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rysack's review
3.0
What started as a very gruesome and gratuitous, somewhat disjointed religious novel set in the early days of Christianity became an interesting discussion (and, I'm sure, imagination) on the importance of Saul/St. Paul as the early communicator and establisher of the Christian faith.
A hard (but speedy) first two thirds gave way to a more enjoyable final two instalments. The author's note definitely fleshed out the story, as they often do, and made it that bit more enjoyable. Whilst not one I'd like to read again for a while, I feel pleased to have read it as an introduction to wider reading on the topic.
7/10
A hard (but speedy) first two thirds gave way to a more enjoyable final two instalments. The author's note definitely fleshed out the story, as they often do, and made it that bit more enjoyable. Whilst not one I'd like to read again for a while, I feel pleased to have read it as an introduction to wider reading on the topic.
7/10
meganbrookes's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
astridandlouise's review
3.0
Adelaide Inner South Book Club - February Selection
I am such a big fan of Tsiolkas. I have read his entire back catalogue and in my opinion, he is one of Australia's greatest writers. Which is why it pains me to say how much I struggled with this book. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy or relate to the subject matter; raised Roman Catholic, have heavily studied Theology and similar to Tsiolkas I have grappled for much of my life with my own religious journey and beliefs. Yet I found myself so confused at what it was he was trying to achieve or convey through this piece of work.
I went in blind: I didn't read any reviews, listen to any podcasts, seek thoughts from others; I didn't want spoilers nor did I want my mind influenced before I could form my own thoughts and opinions. Reading it felt disjointed and I struggled to bring the stories together. I'd experience peaks (Lydia 57AD, Timothy 87 AD) and then troughs. Upon completion I wanted to understand Tsiolkas' drive in writing this novel and what he was hoping to accomplish. I then sought out all the podcasts I could find that could offer me some insight (I've listed them at the bottom of this review).
These podcasts changed the entire book for me. If I had known what I know now before I began the book, this review would've been different. Upon reflection, I think the subject matter overwhelmed and consumed me, reading from a perspective of religion when I should have been reading with the perspective of humanity. This book offers a much more realistic view of slavery, class and racism during the Christian era than what we have been shown through film reenactment etc. And it is eye-opening to notice that in 2020 we're still having the same battles with race, class and displaced persons that humanity were having in 66-73CE.
Were I to reread this now, having educated myself about Tsiolkas' relationship with both Paul and religion in general, I think my view and understanding toward the text would be quite different, as would this review. However at this point in time, I'm going to absorb the book as well as the podcasts conducted with Tsiolkas' and revisit Damascus somewhere in the future.
Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading (Christos Tsiolkas):
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/christos-tsiolkas/id1225214412?i=1000459820820
Conversations (How Christos found radical compassion): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-christos-found-radical-compassion/id94688506?i=1000457862628
Soul Search (Christos Tsiolkas: Doubt on the road to Damascus):
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/christos-tsiolkas-doubt-on-the-road-to-damascus/id75423045?i=1000459354008
The Garret: Writers on Writing (Christos Tsiolkas: on Damascus):
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/christos-tsiolkas-on-damascus/id1168220938?i=1000457374442
I am such a big fan of Tsiolkas. I have read his entire back catalogue and in my opinion, he is one of Australia's greatest writers. Which is why it pains me to say how much I struggled with this book. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy or relate to the subject matter; raised Roman Catholic, have heavily studied Theology and similar to Tsiolkas I have grappled for much of my life with my own religious journey and beliefs. Yet I found myself so confused at what it was he was trying to achieve or convey through this piece of work.
I went in blind: I didn't read any reviews, listen to any podcasts, seek thoughts from others; I didn't want spoilers nor did I want my mind influenced before I could form my own thoughts and opinions. Reading it felt disjointed and I struggled to bring the stories together. I'd experience peaks (Lydia 57AD, Timothy 87 AD) and then troughs. Upon completion I wanted to understand Tsiolkas' drive in writing this novel and what he was hoping to accomplish. I then sought out all the podcasts I could find that could offer me some insight (I've listed them at the bottom of this review).
These podcasts changed the entire book for me. If I had known what I know now before I began the book, this review would've been different. Upon reflection, I think the subject matter overwhelmed and consumed me, reading from a perspective of religion when I should have been reading with the perspective of humanity. This book offers a much more realistic view of slavery, class and racism during the Christian era than what we have been shown through film reenactment etc. And it is eye-opening to notice that in 2020 we're still having the same battles with race, class and displaced persons that humanity were having in 66-73CE.
