lowercase_em's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
ellies_shelf's review against another edition
3.0
My penultimate read from the International Booker shortlist, this is a well-written, well-translated novel which starts off with an interesting premise: a boy, found as a baby in a shed on a Caribbean island, grows up as a sort of ‘New World Jesus’.
Others have compared this to Monty Python’s The Life of Brian, and it makes more sense to read this as parody or satire than as a serious depiction of the second coming of Jesus in the Caribbean. Nevertheless, this book loses its way: I never found it laugh-out-loud funny, and if it is satire, it’s not clear what it’s supposed to be satirising. The parodic tone, with the main character Pascal carrying out Biblical actions as if compelled & without knowing why, clashes with some of the serious post-colonial themes Condé introduces. Moreover, the structure is strange: the novel is too long for what it is, and follows a structure of repeating cycles which see Pascal moving from one place to another, meeting a woman, reflecting on his life, before it all starts again somewhere else.
Pascal is by no means a heroic figure - he has little real motivation for anything (including tracking down his father, although he expresses frustration when he can’t), and falls in lust with women very quickly before leaving them just as quickly. Nevertheless, Pascal’s bewilderment after a cult grows up around him without him noticing (reminiscent of [b:Vernon Subutex 3|34798604|Vernon Subutex 3 (Vernon Subutex, #3)|Virginie Despentes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498300876l/34798604._SX50_.jpg|55997853]) is a clever part of the novel in its implications about the suggestibility of human nature.
Overall I feel that this novel was shortlisted for the IBP as a tribute to Condé’s life and work rather than for the literary merits of this novel. Nevertheless, I’m glad I’ve had an introduction to this author’s work and will be seeking out earlier novels.
Others have compared this to Monty Python’s The Life of Brian, and it makes more sense to read this as parody or satire than as a serious depiction of the second coming of Jesus in the Caribbean. Nevertheless, this book loses its way: I never found it laugh-out-loud funny, and if it is satire, it’s not clear what it’s supposed to be satirising. The parodic tone, with the main character Pascal carrying out Biblical actions as if compelled & without knowing why, clashes with some of the serious post-colonial themes Condé introduces. Moreover, the structure is strange: the novel is too long for what it is, and follows a structure of repeating cycles which see Pascal moving from one place to another, meeting a woman, reflecting on his life, before it all starts again somewhere else.
Pascal is by no means a heroic figure - he has little real motivation for anything (including tracking down his father, although he expresses frustration when he can’t), and falls in lust with women very quickly before leaving them just as quickly. Nevertheless, Pascal’s bewilderment after a cult grows up around him without him noticing (reminiscent of [b:Vernon Subutex 3|34798604|Vernon Subutex 3 (Vernon Subutex, #3)|Virginie Despentes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498300876l/34798604._SX50_.jpg|55997853]) is a clever part of the novel in its implications about the suggestibility of human nature.
Overall I feel that this novel was shortlisted for the IBP as a tribute to Condé’s life and work rather than for the literary merits of this novel. Nevertheless, I’m glad I’ve had an introduction to this author’s work and will be seeking out earlier novels.
seeceeread's review
3.5
💭 "Where do I come from? Why am I on this earth? Where am I going?"
Pascal, orphaned and claimed on an Easter day, is on a perpetual existential quest. A poor student who is nonetheless determined to become a philosophical great and a professor of truths, he passes much of his adulthood as a sort of intellectual diva: writing, expounding and pondering – leaving those who care for him to do the basics, like cook his food and attend to quotidian vagaries. Somehow, he is deemed compelling, noteworthy, meriting study ... the result of his ambiguous racial presentation, his mysterious birth father's spiritual guru status, and a series of events some dub miracles. As a Professional Inquirer who never has satisfactory answers, Pascal undertakes an epic quest. Along the way, he finds several lovers, dutiful followers, diverse political and religious approaches to governance, and wold intrigues (for example: he is, mistakenly, wanted for murder in a gated commune). In short, Condé places the New Testament into the 21st century Americas and invites us to interpret, interrogate and giggle.
The author masterfully balances a sense of annoyance and humor with her main character and his endless searching ... and mature attention to the African diaspora and the kinds of dilemmas that underline our humanity. Quick chapters propel readers through a bursting plot, with a new element every five pages or so.
I'm no Bible scholar, so I'm sure I missed some good book references. Still, there's plenty here (and much of it isn't subtle) to catch even Abrahamic neophytes. In fact, this sent my mind skipping over intertextual connections: Millet's 𝗔 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 whimsically reaches for religious allusion while aiming for more serious topics. There's an episode of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 in which Traci touches on Morrison's selection of names as divine referents; and Nittle's exploration of 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 digs deep into Toni's synthesis of African diasporic perspectives. Plus, I just finished 𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗮𝗯 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀, with its powerful revisiting of Koranic stories.
I walk away thinking of the gulf some leave between theory and praxis. I do not believe justice is a byproduct of great thoughts; rather, we achieve justice through struggle – action.
Pascal, orphaned and claimed on an Easter day, is on a perpetual existential quest. A poor student who is nonetheless determined to become a philosophical great and a professor of truths, he passes much of his adulthood as a sort of intellectual diva: writing, expounding and pondering – leaving those who care for him to do the basics, like cook his food and attend to quotidian vagaries. Somehow, he is deemed compelling, noteworthy, meriting study ... the result of his ambiguous racial presentation, his mysterious birth father's spiritual guru status, and a series of events some dub miracles. As a Professional Inquirer who never has satisfactory answers, Pascal undertakes an epic quest. Along the way, he finds several lovers, dutiful followers, diverse political and religious approaches to governance, and wold intrigues (for example: he is, mistakenly, wanted for murder in a gated commune). In short, Condé places the New Testament into the 21st century Americas and invites us to interpret, interrogate and giggle.
The author masterfully balances a sense of annoyance and humor with her main character and his endless searching ... and mature attention to the African diaspora and the kinds of dilemmas that underline our humanity. Quick chapters propel readers through a bursting plot, with a new element every five pages or so.
I'm no Bible scholar, so I'm sure I missed some good book references. Still, there's plenty here (and much of it isn't subtle) to catch even Abrahamic neophytes. In fact, this sent my mind skipping over intertextual connections: Millet's 𝗔 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 whimsically reaches for religious allusion while aiming for more serious topics. There's an episode of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 in which Traci touches on Morrison's selection of names as divine referents; and Nittle's exploration of 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 digs deep into Toni's synthesis of African diasporic perspectives. Plus, I just finished 𝗛𝗶𝗷𝗮𝗯 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀, with its powerful revisiting of Koranic stories.
I walk away thinking of the gulf some leave between theory and praxis. I do not believe justice is a byproduct of great thoughts; rather, we achieve justice through struggle – action.
stefantonge's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
andream0885's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- 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? No
3.5
katsreads's review
4.0
this review is kinda like 4 with a ? after it. i fear i might be a little too dumb for this book, so the rating might be inflated to compensate…. i definitely enjoyed the first half more so than the second. but yeah. i don’t know.
l_donnellan's review
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
jazzzzzis's review
Just could not get into it and I think my deconstruction and current attitudes to Christianity in general certainly weren’t helping. I may pick it up and try it again, but not any time soon.
roisinsreading's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0