Reviews

Only Begotten Daughter by James Morrow

jonahtriestoread's review against another edition

4.0

Oh my “god” that ending.

crypticpsych's review against another edition

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

hanklyhank's review against another edition

3.0

Good story, interesting idea, worthwhile characters, and a cop-out ending. Damn shame.

tigersmom's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

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

3.0

chinney's review against another edition

challenging dark funny sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Character motivations seem random and confused.  It was probably way more fun to write than to read.  God as a sponge is provocative.

krokicki's review against another edition

4.0

Weird, but fun story.

j_m_boyer's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny reflective fast-paced

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

2.0

I did not like this book, the transgressive premis was interesting and it could have been really wonderful. It lacked coherence and ultimately left me unsatisfied as a reader. Julie is an energetic and interesting main character who had real potential to be a total badass however in this work she comes off as just another woman written by a man who cannot escape the pitfalls of over sexualisation. It's written well, and offers a unique plot but too many moments felt jarring or didn't fall into place for me.

greeniezona's review against another edition

3.0

A lot of interesting ideas. The second immaculate conception occurs when a fertilized egg is discovered in a lonely Jewish man's sperm donation. The egg is placed in an experimental artificial womb, from which eventually is born Julie Katz, Jesus's half-sister. This book amused me more in college, now it's so far from where I am theologically it doesn't seem to hold together under its own weight. But I still get some sinister amusement at the idea of Jesus in hell, giving water to the sufferers, amazed to hear at what people are currently doing in his name.

lasairfiona's review against another edition

3.0

I read this quite a while ago. I didn't like the ending but really, I wouldn't know how to end a book like this either. It is a fun read but it isn't anything particularly new to those who really like to question or make fun of organized religion. The characterization is quite good though, dealing with issues I wouldn't have considered.

I might have to go pick it up again sometime.

elsiemookow's review against another edition

4.0

Only Begotten Daughter isn't going to be for everyone. For the first 100 pages I would have thought Terry Prachett could have been the author (love, love, love), then the second third felt very "Catch 22", followed by 'the Handmaid's Tale". I like two of the three, and I could tell by how quickly I read the first third followed by pausing to read a completely other book halfway though that the dense satire of the middle half wasn't for me.
Overall, "Only Begotten Daughter" was a book I'm happy I read, I'll think about for years, and I enjoyed reading- most of the time. What kept this from being amazing for me was personal taste in the writing style. Heavy satire bogged down the middle of the book (I also struggled with Catch-22), and I think it may be better during a re-read.