Reviews

The Gospel According to the New World by Maryse Condé

jazzzzzis's review against another edition

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

rebecka2023's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

njw13's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

m_peacock's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Through the first 100+ pages that make up Part 1, I thought this was a 4-star book. The allusions to the Gospels were clever, the writing was witty, and the plot moved along nicely. But in Part 2, everything bogged down. The plot seemed to go in circles with the main character, Pascal, making the same sort of bad decisions, not making any progress -- which, for a book that is at its heart a bildungsroman, is not a good thing. I can understand it making the Int'l Booker Prize longlist, but am surprised it progressed to the shortlist.

dany_casimiro's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Gospel According To The New World takes the idea of a Messiah, mainly based on Jesus Christ, and relocates it into a contemporary Caribbean setting. 

Pascal is adopted as a newborn and enjoys the advantages of a middle-class education. Told since birth that he is special, he eventually encounters his biological mother and begins digging into his past, trying to reach an absent father who is considered "a god" by many. This makes Pascal the son of a god perpetually questioning his role and his place in the world.

The only aspect in which it lacks in my opinion is the turning of the over-symbolization of Pascal's development - he does not ever seem to be critical enough towards his attitudes and choices. Nonetheless, it is a small annoyance in an intriguing take on the idea of the divine savior - one which does not shy away from complex themes such as colonialism or illegal migration.

laurengent's review against another edition

funny 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? Yes

4.5

A retelling of the bible. Loved the cleverness of the critique. Ending was great but would have loved if it was built out more. 

curlypineapple's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mrgeof's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

anusha_reads's review against another edition

medium-paced

🌏THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE NEW WORLD, MARYSE CONDE, SHORTLISTED FOR INTERNATIONAL BOOKER 2023🌏
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This is a book written in French by the Guadeloupean writer Maryse Conde and translated into English by her husband Richard Philcox.
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 A newborn is abandoned in a shed. The child, Pascal, is prophesied to be a miracle child. The owners of this place who are childless bring up Pascal. The story is about Pascal's winding journey and his experiences, his relationships. He grows up to be a man who neglects his parents, indulges in many wrongdoings, and he writes and teaches.
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 The author while narrating Pascal's story also blends in the political upheavals, crises faced by immigrants, racial discrimination, prejudice against women and more.
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 The protagonist constantly was trying to figure out who he was and what his purpose was. Throughout the book I expected him to do something that would change the world.
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 I did not like this character and probably he was meant to be that way.
 Though it is a parody with a good storyline, it had a very ambiguous ending.
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 It is an easy read and I hope to discuss this book with people who read it. 

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