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cassowary_and_sachertorte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.5
snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
The Liars' Gospel is an interesting and thoughtful retelling of the traditional Jesus story. Instead of the usual Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we have three alternate gospels: Miriam, Iehuda, Caiaphas and Bar-Avo. We know them as Mary, Judas, Caiaphas and Barabbas.
It's an account of how a devout man, a teacher with new and controversial ideas about how the Judeans should live under the Roman occupation, could have lost his head and his humility, listened too closely to the more extreme zealots amongst his followers and started to believe that maybe he was more than a mere man.
Each of the narrators has a different take on events. Mary is grieving for her first-born, but also angry at his rejection of his family. When one of his followers seeks sanctuary in her village she embellishes the story of his birth to make them both feel better. Judas spins the story to his own ends as amusing anecdotes to entertain the friends of a well-to-do Roman citizen and thereby retain his place in the household. As the Jewish High Priest, Caiaphas has an uneasy role trying to appease his Roman masters and keep the peace in Jerusalem. Jesus to him is a scapegoat - someone in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was rounding up the rabble-rousers and his narrative contains a good deal of self-justification. Finally the story of Barabbas shows how the story of two men, one a holy teacher, the other a militant freedom fighter could have become conflated over time into the legend of a single man.
I think from the title alone it's obvious that if you view the Bible as an accurate historical document then this one won't be for you. If however you are interested in a fresh perspective on an old story that gives insights into how a minor cult may have flourished into a world religion, then it's an excellent read.
It's an account of how a devout man, a teacher with new and controversial ideas about how the Judeans should live under the Roman occupation, could have lost his head and his humility, listened too closely to the more extreme zealots amongst his followers and started to believe that maybe he was more than a mere man.
Each of the narrators has a different take on events. Mary is grieving for her first-born, but also angry at his rejection of his family. When one of his followers seeks sanctuary in her village she embellishes the story of his birth to make them both feel better. Judas spins the story to his own ends as amusing anecdotes to entertain the friends of a well-to-do Roman citizen and thereby retain his place in the household. As the Jewish High Priest, Caiaphas has an uneasy role trying to appease his Roman masters and keep the peace in Jerusalem. Jesus to him is a scapegoat - someone in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was rounding up the rabble-rousers and his narrative contains a good deal of self-justification. Finally the story of Barabbas shows how the story of two men, one a holy teacher, the other a militant freedom fighter could have become conflated over time into the legend of a single man.
I think from the title alone it's obvious that if you view the Bible as an accurate historical document then this one won't be for you. If however you are interested in a fresh perspective on an old story that gives insights into how a minor cult may have flourished into a world religion, then it's an excellent read.
crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book that I would not have been likely to pick up if it hadn't been offered to me by the publisher to read. And it's honestly not surprising to me that the reviews on this book are pretty much at either end of the spectrum. Some people have a very hard time thinking objectively when they feel something touches close to their belief system, especially if it asks them to consider a different possibility or perspective.
The Liar's Gospel is a work of historical fiction that looks at Jerusalem during the time of Roman occupation through the eyes of four people: Miryam (Mary), Iehuda (Judas), Caiaphas, and Bar-Avo (Barabbas). While, obviously, one common thread between these is the life of Yehoshuah (Jesus), I personally saw this as a text that looks much more at everyone else. It attempts to understand the political climate that existed at the time and how others may have viewed (or been forced to view) the situation and their options. It reflects the struggles of a people against an oppressive imperial regime and also points out just how often the story that ends up being told or remembered often leaves out both the struggles and accomplishments of those who aren't central to the prevailing thread. As Alderman's own epilogue states "Storytellers know that every story is at least partly a lie. Every story could be told in four different ways, or forty or four thousand. Every emphasis or omission is a kind of lie, shaping a moment to make a point. [...] Do not imagine that a storyteller is unaware of the effect of every word she chooses. Do not suppose for a moment tat an impartial observer exists." And this text illustrates that assertion splendidly.
(eGalley provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
The Liar's Gospel is a work of historical fiction that looks at Jerusalem during the time of Roman occupation through the eyes of four people: Miryam (Mary), Iehuda (Judas), Caiaphas, and Bar-Avo (Barabbas). While, obviously, one common thread between these is the life of Yehoshuah (Jesus), I personally saw this as a text that looks much more at everyone else. It attempts to understand the political climate that existed at the time and how others may have viewed (or been forced to view) the situation and their options. It reflects the struggles of a people against an oppressive imperial regime and also points out just how often the story that ends up being told or remembered often leaves out both the struggles and accomplishments of those who aren't central to the prevailing thread. As Alderman's own epilogue states "Storytellers know that every story is at least partly a lie. Every story could be told in four different ways, or forty or four thousand. Every emphasis or omission is a kind of lie, shaping a moment to make a point. [...] Do not imagine that a storyteller is unaware of the effect of every word she chooses. Do not suppose for a moment tat an impartial observer exists." And this text illustrates that assertion splendidly.
(eGalley provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
jakewjerrard's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
annareadsthis's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I'm not mad about it. Dit boek beschrijft hoe ik (het ontstaan van) het christendom, en welke religie dan ook, zie. Een historisch verhaal wat in de overlevering een eigen leven is gaan leiden door mensen die zichzelf of hun volk beter voor de dag wilden laten komen, maar ook door vertalingen, accenten en verkeerde interpretaties. Daarnaast ook gewoon een interessant historisch verhaal over de tijd in Judea rond het begin van onze jaartelling
tscott907's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! It was a quick read but very emotionally resonant, and the different perspectives throughout truly offered a different view of Jesus’ life. Some sections hit me harder than others but all four are necessary to create the complete storyline.
magdelenemagic's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book because I absolutely adored Alderman's The Power, and found her writing to be really smart and beautiful in that book. This one is far less complex, and I found it to be lackluster.
moonlitbooks_'s review against another edition
Initial Thoughts: This is kind of strange. I enjoyed the way in which this was written but there were parts and messages in this that felt kind of off to me, I;m not sure on it, I need to start reading some reviews and other people's thoughts to see if they figured out what I'm pondering.