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solusipse's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Slavery, and Blood
Minor: Cursing, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, and Pandemic/Epidemic
katreads2022's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Obviously, a non-canonical “Gospel” is blasphemous. The inversions presented in this novel are compelling because they offer a different chronology of a story so familiar. The narrator, an omnipresent yet strangely reminiscent figure, guides the reader through a retelling of Jesus Christ’s life that will surely scandalize some. At times vaguely satirical, Saramago captures a Biblical setting fairly well despite some clumsy modern flourishes. EGREGIOUS sexist commentary further drags down the writing.
“Gospel” is interesting, with a few interesting insights in to Christian theology because of its creative reversals. Both the content and prose are heavy, making this novel inaccessible and perhaps not worthwhile for most.
Graphic: Sexism and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Rape
rzh's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
seanml's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Sexism and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Stalking, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War