Were I to reread this now, having educated myself about Tsiolkas' relationship with both Paul and religion in general, I think my view and understanding toward the text would be quite different, as would this review. However at this point in time, I'm going to absorb the book as well as the podcasts conducted with Tsiolkas' and revisit Damascus somewhere in the future.
Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading (Christos Tsiolkas):
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/christos-tsiolkas/id1225214412?i=1000459820820
Conversations (How Christos found radical compassion): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-christos-found-radical-compassion/id94688506?i=1000457862628
Soul Search (Christos Tsiolkas: Doubt on the road to Damascus):
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/christos-tsiolkas-doubt-on-the-road-to-damascus/id75423045?i=1000459354008
The Garret: Writers on Writing (Christos Tsiolkas: on Damascus):
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/christos-tsiolkas-on-damascus/id1168220938?i=1000457374442
_sarahco's review
4.0
Despite the fact that I am a historian (and of this era, specifically), I /love/ historical fiction. It brings people and events to life in a way that academic history books by their nature don't allow. There is truth in trying to find fact, but there is also truth in using imagination to recreate how a person must have felt, and imagine what their life might have been like, what troubles, joys, and emotions they may have felt.
In Damascus, Christos Tsiolkas recreates the world of the first few decades of the early Christian movement. From Saul the persecuter, to Lydia the convert - and many others - he creates a narrative where the harsh elements of every day life - the reality of which are usually left out of the scant ancient record - are given the emotional weight they might have had in reality. We know that childbirth would have been horrific in the ancient world, or that being a woman was drastically unfair, but in fictional form we really feel it. The same can be said for the radical elements of Christianity, which are often taken for granted now - We are all equal? The slave is my sister? Turn the other cheek to your enemies?
I also really sympathise with Tsiolkas' theological world view, and appreciate that he has here tried to tell the story of earliest Christianity in a way that fits in with this perspective. I can also tell that he has done his academic and historical research, and so basic historical inaccuracies weren't something I had to overcome.
All in all, I really enjoyed this.
In Damascus, Christos Tsiolkas recreates the world of the first few decades of the early Christian movement. From Saul the persecuter, to Lydia the convert - and many others - he creates a narrative where the harsh elements of every day life - the reality of which are usually left out of the scant ancient record - are given the emotional weight they might have had in reality. We know that childbirth would have been horrific in the ancient world, or that being a woman was drastically unfair, but in fictional form we really feel it. The same can be said for the radical elements of Christianity, which are often taken for granted now - We are all equal? The slave is my sister? Turn the other cheek to your enemies?
I also really sympathise with Tsiolkas' theological world view, and appreciate that he has here tried to tell the story of earliest Christianity in a way that fits in with this perspective. I can also tell that he has done his academic and historical research, and so basic historical inaccuracies weren't something I had to overcome.
All in all, I really enjoyed this.
snehalees's review
5.0
Just finished this insane undertaking of a book. It is an overwhelming book; in the way it captures the violence and inhumanity of the time and space within which Saul lived and moved; in the way Tsiolkas inhabits the characters and conveys their helplessness, their strength, their regret, their pain – oh the immense pain – and their hope.
I really appreciated Tsiolkas’ unique but informed take on the early Christians and how he explores homosexuality, depression, doubt, suicide, infanticide - things that the New Testament or the church doesn’t really dwell on. And I love how the cover art [Converstion on the Way to Damascus by Caravaggio (1601)] mirrors the breathtaking movement between light and shade/darkness in the book.
I wept as I read this. My hand was on my chest as I read this. And I honestly feel like something in me changed as I read. At the moment, I am full of gratitude for this book and I will be thinking about it for a very long time.
Having said that, I set out to read it purely as a work of fiction and have not critiqued it from a historical/theological point of view, nor do I want to. I understand that people might take issue with aspects of the narrative but those things don't bother me as I was interested in the story regardless of how much "truth" it holds.
I really appreciated Tsiolkas’ unique but informed take on the early Christians and how he explores homosexuality, depression, doubt, suicide, infanticide - things that the New Testament or the church doesn’t really dwell on. And I love how the cover art [Converstion on the Way to Damascus by Caravaggio (1601)] mirrors the breathtaking movement between light and shade/darkness in the book.
I wept as I read this. My hand was on my chest as I read this. And I honestly feel like something in me changed as I read. At the moment, I am full of gratitude for this book and I will be thinking about it for a very long time.
Having said that, I set out to read it purely as a work of fiction and have not critiqued it from a historical/theological point of view, nor do I want to. I understand that people might take issue with aspects of the narrative but those things don't bother me as I was interested in the story regardless of how much "truth" it holds.
jim_b's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
noahee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-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? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Excrement, Gore, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry