olga_naden's review
3.0
Adriana Valerio is a historian and a theologian. It is very clear that she has an incredible knowledge about Mary Magdalene, but this book reads like a scholarly essay. It's a great resource of vast information and facts given without much interpretation, more of a dry historical source than a spiritual book I expected. If you're looking at scholarly analysis of Magdalene through the ages, in scripture, history & art, this book is for you.
awrathall's review
4.0
The treatment of the Magdalene in historical, religious and artistic spheres is a topic which I have great personal interest in, and Valerio managed - in a strikingly short text - to offer a compelling and well-founded summary of the various ways her legacies and attributes have been preserved, transformed, or actively twisted for misogynistic means throughout history. She explores the primary literature (including the apocryphal and Gnostic gospels) in great detail to sus out exactly what details about the Magdalene were initially present, and which were added by later actors. For instance, there is no reference to her being ‘sinful’ in any way in any gospel - this was merely extrapolated from a reference to ‘demons’ that had been expelled from her, (which in contemporary use was more likely to mean an issue of mental health or stability than a vice in the later Medieval style).
The only issue I have with the book is that often Valerio would introduce a new piece of evidence i.e. a book, treatise, painting etc., but then leave it there without linking it substantially to other pieces or using to further a longer argument. This was especially prevalent in chapters 4 and 5 which at times felt like a list of every possible reference to the Magdalene that the author could find within a given time frame, rather than a consistent thematic exploration.
The final chapter was exceptional, however, expanding the scope of the study to the relevance of how the Magdalene’s altering to fit existing archetypes affects the modern day position of women in Christian societies, most notably how the efforts of Churches (particularly Catholic) to revoke the Magdalene of her status as an apostle has served the political means of excluding women from positions of Church leadership.
A great and concise book, I would recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the figure of Mary Magdalene or women within Christianity in general.
The only issue I have with the book is that often Valerio would introduce a new piece of evidence i.e. a book, treatise, painting etc., but then leave it there without linking it substantially to other pieces or using to further a longer argument. This was especially prevalent in chapters 4 and 5 which at times felt like a list of every possible reference to the Magdalene that the author could find within a given time frame, rather than a consistent thematic exploration.
The final chapter was exceptional, however, expanding the scope of the study to the relevance of how the Magdalene’s altering to fit existing archetypes affects the modern day position of women in Christian societies, most notably how the efforts of Churches (particularly Catholic) to revoke the Magdalene of her status as an apostle has served the political means of excluding women from positions of Church leadership.
A great and concise book, I would recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the figure of Mary Magdalene or women within Christianity in general.
iseultofireland's review
3.0
Maybe it's because I've just read two books on Mary Magdalene, but there isn’t much new ground covered here. Still, it’s a solid exploration of the role of women in the church, Mary’s importance and how she was sidelined over the centuries due to not fitting the church’s doctrine. This book has a huge bibliography with some Italian sources I haven’t seen mentioned in other works.
The only major downsides are the lack of context, which will make this a difficult read for those not familiar with the topic, and the author’s clear bias (trying to reclaim Mary as a feminist figure).
The only major downsides are the lack of context, which will make this a difficult read for those not familiar with the topic, and the author’s clear bias (trying to reclaim Mary as a feminist figure).
whitelotusreads's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
3.0
An insightful analysis of Mary Magdalene’s role in the early foundations of Christianity and how her unique position as a female disciple and apostle was both revered and challenged by the male-dominated Church in the centuries following Jesus’ death.
caitcosentino's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
1.75
This was pretty boring. I wish there had been more storytelling involved. Also, it probably isn't a good fit to be an audiobook because of all of the parenthetical citations.