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brandidean's review against another edition
I can't decide how many stars to give this. It was really interesting ... at times. But REALLY slow at times. (I wouldn't have gotten through the first hundredish pages if it wasn't a book club book.)
It seemed clear that she'd done a TON of research ... at times. But then crazy inconsistencies would pop up. Not things that would serve the stories, but side notes or phrases that just wouldn't make any sense of you knew what you were talking about.
On the other hand, all her research served her poorly in some places -- why use three different names for each character??? It was needlessly confusing.
And there were characters and plot lines that just never really went anywhere or paid off in any useful way.
That said, it did make for interesting discussion at book club, and I can't really say I disliked it.
It seemed clear that she'd done a TON of research ... at times. But then crazy inconsistencies would pop up. Not things that would serve the stories, but side notes or phrases that just wouldn't make any sense of you knew what you were talking about.
On the other hand, all her research served her poorly in some places -- why use three different names for each character??? It was needlessly confusing.
And there were characters and plot lines that just never really went anywhere or paid off in any useful way.
That said, it did make for interesting discussion at book club, and I can't really say I disliked it.
thayawar's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this book, but at times really struggled to get into it:( the start was so great and such a intelligent and sensitive narrative is constructed throughout but often a struggle!
helmituuli's review against another edition
2.5
There were some interesting concepts and twists, but for some reason this just didn't work for me. It felt like a mishmash of philosophical ideas and apocryphal stories without a strong throughline or message. Fun thought experiment, but not much else.
This novel had one of my pet peeves in gospel retellings: the romanticization of Jesus' relationships with his disciples. I don't mind that it's heresy, that doesn't bother me. What I find frustrating is our obsession with romantic and/or sexual relationships. It's as if people can't imagine a meaningful, loving relationship without romantic or sexual love. Religious texts are counter-cultural in that aspect, they elevate friendship and other relationship forms. Once these relationships are twisted back into our amatonormative framework, I find they lose a lot of their meaning. I always wonder why modern culture is so reluctant to explore meaningful relationships outside of the dominant cultural view. Especially as this novel wants to portray a feminist hero of sorts (at least I think that's what it's aiming for). Wouldn't it be much more poignant if she found her value outside a heterosexual, romantic relationship? Granted, this is just my personal pet peeve, others might find some value in imagining the gospel story this way.
This novel had one of my pet peeves in gospel retellings: the romanticization of Jesus' relationships with his disciples. I don't mind that it's heresy, that doesn't bother me. What I find frustrating is our obsession with romantic and/or sexual relationships. It's as if people can't imagine a meaningful, loving relationship without romantic or sexual love. Religious texts are counter-cultural in that aspect, they elevate friendship and other relationship forms. Once these relationships are twisted back into our amatonormative framework, I find they lose a lot of their meaning. I always wonder why modern culture is so reluctant to explore meaningful relationships outside of the dominant cultural view. Especially as this novel wants to portray a feminist hero of sorts (at least I think that's what it's aiming for). Wouldn't it be much more poignant if she found her value outside a heterosexual, romantic relationship? Granted, this is just my personal pet peeve, others might find some value in imagining the gospel story this way.
r4chel_lee's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A lot of information. Slow paced, but a really interesting take on the life of Christ and how the prophecies of a Jewish Messiah were fulfilled. It's really interesting to read feminine takes on the works of antiquity, fictional or not. That being said, I do wish it was faster paced, and that the the names used were more solid. I understand we often have the merging of Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and other names, but calling each individual by 2 or 3 names was very confusing especially as an audiobook.
fionab_16's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
amdkemp's review against another edition
3.0
I had a hard time getting into this book but by the end found it very intriguing and thought provoking. Based more on logic and philosophy then faith, the story was a different take on Mary Margdalene, Jesus and other biblical characters.
annetjeberg's review against another edition
2.0
I tried to love it, but it was so slow, and I often felt I was lost. So many names. So much talking about "deep thoughts". I thought I could handle it all, and I was really looking forward to reading this, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me :(
5fourteen's review against another edition
3.0
Let's just say I have mixed feelings about this book.
dee_dee_k's review against another edition
1.0
This book is terrible! My only DNF ever. I was looking for a story along the line of The Red Tent, this was not it! Too much religious philosophy....yawn.