Reviews

Christodora by Tim Murphy

maia_with_an_i's review against another edition

4.0

4.5. Wow! What a read. I love books that have overlapping and connecting storylines, and this is one of those books. There was so much depth in each other characters, and I found myself rooting for all of them (even if they weren’t perfect all the time).
This book brings humanity and life to those who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, mental illness, and substance abuse, and it is a must read.

aoifejacob's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

timothyjmcl's review against another edition

2.0

This book sets the stage for a sprawling history, but never delivers. It’s at times about gentrification, other times about AIDS and other times about addiction. But the author’s attentions seem too divided to deliver compelling storylines about each. Gay characters are relegated to secondary, even tertiary characters in a story about the AIDS epidemic. The topic of gentrification is tossed aside after the first chapter (odd for a book named after a building that’s a symbol of it). The main characters are barely likable and the second half of the book builds to a very disturbing revelation that never comes. The web of characters is vast and interesting, but it fails to catch anything.

gdgreer's review against another edition

4.0

Book Club 2017

buddy524's review against another edition

3.0

Murphy tells the tale of a family through the lens of the AIDS crisis. The narration, which jumps back and forth, proved to be a bit distracting at times. However, the strength for Murphy is the characters he created. They are rather layered, with a few exceptions. The structure seemed to take away from getting invested in the plot and even the characters. The important aspect for me was this idea of family. It's not so much about the individual characters but rather the family, and friends, as a whole.

janinagnes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lthale's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

4.0

I loved this story and the writing, but boy did I struggle with the characters!  This has been compared in nearly every review I've read to The Great Believers, which I get, but this was almost as much as about addiction as the fight for justice during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, and I wasn't prepared for that.  I found the majority of the characters we follow to be extremely self-centered, and I had to grit my teeth A LOT.  I know that comes along with addiction, but even those not fighting addiction seemed that way to me (including the family at the center of the book) and it made it difficult for me to get invested in them beyond the larger story, which I loved.  I think if my expectations had been different going in, that wouldn't have been as big of impact. 
All of that said, I absolutely binged this book in an audio/print tandem read on a quick trip to the beach and both formats were great.  Do be advised that their are some drug fueled sex scenes that were very disturbing to read, which is doubtless the point, and well done.  That's not a criticism at all, just a warning.  
I do think I'll try more of Tim Murphy, but not sure which one.  Suggestions, dear readers?

elisefarmer's review against another edition

4.0

This tuned into something unexpected, about the bond beween non-biological mothers and the children they raise, but I absolutely loved it. Personally I'd loved a bit of a fuller star to this novel, with a bit more of the story set in the late 19th and early 20th Century, but I was absolutely hooked and would roundly recommend.

biancarogers's review against another edition

5.0

Tim Murphy's Christodora is a sweeping saga set in New York City, centering on the eponymous building and its inhabitants across decades. Against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, Murphy weaves a complex tapestry of interconnected lives, exploring themes of love, loss, addiction, and identity with raw authenticity.

The narrative deftly shifts between timelines, offering intimate portraits of activists, artists, and addicts as they navigate personal struggles and societal upheavals. Through their eyes, readers witness the city's evolution and the profound impact of the AIDS crisis. Murphy's characters are deeply human, each battling their own demons while seeking connection and purpose.

With prose that is both heartbreaking and hopeful, Christodora celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. It stands as a powerful testament to the strength of community and the enduring nature of compassion. This novel is a must-read for lovers of literary fiction who appreciate nuanced explorations of social issues and the complexities of urban life.

vge___'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.75