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brooke_city's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Unity in the work of service."
How do I even talk about this book. More than a procedural on the election of the Catholic Pope, it's a commentary on religious order and morality. The Cardinals are authority figures, supposed messengers for God. Yet, they are still men. Extremely flawed men.
"Certainty is the great enemy of unity... Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt."
The Church is supposed to be in service to the community. Yet, when there are many leaders who think they know the best direction, instead of following God, it is the parishioners who suffer.
I like that this book is a thinker. It's reflective for me who is spiritual (tho not Catholic), but is disenchanted with the organized religion part.
I liked that there was emphasis on the nuns, how they are seen as essentially maids to the men, instead of spiritual beings with thoughts as well.
And maybe that was the setup for the "twist" at the end. Which, is a commentary within itself. Benitez is a person described as intersex? But lived their entire life as a boy/man. However, chose not to have surgery bc "God doesn't make mistakes."
While I agree with the philosophy, it still feels like a shock value moment. There was no time to process the reveal before Benitez was presented as the new Pope. I'd have preferred if it was worked into the story much earlier, so we could see how it would have been handled. That would be a true testament of faith.
So for that reason, I deducted 1 star.
But 90% of the book was chef's kiss.
How do I even talk about this book. More than a procedural on the election of the Catholic Pope, it's a commentary on religious order and morality. The Cardinals are authority figures, supposed messengers for God. Yet, they are still men. Extremely flawed men.
"Certainty is the great enemy of unity... Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand in hand with doubt."
The Church is supposed to be in service to the community. Yet, when there are many leaders who think they know the best direction, instead of following God, it is the parishioners who suffer.
I like that this book is a thinker. It's reflective for me who is spiritual (tho not Catholic), but is disenchanted with the organized religion part.
And maybe that was the setup for the "twist" at the end. Which, is a commentary within itself. Benitez is a person described as intersex? But lived their entire life as a boy/man. However, chose not to have surgery bc "God doesn't make mistakes."
While I agree with the philosophy, it still feels like a shock value moment. There was no time to process the reveal before Benitez was presented as the new Pope. I'd have preferred if it was worked into the story much earlier, so we could see how it would have been handled. That would be a true testament of faith.
So for that reason, I deducted 1 star.
But 90% of the book was chef's kiss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, and Religious bigotry
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I was really excited about this book street seeing the trailer of the movie version. What a disappointment. I anticipated intrigue and drama. Instead, it was like watching CSPAN during the Kevin McCarthy votes for Speaker of the House. Even the big reveal at the end was anticlimactic. Now I’m probably going to pass on the movie too. Ugh! Wasted time!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
davidgreig's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Child abuse and Rape
scifipunk's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Misogyny, Transphobia, Islamophobia, Grief, and Religious bigotry