baptist.
I confessed my thoughts to my friend Ashley (who’d recommended the series and loaned me the first book), and she apologized but promised it got better, that those first hundred pages or so were laying the groundwork so that everything else could be placed in context.
She was right: it did get better, and what seemed to be longwindedness proved to be necessary background.
Soon I realized that so many things that had been so abstract in my reading of the New Testament now actually had meaning: the geography (”Capernaum” wasn’t just some random point on a map anymore), the customs (there is an entire chapter, for instance, detailing events surrounding a betrothal), the people (finally I understand the difference between a Pharisee and a Saducee!). And, while the reactions of the fictional characters are obviously speculation on how some might have perceived him, Lund did an excellent job of bringing up ideas I never had considered: for example, I’ve been taught that the Christ the Messiah is the literal Son of God since I was a child, but someone looking on this Man with fresh eyes might find this incredible. Thus it gave me a new appreciation for who Christ is and what he taught.
And even the fictional storyline, which I struggled to keep up with at times, proved to be page-turning at the end: last night, Nathan had gone to bed hours before, and yet I was up, turning pages until the end. It was a good thing Ashley had loaned me one book at a time or I don’t think I would’ve been able to resist opening up the second volume once I’d closed the first!
An educational and uplifting read — I’m looking forward to the others!
rainydaydreamer's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
mrjesse's review
5.0
My dad tried to get me to read this series forever. Finally, when I'd exhausted my supply of reading material in quarantine, I grudgingly agreed to try them--and now I regret having waited that long!
Basic summary: David ben Joseph, a powerful merchant in Capernaum, and his family, begin hearing about someone named Jesus who claims to be the Messiah. David is quick to accept him; however, others in his family, like his headstrong Zealot son Simeon, don't like Jesus' message of love and forgiveness; they are looking for a Messiah who will crush the oppressive Romans in battle.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, wealthy Miriam bat Mordechai and her servant Livia also hear about Jesus...but Miriam's powerful Sadducee father, Mordechai, wants Jesus stopped before things grow too out of hand.
Okay, I'm not very good at summarizing books...just read it! The actual book is way better than my attempt to tell you about it.
Anyway, this book is phenomenal. It helped me see Jesus as a person, more relatable, as someone who laughed and smiled and cried and celebrated. Not only the authors depiction of Jesus did I love, but also all of the fictional characters. I also liked the author's interpretation of some of the parables Jesus taught. (When the characters discuss the parables with one another.) It helped me understand them better.
5 stars! I'd give it 10 if I could!
Basic summary: David ben Joseph, a powerful merchant in Capernaum, and his family, begin hearing about someone named Jesus who claims to be the Messiah. David is quick to accept him; however, others in his family, like his headstrong Zealot son Simeon, don't like Jesus' message of love and forgiveness; they are looking for a Messiah who will crush the oppressive Romans in battle.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, wealthy Miriam bat Mordechai and her servant Livia also hear about Jesus...but Miriam's powerful Sadducee father, Mordechai, wants Jesus stopped before things grow too out of hand.
Okay, I'm not very good at summarizing books...just read it! The actual book is way better than my attempt to tell you about it.
Anyway, this book is phenomenal. It helped me see Jesus as a person, more relatable, as someone who laughed and smiled and cried and celebrated. Not only the authors depiction of Jesus did I love, but also all of the fictional characters. I also liked the author's interpretation of some of the parables Jesus taught. (When the characters discuss the parables with one another.) It helped me understand them better.
5 stars! I'd give it 10 if I could!
herliterarytravels's review
5.0
I just loved these books. The historical aspect is so interesting, educational and inspiring, while perfectly woven into the fabric of an amazing novel. I actually felt like I was learning and growing with the characters and tried to imagine what it must have been like to be in Jesus' presence. Lund puts into words emotions I could never explain. You just fall in love with the characters, real and fictional and loathe the stiff-neckedness and corrupt people who were just too proud to even look at the Savior to see who He really was. Would highly recommend this to anyone!
sallyluvs2read's review
5.0
This is the first of a trilogy. A historical fictin during the time of the last few years of Christ's ministry. If you loved Work and the Glory, you will love this series.
readerturnedwriter's review
5.0
This is one of my favorite trilogies. It is so well done, it blew me away. I learned so much, reading these books, about the time and history around the new testament times and helped me understand those scriptures in a way that I never have before. It has also increased my appreciation and awe of the atonement and Jesus Christ. Gerald Lund knew so much before he wrote these books and it came through in every part of the story.
pinkglemonade's review
4.0
Don't remember a lot about this book but I read it in high school, and I know I really liked it.
1morechapterplz's review
5.0
My dad tried to get me to read this series forever. Finally, when I'd exhausted my supply of reading material in quarantine, I grudgingly agreed to try them--and now I regret having waited that long!
Basic summary: David ben Joseph, a powerful merchant in Capernaum, and his family, begin hearing about someone named Jesus who claims to be the Messiah. David is quick to accept him; however, others in his family, like his headstrong Zealot son Simeon, don't like Jesus' message of love and forgiveness; they are looking for a Messiah who will crush the oppressive Romans in battle.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, wealthy Miriam bat Mordechai and her servant Livia also hear about Jesus...but Miriam's powerful Sadducee father, Mordechai, wants Jesus stopped before things grow too out of hand.
Okay, I'm not very good at summarizing books...just read it! The actual book is way better than my attempt to tell you about it.
Anyway, this book is phenomenal. It helped me see Jesus as a person, more relatable, as someone who laughed and smiled and cried and celebrated. Not only the authors depiction of Jesus did I love, but also all of the fictional characters. I also liked the author's interpretation of some of the parables Jesus taught. (When the characters discuss the parables with one another.) It helped me understand them better.
5 stars! I'd give it 10 if I could!
Basic summary: David ben Joseph, a powerful merchant in Capernaum, and his family, begin hearing about someone named Jesus who claims to be the Messiah. David is quick to accept him; however, others in his family, like his headstrong Zealot son Simeon, don't like Jesus' message of love and forgiveness; they are looking for a Messiah who will crush the oppressive Romans in battle.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, wealthy Miriam bat Mordechai and her servant Livia also hear about Jesus...but Miriam's powerful Sadducee father, Mordechai, wants Jesus stopped before things grow too out of hand.
Okay, I'm not very good at summarizing books...just read it! The actual book is way better than my attempt to tell you about it.
Anyway, this book is phenomenal. It helped me see Jesus as a person, more relatable, as someone who laughed and smiled and cried and celebrated. Not only the authors depiction of Jesus did I love, but also all of the fictional characters. I also liked the author's interpretation of some of the parables Jesus taught. (When the characters discuss the parables with one another.) It helped me understand them better.
5 stars! I'd give it 10 if I could!
bluebellkell's review
4.0
Gerald Lund is such a talented author! I love this trilogy. The sheer amount of research that had to have gone into this book is astounding! It really painted a wonderful picture of Jerusalem in the days of Christ, and the story was more than believable.