yousef_meska54's review against another edition
5.0
لم يسبق لي أن رأيت أحدا يسبر أغوار النفس البشرية مثل ما فعل نيكوس, لست ولعا بقراءة الروايات ولا أريد أن أصنف مثل هذا العمل عملا روائيا فهو أشبه بقبس من نور يأتي علي قلبك فيهشمه مائة قطعة ويعيد تجميعها بخفة وسلاسة من جديد
من الأعمال التي سأعاود قراءتها من جديد إن تسني لي في المستقبل فسحة من الوقت
وجاري دعس باقي أعمال نيكوس <3
من الأعمال التي سأعاود قراءتها من جديد إن تسني لي في المستقبل فسحة من الوقت
وجاري دعس باقي أعمال نيكوس <3
ioan_na's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
pennyy__'s review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bb9159's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
blueyorkie's review against another edition
3.0
The novel can always interpret in two ways: the characters have a history and a solid local anchoring in their village, and their relationships are essential. But on the other hand, they also represent easily recognizable universal archetypes. Thus, the teacher is both the pope's brother who tries to bring Greek patriotism to the village's life, but also Knowledge, unable to be heard in times of crisis and which allows tragedies to occur without intervention, a little out of fear, and a lot out of cowardice.
Likewise, we will find divine punishments and miraculous healings in history alongside concrete political considerations.
This mixture of genres has entirely unsettled me, as every time, a few magical elements slip surreptitiously into a universe that looks pretty realistic. Nevertheless, the subject of the book remains very powerful. Whether one is a believer or not, one had forced to recognize that Christ does not cease to have crucified every day. And that in such a situation, we would probably end up on the side of the executioners.
Likewise, we will find divine punishments and miraculous healings in history alongside concrete political considerations.
This mixture of genres has entirely unsettled me, as every time, a few magical elements slip surreptitiously into a universe that looks pretty realistic. Nevertheless, the subject of the book remains very powerful. Whether one is a believer or not, one had forced to recognize that Christ does not cease to have crucified every day. And that in such a situation, we would probably end up on the side of the executioners.
pagesofnectar's review against another edition
3.0
What I appreciated about this book was the way it explored the themes of religion and faith; how religion affects people's life, how different people handle faith and, most importantly, how the fanatic attachment to religious typicalities and an "empty" faith controlled by fear and ignorance can end up seriously harmful. Kazantzakis was much ahead of his time for questioning the power of the church and how it could delude the people. However, the whole story dragged and a lot of incidents were "interrupting" thd main plot. Also, as with Zorbas the Greek, I struggled trying not to cringe at the way women were treated and thought of. Hopefully, however, those are opinions supported by the characters and not Kazantzakis himself.
spiritlesscatalyst's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eely225's review against another edition
5.0
The author's style seems, to me, inseperable from that of Dostoyevsky. The difference, however, is that while Dostoyevsky's works usually traverse from darkness to a modicum of light and redemption, Kazantzakis' book starts in the light and shows that when light is fully pursued, it often leads to darkness. The theme, as I see it, is one of conversion. A few characters are compelled, almost by forces outside themselves, to take a fresh look at the life of Jesus and to take it seriously. They quickly find, however, that a life honestly lived in pursuit of the the Gospel makes them enemies of their families, the state, and even the church. Kazantzakis is not so naive that he makes the convert's experience a universal good; it is tempered by implicit warnings that constant spiritual reawakening can lead to destruction as well. But the brunt of his criticism clearly lies with rich individuals and institutions that follow the Gospel of a homeless man, Jesus. It is a deep, thought out picture of hypocrisy that certainly hasn't lost relevance for its age.
phantom_eos's review against another edition
2.0
Τα χώματα, τα δέντρα, τα ζα ανάσαναν, ξαναβρήκαν τη λευτεριά τους, δεν ζορίζουνταν πια από το εφήμερο δίποδο τέρας, που πρόβαλε μια στιγμή, παραστράτισε τα αιώνια κι έφυγε...